What to visit in Madrid during the visit of Pope Leo XIV

Madrid is preparing for historic days on the occasion of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Spain. The apostolic journey will take place from June 6 to 12, 2026, and the capital will host the Pontiff from June 6 to 9, with some of the main events planned for iconic locations such as Plaza de Cibeles, Plaza de Lima, Almudena Cathedral, the Santiago Bernabéu, or IFEMA Madrid.

During those days, Madrid will welcome thousands of national and international visitors. Many will come for religious reasons, but they will also look to discover the city from a broader perspective: its heritage, history, traditions, monuments, and those unique places that help define Madrid’s identity.

Madrid, a city to discover at your own pace

Beyond the major official events, the Pope’s visit will also be an opportunity to explore Madrid from a cultural perspective. The capital combines monumental spaces, historic churches, museums, neighborhoods with their own personality, and buildings that are part of the city’s collective memory.

The planned schedule will bring together pilgrims, tourists, and visitors at various points across Madrid, so it is highly recommended to plan your travel in advance. In fact, the Community of Madrid has announced extra Metro services during the visit, especially on lines with the highest flow toward the main events.

In this context, many travelers will take advantage of their stay to visit places beyond the usual circuits—spaces that speak of history, art, popular tradition, and Spanish culture.

Las Ventas: a unique monument in Madrid

Among these places is the Las Ventas Bullring, one of Madrid’s most singular buildings and one of the city’s great cultural landmarks.

Built in the Neo-Mudéjar style, with exposed brick and hand-painted tiles, Las Ventas opened in 1931 and is considered one of the most important bullrings in the world. Additionally, since 1994, it has been a Site of Cultural Interest in the category of Historical-Artistic Monument.

But Las Ventas is not just a bullfighting venue. It is also a place where architecture, Madrid’s social history, popular traditions, and a very little-known part of Spanish cultural heritage intersect.

The chapel of Las Ventas, a little-known corner

One of the most surprising areas on the Las Ventas tour is its chapel, an intimate place full of symbolism. This place of worship, traditionally reserved for the privacy of bullfighters before they enter the ring, holds a strong emotional and cultural weight.

The chapel is presided over by the Virgin of Paloma, the popular patron saint of Madrid, and the Virgin of Guadalupe, who is closely linked to Mexico and the Latin American bullfighting tradition. Inside, you can see prayer cards and mementos left by bullfighters over time, a testament to a tradition where emotion, fear, popular faith, and respect blend before the opening parade.

For many international visitors, this space is particularly striking because it shows a little-known dimension of Spanish culture: the relationship between rituals, tradition, popular spirituality, and the history of a profession deeply tied to Madrid’s identity.

Culture, tradition, and Spanish heritage

Visiting Las Ventas during these days can be a different way to understand Madrid. It’s not just about seeing a bullring, but about getting close to a monumental building that is part of the city’s history.

The tour allows you to discover the stands, the ring, the Great Gate (Puerta Grande), the infirmary, the Bullfighting Museum of Madrid, and other spaces that explain how an important part of Spanish popular culture was built. The visit also helps you understand the Neo-Mudéjar architecture, the symbolic language of the building, and the social importance Las Ventas has held in Madrid for nearly a century.

Furthermore, the audio-guided tour is available in several languages, making it an accessible experience for international tourists who want to get to know Madrid from a cultural, historical, and authentic perspective.

What to do in Madrid besides the main events

During Pope Leo XIV’s visit, Madrid will offer an intense schedule and a large influx of visitors. For those wishing to round out their stay with cultural plans, the city has numerous iconic spaces: the Almudena Cathedral, the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, Paseo del Prado, Retiro Park, the La Latina neighborhood, or the monumental Cibeles area.

To these places, you can add less common experiences, such as discovering the interior of Las Ventas, its chapel, its architecture, and its museum. This is an especially interesting option for those looking to see “the other Madrid”: the Madrid of traditions, trades, symbols, and spaces that don’t always appear in conventional travel guides.

Tips for visiting Madrid during those days

If you plan to travel to Madrid between June 6 and 9, 2026, it’s advisable to organize your visit in advance. The city will have special mobility measures, possible road closures or diversions in central areas, and higher demand for public transport, especially around the most crowded events.

It may also be a good idea to book cultural activities, guided tours, and tourist experiences ahead of time. Madrid will receive many visitors during those days, and some spaces may have higher demand than usual.