Let our local experts craft authentic private activities in Madrid. Unforgettable home dinners, mind-blowing cooking classes, exciting wildlife escapades, relaxed leisure activities, mouthwatering food tastings, and workshops that spark creativity. Let our locals hook you up with exclusive activities. Ready to dive in? Your adventure is just a click away!
Top 3 activities in Madrid
Make your stay in Madrid complete with these things to do
1
With Ariadna
Private Cooking Class with Lovely Spanish Grandma
190 reviews
2 hours | home dinners | Madrid
Can you think of a better way of discovering Spain than going to a grandmother's house to learn how to cook real, traditional food?
Meet Antonia, my grandmother! Come join us on a private cooking class in our house and learn how to cook traditional Spanish dishes following authentic recipes.
A picture says more than a thousand words! During this unique 3-hour private workshop, your local insider and photography expert can show you all the tips & tricks for you to create the best Madrid street photography.
Stroll around Madrid's elegant boulevards, while learning Spanish from a local insider. Visit the best churreria in town, get to know more about the Spanish culture and try locals' favorite: churros with chocolate. Tip: don't forget to dip!
"I recently had the opportunity to explore Madrid through the lens of street photography with Julio, and it was an unforgettable experience. From the start, Julio’s passion for photography and deep knowledge of the city’s diverse neighborhoods made the session both educational and inspiring.
He guided me through areas that offered a wide range of visual stories—from bustling markets and quiet alleyways to vibrant plazas full of local life. Julio doesn’t just know the best spots; he knows how to see them through a creative lens, and he teaches you to do the same.
What stood out most was his patience and understanding. He recognized that for many street photography can feel intimidating at first. But Julio’s calm, encouraging approach made it feel completely approachable. He shared practical techniques, composition tips, and clever tricks to help me capture more authentic, compelling images—all while keeping the mood relaxed and enjoyable.
Whether you're a beginner or someone looking to refine your street photography skills, I highly recommend this experience. Julio’s combination of expertise, enthusiasm, and supportive teaching style makes this more than just a photography tour—it's a genuinely enriching learning experience."
BillAbout local Julio CésarMadrid, August 10, 2025
5.0
Knowledgeable + passionate guide
"I did 3 days of photo workshops with Julio - and I wish I could have done more. Julio arrived prepared with suggested itineraries for each session, including different locations and lighting scenarios as well as composition and technical exercises. He had reviewed my photography in advance to ensure the workshop would help me refine and improve my skills. His enthusiasm for photography, for the city of Madrid and even helping me practice Spanish made our 3 days fly by. His workshop also feels like a cultural and historical tour of Madrid as he familiarized me with this beautiful, lively city. It was such a pleasure spending time with him. I highly recommend Julio and look forward to a future opportunity to shoot with him. Gracias por todo, Julio!"
Private & Personalized Activities in Madrid with a local
Hey, fellow adventurer! As you step into Madrid, get ready to dive headfirst into a world of local activities that redefine exploration. We're all about personalized adventures that showcase the best of Madrid through activities that reflect its beating heart.
Imagine having a local buddy eager to show you the ropes of the city's activities scene. That's what our local experts bring to the table. They're the ones who'll take you to hidden home dinners that'll make your taste buds sing, cooking classes that'll turn you into a culinary wizard, wildlife and nature escapades that'll make you one with the outdoors, sports and leisure experiences for those chill vibes, food and drink tastings that'll make your belly do a happy dance, and workshops that'll spark your creativity. Whether you're a foodie, a nature enthusiast, a sports junkie, or an art lover, our local guides have got a whole range of activities up their sleeves to make your Madrid experience uniquely yours.
Here's the best part – it's all about you. No cookie-cutter agendas or places you're not vibing with. With personalized activities, you're calling the shots. Whether you're clicking Instagram-worthy shots, diving deep into local history, or getting artsy, the activity adapts to your groove and pace. Consider it your express pass to the awesomeness of Madrid, guided by a local who knows the city like the back of their hand.
So, next time you're in Madrid, forget the usual routine. Dive into local activities and unlock the city's real magic – the flavors that'll make your taste buds cheer, the stories that'll tug at your heart, and the experiences that'll make Madrid, well, Madrid. It's time to explore like a local – ready to dive in?
"DO NOT leave Madrid without booking this experience with Lola. You will not regret meeting with her, only NOT meeting with her!
We started our communication with Lola by being provided very good directions and instructions to reach her private dining space. Upon entering, not really knowing what to expect, all we could do was to stand and repeatedly voice, WOW, WOW, WOW! What was once a residence has been converted into a FABULOUS space with an monstrous wooden dining table long with a kitchen showcasing an immense island where her cooking class guests are seated.
Our evening was joined with other guests who fast became friends throughout the course of the evening. We drank, laughed, prepped, cooked, stirred, sauteed, sliced, diced, laughed, drank, and so on. The experience was definitely a hands-on experience crafting truly authentic Spanish dishes using the freshest of foods. The dishes Lola selected for us to cook would have been quite daunting to the untrained cook, however, Lola had a knack for breaking down the recipe and turning the 'chore' of cooking in a wonderfully fun and amusing experience. We learned so much along the way, including how to fully prepare a piece of squid including de-boning, de-beaking and cleaning. We nibbled on the first two courses along the way and thoroughly enjoyed the two final main courses. The truffles served at the end of the evening capped off the magnificent experience in a beautifully sweet way.
You will arrive as a stranger and be friends within minutes. What we truly appreciated with the experience was the Spanish way of life in how laid-back the culture is and looking at the art of cooking as an experience to enjoy with family and friends vs. a chore. "
"Maria was an absolute delight. From the moment we met she taught me and inspired me to speak and love Español. She was very patient and encouraging and most of all a great teacher. I have vowed to practice so that next time we meet we can experience more beauty in Madrid. Gracias. "
"We had a wonderful time in Lola's class. She was knowledgeable, clear in her information and instructions, and very accommodating of dietary requirements (including vegetarian). We walked away full of good food and keen to try making it ourselves! The small group size was also perfect. "
"We had a wonderful time with Ari and Abuela. We learned to make Seafood Paella and Spanish Omelet/Tortilla. The interactions were fun and the food was incredible and plentiful! Abuela was very patient with our many questions and Ari was very patient translating them. Ari also gave us some great pointers for our next activity of the day. All in all, it was a fantastic experience!"
"We would not recommend this experience more. Antonia and Ariadna welcomed us into their (pristine) home. Ariadna spoke perfect English and translated our many questions for Abuela. The produce was so fresh and the food was something out of our dreams. We made Seafood Paella and Spanish Tortilla we would highly recommend. So grateful to have this experience. "
ClaireAbout local AriadnaMadrid, December 14, 2023
5.0
Amazing Time
"I had a wonderful cooking lesson and lunch with Ariadna and her grandmother Antonina. After booking the lesson, Ariadna reached out to me giving me several options for lunch; I chose the traditional Spanish Tortilla and gazpacho. I was greeted with a warm welcome and made me feel like family. Both Ariadna and Antonia are very sweet. I especially enjoyed my time since I Spanish. But if you don’t speak Spanish, don’t worry because Ariadna is fluent in English! The food was delicious and their company was the icing on the cake! Thank you Ariadna and Antonia; I’m looking forward to making these dishes at home."
ChristopherAbout local AriadnaMadrid, November 17, 2023
5.0
Fun, approachable cooking experience!
"My wife and I were in Spain for our first time and Lola’s class was a fantastic introduction to making some staple Spanish dishes. Lola made the class fun and engaging for us and taught us a lot about Spanish culture even beyond the food. It felt like a locals experience more than a contrived tourist experience (being first time travelers to Spain, we’ve seen many of the latter too).
We had a wonderful time and would recommend to anyone."
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