Unusual Madrid, a guide to the best things to do
Plunge into the heart of an unusual Madrid, unknown to tourists, where every street has a surprise in store for you, and you’ll experience a unique moment.
Discover cultural centers, neighborhoods, bars and unusual places to eat tapas.
Unusual Madrid, discover Madrid Rio and its many activities
Located in the southwest of the capital, Madrid Rio is both a neighborhood and one of the city’s largest playgrounds. It’s the ideal place to walk your dog, meet up with friends, cycle, do yoga and run.
We recommend that expatriates reading this article take a stroll there on sunny days, as they’ll be amazed by the space and pleasantly surprised by the family atmosphere.
If you’re coming to Madrid as a visitor, we encourage you to rent an electric bike and set off for a ride along Madrid Rio. If you’d like to go for a bike ride, don’t hesitate to contact us.
An unusual way to visit Madrid: a bike ride along the Madrid Rio :
First, go to the Principe Pio train station (you can take line 10 from downtown Madrid to get there).
Once there, you’ll find self-service bicycles (BiciMAD). You can start your ride at the Casa de Campo entrance on the Puente del Rey.
There’s a large bicycle path that we recommend you take with the royal palace on your left.
On your tour of Madrid, you’ll pass the following bridges: Puente de Segovia, Puente de San Isidro, Puente de Toledo and Puente de Praga.
You’ll then arrive at the Matadero cultural center, not far from which is Plaza Legazpi, where you can drop off your bike and take the metro back to your hotel.
Allow 1 to 2 hours for this ride along Madrid’s Manzanares River.
Discover el Matadero Madrid, an unusual and unique cultural center in Madrid
Located in the Madrid Rio area we advise you to take advantage of your bike ride to discover this cultural center.
Housed in a former slaughterhouse, this cultural center was built in the 19ᵉ century and is one of the city’s oldest buildings, typical of industrial architecture. If you like photography then, you’ll be delighted to discover wide open spaces and magnificent buildings.
Transformed into a cultural center a few years ago, you’ll find plenty to do here. It includes a cinema, a library, play areas, several exhibition spaces and a restaurant.
Mercado de Motores, an unusual flea market in a museum station
A popular address for Madrid locals, the mercado de Motores takes place at least once a month in one of Madrid’s oldest train stations, now transformed into a railway museum.
Admission to the museum is 3€, and during the mercado it’s free. If you love the world of old trains and industrial architecture, then you’ll love this magnificent building.
The Tabacalera cultural center
La Tabacalera is a cultural center housed in Madrid’s former tobacco factory, where you can explore the exhibitions on offer. You’ll find different worlds and styles. If you like street art, this is a great opportunity to discover the graffiti surrounding the building.
La casa encendida, an unusual place rich in culture
Located just a few minutes from the Tabacalera, casa Encendida is a full-service cultural center with a boutique, exhibition rooms, a library, a magnificent terrace and rooms available for rental.
If you live in Madrid, casa encendida regularly offers photo, DTP and art workshops.
Atocha station garden
Atocha station is one of the most unusual places to visit in Madrid, and if you’re taking the train to Toledo or Segovia, you’ll want to pass through this magnificent building. If you’re not planning to take the train, we suggest you take advantage of your visit to the Reina Sofia or Prado museums to take a look around and snap a few photos.
Once inside the building, you’ll be surprised to discover a veritable tropical garden, complete with turtles and magnificent plants.
Discover the Madrid metro in the 1920s
In Madrid, there’s a metro station that’s frozen in the 1920s, with no passageway: the Chamberi metro station, or to be more precise, platform zero of the Madrid metro.
Currently open to the public, this is a museum dedicated to the metro, where you can discover the atypical architecture of the underground train network, as well as advertisements from the 1920s. Admission is free!
Opening hours: Thursday 10:00 am – 2:00 pm / Friday and Saturday 10:00 am – 7:00 pm / Sunday 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Closed to the public on December 25 and January 1.
Address: Plaza de Chamberí, s/n 28010 Madrid, Spain
Watch the sunset at the Temple of Debod (Temple of Amon)
To round off this guide, we recommend watching the sun set from a hill in the city center.
Just a stone’s throw from Madrid’s Royal Palace and Plaza de España is the Temple of Debod. We recommend a visit on a sunny day to admire the sunset.