12 Things to Do in Madrid in October

The heat is well and truly behind us, and the capital is opening up its terraces and viewpoints to locals and visitors alike. It’s a month to enjoy outdoor events, visit museums, go on food tours and make the most of Madrid’s nightlife.

Take note of these October must-sees and plan your itinerary with the best things to see and do in Madrid.

If you happen to be visiting Madrid around this time, you’ll find a programme of commemorative events such as concerts, street theatre, exhibitions and film screenings, all aimed at highlighting the value of the Hispanic American community.

One of the activities is the Hispanic Heritage Concert, which features a programme of entertainment shows, children’s theatre, dance and concerts by Hispanic American artists. Throughout October, you may come across various concerts and open-air shows in Madrid’s squares and parks, as the programme runs throughout the month. In addition, many of the city’s museums, galleries and cultural centres offer talks, workshops and exhibitions so you can learn more about this meeting of two worlds.

Also on 12 October, the Paseo de la Castellana hosts the military parade for Spain’s National Day to commemorate the country’s cultural and linguistic expansion beyond Europe.

The beautiful Retiro Park, full of paths, fountains, greenery and its wonderful lake with boats, takes on a special hue at this time of year, like any natural landscape in autumn. Its green colours gradually give way to the brown tones that herald the arrival of winter.

This park is home to over 15,000 trees and, across its 125,000 hectares, you’ll find a haven of peace within the bustling city of Madrid. It is also recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

If you want to learn about its history and make sure you don’t miss its most special spots, I recommend taking a tour of the Retiro Park with an expert guide. That way, you’ll fall in love not only with its beauty, but also with its past. And if you prefer to visit on your own, don’t forget that in autumn the park is open from 6 am to 10 pm.

In autumn, it starts to get a bit chilly in Madrid, so as well as being the perfect time to seek shelter in some of its historic cafés, it’s also the ideal season to explore some of its major museums. Below are the ones I consider to be the city’s most important and the ones you simply mustn’t miss:

• Prado Museum: Spain’s most famous art gallery and one of the most visited in the world. It houses a vast collection of works by artists such as Goya, Velázquez, Rubens, Bosch, El Greco and Titian, amongst others.
• Thyssen Museum: it houses works by both old and modern artists and, together with the Prado and the museum mentioned below, forms part of Madrid’s Art Triangle.
• Reina Sofía Museum: this museum houses contemporary and 20th-century Spanish works. It boasts a permanent art collection featuring works by Dalí, Miró and Picasso, amongst others. It is also renowned for its surrealist artworks.
• San Fernando Museum of Fine Arts: finally, situated on Calle Alcalá, although this museum is not as well known as the previous three, it is well worth exploring its galleries to discover other works of Spanish art by renowned artists such as Murillo, Sorolla and Romero de Torres, amongst others.

In October, the doors of over a hundred sites of Madrid’s heritage and cultural interest open as part of the Madrid Otra Mirada event, which promotes the protection and conservation of the city’s iconic landmarks.

Not only will you have the chance to explore buildings that are usually closed to the public, but you’ll also be able to take part in over 200 free activities.

Exhibitions, talks, workshops, concerts and children’s activities, amongst other events, can be enjoyed in museums, theatres, churches, parks, gardens, libraries, cultural centres, palaces and historic buildings throughout Madrid.

Useful information

• You absolutely must book your tickets in advance for this event. Madrid City Council usually sets up a website for visitor registration, as tickets are free but places are limited.
• You may also find it handy to buy a ticket for a sightseeing bus, which will make getting from one place to another quicker, allowing you to make the most of this great celebration of the city’s architecture and heritage.

Autumn has arrived and soups are often an excellent choice to warm you up a little. Madrid-style stew, seafood broth, Castilian soup, San Antón-style soup or Galician consommé are a fantastic way to warm the soul after a good walk and to face the evening chill that envelops Madrid’s autumn nights.

I’d like to tell you that the city holds a place in the Guinness Book of Records, as it is home to the oldest restaurant in the world. Founded in 1725, Casa Botín is one of the most prized examples of traditional Spanish cuisine and the perfect spot to sample not only soups, but also a variety of delicious roasts, desserts and seafood.

And if trying new foods is your thing whilst travelling, a gastronomic tour of Madrid to discover the best tapas, wines and dishes in Spain would be a brilliant idea.

If you’re visiting Madrid for four days or more, it might be a great idea to go on a guided excursion to nearby places such as Toledo, just an hour’s drive from Madrid.

In Toledo, you can visit the cathedral, one of its main attractions, stroll through its cobbled streets and explore more of this city, where Christian, Jewish and Muslim cultures converge. Excursions to Toledo are available all year round, including transport and guided tours.

You can also visit beautiful Segovia, which is well worth a visit to enjoy its diverse cultural, historical, gastronomic and architectural offerings.

From the Royal Palace to the Puerta de Alcalá, passing through Calle Arenal and Calle Mayor, as well as the Puerta del Sol and Cibeles, October is the month to enjoy the Madrid International Light Festival throughout the city.

This event also takes place in other European cities such as Lyon, Brussels, Lisbon and Turin. Madrid’s October nights are filled with light to celebrate art and creativity with illuminated installations, light shows and laser projections onto Madrid’s landmarks.

An additional option to all the things you can enjoy on a night out in Madrid.

Although it is not a traditional festival celebrated in Spain, if you are in Madrid towards the end of October, you can join in the wide range of Halloween celebrations you will find in the city.

All Saints’ Day is also celebrated in many Catholic and Spanish-speaking countries; it is an ancient tradition that honours the memory of those who have passed away. What better way to get into the spirit than with a stroll through the Almudena Cemetery, where the remains of prominent figures from Spanish history lie, a walk that could well end with a concert or an open-air show.

You can also get a taste of Mexico with the intriguing and mysterious Day of the Dead festival, which is also commemorated with an annual event at the Casa de México, where you can sample skull- or bone-shaped pastries and pan de muerto, and watch parades of skeletons. Highly recommended.

I find the autumn scenery perfect for visiting a place like the Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid, a treasure trove that houses the scientific legacy of over 200 years of natural history.

Here you’ll find a comprehensive collection of plants and herbs from all over the world, carefully preserved in beautiful, extensive gardens. The garden offers audio guides in several languages, available at the entrance, as well as temporary exhibitions and much more.

If you’re visiting Madrid in October, I recommend planning your trip in advance, especially if you’re travelling with children and looking for activities for them.

Useful information

• Price: €4 to visit the garden, €6 including the exhibitions at the Villanueva Pavilion. Free entry every Tuesday from 2 pm.
• Opening hours: in October from 10.00 am to 7.00 pm.
• Address: Royal Botanical Garden, Plaza de Murillo, 2. 28014 Madrid

Since 1991, the Madrid Film Festival has marked the start of autumn. For two weeks, the city showcases the best of Spanish independent cinema and the global film industry.

Great Spanish directors have made their debut at this event, which each year serves as a springboard for new filmmakers, playing a crucial role in promoting emerging independent European and Latin American productions.

With screenings in cinemas across the city, workshops and events featuring renowned directors and actors from the global independent scene, this event will allow you to experience the bohemian and avant-garde lifestyle that characterises Madrid and enjoy a day at the movies in the Spanish capital.

If you happen to be in Madrid in October, what better experience than visiting the Madrid Games Week fair, the annual gathering that brings together the video games industry, professionals and enthusiasts to share the latest news, launches and technological advances in the sector.

One of the fair’s most famous pavilions is dedicated to virtual reality, where you can experience the most innovative trends in simulators, arcade zones, sports games, cosplay and digital interaction.

There are also live competitions and a huge fair with specialist shops, where you can find quirky souvenirs, books, virtual reality games and much more, all inspired by manga comics, e-sports or the traditional characters of this pixelated world.

Marathons have become a way of raising awareness about many issues affecting society. This race, better known as the Perrotón, promotes the adoption and responsible ownership of pets. A charitable event supported by the city’s public figures, animal rescue organisations, the veterinary industry and civil society.

The race is approximately four kilometres long and has an entry fee of €15 for runners – both human and furry. Along the route, which starts at Plaza de Colón and finishes at the Jardines del Descubrimiento, there are also pop-up adoption centres where participants might just find the love of their four-legged life.

Check the event’s official website to find out everything about how to sign up and the entry requirements.

Carolina’s Traveller Tip

If you’re a woman, you love running and marathons are your thing, you can sign up for the Women’s Half Marathon, which also takes place in October and covers a distance of approximately six kilometres.