Embark on a budget-friendly adventure through the vibrant streets of Madrid with this guide, where you’ll discover random delights, secret student discounts, and mouthwatering yet affordable meals, transforming your experience from a dream into a reality without breaking the bank.

Museums

The best museums in Madrid have discounts for students! Make sure to make reservations because they get busy. Also, be sure to bring identification with you!

Reina Sofía

• The Reina Sofía Museum is filled with modern and contemporary art by artists like Picasso, Juan Gris, and Salvador Dalí.
• Students aged 25 and under: Free.

El Prado

• As Madrid’s largest museum, El Prado had over 2.4 million visitors in 2022. Most of the artwork is from the Spanish Golden Age.
• Students aged between 18-25: Free.

Thyssen-Bornemisza

• The Thyssen Museum has over 1,600 paintings from notable artists like Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso, and Van Eyck.
• Students: 9 Euros, With the Youth Metro Card: Free

Games

CityPlay Mini Golf/Bowling: Centro Comercial Palacio de Hielo

Playing mini golf or bowling is the perfect activity for a boring weekend. For mini golf, the prices depend on the number of players and the day. It ranges from 4-8 euros per person. The same goes for bowling, which ranges between 6-8.50 euros. 

Traveling close by…

Day Trip to Toledo – for Free!

Toledo is a beautiful city full of history, culture, and religion. Using your student metro card, go to the Plaza Eliptica Metro station. You can take the Alsa bus number VAC 023 to Toledo from there. It is best to look at the times and plan.

Seasonal activities

Walk through the city for the Christmas lights

You probably have seen workers setting them up already, but they light up starting November 24th! Puerta de Alcalá, Retiro Park, Plaza de Cibeles, Puerta del Sol, and Plaza Mayor are the most notable locations.

Mercado de Navidad in Plaza Mayor

This is the most popular Christmas market in Madrid! Here, you can enjoy amazing hot chocolate and churros and shop for gifts for loved ones!

Restaurants

Nan Nan Ma La Tang

• Cost.ª de los Ángeles, 18, 28013 Madrid
• 4.4/5 stars from 354 Google Ratings

• This is a hotpot located near Plaza de Santa Domingo. You go to a counter, choose your ingredients, and they determine the price by how much it weighs.
• An average meal here costs 10 euros.
• It has gone viral on TikTok and Instagram, so it tends to be packed. Nevertheless, that means you know it is good!

My Pasta Room

• C. del Espíritu Santo, 16, 28004 Madrid
• 4.6/5 stars from 2,439 Google ratings

• At this restaurant, you can personalize your pasta with whichever protein, sauce, and pasta noodles you choose.
• The average price for pasta is 12 euros, while the average price for a pizza is 10 euros.

Bar Gyoza Go!

• Pl. del Comandante las Morenas, 5, 28013 Madrid
• 4.6/5 stars from 2.4k Google ratings
• You can enjoy tasty handmade gyoza cooked right in front of you.
• The average price for ten gyozas is 5.50 euros.

Mazál Bagels

• Calle de Bretón de los Herreros, 35, 28003 Madrid

• Mazál is the best place to get New York-style bagels. You may have to make a reservation because it gets pretty busy. 

Indulging in the vibrant energy of Madrid doesn’t need to be a financial headache; this guide ensures that every experience, from delightful activities to scrumptious meals, aligns seamlessly with the budget-friendly rhythm of student life in the Spanish capital, proving that a good time can be both enriching and affordable.

Featured Image courtesy of Student Experience