10 Plans to Celebrate a Birthday in Madrid

To avoid the birthday becoming the "usual" affair—a gathering at a bar, restaurant, or house party—we’ve put together a list of different activities you can enjoy in Madrid with family or friends. And yes, they’re all incredibly fun—don’t worry, they’re perfectly compatible with culinary celebrations too. 

Madrid is the perfect backdrop for the boldest birthday celebration. The city offers every imaginable option for those dreaming of a day to remember. Epic plans for all tastes at the best prices in the capital. What more could you want? Your mates will be talking about your birthday until the next one rolls around. Skip the crisps and soda for movie night, and dive into adventure this year.




We’re starting with one of the most well-known activities—who hasn’t taken the wheel of these little machines at least once? A race with your friends is a brilliant way to celebrate your birthday. The popularity of go-karts, once a staple for stag dos, is booming thanks to the quantity and quality of Madrid’s circuits. 

You can race and compete in grand prix-style events on indoor and outdoor circuits—here are the best go-kart tracks in the capital. You can set qualifying times beforehand and then battle for the podium, trying to outdo your mates or the birthday boy/girl.

One of the best driving experiences in Madrid, complete with top-notch facilities including a restaurant area for post-race celebrations, is in Rivas. Considered one of the best go-kart tracks in Europe, this circuit is perfect for a competitive day out with friends, followed by some snacks to round off the celebration.

(Line 9, Metro Rivas Futura)

BOOK YOUR GO-KARTING IN RIVAS




Here’s a challenge: step into a themed room with your friends and try to escape within 60 minutes by solving clues, riddles, and puzzles. Will you make it? 

Escape rooms are becoming increasingly popular among leisure activities in the capital, and we’re no exception. We’ve got loads of escape rooms in Madrid with all sorts of themes.

Gather your friends and attempt your escape. You can go head-to-head, face your fears by adopting different roles... one of the best things about escape games is the variety of characters you can play. 

In the city centre, on Cuesta de San Vicente, you’ll find a horror-themed room where you’ll have to overcome everything from human sacrifices to dark rituals. Once you’ve escaped and shaken off the heebie-jeebies... hit Madrid’s best nightlife spots to keep the party going.

(Line 10, Metro Plaza de España)

BOOK YOUR HORROR ESCAPE ROOM




A battle with laser guns in a dark maze is a fantastic option if you love combat experiences. Take your friends to any of Madrid’s laser tag arenas, strap on a vest, and do everything you can to avoid being hit by your opponents’ lasers. Inside, there’s no such thing as friendship—everyone’s a target. Perfect for groups of 6–8, guaranteed fun. 

This activity is ideal for birthday celebrations and suits all ages. Unlike paintball, there’s no physical pain, so it’s great for kids and teens too. A unique urban adventure. Check out the most original options we have in Madrid, including outdoor fields for laser combat.

We love a combat arena just minutes from the centre, in Tres Cantos. You’ll play outdoors with hyper-realistic weapon replicas, but instead of lasers, you’ll use harmless infrared rays. 

(From Plaza Castilla, bus 712/713)

BOOK YOUR OUTDOOR LASER TAG GAME




For petrolheads and thrill-seekers, take the wheel of these four-wheeled beasts. Off-road routes and circuits of all kinds for a brutal experience behind the wheel of a buggy. Two-seater vehicles to tackle ravines, mud pits, puddles... push them to the limit!

It’s not the cheapest adventure for a birthday, but it’s undoubtedly one of the most fun and exciting. Prices vary depending on duration and route, but there are wallet-friendly deals. For more info, here are all the buggy-driving options near Madrid.

Obviously, you won’t be tearing down Gran Vía in a buggy, but just a few kilometres away in El Casar (Guadalajara), you’ll find packages including 1-hour drives and barbecues—a top-tier birthday plan everyone will rave about.

(From Plaza Castilla, bus 182/184)

BOOK YOUR OFF-ROAD BUGGY ADVENTURE




Scavenger hunts, VR rooms, Cluedo-style games, mystery or horror challenges. In the capital, you’ll find countless ways to celebrate your birthday originally with themed adventures. Test yourselves with a city-wide scavenger hunt or dive into a paranormal experience to surprise the birthday person. 

Activities that, for very little money, will give you a hilariously good time while letting you see Madrid from a totally different perspective. Check out all the ideas we’ve got here. 

El Retiro is a great spot for a unique birthday. You won’t have time to get bored with the games prepared for this urban scavenger hunt in Madrid’s green lung. 

(Line 2, Metro Retiro)

BOOK YOUR EL RETIRIO SCAVENGER HUNT




If you love football, you’re in luck—this activity is non-stop laughter. For the uninitiated, bubble football involves climbing into a giant PVC bubble (held like a backpack) with your legs free. Sounds easy? It’s not. Anything goes here. You’ll crash into opponents, fall over, struggle to get up... You’ll laugh so much that kicking the ball straight becomes impossible. 

A brilliant way to have a laugh at a birthday celebration, and very affordable too. Here are all the options in and around Madrid. You’ll be sore the next day! It’s football without rules. 

If you want to include a feast and skip post-party stress, head to Colmenar, where a zorbing field also has a barbecue area—perfect for a different kind of day out with your mates. 

(From Plaza Castilla, bus 724/725/726)

BOOK YOUR BUBBLE FOOTBALL GAME IN COLMENAR VIEJO




It’s a classic, but paintball reigns supreme for celebrations. Who hasn’t played or heard of it? Madrid has countless paintball fields across the region, making it one of Spain’s top provinces for the sport.

Simulate a real battle in themed arenas. You’ll buy as many paintballs as you want, with the option to reload. Perfect for a group of friends to enjoy a morning or afternoon. Here are the most original paintball matches in the capital—prepare to be splattered. 

For those after an outdoor battle, head to Algete, northwest of Madrid, for a killer paintball field (literally). They even offer post-game barbecues. 

(From Plaza Castilla, bus 181/182/183)

BOOK YOUR OUTDOOR PAINTBALL IN ALGETE




If the birthday falls in summer, treat the birthday person to a flyboard experience. Madrid may lack a sea, but it’s got reservoirs and companies offering this thrilling activity—perfect paired with a boat day among friends or family. 

You’ll propel into the air on a "board" connected to a jet ski (or similar), balancing as you hover over the water. So much fun! Fair warning: it’s tricky at first (you’ll wipe out a lot), but once you get the hang of it, it’s a blast. 

A great group gift, right? Here are the best flyboard options in Madrid. For a surefire hit, try San Juan Reservoir for a weekend birthday adventure. 

(From Príncipe Pío, bus 551)

BOOK YOUR FLYBOARD IN MADRID




After winter, melting snow swells rivers into raging torrents. One of the best activities for this season is rafting. Tackling white-water rapids with your mates is an epic birthday plan. 

You can’t raft in Madrid itself, but head to Guadalajara in the Alto Tajo area, just 60 km away. Here, you’ll experience one of the most exhilarating water sports around. Check out our rafting options near Madrid.

(A-2/ R-2/ N-320 highways)

BOOK YOUR RAFTING NEAR MADRID




We’ve saved the showstopper for last. Though it’s an individual activity, it’s an epic group gift for a mate. Jump from 4,000 metres, feel the freedom of freefall for a minute, then glide gently to the ground. How cool is that? Skydiving is your next big plan! Less than an hour from Madrid (no car needed), you’ll be in Ocaña, ready to leap.

Prefer to test the waters? Try indoor skydiving in Madrid’s wind tunnels—a cheaper, safer way to simulate freefall. Don’t hesitate—gift a skydive! They’ll remember it forever. Or maybe you’ll be the one surprised. Explore all the options to fly in Madrid, whether jumping or wind-tunnel flying. 

(Isla Azul Shopping Centre)

BOOK YOUR WIND TUNNEL IN MADRID

(From Atocha to Ocaña)

BOOK YOUR SKYDIVE IN MADRID






Now that you’ve got plenty of ideas, which one’s your pick? Be bold and make a birthday wishlist. Those forgotten scarves stuffed in a drawer are history... this year’s gift won’t come wrapped!