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If you’re on a layover in Madrid or have some time to kill before your flight, you don’t have to stay inside the airport terminal. There are plenty of things to do near Madrid Airport, just a short taxi or metro ride away, perfect if you don’t want to risk venturing into Madrid’s city center.

The surroundings of Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD) offer charming parks, neighborhoods, shopping centers, and even cultural attractions. And yes, we’ll include what to do with your luggage so you can explore hands-free.

Store your luggage at Madrid Airport with LUGGit

Before you wander around, your first step should be storing your luggage. LUGGit offers a luggage pick-up and delivery service in Madrid that no locker can match.

How LUGGit’s pick-up, storage, and delivery service works

Book on LUGGit’s website or app (iOS or Android).
A LUGGit Keeper meets you wherever you are (at your airport terminal, hotel, or any chosen spot in Madrid) and picks up your bags.
Your luggage is sealed, insured, and stored safely while you explore.
When you're ready, the Keeper delivers your luggage anywhere in Madrid, whether that’s your accommodation or straight back to the airport before your flight.

Use code BLOG10 for 10% off your LUGGit service in Madrid

Best things to do near Madrid Airport

1. Explore Barajas town

Distance: 5-10 min by taxi or metro (Line 8)

Right next to the airport sits Barajas, a small, peaceful neighborhood with narrow streets, plazas, bakeries, and taverns serving traditional Madrid dishes. It’s a good spot to have a feel of local life without venturing too far.

Visit Plaza Mayor (Barajas’ main square) and grab something to eat at Martes 13, known for serving generous portions of traditional dishes, or Bar Restaurante Albariño, which specializes in food of Spain’s northern Asturias region.

2. Visit El Capricho Park

Distance: 12-15 min by taxi or bus (Line 101)

Hands-down one of Madrid’s most beautiful parks, El Capricho is a garden built in the 18th century by the Dukes of Osuna. Expect romantic pathways, statues, ponds, the Dukes’ palace, and even a Civil War bunker. The entry is free, but it’s only open on weekends and holidays.

3. Discover Juan Carlos I Park

Distance: 10-12 min by taxi or Metro (Line 8)

If you’re looking for space to stretch your legs, Juan Carlos I Park is one of the largest green areas in Madrid and a great spot for clearing your head between long flights. The park features a lake, open lawns, walkways, sculpture trails, and plenty of shaded areas where you can sit down and enjoy a break. It’s a modern, expansive park that’s especially pleasant on a sunny layover when you’d rather be outdoors than inside a terminal.

4. Explore IFEMA Madrid area

Distance: 8-10 minutes by taxi or Metro (Line 8)

IFEMA is Madrid’s main convention center and is surrounded by wide sidewalks, cafés, restaurants, and hotels. Even if you’re not attending an event, the area is a calm place for a walk or a bite to eat. It’s clean, open, and easy to navigate, which makes it ideal when you don’t want to worry about crowds, traffic, or complicated directions during a short layover. Many restaurants here have outdoor seating, and since the neighborhood caters to business travelers, service is generally quick and efficient.

5. Go shopping at Plenilunio Mall

Distance: 10-12 minutes by taxi

If you’d rather spend your layover indoors with guaranteed air-conditioning, Plenilunio is the closest major shopping mall to Madrid Airport. It has international clothing brands, Spanish retailers, a supermarket, cafés, and plenty of places to sit down with something to eat. There’s even a cinema and a few entertainment areas if you’re traveling with kids and need to keep them busy. Since it’s open every day and stays open late, it’s a reliable option regardless of the time of your layover.

6. Visit Real Madrid’s city (Valdebebas)

Distance: 12-15 minutes by taxi

Even if you’re not a huge football fan, seeing Real Madrid City (officially called Ciudad Real Madrid) can be quite impressive. This is the club’s massive training complex, located in the Valdebebas district near the airport. While the training sessions themselves are usually closed to the public, the surrounding area is pleasant to walk around, and many visitors enjoy simply seeing the scale of the facilities. The neighborhood of Valdebebas is also modern, quiet, and filled with green spaces, making it a peaceful stop on a layover. For football lovers, it’s a little pilgrimage just minutes from the runway.

7. Visit Castillo de la Alameda

Distance: 10 minutes by taxi

Castillo de la Alameda is one of the most unexpected historical sites near the airport: a medieval fortress right in the middle of a residential district. The castle dates back to the Middle Ages, later becoming a strategic point during the Spanish Civil War. Today, the restored structure includes an archaeological center where you can learn about the area’s past. The surrounding gardens are also a lovely spot to take a walk.

8. Visit Metropolitano Stadium (Atlético Madrid)

Distance: 12-15 minutes by taxi or a combination of metro lines

For those who prefer noisy crowds and sporting energy over quiet parks, the Metropolitano Stadium (home of Atlético Madrid) is only a short ride from the airport. Even when no match is taking place, the outside of the stadium is impressive, and the area around it has wide open spaces, cafés, fan stores, and viewpoints. Stadium tours are sometimes available, giving you the chance to see locker rooms, the pitch, and the players’ tunnel.

What to do on a longer layover in Madrid

If your layover is long enough that staying near the airport feels limiting, you can absolutely head into Madrid’s city center. Just make sure you have at least 7 hours between flights to do it comfortably. The airport’s metro line and taxis make the ride to central Madrid quick and straightforward.

To make planning easier, we put together a complete Madrid layover guide, including transport, luggage storage options, and things to do.

Explore Madrid luggage-free with LUGGit

Turn your layover into an adventure. With plenty of things to do near Madrid airport, you can enjoy food, nature, shopping, or sightseeing, all within minutes of the terminals. And with LUGGit, you get complete freedom to explore without carrying your bags around.

Use code BLOG10 for 10% off your LUGGit service in Madrid