THE ULTIMATE MADRID TRAVEL GUIDE

I won’t lie, Madrid wasn’t my favourite place in Spain by any means. That may be because I had a terrible experience with a pickpocket which left a sour taste in my mouth. It may also be because we only had two days and I didn’t think there was that much to do.

Nevertheless, I have heard others say they love Madrid and I did quite enjoy the flamenco dancing and sangria. Without further ado, here is my recommendations of what to do in Madrid.

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How to get to Madrid

Plane

Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport is the main international airport of Madrid. It is one of the busiest airports in Europe.

The best way to get into the city centre from the airport is to jump on metro line 8 (pink line). It will take approximately 15 minutes to get to the Nuevos Ministerios station. You will then have to transfer to another line that will take you close to your accommodation.

You may want to consider jumping on the Airport Express 203 Bus. This bus runs every 15mins but can take signficantly longer than the train.

Train

Madrid is easily accessible to the rest of Europe by train. The two main stations in Madrid are Chamartin and Atocha. The AVE is a high speed train connecting Madrid to many parts of Spain and are usually a very comfortable and affordable option. If you want a cheaper train option, check out Avant or Altaria.

Getting Around

Metro

The metro system is very easy to navigate and fairly reasonably priced. This is the best way to get around, just be aware of your surroundings on the station.

Taxi or Uber

Catching a taxi or uber is also another easy way to get straight from point A to point B. The roads are congested though, so may taker longer than you expect.

Best Time to Visit

Like most other places in Spain, it is best to head to Madrid in a shoulder season where temperatures are moderate and tourists are not at their peak.

Recommended Stay Time

I would say that our 2 days was enough to see most of the main sights in Madrid. You could probably extend another day or two if it tickles your fancy.

Top Travel Tips

Watch out for pickpockets

They say Madrid is the worst city in all of Europe for pickpocketing. I was unlucky enough to fall victim to a good ol’ pickpocket. Be very wary of your belongings and don’t look down at your phone around train stations. Don’t say you weren’t warned!

Take a day trip

There are plenty of organised tours taking you from Madrid to unique Spanish towns. If a tour doesn’t tickle your fancy, you can also head out of the city via public transport. Some of the most popular day trips are Toledo and Segovia.

You can enjoy Madrid on a budget

Madrid is a wallet friendly city, with many attractions being free or very cheap. You can find yourself delicious food for only a few dollars and hostels are everywhere.

What To Do

Royal Palace of Madrid

This is one of the most iconic buildings in Madrid. It was the official residence of the royal family and has over 3,400 rooms. It is still a functioning palace used mainly for official state functions. Don’t miss out on seeing the Royal Armoury and Kitchen, as well as the changing of the guards.

The queues were hefty to get into the Palace, so I would suggest this skip-the-line guided tour or this fast-access ticket.

The Royal Palace is open Tues-Sat from 10:00 – 18:00 and Sun-Mon from 10:00 – 16:00.

The Holy Metropolitan Cathedral Church of Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena

The Almudena Cathedral is one of the largest in all of Europe. It took over one hundred years to complete the build and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary under patronage of the Almudena. This cathedral was built on top of a mosque and is opposite the Royal Palace.

The Madrid Cathedral is open 10:00 to 20:30 daily with mass held at 12:00, 18:00, and 19:00.

El Retiro Park

El Retiro Park is the “Central Park of Spain” and one of the largest public parks in Spain. Make sure you head to the famous Palacio de Cristal (Crystal Palace) that was built in 1887 and is made entirely of glass. It sits on a lake and is a very beautiful sight to see.

You should also check out the monument of King Alfonso XII, the rose gardens, and the Paseo de las Estatuas (Statue Walk).

Retiro Park is open from 6:00 – 22:00.

Plaza Mayor

Plaza Mayor is the main public square in the heart of Madrid and is over 400 years old. This is a great place to sit down and do some people watching. In this area you will find the fantastic Mercado de San Miguel – a famous food market with Spanish delights such as tapas and wine. You simply must try some Iberian ham carved off the bone, some empanadas, and some mozzarella.

The plaza is open 24/7. The markets are open Sun-Thurs 10:00 – 23:00 and Fri-Sat from 10:00 – 01:00.

Puerta del Sol

Puerta del Sol is a bustling hub and a nice place to visit. You’ll find plenty of shops and cafes to spend time in. Puerta del Sol is famous for the clock on the Casa de Correos building and the El Oso y el Madrono statue (translating to “the bear and the strawberry tree”).

Paseo del Arte (Art Walk)

The Paseo del Arte is a one kilometer stretch of museums in the city centre. You will find 3 magnificent museums here if you want to chill out, get out of the heat, and soak up some arty culture.

Museo del Prado is one of the most famous museums in the world. Home to an astonishing collection of European Art, this is worth a stop. The museum contains over 8,600 paintings and 700 sculptures. The Prado Museum is open daily from 10:00 – 20:00. Entry fee is approximately €15. You can buy your entrance ticket here.
Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia is a large modern museum showcasing 22,400 works of contemporary art. You will find artwork from famous Spanish artists such as Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso. The Reina Sofia museum is open Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri & Sat from 10:00 – 20:00; Sun 10:00 – 14:30; and closed on Tues. Admission is €10. You can buy your entrance ticket here.
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is full of modern artwork from around the world. It features artists such a Pablo Picasso and Roy Lichtenstein. It is open 10:00 – 19:00 Tues-Sun.

Gran Via and the Golden Mile

Gran Via and the Golden Mile are two fashion districts great for those that want to do some shopping. Gran Via is the most popular street in Madrid and spans over 1km with the most popular stores. The Golden Mile is a better area for boutique stores and luxury brands.

Botanical Gardens

The Botanic Gardens were founded in 1755 and is a beautiful way to spend the afternoon. It is home to over 5000 species of plants and contains some lovely sculptures to look at.

See a flamenco show

Madrid is probably one of the best places in Spain to witness the fantastic Flamenco dancing performances. Flamenco dancing is a Spanish art form consisting of dance, song and guitar playing. The dancers wear gorgeous outfits and move their feet at astonishing rates. It truly is a great night.

My friends and I went to Cardamomo Tablao Flamenco which was fabulous. Other options include Torres Bermejas, Teatro Flamenco Madrid, Cafe Ziryab Tablao Flamenco, Tablao Las Carboneras, and Corral de la Moreira.

Segovia and Toledo day trip

This wasn’t on our itinerary but heading to the closeby towns of Segovia and Toledo are high on people’s day trip lists from Madrid. Toledo is located just 1/2 hour from Madrid by Train and is a UNESCO-listed city. There is plenty to do in Toledo including visiting the Alcazar fortress and Toledo Cathedrel.

Segovia is also located approximately 30 mins by train from Madrid. Whilst here, visit the Romen Aqueducts built in 50AD and explore Segovia’s Alcazer, the 16th Century Gothic Cathedral and the Jewish Quarter.

This highly rated tour will take you to both towns in one day. If you want to just spend time in one of the towns, consider this tour for Toledo or this tour for Segovia.

Fun fact: the Segovia Alcazar was the influence for Walt Disney’s Cinderella Castle!