Madrid has a reputation for being good value, and for evenings out it mostly deserves it. A night here does not have to mean cocktail bars and tasting menus. Some of the best evenings in the city cost very little, as long as you know how the city works.
Start with something free
Museum free hours
The big museums open their doors for free at set times. The Prado’s permanent collection is free in the last two hours of every day: 18:00 to 20:00 Monday to Saturday, and 17:00 to 19:00 on Sundays and holidays. The Reina Sofía is free on Monday and Wednesday to Saturday from 19:00 to 21:00. Check the museums’ own websites before you go, as times can change. Our guide to free museum evenings has the details.
A sunset viewpoint
The Templo de Debod, an Egyptian temple in a park near Plaza de España, is one of the city’s favourite places to watch the sun go down. The gardens of Las Vistillas, by La Latina, are another.
A long walk
The old centre at dusk is a show in itself: Plaza Mayor, the streets of the Austrias, Gran Vía lit up. It costs nothing.
Eat and drink like a local
- Order a caña, not a pint. Small draught beers stay cold and keep the bill down.
- Look for menus del día at lunch. If you want a big meal, lunch is cheaper than dinner.
- Share raciones. Plates for the table go further than individual dishes.
- Drink where locals drink. Bars a street or two away from the main squares are usually better value.
Small live shows
Live entertainment does not have to mean big theatre prices. Madrid has many small rooms for music, improv and comedy where a ticket costs about the same as a couple of drinks. You get a full evening, a crowd and something to talk about afterwards.
Our English comedy nights at Off Latina in La Latina cost €8 a ticket, plus a small booking fee. You get about an hour of live comedy in a 17th-century brick cellar. No Offense, But... mixes stand-up, live podcast moments and improv; The Arab and the Jew mixes comedy, music and an honest conversation about politics and identity.
A budget evening plan
| Time | Plan | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 18:00 | Prado free hours | Free |
| 20:00 | Walk to La Latina through the old centre | Free |
| 20:30 | One caña and one tapa at the bar | A few euros |
| 21:30 | English comedy show at Off Latina | €8 + booking fee |
| 22:30 | Shared raciones for dinner | Depends on your appetite |
Save on the way home
Walking is free and the centre is small. If you need transport, the metro runs until around 1:30, and night buses cover the rest of the night from Plaza de Cibeles. See our guide to getting home late.
Spend where it counts
The trick to a cheap night out in Madrid is not doing less. It is choosing a couple of things that matter and doing the rest for free. A free museum hour and a live show make for a far better story than an expensive drink you will not remember. See our upcoming shows and plan yours.
