Gay Guide • MADRID | What to See, Where to Stay, Best Gay Bars and Restaurants | LGBT Guide
- World Mappers
- 16 lug
- Tempo di lettura: 11 min
Aggiornamento: 11 set
GAY MADRID
Discover this City with our Quick and Practical Guide to Visit the Best Attractions, Savor Typical Dishes and Have Fun in the Best Gay Bars. All this through the Rainbow Eyes of the World Mappers
What to See, Best Places to Sleep, Where to Eat and to Have Fun in MADRID?
Find it out with the World Mappers !
WHAT TO SEE in MADRID?
10 THINGS TO SEE in MADRID
Gran Vía
It starts in Alcalá street and ends at the Plaza de España, it is the fashion shopping street of Madrid. It is inspired by the streets of New York and among the most iconic structures are the Telefonica Building and the Metrópolis Building.
Puerta del Sol
The Puerta del Sol is the largest square in the city where New Year’s Eve is celebrated.
Plaza Mayor
The Plaza Mayor is the most visited and has 9 access doors and the most famous is undoubtedly the Arco de Cuchilleros; it is a closed square, surrounded by three-storey buildings. It is also home to the city’s market.
Plaza de Cibeles
The Plaza de Cibeles is famous thanks to football for the famous celebrations of victories. It is characterized by beautiful buildings such as the Palacio de Comunicaciones, Palacio de Buenavista and the Banco de España. The centerpiece of the whole square is certainly the splendid Fountain that depicts the goddess Cibeles on a chariot drawn by lions.
Puerta de Alcalá
Located in the center of Plaza de la Independencia, it is one of the five ancient royal gates that allowed access to the city. It is a triumphal arch in neoclassical style granite.
Palacio Real
Very similar to the palace of the Louvre in Paris, the Royal Palace was the residence of the Spanish royal family. With its 135,000 square meters and more than 3,000 rooms, it is the largest palace in Europe and definitely worth a visit.
Cathedral of the Almudena
Main Catholic place of worship in Madrid, it is dedicated to the Madonna of the Almudena, protector of the city. The cathedral externally presents a mix of different styles, each one aimed at witnessing the various phases of construction.
Prado Museum
The Prado Museum is a true testimony of art history and in fact it displays numerous masterpieces by famous artists: Caravaggio, Goya, Raffaello and Velasquez and not only. We recommend visiting the museum during the week, to avoid the big crowds of the weekend!
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is organized on 4 floors and has about 800 works, from impressionism to baroque and rococo to Italian wonders of the fourteenth century. It is possible to admire paintings by Caravaggio and Van Gogh among many.
Parque del Retiro & Palacio de Cristal
Simply called El Retiro, it is a large green area of 118 hectares where you can do various activities: walk, stop to watch the performances of street artists, have a drink in one of the many bars surrounded by greenery or take a boat trip on the lake. It’s simply amazing! The Crystal Palace is located inside the Retiro Park, precisely along the Paseo Duque de Fernán Nuñez. It hosts photographic exhibitions, cultural artistic initiatives and temporary exhibitions organized by the Reina Sofia Museum.
Reina Sofia Museum
In the Reina Sofia Museum there are works of art made from the early twentieth century to today and is considered one of the most important museums in Madrid and it has 4 floors. The most famous work preserved in the Museum is undoubtedly Picasso’s Guernica, but it is also the most considered, so I recommend: visit it around closing time, when there are fewer people!
Mercado de San Miguel
The Mercado de San Miguel is without a doubt one of the main gastronomic markets in the world. It was opened more than 100 years ago and inside there is a part dedicated to the Spanish gastronomy with more than 20 stalls that, every day, offer tourists and locals delicious tapas of high quality.
Atocha Railway Station
Entering the station, you will be amazed to see a tropical garden surrounded by iron and glass. It was transformed into a tropical garden of 4,000 square meters for decorative purposes with more than 7,000 plants of 400 different species from America, Asia and Australia. A super instagrammable place!
Plaza de España
The Plaza de España is a large square, one of the largest in Spain, at the center of which is a fountain dedicated to Miguel de Cervantes. Two important buildings also overlook the square: the Torre de Madrid and the Edificio España.
Teatro Real
Declared a national monument and known as El Real, is an opera house located in Madrid. The only floor dedicated exclusively to the public is the one called 'La Rotonda', which makes the complete tour of the theatre and contains four large halls, decorated in different shades and with elements of the National Heritage and the Prado Museum.
Mercado del Rastro
The Rastro Market is the largest open-air market in the Spanish capital. It is like a flea market where you can buy everything from furniture, books, clothes to valuable antiques.
Barrios de Madrid
The barrios (neighborhoods) of Madrid are the true soul of the city. Chueca is the beating heart of the LGBTQ+ community, vibrant and always partying, full of clubs, galleries and alternative fashion. Lavapiés, instead, is a multicultural mosaic where cuisines from the world, street art and rebellious spirit coexist in harmony. Malasaña is the kingdom of indie, among vintage bars, vinyl stores and colorful murals. La Latina fascinates with its tapas and historic alleys, perfect for a Sunday vermouth. Each barrio tells a different face of Madrid, making it a city full of contrasts, stories and unique atmospheres. Strolling through these neighborhoods is like traveling to different worlds without leaving the capital.
Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas
Considered the most important arena in the world. To learn more about the history of Las Ventas you can take a guided tour that includes a visit to the Museum of the Community of Madrid, the Puerta de Cuadrillas, the Chapel, the pasillo de Enfermería, the Callejón and the Ruedo.
Santiago Bernabeu Stadium
For football lovers, how to forget the famous stadium Santiago Bernabeu? It is a true temple of football, where the important victories of Real Madrid were celebrated, one of the most winning and famous teams of all time. It is possible to take a guided tour inside the stadium.
Real Jardín Botánico
The Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid offers more than thirty thousand species of plants and flowers and over 1,500 trees of each species. The beautiful and green botanical garden of the city of Madrid also has two large greenhouses. Wonderful for those who love contact with nature!
SUGGESTED ITINERARIES
Visiting this city at its best depends essentially on how long you have to fully enjoy it. Here is a solution based on the number of days available to you:
Day 1 - Madrid #1 (Highlights: Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Palacio Real & Gran Via) - Google Maps
Day 2 - Madrid #2 (Highlights: Museo del Prado, Parque del Retiro, Plaza de Cibeles & Plaza de España) - Google Maps
Extra - Stadio Santiago Bernabeu (by Metro) - Google Maps
Extra - Cerro del Tío Pío (at sunset) - Google Maps
(By opening the Maps with Google, you can easily follow our path)
5 BEST EXCURSIONS from MADRID
We advise you to book the best excursions here: Viator - Musement - Get Your Guide
Toledo
Cuenca
Ávila, Segovia e El Escorial
Alcalá de Henares
Aranjuez
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WHERE TO SLEEP in MADRID?
10 BEST GAY FRIENDLY HOTELS in MADRID
WHERE TO EAT in MADRID?
10 BEST RESTAURANTS in MADRID Quality / Price
€€€ - Bodega de los Secretos
€€€ - Los Montes De Galicia (Galician Restaurant) €€ - Steakburger Gran Vía 16 ® Tested by World Mappers
€€ - Restaurante La Gaditana (Andaluzo Restaurant) €€ - Ferretería Restaurante
€€ - Restaurante La Mi Venta
€€ - La Paella De La Reina ® Tested by World Mappers
€ - Taberna La Descubierta (Tapas) € - Taberna El Sur € - Cervecería 100 Montaditos Calle Mayor (Tapas)
GAY NIGHTLIFE in MADRID
BEST GAY PLACES, BARS & CLUBS in MADRID
LL Bar (Gay Bar) ® Tested by World Mappers
THICK Bar Madrid (Gay Bar)
La Kama Bar (Gay Bar)
D'Mystic (Gay Bar)
Bears Bar (Gay Bear Bar)
El 12 CLUB (Gay Bar)
ZARPA BEAR DE COPAS (Gay Bear Bar)
Bearbie Madrid (Gay Bear Disco)
Fluide Escape (Lesbian Bar) Tal Fulanita (Lesbian Bar)
Kluster (Gay Disco)
Club 33 (Lesbian Friendly Disco)
Club 54 (Gay Disco) ® Tested by World Mappers
Delirio Dance Club (Gay Disco)
STRONG (Gay Friendly Disco)
La Boite (Gay Club)
Black & White (Gay Friendly Disco)
CenterBeach (Gay Sauna)
Sauna Octopus (Gay Sauna)
Sauna Paraiso (Gay Sauna)
TRAVEL TIPS about MADRID by World Mappers
To get from Madrid airport to the city centre, there are several public transport options. Madrid-Barajas airport is located 12 kilometers from the center of Madrid and is very well connected to the city. The easiest and fastest way to reach the city center is the metro, the number 8 pink that leaves from all terminals and in just 20 minutes and with only 4.50 euros takes you downtown. An alternative is the Línea Exprés bus from Terminals 1, 2 and 4 which takes about 40 minutes to get to Atocha station. The price is 5 euros and tickets can be purchased directly on the bus. There is also the Line 200 (price 1.50 euro per ride) from all four terminals of Madrid-Barajas and arrives in Avenida de America and also the Line 101, starting from terminals 1, 2 and 3 (cost 1.50 euro) arrives in Canillejas. A last solution is the taxi, to be considered only if you are in more people or in special cases. A supplement of 5.50 euros is added to all trips from or to the airport and a 30-minute ride costs around 30 euros.
Unfortunately, there are pickpockets in Madrid as well. By this we do not mean that it is a dangerous city. The areas most affected by the phenomenon of pickpocketing are clearly the public transport, museums and monuments more visited and crowded and undoubtedly the public premises. Here are some suggestions:
· Do not keep valuables in view (camera on the neck, cell phone in hand, etc.)
· Keep backpack or carrier in front, not on the back (especially in subway)
· Leave part of the money and documents in the hotel safe
· Pay attention to "diversions" (request for information, request for money, etc.)
· At the bar do not leave bags and backpacks on the ground, towards the street or mobile phone and wallet in bellavista
As in most major tourist cities, also for Madrid there are various City Passes available that include in the price (often very high) the main tourist attractions. The main ones are:
Madrid Go City Explorer Pass
Explore Madrid in your own way with the handy Go City Explorer Pass. You can choose from 3 to 7 things to do in Madrid among more than 20 attractions and tours (price from 64 euros per person).
Madrid Go City All-Inclusive
Available for 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 days and save up to 30% on separate attraction tickets. With more than 15 attractions, tours, museums and experiences to discover, you can join a guided tour of the Royal Palace, admire the iconic museums including the Prado and Reina Sofia but also take a hop-on hop-off bus tour (price from 99 euros per person).
"SECRET MADRID"
Unusual and Particular Places to See in Madrid
Outside the classic attractions to visit, there is a "Secret Madrid" that has simply bewitched us. These are some places that in our opinion it is worth seeing if you have already seen everything "famous" the city offers or simply if you want to get away from the typical tourist areas.
Here are the 5 Things to See and Places of the Secret Madrid:
Parque de la Siete Setas / Cerro del Tío Pío - This is a park formed by seven artificial hills from which you can see the city, where you can relax and enjoy a wonderful view. Located in Vallecas, just 20 minutes from the centre of Madrid.
Casa de Campo - This is another park in Madrid and is almost five times the size of New York’s Central Park. One way to see the park is by taking the funicular. In this place you can have a picnic, take a bike ride or reach the amusement park with roller coasters and various rides, a nice way to spend a different day than usual.
Temple of Debod - located near Plaza España, it is a temple of ancient Egypt transported and rebuilt on the hill Cuartel de la Montaña. Beautiful place to admire a wonderful sunset!
Sweet Space - is a tasting adventure that will delight the most greedy, a museum full of experiences and lots of fun in which you create a connection through taste. Through guided activities, interactive installations and special surprises, visitors will explore its nine themed rooms but also the ice cream workshop of Pops N' Bops, a forest of candies and a waterfall of Chupa Chups.
Parque Madrid Río - It’s a fantastic park to admire the city and the bridges that surround it. It is made of stainless steel and has a spiral shape.
INSTAGRAMMABLE MADRID
Instagrammable Places to See in Madrid
Don’t miss the best instagrammable places in Madrid, here are our favorites:
Calle de la Gran Vía (la nostra preferita!)
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VIEWPOINTS in MADRID
Enjoy the city from one of its fantastic Best Photo Spots. Our favorites are:
One of the places with the best view on the capital is "De Madrid al cielo Sky Bar", at the Hotel Riu. From this 360o terrace you can see emblematic monuments of Madrid such as the Royal Palace, Plaza España, the Gran Vía, the Temple of Debod, the four towers or the City Hall. To access the terrace you have to pay € 5 if you do it before 18:00. If you go later, it is 10 €. On weekends and public holidays the price is 10€ at any time of the day.
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STREET ART WORKS of MADRID
Could we not talk about Street Art in Madrid? Of course not! In this city you can find some fantastic masterpieces. Here are the main areas to discover and explore:
Todo es felicidá, Jack Babiloni (Calle Orellana / Calle Campoamor)
It is one of the most emblematic and disputed works of street art in Madrid. This is a 19th century building completely painted by the artist Jack Babiloni.
It is a work that is located inside the metro station "Paco de Lucía" and is the first work signed by street artist made in permanent form for a subway stop.
It is located in Calle Embajadores 53 the old tobacco factory of Madrid that was transformed into a cultural center among the most important of the city. It is a work full of colors and joy.
Llena la vida de color, Boamistura (Mercado de la Cebada)
The Mercado de la Cebada is characterized by bright colors, full of vitality and optimism. You will not tire of admiring it in all its uniqueness.
It is one of the most alternative neighborhoods in Madrid where many street artists have gathered and painted shutters and walls.
The Colombian artist is most famous for his paintings, but he is also a sculptor in fact in Plaza de Colón you will find La Mujer del Espejo, in Plaza San Juan there is the famous La Mano. The last one is called El Rapto de Europa and is located in Terminal 1 of Madrid’s Barajas airport.
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MARKETS in MADRID
The Mercado de San Miguel is without a doubt one of the main gastronomic markets in the world. It was inaugurated more than 100 years ago and inside there is a section dedicated to the Spanish gastronomy with more than 20 stalls that, every day, offer tourists and locals delicious quality tapas.
Hours: every day from 10:00 to 00:00 (Friday and Saturday closes at 01:00).
The Rastro market is the largest open-air market in the Spanish capital. It is like a flea market where you can buy everything from furniture, books, clothes to valuable antiques.
Hours: every day from 9:00 to 15:00 (closed on Sundays).
The Mercado de San Antón is an essential stop during a walk through the characteristic neighborhoods of Chueca and Malasana. ' It’s three floors each dedicated to the daily sale of food and gourmet products, with kiosks and bars with terrace.
Hours: every day from 9:30 to 01:00 (Sunday 12:00 - 01:00)
Also discover other destinations nearby such as
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