10 Things to Do in Madrid in July
With summer in all its splendor, July is a fantastic month to enjoy the Spanish capital. Concerts, movie nights, theater, sports... Fun is guaranteed!
Plaza Mayor | © Mati Angulo
July is one of the best times to visit Madrid due to the great offer of fun and entertainment it has to offer. In addition to the traditional things to see and do in Madrid throughout the year, the Spanish capital offers fabulous plans specific to July. Enjoy your vacation!
1. Attend the iconic Botanical Nights concerts
Throughout the month of July you can enjoy a music festival focused mainly on jazz, blues, pop and rock. If you want to soak up the youthful atmosphere of Madrid's youth festivals, this is an opportunity you won't want to miss.
Since its founding in 2016, the festival stands out for presenting a calendar of concerts, between 25 or 40 on average, which brings together outstanding artists from the local and international scene, such as Gloria Gaynor, Bomba Estéreo, Jorge Drexler, The Lumineers, Nathy Peluso, Pink Martini and many more.
And if music is your thing, you can not miss a plan of the most traditional: book a dinner with zarzuela in Madrid and enjoy an unforgettable night in which you will taste typical dishes of Madrid cuisine served by waiters who, in addition, sing zarzuela.
Where it takes place
In the Royal Botanical Garden Alfonso XIII, located in the Complutense University of Madrid. It is located in the tourist area of Princesa and you can access through the Metro of Madrid, taking line 16 to the Ciudad Universitaria station.
How to buy tickets
The best way to purchase tickets and know in detail the schedule of performances is through the official website of the event Noches del Botánico.
2. Join the Pride celebration in Madrid
Since 2007, the LGBT community's protest festival has been taking place in Madrid with week-long celebrations. Generally, they begin on the last Wednesday of June and extend until the first Sunday of July, so if you are in Madrid the first days of the month you can not miss it.
The celebration includes reflective acts such as the reading of the manifesto on the opening day, but also very fun festive events such as the traditional Heel Race that takes place in the neighborhood of Chueca.
If you want to know more about the most modern areas of Madrid and the nightlife of the city, you can not miss a night tour of Madrid. You'll love it!
Where it takes place
The celebrations take place mainly in the Chueca area. During the week in the most important squares there are performances and concerts of popular artists on the local and international scene. It is best to keep an eye on the calendar of activities by visiting the official website Madrid Orgullo.
How to buy tickets
This event is completely free and open to the public.
3. Enjoy the pools of Madrid in summer
One of the best activities to do in the summer in Madrid is to visit the fantastic swimming pools of the city. It is an excellent opportunity if you visit Madrid with children, since most complexes have their own children's area.
In fact, book a seat on the tourist bus in Madrid and take advantage of sightseeing while approaching your destination or on the way back. You will not get hot or tired and you can see comfortably seated some of the most important monuments of Madrid.
Swimming pools in Madrid and opening date
- Swimming pools of the city council: They usually open from mid-May. Consult the listof municipal swimming pools by neighborhoods.
- Swimmingpools of the community of Madrid: They open in June to close in September. The most outstanding ones are the one located in the Canal de Isabel II Sports Facility, the one in the Puerta de Hierro Sports Park, the one in the M86 Sports Center and the one in the San Vicente de Paúl Sports Facility.
- Complutense de Madrid swimming pool: Exclusive only for students and professors, so you must prove you belong to a study center.
- Warner Beach water park.
- Aquópolis de Villanueva.
4. Attend the open-air movie nights
The best way to enjoy the best summer nights in Madrid is to attend the film festivals that take place all over the city. Take a look at the planning of the different locations of Madrid's summer cinemas and prepare your itinerary to attend as many of them as your cinephile side demands.
For culture fans I have another unbeatable proposal: buy a Madrid Art Walk pass that includes tickets to the Prado, Reina Sofia and Thyssen museums and priority access without queues to these three important museums.
The best summer cinemas in Madrid
- Institut Français: Located at Marqués de la Ensenada, 12. Shows every Thursday and Friday in June and July.
- Fescinal: It takes place in the Parque de a Bombilla, Avenida de Valladolid. From the end of June to September.
- Casa Museo Lope de Vega: Located at Calle de Cervantes, 11. The house museum holds free exhibitions every Wednesday in July.
- La Terraza Magnética: Located at Ronda de Valencia, 2; performances are held from the beginning of July to the end of August approximately.
5. Visit the Madrid Zoo Aquarium
Madrid in July can be a bit overwhelming, especially if you are not used to the heat. For this reason I suggest you escape from the city and get in touch with the flora and fauna by booking tickets for the Madrid Zoo Aquarium.
It is one of the most important zoos in the world, with more than 20 hectares and more than 300 different species of animals and marine creatures in their natural habitats from all continents of the world.
Its botanical garden, with more than 100 different plant species, will also leave you impressed and best of all, you will have access without waiting in line and you will be able to enjoy the educational activities that take place daily in the park.
Where it is located
The Zoo Aquarium of Madrid is located in the Casa de Campo, the lung of the city that you can easily reach by public transport, both by bus and metro or commuter.
6. Enjoy music and poetry at CaixaForum Summer Nights
The CaixaForum Summer N ights are one of the most emblematic and traditional plans of Madrid. From the end of June to the end of July, every Thursday and Friday, talented artists in the fields of music, poetry and performance take the stage. The musical part usually includes performances of jazz, gospel and classical music.
Where it is held
The traditional festival is held at the art and performance center Caixaforum Madrid, located on Paseo del Prado, so you can take the opportunity to visit the Prado Museum and then attend the festival.
The area is easily accessible by the city's metro, as the Estación del Arte-Atocha metro station is only a 5-minute walk away and the Lavapiés station is only a 10-minute walk away.
How to buy tickets
The calendar of presentations, guest artists and ticket prices are posted on the official website of the center Caixaforum Madrid.
7. The Royal Palace hosts its own jazz festival.
True jazz music fans in the city look forward to the iconic Royal Palace festivals every year. The concert series presents a busy schedule each year, usually beginning in July and concluding in September.
Throughout the month, 25 to 30 concerts are held with local and international performers such as Chucho Valdés, Silvana Estrada or Zenet.
The perfect combo could be to book a guided tour of the Royal Palace and then attend one of the festival's concerts.
Where it takes place
The event takes place in different locations, the most striking being the one located in the beautiful Campo del Moro Gardens and in the Plaza de la Armería, with capacity for 1,600 guests. It is advisable to make reservations in advance.
How to purchase tickets
You should be attentive to the performance schedule. Tickets are on sale in the "concerts" section of the National Heritage website. At least one free concert will be held during the performance calendar.
8. Take the opportunity to visit Segovia and Toledo from Madrid
Declared a World Heritage Site in 1986, Toledo is a city that will leave you speechless. From the Mirador del Valle you will be able to enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the city and get a first idea of everything you will see during the day:
- You will walk through the narrow labyrinthine streets of the old town.
- You will explore the Jewish Quarter of Toledo.
- You will discover the Alcazar.
- You will visit the Mudejar church of Santo Tomé.
- Visit a handicraft workshop.
- Learn about the art of damascene painting.
Then you will visit Segovia, of course always accompanied by an expert guide:
- You will see the 2nd century Roman aqueduct in the center of the city.
- You will explore the heart of Segovia.
- You will contemplate the apse of the Cathedral of Segovia,
- Visit the Corpus Christi Church, the ancient major Synagogue.
- You will enter the Castle of the Alcazar of Segovia and explore for a few minutes its different halls and rooms.
Details of interest
The tour lasts about 11 hours and costs 40 €. In addition, if you want you can choose the option of adding Avila, which includes a walk through the historic center and the famous wall.
9. Enjoy the theater with the Cervantes Choir
From the beginning of June until the end of October you will have the opportunity to enjoy in Madrid the Coral de Cervantes theater festival, an event that brings to the Spanish capital the best of the Golden Age theater.
The festival presents an intense agenda, with a program that includes approximately 200 performances. It is an event aimed at all audiences and can be attended by children and families. Approximately 8 theater companies from Madrid and surrounding regions perform. Numerous concerts are also held.
Where it takes place
The event takes place in the Madrid Rio urban park, which offers beautiful views of the Manzanares River. You can access this location very easily using the metro or intercity train service, the nearest station is the Piramides terminal and is located just 9 minutes away.
How to buy tickets
To know the schedule of activities you need to visit the official website of the event Corral Cervantes. Historically, tickets for plays usually cost around 15€ and for concerts around 17€.
10. Music, dance and gastronomy at the Veranos de la Villa cultural festival
One of the most anticipated summer festivals in Madrid takes place every year between the first days of July and the end of August.
The festival seeks to pay tribute to Madrid's culture by presenting an extensive agenda that includes: live music of different genres, performing arts, circus acts, craft exhibitions and gastronomic fair.
And if you are a foodie you can't miss a gastronomic tour of Madrid: you will visit 4 of the most emblematic tapas places and taste the delicious Spanish gastronomy. Mmm!
Where it takes place
The most interesting part of the festival is its intense schedule of performances, which includes events in different venues of the capital. Thus, more than 10 districts of the 21 that make up Madrid join the celebration, such as the Conde Duque Cultural Center. In its central courtyard are held different musical presentations and very often the opening ceremony of the festival.
How to buy tickets
It is best to visit the Veranos de Villa website for detailed information about the festival's program as well as ticket prices for the next edition.