Free tastings and samples anyone can walk into, and the cheap local classics that keep a day of sightseeing going.
FreeMadrid's tap water comes from granite mountain reservoirs and tastes better than most bottled water. The city maps every public drinking fountain in streets and parks, and shows the nearest one in its Madrid Móvil app.
All year. Many park fountains are shut off in winter frosts.
€2.50Six churros or two fat porras for €2.50 at the chocolate house open since 1894, in the alley behind San Ginés church. The cup of thick hot chocolate to dip them in is €3.70 more.
Open daily. Shortest lines before 10:00 on weekdays.
Source: Chocolatería San Ginés
€3.90A crusty roll filled with cured ham, eaten standing at a steel bar under rows of hanging legs. The cheese, chorizo or salchichón version is €3.50 and a small beer is €2.20.
Daily, from breakfast to late evening. Prices are from the chain's published bar menu.
Source: Museo del Jamón
€4 for twoCustard or chocolate filled pastries from the bakery that has stood on the corner of Puerta del Sol since 1894. Madrileños buy them at the ground-floor counter and eat them in the square.
Daily. Warm trays come out through the morning.
Source: La Mallorquina
€1A Spanish chain of mini sandwiches that sells almost its whole menu at €1 an item on Euromanía days. Not fine dining, but three montaditos make a lunch for €3.
Wednesdays, at branches across the city. Check the chain's promotions page for extra days.
Source: 100 Montaditos
Nothing free in Madrid stands in for 80,000 people in the rebuilt Bernabéu on a match night. If tickets are out of reach, a flamenco show in a small tablao is the other thing the city does that no museum slot replaces. Either way, book direct with the club or the venue, not a reseller.
Everything above is free. This is the only paid pick on the page, chosen because no free option replaces it.
See tickets and prices
