Things to do in Guadalajara

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Royal Palace of Madrid

• Witness the history and royal anecdotes of Spain • Approx. 2 million travelers visit annually • Combining traditional Spanish royal architectural style with Baroque style, it covers a total area of approx. 130,000 m² with over 3,000 rooms △In the 9th century, this was once the castle of Arab rulers. After being recaptured by Christians, it became the residence of successive kings. A fire in 1734 destroyed the castle, and the royal palace seen today was rebuilt in 1764. △The Royal Palace of Madrid is an exquisitely crafted architectural marvel and one of the best-preserved palaces in the world. The entire palace is magnificent, with over 3,000 rooms in total, though only around fifty are open for travelers to visit. Particularly noteworthy is the palace's preserved set of five Stradivarius string instruments—two violins, one viola, and two cellos. △Adorned with golden ornaments, royal red velvet floors and walls, and chandeliers as magnificent as the room itself, while admiring the ceiling painted by Tiepolo. Marvel at the grand staircase designed by Sabatini, with over 70 steps in total.

2026 Europe 50 - Best Things to Do

Prado Museum

The building that today houses the Museo Nacional del Prado was designed by architect Juan de Villanueva in 1785. It was constructed to house the Natural History Cabinet, by orders of King Charles III. However, the building's final purpose - as the new Royal Museum of Paintings and Sculptures - was the decision of the monarch's grandson, King Ferdinand VII, encouraged by his wife Queen Maria Isabel de Braganza. The Royal Museum, soon quickly renamed the National Museum of Paintings and Sculptures and subsequently the Museo Nacional del Prado, opened to the public for the first time in November 1819. Since it was founded in 1819 and over its multi-century history, the Museo Nacional del Prado has performed the important task of conserving, exhibiting and enriching a set of collections and works of art which, due to their close ties with Spanish history, are recognized as one of the most valuable compendiums of artistic expression known to humanity. Loans to temporary exhibitions are the Museum's most direct means of communication with society. They offer the opportunity of reinterpreting the collections while linking them to currentl issues. At the same time, they also provide an especially attractive scope for museography allowing for experimentation on new styles and technologies. They contribute to projecingt a new identity of the Museum by encouraging innovation, research and the public interest in its collections. With this intention in mind, the Museo Nacional del Prado offers its visitors a wide exhibition program while contributing to the promotion of its collections through the loan of works from its collection to exhibition projects organised by other cultural institutions, both national and international.

Palacio del Infantado

Guadalajara Zoo

Ilusiona Guadalajara

No. 3 of Best Things to Do in Metropolitan Area and Henares Corridor

Las Ventas Bullring

Designed by architect José Espelius and built in the Neo-Mudéjar style, Las Ventas Bullring features red brick walls adorned with Arabesque carvings and arched windows, while its exterior walls are inlaid with ceramics depicting the coats of arms of Spanish provinces. Construction was completed in 1929, and the bullring officially opened in 1931. It has four tiers of circular stands and can accommodate approx. 23,000 spectators. Shaped like a Roman amphitheater, the bullring is covered with fine sand and surrounded by tiered iron fences that separate the spectator stands from the arena, with separate passageways for bullfighters, medical staff, and bulls to enter and exit. This is an important symbol of Spanish bullfighting culture. The San Isidro Bullfighting Festival held every May is a major bullfighting event of the year, when renowned bullfighters from all over gather here. The main entrance of the bullring is known as the "Puerta Grande" (Big Gate), and only victorious bullfighters are eligible to exit through this gate and receive the cheers of the audience. The venue has a total of 18 entrances and exits, and the ceramic decorations of provincial coats of arms on the brick walls make the main entrance area particularly striking. During your visit, you can overlook the entire venue layout from the upper spectator stands, then enter the bullring to experience the atmosphere firsthand. A bullfighting museum is located at the exit, divided into five exhibition areas that showcase the history and art of Spanish bullfighting, where you can admire prints by the painter Goya depicting bullfighting scenes.

Concordia Park

No. 4 of Best Things to Do in Metropolitan Area and Henares Corridor

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía

•It saves one of the world's most representative modern art masterpieces—Picasso's Guernica—along with other related works from the late 19th century to the present •Explore dedicated to showcasing Spanish expressionist and impressionist artNational Museum of China • ShockMarvel at the masterpieces of Spain's three great 20th-century masters: Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, and Joan Miró △This is the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, one of the world's most significant contemporary art museums, showcasing works by Spanish and international artists. It is a pioneer in the art world and part of the beloved "art corridor" of Madrid.

Teatro Auditorio Buero Vallejo

Palacio Multiusos