A local's guide to Madrid from the halls of the Prado to the taverns of La Latina
This is one real day from a schedule our planner builds. Yours will look different, because it is built around your answers.
Day 2 · Central Madrid
Every hour worked out, every place open
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Madrid is one long table: cocido madrileño simmering on a low flame, a bocadillo de calamares in the Plaza Mayor, churros with thick hot chocolate in the morning and a glass of vermouth on tap before you eat. Do not leave without knowing what to order and where to sit.
Every museum, palace, neighborhood, park and day trip from our guides, on one map.
All the best places in Madrid, in one guide with photos and tips.
The core guides to start from.
How to move around Madrid: the rechargeable travel card, which pass is worth it, the zone boundary that catches people out, the Cercanias trains for day trips, taxis and when to just walk.
How entering Spain works for a Madrid trip: who travels visa free and for how long, how the rolling Schengen count works, the new biometric border, passport validity, and what to have ready at the airport.
How to visit the Royal Palace of Madrid: the state rooms worth slowing down for, the armoury, the changing of the guard, whether to book ahead, and how it fits with the cathedral next door.
When to visit Madrid: a month-by-month and season-by-season breakdown of weather, crowds, prices and events, and the sweet spots for the best trip whatever you are after.
The best day trips from Madrid by train or car: Toledo, Segovia, El Escorial, Ávila and Aranjuez, with how long to spend, how to get there and what not to miss in each.
How to see Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu: getting match tickets, what the stadium tour includes, matchday tips, and how to catch Atlético at the Metropolitano too.
How the Spanish Grand Prix works at Madrid's new MADRING circuit around IFEMA: the layout, how tickets are sold, reaching the track by metro, and where to base yourself.
Hollywood Boulevard, DC Super Heroes World and a Looney Tunes village of roller coasters south of Madrid, plus how to get there and when the queues are shortest.
A century old livestock market and abattoir on the Manzanares turned into theatre, galleries, a design centre and a food hall, and why Arganzuela is worth the walk south of the centre.
A circular arcaded square that turns into a bullring, a walk to a hilltop castle ruin, anís and honest lamb, and why the bus beats waiting for a train that does not exist.
A short train ride south of Madrid to a UNESCO listed royal town: the porcelain rooms of the palace, the gardens along the Tagus, and the strawberries the town has been known for since the eighteenth century.
A neighborhood-by-neighborhood guide to where to stay in Madrid: Sol and the center, Huertas, Chueca and Malasaña, Salamanca, La Latina and more, plus hotels, hostales and apartments, and who each area suits.
Browse Madrid the way you like to travel.
Travellers from the US, UK, Canada, Australia and most visa-waiver countries do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days in the Schengen area, with a passport valid at least three months beyond departure. Note that the ETIAS online authorisation is being introduced, so it is worth checking and sorting it before you fly.
Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) are the most pleasant, with mild weather for walking the city. Summer in Madrid is very hot and dry, and winter is crisp and bright. Madrid is a year-round destination, you just match your hours to the season.
Madrid is a mid-priced European city, usually cheaper than Barcelona for both stays and food. The currency is the euro and cards are accepted almost everywhere. A rechargeable transit card saves money, and booking the Prado and the Royal Palace ahead of time saves both time and cash.
Madrid is a city built around the table. Order cocido madrileño, the slow-cooked chickpea stew, a bocadillo de calamares in the Plaza Mayor, churros with thick hot chocolate in the morning, and a glass of vermouth on tap before you eat. Our food guide walks you through what to order and where to sit, from the tapas bars of La Latina to the San Miguel market.
Madrid is very safe when it comes to violent crime, but pickpocketing is a real problem in crowded spots like Sol, Gran Vía, the metro and the Rastro market. Keep your bag in front, never leave your phone on the table, and see our safety guide for all the tips.
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