Madrid Travel Guide

Lying at almost 650 metres above sea level and more than 300km away from the nearest seaport Madrid had little to recommend it as a capital city when Philip II decided to move his seat of government there from Toledo in 1561 and relocate to what was little more than a provincial town in those days. Today Madrid is a vibrant capital city of around 3½ million people which attracts thousands of short break visitors every weekend of the year. Its renowned art scene, splendid architecture, notorious nightlife and world famous football clubs ensure the city’s future as one of Europe’s great short break destinations.

As Europe’s highest capital city located in the very centre of the Iberian Peninsula the winters in Madrid are often very cold and summers are scorchers yet somehow I always found the climate in Madrid quite pleasant during my decade there. The beautiful blue skies throughout much of the year certainly made up for the cold and the spring and autumn months were a glorious time to be in the city. Sitting outside a café in winter with a ‘café con leche’, a ‘pincho de tortilla’ and the Marca football newspaper is still one of life’s great pleasures for me!

Plaza Mayor Madrid
Enjoy a Cold Mahou Beer at a Terrace Bar in Plaza Mayor

Best Time to Visit Madrid

Madrid Weather

The local saying about the climate in Madrid is “9 months of winter and 3 months of hell”. Although this is not strictly true, the summer months of July, August and September do tend to be very hot but due to the lack of humidity. However, the heat doesn’t tend to be particularly oppressive as it’s a very dry heat that is far easier to cope with than similar temperatures in a humid climate.

Having said that I wouldn’t recommend that you plan a visit to the city in July or August if you have a choice. Not only can temperatures get seriously high during those months but also many Madrileños will have headed off to the beach leaving the city quieter than usual with quite a few bars and restaurants taking summer holidays. The weather in Madrid winter can be quite cold but there are often blue skies and some sunshine and in general there is not too much rain.

Festivals in Madrid

In terms of planning your visit to coincide with annual festivals in Madrid, a good time to go is in May when the annual San Isidro festival takes place. There are street parties throughout the month and every evening the bullfighting arena at Las Ventas is sold out as the very best bullfighters perform on the biggest stage. For football fans hoping to watch a Real Madrid game at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium the season usually lasts from early September until early May with most league games taking place on weekends and European Champions League matches on Tuesday or Wednesday. Art lovers should check opening times of galleries and museums as many are closed on Mondays.

Transport in Madrid

Getting There

Madrid’s Barajas Airport is Spain’s 1st and Europe’s 4th busiest airport with around 50 million annual passengers. It lies about 12km to the northeast of the Spanish capital. The airport is well served by national carriers including Iberia (60% of total traffic) and British Airways attracting flight arrivals from all over the world including direct flights from the USA. There are also a number of budget airlines offering flights to Madrid who tend to change their routes and timetables on a regular basis.

There are also many domestic flights which connect with regional Spanish airports all over the country which is an option to investigate if you can’t find a direct flight to your chosen destination. Most arrivals come into Terminal 4 which is one of the world’s largest airport terminals. In 2014 the airport was renamed ‘Adolfo Suárez – Madrid-Barajas Airport’ in honour of Spain’s first democratically elected leader following the Franco era.

If you’re visiting Madrid from elsewhere in Spain the city is extremely accessible by train thanks to the excellent rail network which provides fast transport on high speed trains to major cities including Barcelona, Malaga, Seville, Valencia and Alicante. Most train services arriving through France go to Barcelona from where the rest of Spain becomes accessible.

Getting Around

If you’re on a city break with the intention of spending nearly all your time in Madrid then please don’t rent a car. Traffic is heavy, roads are fast and confusing, drivers are aggressive and parking is hard to find and very expensive. Instead make the most of Madrid’s public transfer system which allows you to get from the airport to the city centre by bus or Metro very efficiently. Of course there are always taxis available for transport from the airport and a number of private shuttle bus and private transfer options.

In the city itself you’re likely to do plenty walking as it’s no great distance between the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol and Paseo del Prado. However, if you’re not up to getting around on foot there’s a great public transport system. Just buy a ten journey ‘Metrobus’ ticket which allows you to interchange between the Metro and bus services. Another popular way of seeing the city amongst tourists is to get one of the hop-on, hop-off bus tickets though I’m not a big fan of this option in Madrid as the city centre traffic can spoil the trip.

Where to Stay in Madrid

The majority of first time visitors to Madrid will stay somewhere near Puerta del Sol and Gran Via so most of our recommended hotels are in this central tourist area. The 5-star options tend to be in more upmarket areas outside this tourist centre but with easy access by public transport.If you’re coming to watch Real Madrid there are a few option near the Bernabeu but you’re far better off staying in the centre and taking public transport to the stadium.

Madrid 3-Star Hotels

Hotel Opera (Cuesta de Santo Domingo, 2)
Located in the historical centre of old Madrid, this is an ideal base from which to discover the city.

Hotel Moderno (Arenal, 2)
A perfect location, right on Puerta del Sol with easy access to all the city’s attractions. Our favourite for location and value.

Hotel Petit Palace Cliper (Chinchilla, 6)
A fine budget option located just off the Gran Via in the city centre. Popular with city break visitors.

Madrid 4-Star Hotels

Hotel Liabeny (Calle Salud, 3)
An excellent choice located just a few paces away from Puerta del Sol but with the advantage of being located in a peaceful square.

Emperador (Gran Via, 53)
Combines the elegance and comfort of a classical hotel together with the newest amenities of a four star hotel in the heart of Madrid.

Hotel Vía Castellana (Paseo de la Castellana, 220)
If you’re going to watch Real Madrid, perhaps you’d prefer to stay near the Bernabeu. This is the choice hotel of FC Barcelona when they play in the capital.

Madrid 5-Star Hotels

Westin Palace (Plaza de las Cortes, 7)
In the heart of Madrid, this hotel is a monument to elegance which has been included in the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List. One of Madrid’s finest hotels.

Westin Palace Hotel in Madrid
For Somewhere Special Stay at the Westin Palace Hotel

Villa Magna (Paseo de la Castellana, 22)
Old-world charm combined with modern elegance help make the Villa Magna one of Europe’s finest hotels. It is situated just outside the tourist centre in the wealthy Salamanca district.

Villa Real (Plaza De Las Cortes 10)
Inclusion in the prestigious ‘small luxury hotels of the world’ list, the Villa Real is another excellent choice located in the heart of the city between Puerta del Sol and the Prado.

Mandarin Oriental Ritz (Plaza De La Lealtad 5)
The classical Ritz hotel is a landmark of Madrid. It lies next to the Prado museum and offers everything you could expect, and more, from a hotel of this calibre.

Miguel Angel (Miguel Angel 29-31)
Highly recommended hotel located slightly to the north of the main tourist area on the Paseo de la Castellana.

Madrid Apartments

Personally I’ve become too practical in my old age and find myself looking for self-catering apartments when we’re staying in cities. There’s nothing like a nice cup of tea on your own balcony before heading out to see what the day has to offer.

Madrid Hostels

There are many ‘hostales’ or ‘pensiones’ scattered around the streets surrounding Plaza Mayor. These small, often family-run places, provide a great budget option for travellers with clean en-suite rooms located in the very heart of the city centre. A few favourites amongst budget travellers include:

  • U Hostels (Calle de Sagasta, 22)
  • Way Hostel (Calle Relatores, 17)
  • La Posada de Huertas (Calle Huertas, 21)

Madrid Tourist Attractions

Living in Madrid I was always quite surprised at the extent to which Barcelona was so much more popular as a city break destination. Of course the magnificent Gaudi buildings and its coastal location give the Catalan capital an undoubted advantage but Madrid has so much to offer its visitors. A walking tour from Puerta del Sol to Plaza Mayor and along to the Royal Palace is a great way to appreciate the history and architecture of the city.

As well as these top Madrid Attractions I’d highly recommend that you take some time out at the ‘Parque del Buen Retiro’ which is a beautiful park right near the city centre providing an ideal solace away from the summer heat after a few hour’s sightseeing. If you happen to be in Madrid on a Sunday morning get the Metro to La Latina and have a wander around the city’s fascinating weekly flea market known as ‘El Rastro’. This is a real Madrid institution which is well worth a visit but do be careful with your belongings as there are pickpockets operating in this area).

Parque del Buen Retiro
Escape the Heat of the City in the Parque del Buen Retiro

Art Museums of Madrid

Culturally there can be little doubt that Madrid’s ‘Art Triangle’ is the city’s top attraction. Located on Paseo del Prado there are three main galleries that every art enthusiast should visit:

El Museo del Prado: The Prado Museum is one of the world’s greatest art galleries with a higher concentration of masterpieces than any other. It is so full of treasures that it is only possible to display around 1,500 of its 9,000-piece collection at any one time. Spanish masterpieces include Goya’s ‘Maja Naked’ and ‘The 3rd May Shootings and Velazquez’s ‘Las Meninas’ as well as many works from the Italian, Flemish and Dutch Schools.

Reina Sofia: This gallery is best known for being home to Picasso’s ‘Guernica’. This is not only Madrid’s number one exhibit but is also one of the most famous works of art in the world. The rest of the permanent collection contains works by virtually every noted Spanish artist of this century, together with many others by non-Spanish artists. It is one of the best venues in Europe for major temporary exhibitions.

Thyssen-Bornemisza: This magnificent art museum displays works from just about every major figure in the history of western art installed in chronological order so that visitors can take a historical walking tour of European Painting from the 13th Century to modern times.

Paseo del Arte Ticket: A useful tip if you you plan on visiting all three galleries is to purchase the Paseo del Arte ticket which allows entrance to these galleries at a substantial saving. The ticket is available at all three participating galleries.

Sorolla Museum: Aside from the three ‘essential’ galleries above there is a whole range of lesser known exhibitions in the city. One I’d particularly recommend is the gallery of Joaquin Sorolla, a 19th century Spanish impressionist artist.  He is admired for his use of light in beach scenes from his native Valencia.

What to do in Madrid

Go to a Football Match

As I’m much more a football fan than an art enthusiast I must admit to having ‘done the Prado’ in less than an hour on my first visit to Madrid as I eagerly headed up to the Bernabeu Stadium to watch Radomir Antic’s first game in charge of Real Madrid in a 1-1 draw with Real Oviedo. In my defence I’ve returned to the Prado many times since and have learned to appreciate the wonderful works of El Greco, Diego Velazquez and Francisco Goya to name but a few. By the way, there was a PE teacher where I worked in Madrid who held the record for a tour of the Prado which still stands at 42 minutes. He too spent more time in the Bernabeu!

Bernabeu Stadium
Santiago Bernabeu Stadium

Football tourism is a popular pastime these days as fans travel to matches all over Europe to watch some of the world’s most famous teams and players in iconic stadium. Watching Real Madrid in the Bernabeu would certainly come high on every football fan’s checklist. But don’t forget Atlético Madrid who against all the odds won the La Liga title in 2014. Nowhere in Spain will you find more passionate fans and experience a greater atmosphere than watching an Atlético match in the Vicente Calderón stadium.

Go to a Flamenco Show

Whilst flamenco dancing is typically an Andalucian affair it is well represented in the capital and has enjoyed quite a revival in recent times as contemporary artists have combined traditional flamenco music with more modern genres such as jazz or blues to create something which holds more popular appeal. There are some great venues to watch flamenco shows in Madrid ranging from cozy bars to larger scale ‘tablaos’ where you can enjoy dinner or tapas with a major performance by a variety of artists.

Go to a Bullfight

Although the bullfighting season in Spain lasts from March to October its arrival in Madrid is in May when the Las Ventas bullring hosts the country’s main event during the festival of San Isidro. This month sees every top bullfighter in Spain appearing in the capital where, like it or loathe it, there is no escaping the fact that the bullfight remains very popular. In the Madrid region the government has given it cultural heritage status, an approach in stark contrast with Catalonia and the Canary Islands which have banned bullfighting altogether.

Madrid Nightlife

Whilst Madrid is famous for Madrileños who don’t go out before midnight, stay out all night then watch the sunrise as they leave a nightclub this probably isn’t what most weekend visitors are looking for. Although I enjoyed such nights as a youngster I was always left wondering what people did until midnight and how they survived the following day. The answer seems to be to sleep most of Saturday evening then spend more time dancing than drinking whilst you’re out which seems wrong on so many levels. It’s really very easy to enjoy Madrid’s nightlife and get to bed at a reasonable hour.

Explore Madrid’s Tapas Bars

An ideal evening for me is to start the evening with a cold bottle of Mahou beer at one of the terrace bars in Plaza Mayor then wander over to Plaza Santa Ana and Huertas for a stroll around some of Madrid’s great tapas bars. Popular dishes specific to Madrid include patatas bravas (deep-fried potato in a spicy sauce), fried pig’s ear (orejas) and tripe (callos).  National favourites such as Spanish omelette (tortilla) and deep fried squid rings (calamares) are available in most tapas bars.

Favourite Madrid Restaurants

Dining out in Madrid is such an adventure with hundreds of places to choose from ranging from simple ‘Económicos’ in local ‘barrios’ (neighbourhoods) such as Lavapiés to Michelin star establishments. As well as restaurants representing the whole culinary diversity of Spain there’s also plenty influence from South America as well as Asian cuisine. Madrileños have a great appetite for fish and Madrid’s fish market is the second largest in the world after Tokyo. Combined with the highest quality of meat from the north of the country you’re never far away from a great meal in Madrid.

Typical Madrid dishes to look out for include ‘cocido madrileño’ which is a heavy stew based on chickpeas and ‘rabo de toro’ (bull’s tail) which is at its best in one of the bars near Las Ventas during San Isidro. Perennial favourites in the city’s tapas bars are ‘tortilla de patatas’ and ‘patatas bravas’ whilst a squid sandwich (‘bocadillo de calamares’) is a must at some point during a Madrid bar crawl.

Just along the street is Restaurante Botin (the world’s oldest restaurant according to the Guinness Book of Records) which is always a great spot for lovers of roast meat.

Botins Restaurant
Restaurante Sobrino de Botín Dates Back to 1725

Madrid’s Historic Cafés

A pleasant end to the evening can be spent in one of Madrid’s old cafes where the politicians of the past used to meet to help create the city and society we have today. Or if you have immersed yourself in late night partying head for the famous ‘Chocolatería San Ginés’ which is open 24 hours a day and has been churning out ‘chocolate con churros’ since 1894.

Excursions from Madrid

When you visit Madrid try to allow enough time to take a full day excursion away from the city. There are some exceptional day trips from Madrid which are all within easy reach of the capital. Below we’ve listed a selection of the most popular day trips which you can take as a scheduled excursion in which case you’ll be travelling by luxury, air-conditioned coach. Alternatively, you can opt for a private tour with an English-speaking driver who will collect you at your hotel and transport you to your destination where an official tour guide will show you around the main sights.

Madrid to Toledo Excursion

Toledo was the capital of medieval Spain until 1560 where Arabs, Christians and Jews once lived together in relative harmony. A half or full day excursion from Madrid to Toledo allows you to discover the city’s many beautiful sites including the amazing 13th century Cathedral, the medieval Alcazar, the stunning Santa Maria La Blanca Synagogue and the artistic masterpieces of El Greco.

Madrid to El Escorial Excursion

Dating back to the reign of Felipe II in the 16th century, this Royal Palace is one of Spain’s most visited tourist attractions. It is located in the small town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial and its ‘Panteón de los Reyes’ serves as a mausoleum for the Spanish monarchy. Half day excursions from Madrid to El Escorial also includes a visit to ‘Valle De Los Caídos’ (Valley of the Fallen) which is a monument to those who died in the Spanish Civil War.

Madrid to Segovia Excursion

The main attractions of Segovia include a 2000 year old Roman aqueduct and the fairy tale Alcázar which was reputedly the inspiration for Walt Disney’s Cinderella castle. Time your visit correctly and you can also enjoy a typical Castilian lunch of roast lamb or roast suckling pig at one of the city’s traditional restaurants. Full day excursions to Segovia often include a visit to the walled city of Avila which is famous as the birthplace of Saint Teresa.