“No biggie” were the words that I said when the Spanish government announced a 10-day heat wave for the first few days of July. Little did I know the scorching heat that it entailed. When you first move to Spain, it’s not uncommon to have Spaniards warn you about summers in the city. In fact, Madrid is essentially empty in the late months of summer. Tank tops, flip flops, and shirtless men are abundant in the city’s streets, the consequence of the droplets of sweat caused by walking merely a couple of blocks at any time (yes, even in the middle of the night). If you are one of the few people still in the city, we’ve got you covered. We’ve gathered our top 10 tips to escape the heat and enjoy Madrid in all its summer glory.
- Look for bodies of water
The first thought you will get after the temperature surpasses 38 degrees celsius is wishing you were at the beach. Madrid has no beach of its own, but if there’s something it has plenty of hotels with cool rooftop pools to hang out, cool down, and live it up. Our two favorites at the moment are:
Dear Hotel: maybe you’ve seen it in your favorite influencer’s stories on Instagram, and with reason. The pool at Dear is amidst iconic Madrid rooftops, making it an original view in a deep green tile pool.
Madrid Edition Hotel: The new oasis in the heart of the city, if you happen to be in the mood to escape Plaza Mayor’s emblematic tourist spots, take a short walk to the newly established Edition Hotel and head right to the gorgeous pool.
Bonus FOLO tip: their restaurant selection inside the hotel is one of the best we’ve ever seen.
2. Forget about the rising temperature with a movie
Picture this: A great movie, the clear Madrid night sky and a romantic ambiance with special company. Did I convince you already? The following movie events are happening all summer in Madrid:
Jardin del Reina Sofia: From July 8th to September 3rd, every Friday and Saturday they are showing different musical cinema shows in Edificio Sabatini
Autocine Madrid RACE: This outdoor movie showing happens all year long in Chamartin. They also have an event every Sunday called “Rita’s Brunch” with fair-like activities like concerts, games and food trucks.
3. Keep hydrated while doing “Terraceo”
Are you really in Madrid if you don’t spend at least one of your summer afternoons on a terrace drinking a Tinto de Verano? Even more, here at FOLO we recommend you do that at one of the many rooftop bars, such as:
Picalagartos: a cocktail and sky bar, it’s becoming a gem amongst the Madrid summer scene. You will have views of the entire city while enjoying excellent reasonably priced cocktails and wine by the glass.
Club 67: A secret rooftop terrace in the Only You Hotel, which requires not only a reservation, but a secret spoken code word in the reception, with unbelievably good Japanese cuisine. We believe this is Madrid’s current best-kept secret.
4. Take a Fancy hat for a stroll at Hipódromo de la Zarzuela:
Hipodromo de la Zarzuela: Every Thursday and Saturdays of the summer months the Zarzuela racetrack dresses for a party to celebrate its 35th anniversary. With live music, night races, and a beautiful crowd, you will surely forget about the rising temperatures and leave everything behind for an unforgettable night. The food menu is out of this world together with the wine and spirits offerings.
5. Dance and sing the heat away
Madrid is not Madrid without a lively music scene to gather a crowd, and summers are no exception. This year’s concert catalog is looking like no other; check out the yearly Noches del Botanico for the many shows going on. Check out the lineup here: https://en.nochesdelbotanico.com
