Madrid has many ways of winning you over. There is the Madrid of museums, of sunny terraces, of neighbourhoods buzzing with life at any hour, and of spontaneous getaways just a few kilometres from the city centre. But there is another Madrid that is best enjoyed with trainers, a bicycle, a racket, a backpack or even binoculars: a city and a region that are perfect for anyone looking to combine travel, sport and nature.
Because visiting Madrid does not necessarily mean choosing between urban culture and the great outdoors. Here you can start the day running beside the lake in El Retiro park, cycle along Madrid Río at sunset, feel the excitement of a great stadium, escape to the Sierra de Guadarrama for a walk in the mountains, or end the weekend trying water sports on a reservoir. Madrid is also a place to sweat, breathe deeply and explore at a different pace.
A city made for walking, running and cycling
One of the best ways to discover Madrid is simply to get moving. The city invites you to stroll without hurry, but also to run through some of its most emblematic green spaces. El Retiro is a classic for anyone who wants to start the day with a gentle route in the heart of the city; Casa de Campo, Madrid’s largest public park, covering more than 1,700 hectares, is much larger and wilder, making you feel far from the city without actually leaving it; and Madrid Río offers an easy route along the Manzanares River, perfect for walking, running or getting around by bike.
For travellers who prefer to explore on two wheels, Madrid also has an increasingly interesting cycling side. Beyond its urban routes, the Community of Madrid offers initiatives such as CiclaMadrid, a network of bike routes across the region designed around different interests, levels and types of itinerary. It is an active and sustainable way to discover villages, landscapes and unexpected corners of the region.
Football: experiencing Madrid from the stands
In Madrid, sport is also enjoyed as a spectacle. And if there is one sport capable of turning the city into a collective celebration, it is football. Visiting the Santiago Bernabéu or the Metropolitano Stadium is much more than stepping inside two great sporting temples: it means entering an essential part of Madrid’s identity.
The Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid museums allow visitors to explore the history of two iconic clubs, but the experience reaches another level if your visit happens to fall on a match day. The streets fill with shirts, bars become the prelude to the stadium and the city is swept up in an energy that is hard to explain unless you experience it from within. Madrid is also about women’s football, neighbourhood football and a shared passion: a perfect excuse to understand the city from its stands.
Madrid, also courtside
Tennis also has an unmissable date in Madrid. Every spring, the Caja Mágica hosts the Mutua Madrid Open, one of the major tournaments on the international calendar, with ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 status. During the event, the city becomes a meeting point for some of the best male and female players in the world, and experiencing a day of live tennis joins the list of sporting experiences that can turn an urban getaway into something memorable. For those visiting Madrid outside the tournament dates, tennis remains a great way to connect with the city’s active rhythm, whether by booking a court at one of its clubs or enjoying its outdoor sports facilities.
Mountains just a step away from the capital
One of Madrid’s great luxuries is having the mountains so close: in around an hour, you can leave the city centre behind and reach some of the main gateways to the Sierra de Guadarrama. The Sierra is the great natural setting for anyone looking for an active escape: hiking, climbing, mountain routes, snow in winter or simply a day outdoors to switch off.
The good thing is that you do not need to be an expert to enjoy it. There are routes for every level, from peaceful walks to more demanding trails. For those visiting Madrid for several days, dedicating a day to the Sierra is a perfect way to balance the intensity of the capital with the calm of nature.
How to get to the Sierra:
- By car: this is the most flexible option. From central Madrid, you can reach areas such as Cercedilla, Navacerrada, Guadarrama or Manzanares el Real in around 50 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes, depending on the traffic and your destination.
- By Cercanías (local) train: a convenient option for getting to Cercedilla, one of the classic starting points for hiking routes. The Madrid-Cercedilla journey takes around 1 hour on the fastest services. From there, you can access routes such as the Fuenfría Valley or paths towards Navacerrada.
- By intercity bus: buses to towns in the Sierra depart from the Moncloa transport interchange. For example, the no. 691 connects Madrid with Becerril, Navacerrada and Valdesquí, with estimated journey times of up to 90 minutes depending on the stop. There are also routes to Guadarrama, such as the 684 Moncloa-Guadarrama service.
Madrid has water too
Although Madrid has no sea, it does have places where water takes centre stage. Reservoirs, rivers and lakes across the region offer options for canoeing, sailing, rowing, rafting and other activities organised by active tourism companies. It is one of the most refreshing surprises for those who associate Madrid only with urban activities.
During the warmer months, these natural spaces are an ideal alternative for escaping the heat, spending the day outdoors and discovering a lesser-known side of the region. A Madrid of freshwater, calm and adventure.
Golf, nature and plans for slowing down
Active tourism does not always need to be adrenaline-packed. Madrid is also an interesting destination for those who enjoy more leisurely sports, such as golf. The region has 29 courses, as well as clubs and options for different levels, from regular players to those who want to try the sport for the first time during their trip.
And for those who prefer observing to competing, the Community of Madrid offers exceptional natural wealth. Almost 40% of its territory is protected, and nearly 240 bird species have been recorded, making birdwatching a very appealing experience for travellers interested in biodiversity, landscapes and silence.
The Camino also begins in Madrid
Madrid is an arrival point, but it can also be a starting point. The Camino de Madrid connects the capital with the French Way in Sahagún, crossing urban landscapes, villages, historical heritage and natural stretches. For anyone seeking a more introspective, physical and cultural experience, this Jacobean route allows you to experience Madrid as the beginning of a longer journey.
You do not need to complete the whole route to enjoy its spirit. It is enough to walk one stage, move at an unhurried pace and let the journey begin before you have even left the region.
The best way to get to know Madrid: move around
Madrid is a city to look at, taste and listen to. But it is also a city to walk, run, cycle, play and explore. That is perhaps one of its great virtues: it allows you to change pace without changing destination.
You may come for its museums and end up discovering a mountain route. You may plan a gastronomic weekend and finish it rowing on a reservoir. You may land thinking of squares, markets and neighbourhoods, and leave with the feeling that you have also discovered a greener, sportier and brighter Madrid.
Because active tourism in Madrid is not just about doing sport during your stay. It is about experiencing the city with more energy, looking beyond the centre and understanding that, sometimes, the best way to discover a destination is to get moving.
