I recently published a post documenting 5 free things to do in Barcelona. So, to carry on with the theme of budget Spanish travel, I have compiled another one of those top 5 lists that everyone hates but will hopefully find a little bit useful.

If you saw my post over at Twenty-Something Travel about my time in Madrid, you will know that I didn’t have the merriest of trips. Still, I managed to do a lot there and haven’t yet done a post on this subject matter – maybe because I was scared it would bring back bad memories (only kidding – writing can’t do that, can it?)

Anyway, without further ado, I present to you 5 completely free things to do in Madrid!

1.    The Temple of Debod

Situated in the heart of Parque de la Montaña, this 4th century BC Egyptian temple seems somewhat out of place in the hustle and bustle of Madrid. But, I have to say, it is well worth a visit.

I won’t bore you with the historical facts (you can find those out for yourself when you visit!), only that it is related to the construction of the Aswan Dam in Egypt in 1960 which threatened many important monuments and historic sites. And now it has a new home.

It takes a while to adjust to the dark, cavernous space inside but the etchings and displays are pretty damn fascinating. Plus, the cool dampness is a welcome relief from the scorching Spanish sun!

2.    Retiro Park

The centre of Madrid – you know, the area around Puerta del Sol – is pretty much a concrete heaven that can get very dusty and very hot. So, sometimes it’s a relief to escape the urban jungle and relax in the dappled shade of hundreds (maybe thousands) of trees.

There really is no better place for this than Retiro Park. It’s not even far from the city centre. In fact, it is pretty damn close to the Golden Triangle of museums – maybe you fancy a lie down after overwhelming yourself with Spanish art?

This park is probably one of the nicest (and biggest) I have ever seen; it has numerous cafes, it has many play areas, it has several vast lawns to recline on, it even has a huge lake where you can rent a boat and go for a row. Who doesn’t want to do that?

3.    Get Cultured

Madrid is perhaps most famous for its thriving arts scene and, with three huge museums making up the Golden Triangle, is it any wonder?

Despite the size of these cultural edifices, and despite the world-renowned masterpieces they have on display, you can still experience them for free if you happen to be in the right place at the right time. Check out the Prado with its 14th, 15th and 16th century works in the evening; admission is free between 6pm and 8pm, the perfect activity to unwind with before dinner. The only negative is you might not get to see everything in two hours unless you hotfoot it around like a bear on coals. Not to worry though, you can just visit the next evening too!

Madrid’s second most famous museum, the Reina Sofia, also has a little (free) trick up its sleeve. If you visit on a Saturday after 2.30pm or on a Sunday before 2.30pm then guess what – you don’t need to take your wallet! Who said museums weren’t fun?

4.    Eat like a king

It’s late and you’re hungry but it’s also that time of night where you need to start drinking (if, like me, you like to drink… a lot). So, what do you do? You head to the humble neighbourhood of Chueca – not far from Puerta del Sol – and enter the magical haven of El Tigre. Here, with every drink you buy you get a free large plate of tapas.

And I mean a large plate.

In fact, everything in this shindig is large – the drinks are more like buckets. I’m not going to lie, El Tigre is not particularly dignified but it is a lot of fun and, when it comes down to it, ruddy cheap!

5.    People Watch

I know I included this in the top 5 free things to do in Barcelona, but who doesn’t love a bit of people watching? It’s one of my favourite pastimes (not in a weird way), and Madrid is particularly accommodating for this activity.

You can choose from a number of locations; maybe the Plaza Mayor where you can watch people eat (might be weird) and observe passersby’s reactions to the glittery goat that annoyingly clicks at everyone, or try Puerta del Sol where you can count how many people are dressed up as characters out of Sesame Street. Either way, you can happily sit back and watch the day unfold in Madrid – isn’t that what Spanish life is all about?