What’s Not Worth the Hype (and Where to Go Instead)
Madrid is a stunning city brimming with history, art, and culinary delights, but let’s be honest—not every so-called “must-see” spot lives up to the hype. In my recent podcast, which you can listen to by clicking on the audio below, I explain why these overpriced and over-touristy attractions can easily be skipped. If you’re planning a trip, do yourself a favor and avoid these overrated sights. But don’t worry, I won’t leave you hanging—I’ll also suggest fantastic alternatives that will give you a much richer experience of the city.
1. Puerta del Sol: The Beating Heart (or Concrete Wasteland) of Madrid
You’ll find yourself in Puerta del Sol at some point—after all, it’s Madrid’s central hub. But here’s my advice: take your obligatory selfie with the Bear and the Strawberry Tree statue, then get out of there. Sol should be Madrid’s beating heart, but instead, it’s a soulless expanse of concrete filled with hostile architecture, street performers, pickpockets and pushy vendors.
Even the most iconic landmarks here feel lacklustre. Take Casa de Diego, for instance, one of Madrid’s oldest shops that, despite its fantastic interior, is let down by stroppy staff. And worse of all is the Casa de Correos, a 17th-century building with a dark history as a former prison used by the secret police under the dictatorship – bizarrely, no plaque commemorates this. To read more about its shameful past, check out my recent article in The New European.
To top it off, the whole place is an urban heat trap come summer thanks to the fact that Sol’s recent renovation overseen by Mayor Almeida stripped it of planned greenery. It’s not the first time that our current mayor has stripped trees out of the equation in the city’s public squares. In fact, I’m currently mourning the loss of trees in the glorious Plaza de Santa Ana in Madrid’s Literary District, which have just gone, despite a huge campaign to preserve them: for more read my piece in The Guardian or listen to the podcast.
✅ Go instead: Head to Plaza Mayor, just a short walk away. Sure, it’s still treeless, but it’s lined with charming shady colonnades, making it a much more pleasant place to linger. Even better? Plaza de Olavide, a leafy square in North Madrid, where you’ll find locals enjoying a leisurely breakfast on a sunny terraza.
2. Mercado de San Miguel: Overpriced and Overcrowded
This iron-and-glass market may look stunning from the outside, but step inside, and you’ll immediately feel the tourist trap vibes. Quiet literally: when I went to take photos for this piece, I wound up hemmed in by crowds unable to exit for about 10 minutes. Once a functioning market, it’s now more of a pricey food hall where a tiny plate of olives will cost you a small fortune. Sure, the produce is high quality, but you’re paying double what you would anywhere else in Madrid.
Locals don’t go here and you shouldn’t either. The only time I enter is in the morning when I’m taking people on a tour: we pop in, do a quick bit of snooping to learn about jamon varieties and other Spanish staples before moving on. Then I give people the lowdown on much better markets.
✅ Go instead: For an authentic Madrid market experience, check out Mercado de Antón Martín in Lavapiés, where you’ll find top-notch tapas and an unbeatable international food scene. Or, for a truly local feel, visit Mercado de San Fernando, a lively spot where you can enjoy great food without the tourist mark-up.
3. The Royal Palace: A Monument to Excess
The Palacio Real is undoubtedly grand—one of the largest palaces in Europe, filled with gold, marble, and ostentatious decor. But that’s exactly the problem. With over 3,000 rooms, most of which you’ll never see, a visit here feels more like an exercise in royal excess than an insightful historical experience.
Another issue? The labelling: light and lacking in-depth information. Added to this, the whole place is occasionally shut down for state events without much notice. If you really want to see Spain’s royal history up close, there’s a better way to do it.
✅ Go instead: Visit the Galería de las Colecciones Reales, a modern museum just next to the palace. It’s home to incredible artworks, tapestries, and treasures—many of which were once inside the palace itself! Bonus: the museum’s huge corridor windows offer breathtaking views over Casa de Campo Park and its little cafe sits just next to the cathedral.
4. Reina Sofía Museum: A Maze of Frustration
Madrid’s modern art museum, Reina Sofía, houses some of Spain’s most important works, including Picasso’s iconic Guernica. But while the art is fantastic, the experience is anything but. The confusing layout, unhelpful floor plans, and art descriptions written in near-incomprehensible “art speak” make it a frustrating visit.
And let’s talk about the guards—famous for their strict “no photo” enforcement on certain floors, yet extremely grumpy when asked for directions.
✅ Go instead: For a better modern art experience, head to the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, just up the road on Paseo del Prado. It has an equally impressive collection spanning Renaissance to contemporary art, is much easier to navigate, and provides far better visitor information.
Final Thoughts: See the Real Madrid
While these spots may be “iconic,” they often leave visitors underwhelmed. Madrid has so much more to offer beyond the overcrowded, overpriced, and overhyped. Venture into local neighborhoods, explore hidden gems, and experience the city the way Madrileños do. For more help on that look out for my upcoming book on Quiet Madrid out April 14.
So, what do you think? Have you fallen for any of these tourist traps, or do you have your own overrated Madrid spots to add to the list? Let me know in the comments below!
