{"id":35154,"date":"2026-05-19T15:44:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T15:44:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/volare.volotea.com\/?post_type=inspiracion&p=35154"},"modified":"2026-05-19T15:51:48","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T15:51:48","slug":"active-plans-in-madrid","status":"publish","type":"inspiracion","link":"https:\/\/volare.volotea.com\/en\/cities\/madrid\/active-plans-in-madrid\/","title":{"rendered":"Madrid in motion: active plans to discover the capital"},"content":{"rendered":"
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.<\/h5>\n

Because visiting Madrid<\/a> 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 R\u00edo 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.<\/p>\n

A city made for walking, running and cycling<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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<\/strong> is a classic for anyone who wants to start the day with a gentle route in the heart of the city; Casa de Campo<\/strong><\/a>, Madrid\u2019s 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 R\u00edo<\/strong><\/a> offers an easy route along the Manzanares River, perfect for walking, running or getting around by bike.<\/p>\n

\"madrid<\/figure>\n

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<\/strong><\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n

Football: experiencing Madrid from the stands<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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 Bernab\u00e9u<\/strong><\/a> or the Metropolitano Stadium is much more than stepping inside two great sporting temples: it means entering an essential part of Madrid\u2019s identity.<\/p>\n

\"exterior<\/figure>\n

The Real Madrid and Atl\u00e9tico de Madrid<\/a> 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\u2019s football, neighbourhood football and a shared passion: a perfect excuse to understand the city from its stands.<\/p>\n

Madrid, also courtside<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Tennis also has an unmissable date in Madrid. Every spring, the Caja M\u00e1gica hosts the Mutua Madrid Open<\/strong>, 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\u2019s active rhythm, whether by booking a court at one of its clubs or enjoying its outdoor sports facilities.<\/p>\n

Mountains just a step away from the capital<\/strong><\/h3>\n

One of Madrid\u2019s great luxuries is having the mountains so close<\/strong>: in around an hour, you can leave the city centre behind and reach some of the main gateways to the Sierra de Guadarrama<\/strong><\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n

\"Sierra<\/figure>\n

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.<\/p>\n

How to get to the Sierra:<\/strong><\/p>\n