Travel guide · Spain
Madrid travel guide
Velázquez and Goya by day, tapas bars and late nights after dark
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Spain's capital sits on a high plateau in the centre of the country, and its great draw is the Paseo del Arte: the Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen-Bornemisza museums within a 15-minute walk of each other, beside the Retiro park. The old centre around Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor and the Royal Palace is compact and walkable, while neighbourhoods such as La Latina, Malasaña and Chueca fill with tapas crowds late into the night. High-speed trains reach Toledo and Segovia in about 30 minutes. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are April–June and September–October.
Key facts
- Country
- Spain
- Best time to visit
- April–June and September–October
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- MAD
- Mid-range daily budget
- $150–$260 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Prado Museum, Tapas, Royal Palace and Retiro Park
Why visit Madrid
- The Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen-Bornemisza hold Las Meninas, Guernica and centuries of European art within one short stretch of boulevard.
- Tapas culture runs from vermouth on tap and patatas bravas in La Latina to classic taverns serving cocido madrileño.
- The Retiro park and the riverside Madrid Río give the city large, free green spaces for walking, rowing and picnics.
- Toledo, Segovia, El Escorial and Ávila are all easy day trips by train.
- Madrid's nightlife starts with dinner at 9pm and runs until dawn in Malasaña, Chueca and Huertas.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 19 things to do.
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Museum · Paseo del Prado
Prado Museum
Spain's national art museum, opened in 1819, holds the world's greatest collections of Velázquez and Goya — including Las Meninas, The Third of May 1808 and Goya's Black Paintings — along with Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights, El Greco, Titian and Rubens.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
Museum · Atocha
Reina Sofía Museum
Spain's national museum of 20th-century and contemporary art occupies a former hospital with glass lift towers and a Jean Nouvel extension.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- Rainy day
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Palace · Palacio
Royal Palace of Madrid
Built in the 18th century after the old Alcázar burned down, the official residence of the Spanish royal family is used for state ceremonies and is among the largest palaces in Europe.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Kids
Park · Retiro
Retiro Park
Madrid's 125-hectare former royal park, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the Paseo del Prado since 2021, has a boating lake overlooked by the colonnaded monument to Alfonso XII, a rose garden, shaded avenues and the Fallen Angel fountain, said to be one of the few public statues of the devil.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Iconic
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Landmark · Centro
Plaza Mayor
Built in the early 17th century under Philip III, whose equestrian statue stands in the centre, this enclosed, arcaded square once hosted bullfights, coronations and executions.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
Street · Centro
Puerta del Sol and Gran Vía
Puerta del Sol has the Kilometre Zero plaque, the Bear and Strawberry Tree statue that symbolises Madrid and the clock whose chimes lead the nation's New Year countdown.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Shopping
- After dark
- Architecture
Where to stay
Sol and Gran Vía is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 8 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping and families
Sol and Gran Vía
Puerta del Sol, Kilometre Zero and the theatres and shops of Gran Vía
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, culture and nightlife
Barrio de las Letras
The literary quarter of Huertas, with quotations inlaid in the pavements
$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife and couples
La Latina
Medieval lanes, tapas bars on Cava Baja and the Sunday Rastro market
$$ · Best for nightlife, budget, solo travellers and shopping
Malasaña
Indie bars, vintage shops and brunch cafés around Plaza del Dos de Mayo
What to eat
- Churros con chocolate — Fried dough sticks (churros, or thicker porras) dipped into thick, spoonable hot chocolate.
- Calamari sandwich — Battered, fried squid rings stuffed into a crusty baguette, sometimes with a little mayonnaise or lemon.
- Cocido madrileño — A hearty stew of chickpeas, vegetables, beef, chicken, chorizo and morcilla, served in courses: first the noodle broth, then the chickpeas and vegetables, then the meats.
- Huevos rotos — Fried eggs broken over a plate of chips, often topped with jamón or chistorra sausage, mixed together at the table so the yolk coats the potatoes.
- Patatas bravas — Fried potato chunks with a spicy paprika-based bravas sauce, often with alioli too.
- Spanish omelette — A thick omelette of potatoes slow-cooked in olive oil, with or without onion, served in wedges as a tapa.
When to go
The best times to visit Madrid are April to June and September to October, when days are warm and sunny without the fierce heat of high summer. July and August are very hot, though August is quieter and cheaper; winter is cold but bright, with low prices and uncrowded museums.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Warming days, Easter processions and San Isidro in May; the Retiro is in bloom and terraces fill in the evenings. |
| Summer | June–August | Hot and dry with temperatures often above 35°C in July and August; nights out are long, and August is quieter as locals leave. |
| Autumn | September–November | Warm September days, mild October and cooler November, with full cultural calendars and good day-trip weather. |
| Winter | December–February | Cold, often sunny days and frosty nights, with Christmas lights, the Three Kings parade and the January sales. |
Getting there and around
Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas (MAD) is about 13 km north-east of the centre. Metro line 8 runs from Terminals 1–2–3 and 4 to Nuevos Ministerios in about 15 minutes (an airport supplement applies), Cercanías trains run from Terminal 4 to Chamartín, Nuevos Ministerios and Atocha, and the Airport Express bus runs to Atocha and Cibeles. Taxis charge a fixed fare to the centre.
Madrid's centre is walkable, and its large metro network reaches almost everywhere visitors go, including the airport. Cercanías commuter trains link Atocha, Sol and Chamartín with the suburbs and some day-trip towns.
Plan your days
Three days covers the three big art museums, the Royal Palace, the Retiro and evenings of tapas. A fourth day allows a trip to Toledo or Segovia; with a week, add El Escorial, Ávila and slower neighbourhood days.
Practical information
- Currency
- EUR
- Language
- Spanish
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe and high quality, coming from the Sierra de Guadarrama.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Tipping
- Service is included in prices.
Madrid is generally safe for visitors, but pickpockets target crowds at Puerta del Sol, Gran Vía, the metro and El Rastro. In July and August, afternoon heat above 35°C is a real risk: carry water and avoid midday walking.
Flights to Madrid
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Madrid?
Three days covers the three big art museums, the Royal Palace, the Retiro and evenings of tapas. A fourth day allows a trip to Toledo or Segovia; with a week, add El Escorial, Ávila and slower neighbourhood days. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Madrid?
The best times to visit Madrid are April to June and September to October, when days are warm and sunny without the fierce heat of high summer. July and August are very hot, though August is quieter and cheaper; winter is cold but bright, with low prices and uncrowded museums.
+What is Madrid known for?
Prado Museum, Tapas, Royal Palace, Retiro Park, Late nights, Real Madrid, Churros con chocolate and Flamenco. The Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen-Bornemisza hold Las Meninas, Guernica and centuries of European art within one short stretch of boulevard.
+Is Madrid expensive?
Madrid is moderately priced for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $150–$260 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Madrid?
No. Traffic and parking are difficult and much of the centre is a low-emission zone; the metro and trains cover the city and the main day trips. A car helps only for rural Castile.