Madrid travel guide

About Madrid

Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. It had a population of over 3.4 million in the city proper in 2025, and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.8 million. Madrid is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), after Berlin, and its metropolitan area is the second-largest in the EU, after Paris. The municipality covers an area of 605.77 square kilometres (233.89 sq mi). Madrid lies on the River Manzanares in the central part of the Iberian Peninsula at about 660 metres (2,170 ft) above mean sea level. The capital city of both Spain and the surrounding autonomous community of Madrid, it is the political, economic and cultural centre of the country.

Cheap flights to Madrid

The lowest round-trip fare found by Destina Holidays travellers in the last 30 days was $505 from New York, travelling 5 Mar – 14 Mar. These are the cheapest fares from the most searched cities.

• NYC New York to Madrid5 Mar – 14 Mar · MAD from$505
• MIA Miami to Madrid28 Oct – 12 Nov · MAD from$839
• WAS Washington to Madrid17 Feb – 17 Mar · MAD from$622
• LAX Los Angeles to Madrid2 Dec – 11 Dec · MAD from$834
• BOS Boston to Madrid8 Nov – 17 Nov · MAD from$639
• YTO Toronto to Madrid29 Nov – 8 Dec · MAD from$651
• CHI Chicago to Madrid11 Nov – 17 Nov · MAD from$797
• DFW Dallas to Madrid13 Apr – 20 Apr · MAD from$914

Cheapest month to fly

Airlines travellers compared most often: Aer Lingus, Finnair, Austrian Airlines, ITA Airways, Turkish Airlines, Air Canada.

Prices are per adult in US dollars, taken from searches between 20 Sep and 20 Oct 2026. Fares change often, so search your dates for live prices.

Places to visit in Madrid

1. 

   Prado Museum

   Museum

   One of the great museums of European art, with masterpieces by Velazquez, Goya, El Greco and Bosch. Prioritize Las Meninas and Goya's Black Paintings if time is short.

2. 

   Royal Palace of Madrid

   Historic

   The official royal residence, used for state ceremonies, with lavish throne and state rooms, a royal armory and a pharmacy. The Sabatini Gardens and Almudena Cathedral are next door.

3. 

   Retiro Park

   Park

   A large park near the Prado with a boating lake, the glass Crystal Palace, a rose garden and tree-lined avenues. Weekends bring street performers and families.

4. 

   Reina Sofia Museum

   Museum

   Madrid's national museum of modern and contemporary art, best known for Picasso's Guernica. It also holds major works by Dali and Miro, and the cloistered courtyard is a quiet place to pause.

5. 

   Plaza Mayor

   Landmark

   A grand arcaded square in the heart of the old town, framed by painted facades and balconies. Surrounding streets lead to tapas bars and the Mercado de San Miguel.

6. 

   Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

   Museum

   A museum whose collection covers European painting from the early Renaissance through Impressionism and Expressionism to pop art, neatly filling gaps left by the nearby Prado.

7. 

   Temple of Debod

   Historic

   An ancient Egyptian temple given to Spain and rebuilt in a hilltop park near the Royal Palace. It is a favorite place to watch the sunset over the western hills.

Things to do in Madrid by type

178 tours, tickets and experiences across 12 categories. Pick a type to see what is available for your dates.

• City tours 54 experiences Alcalá de Henares Private Day Trip from Madrid
• Day Trips & Excursions 52 experiences Avila and Segovia Walking Tour with Flamenco Show
• Art & culture 43 experiences Behind the Scenes Royal Palace with Gardens
• Tickets & Attraction Passes 16 experiences Epic Day Trip from Madrid: Puy du Fou Adventure and Sueño de Toledo Spectacle
• Gastronomy & nightlife 10 experiences Madrid Tapas - Private Walking Tour
• Amusement Parks 9 experiences Aquopolis Villanueva de la Cañada - Ticket
• Shows, sports and special events 8 experiences Al Alma al Aire Musical - Ticket
• Specialist tours 6 experiences 4 Days / 3 Nights: Andalusia Express Tour
• Tour & activities 3 experiences Behind the Scenes Royal Palace with Gardens
• Travel Services 2 experiences European eSim Data Card
• Air, Helicopter & Balloon Tours 2 experiences Hot Air Balloon Ride over Segovia with Transfers
• Zoo, Aquarium & Nature 2 experiences Faunia

Top experiences in Madrid

Tours, tickets and experiences you can book with Destina Holidays, from 178 available.

City tours

Madrid City Tour - Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour

• 1.5 hours
• Free cancellation

From $38 per adult

Art & culture

Toledo with All Tickets Included (Optional Lunch) - Full-Day Guided Tour

• 8 hours
• Free cancellation

From $88 per adult

Art & culture

Explore Toledo and Segovia - Full-Day Tour

• 11 hours
• Free cancellation

From $80 per adult

Art & culture

Royal Palace and Prado Museum - Half-Day Tour

• 5 hours
• Free cancellation

From $71 per adult

Day Trips & Excursions

Toledo, Ávila and Segovia Private Trip from Madrid

• 1 day
• Free cancellation

From $676 per adult

Day Trips & Excursions

Toledo Private Day Trip from Madrid

• 8 hours
• Free cancellation

From $576 per adult

City tours

Alcalá de Henares Private Day Trip from Madrid

• 4 hours
• Free cancellation

From $353 per adult

City tours

El Escorial Monastery & Valley of the Fallen Private Tour

• 5 hours
• Free cancellation

From $529 per adult

Day Trips & Excursions

Guadarrama National Park Private Day Trip

• 1 day
• Free cancellation

From $517 per adult

Gastronomy & nightlife

Tablao Flamenco Torres Bermejas

• 2 hours
• Free cancellation

From $37 per adult

Art & culture

Segovia, Ávila and Walls with Optional Alcazar and Lunch

• 9 hours
• Free cancellation

From $113 per adult

Art & culture

Madrid’s Royal Palace Expert Guided Tour with Skip the Line Tickets

• 2 hours
• Free cancellation

From $38 per adult

Where to stay in Madrid

Popular hotels in Madrid, out of 1,069 properties you can book.

Axor Feria

• Barajas-Ifema
• 8.0284 reviews

From $110 per night

Hotel Villa de Barajas

• Barajas-Ifema
• 8.011 reviews

From $113 per night

NH Collection Madrid Suecia

• Gran Via
• 8.03 reviews

From $250 per night

NH Madrid Nacional

• Atocha
• 8.045 reviews

From $220 per night

NH Madrid Zurbano

• Chamberi
• 8.089 reviews

From $235 per night

Porcel Avant

• Torrejon de Ardoz
• 8.024 reviews

From $93 per night

Posadas de España Pinto

• Pinto
• 8.028 reviews

From $68 per night

Porcel Ganivet

• La Latina
• 8.0100 reviews

From $145 per night

NH Madrid Barajas Airport

• Barajas-Ifema
• 8.049 reviews

From $107 per night

Petit Palace Plaza España

• Plaza España-Palacio Real
• 8.050 reviews

From $181 per night

Petit Palace Preciados

• Puerta del Sol-Plaza Mayor
• 8.036 reviews

From $169 per night

Petit Palace Plaza Mayor

• Puerta del Sol-Plaza Mayor
• 8.031 reviews

From $172 per night

Best time to visit Madrid

Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Madrid is September, when average daytime highs are around 81°F and rain falls on about 2 days a month.

Average daily low and high temperatures and days with at least 1 mm of rain, from recent weather records. Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.

Madrid weather forecast

• Wed 21 Oct 64° 49° 0%
• Thu 22 Oct 64° 44° 0%
• Fri 23 Oct 64° 49° 0%
• Sat 24 Oct 63° 44° 0%
• Sun 25 Oct 70° 51° 2%
• Mon 26 Oct 71° 52° 9%

Know before you go

Currency

Euro (EUR)1 US dollar ≈ €0.89

Language

Spanish

Calling code

+34

Driving

On the right

Time zone

Europe/MadridUTC+2

Upcoming public holidays in Spain

• Sun 1 NovAll Saints DayDía de todos los Santos
• Sun 6 DecConstitution DayDía de la Constitución
• Tue 8 DecImmaculate ConceptionInmaculada Concepción
• Fri 25 DecChristmas DayNavidad
• Fri 1 JanNew Year's DayAño Nuevo
• Wed 6 JanEpiphanyDía de Reyes / Epifanía del Señor

Banks, offices and some attractions may close on public holidays, and flights and hotels often fill up early around them.

Getting to Madrid

These are the airports closest to central Madrid. Compare fares into each one, as a slightly longer transfer can sometimes mean a much cheaper flight.

• MAD Madrid-Barajas Airport8 mi (14 km) from the city centre
• TOJ Madrid-Torrejón Airport15 mi (24 km) from the city centre

Getting around Madrid

Madrid proudly sports one of the best public transportation networks in the world and the second largest metro network in Europe after London's. Buses and subways work with the same tickets, and operate within the integrated transit network of .mw-parser-output .listing-coordinates{display:none}.mw-parser-output .listing-name{font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output a.mw-kartographer-maplink.mw-kartographer-autostyled.mw-kartographer-link{border:1px solid #FFF}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-out…

Metro

The Metro de Madrid[dead link] (Madrid's subway/underground) is one of the best and least expensive metros in Europe. The underground tunnels can provide relief from the sun on hot days.

Bus

Whatever the Metro doesn't cover, EMT buses do. Generally buses run 06:00-24:00. Búho (owl) night buses have their main hub at 40.41898-3.693272 Plaza de Cibeles, covering most of the city at roughly 20-minute intervals.

Train

Madrid has a system of local trains called Cercanías that connects outlying suburbs and villages with the city centre. Although most useful for visiting historic or outdoor destinations outside the city core, it is also useful for quickly getting from one end of the city to another, as well as to 40.4913-3.5923 Terminal T4 of Barajas airport. If you are flying from another terminal; there is a free inter terminal bus but you will have to allow extra time to use it.

Madrid travel FAQ