Travel tips · Madrid · Spain
Madrid travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Madrid is open and sociable, with life lived in bars, squares and on terraces. The daily rhythm runs late: long lunches, an evening paseo and dinner after 9pm. Formality is light, but greetings matter, and Madrileños are proud of their neighbourhoods and their football clubs.
Key facts
- Language
- Spanish
- Currency
- EUR
- 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
- 112 (European emergency number)
Things to know
- Greet with 'Hola' or 'Buenos días' when entering a shop or bar; friends greet with two kisses on the cheek, right then left.
- Expect to be served at a bar without queuing in an orderly line: catch the bartender's eye politely.
- Lunch and dinner are long; asking for the bill quickly is fine, but staff will not rush you.
- Keep voices down in churches and dress modestly for religious sites.
- Football rivalries are intense; be tactful when wearing club colours on match days.
- Book Prado Museum ahead: Buy timed tickets online, especially for weekends and holiday periods.
- Book Royal Palace of Madrid ahead: Queues can be long in summer and at weekends; buy a timed ticket online.
- Book Santiago Bernabéu Stadium tour ahead: Tour slots sell out in holiday periods; book ahead on the official site.
- The Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen each have free-entry periods; check the museums' sites and expect queues.
Tipping
Service is included in prices. Locals leave small change or round up in bars and cafés, and around 5–10% in restaurants for good service is generous but optional.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hola / Buenos días | Hello / Good morning |
| Gracias | Thank you |
| La cuenta, por favor | The bill, please |
| Una caña | A small draught beer |
| ¿Qué me recomienda? | What do you recommend? |
| Perdone | Excuse me |
What to wear
Madrileños dress neatly and stylishly, even casually. Light clothing is essential in summer, but bring a warm coat in winter, when nights on the plateau can drop below freezing.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is safe and high quality, coming from the Sierra de Guadarrama.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Phone and internet
- Free Wi-Fi is available in many cafés, hotels and some public spaces; EU roaming applies to European SIMs, and eSIMs are easy for other visitors.
- Time zone
- Europe/Madrid
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.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Spain's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Madrid?
Service is included in prices. Locals leave small change or round up in bars and cafés, and around 5–10% in restaurants for good service is generous but optional.
+Can you drink the tap water in Madrid?
Tap water is safe and high quality, coming from the Sierra de Guadarrama.
+What plugs are used in Madrid?
Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Madrid?
Spanish.