Madrid city breaks
Madrid is a modern capital city that dances to its own rhythm, often until the sun comes up. If you’re looking for people-watching opportunities, find them at one of many scenic pavement cafes. Along the Paseo del Arte, discover more collections of fine and modern art than you can squeeze into one visit. Wander stylish shopping streets, and visit the home ground of one of Europe’s most famous football teams.
Things to do
There are lots of fantastic things to do in Madrid. Visit one of Europe's most famous football grounds, spend an afternoon among beautiful nature in one of the hidden gardens and explore the beautiful designed buildings, iconic artwork and spectacular churches. You're bound to find something interesting to see and do in this vibrant city.
25 ℃
Madrid’s gardens and green spaces tend to be at their prettiest in spring.
2.5 hours hours
Fly to: Madrid-Barajas airport, around 15km northeast of central Madrid.
Alternative transport: Madrid is well connected by rail, to France. From the UK, France is easily accessible by Eurostar. Madrid is also accessible from the whole of Spain and Europe by coach.
Travel guide
Things to do
Currency
Travel guide
Travel guide
Weather & Climate
Temperatures: July and August see an average temperature of 25 (°C), which decreases to 6 (°C) in January. Thankfully cloudless skies are common during winter in Madrid.
Best time to visit: Madrid’s gardens and green spaces tend to be at their prettiest in the spring. Things can get dry and very hot in summer. While autumn can be wet, it’s a great time to wrap up warm and see the leaves turn a rainbow of golden colours.
MADRID IS BEST FOR…
Art lovers: Wander the Paseo del Arte, Art Walk, to see famous art collections spanning the ages.
Football fans: Walk on the hallowed home ground of one of the world’s greatest soccer success stories: Real Madrid.
Stylish shoppers: Explore Madrid’s network of stylish shopping streets, with labels ranging from trendy high street to high-end designer.
Fast facts:
Language: The language spoken in Spain is Spanish.
Currency: The currency used in Madrid is the euro (€).
Local time: Madrid is one hour ahead of GMT/UK time.
Fly to: Madrid-Barajas airport is around 15km northeast of central Madrid.
Alternative transport: Madrid is well connected by rail, to France. From the UK, France is easily accessible by Eurostar. Madrid is also accessible from the whole of Spain and Europe by coach.
Flight time from UK: 2.5 hours
Tourist Information: Further Madrid tourist information can be found at www.esmadrid.com.
Visa / Health:
Before you travel, visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain for recommendations and advice on visas and health for your holiday to Madrid.
Getting around
Madrid metro: Madrid’s metro is the fastest and cheapest way of getting around the city. Hop on one of the 12 lines linking the whole of Madrid and some of the suburbs too. Pick up a Tourist Travel Pass for unlimited use of all of Madrid’s public transport.
By bus: For places that the metro doesn’t quite reach, Madrid’s buses do a great job. At your service almost around the clock, during peak hours they run every 4-15 minutes.
Cercanías suburban service: If you fancy taking a trip outside the city, hop aboard one of the cheap and fast suburban trains.
Events
Kick up your heels: Held each June, Suma Flamenca is a festival that celebrates flamenco dancing in all of its forms, from the traditional to the modern, to a soundtrack of Spanish guitar.
Street party: Mulafest brings you the best of underground music, theatre, skateboarding, films, breakdancing, custom motorcycles and cars. Held in June, this is the place to sample street food ranging from flavourful Vietnamese noodles to familiar fish and chips.
Celebrate Madrid: Straddling February and March, Carnival showcases Madrid’s imagination, through colourful fancy dress costumes and masks as well as a lively programme of activities.
Things to do
From artisan markets to museums and chocolate shops to parks, here’s our pick of the best things to do in Madrid. A city where ancient meets modern, Spain’s capital is bustling, vibrant and packed with culture.
Places to go
For a more unusual way to see the Madrid attractions, hop on a Segway and tour the city checking out all the sights as well as the Puerta del Sol and the Plaza Mayor. Or why not take them to the Planetarium on Avenida del Planetario, where there are plenty of interactive exhibits for all ages? On sunny days, hire a rowing boat at the lake in El Retiro Park, or pack a family picnic to make the most of Madrid’s scorching summers. There’s so much cultural history to enjoy in Madrid, and a walk around the museum district will give you a real feel for the city.Things to do in Madrid
El Retiro Park
With its lakes, monuments and beautiful gardens, El Retiro Park is one of Madrid’s true natural gems. If you need to escape the hustle and bustle …Santiago Bernabeu
Football fans will enjoy a guided tour around the iconic home stadium of Real Madrid. Construction first began in 1945 and was officially …San Ginés Chocolaterie
First opened in 1894, the San Ginés Chocolaterie has become a true institution, so make sure you visit to find out why their traditional churros …Royal Palace Of Madrid
Pay a visit to the magnificent Royal Palace of Madrid, which is arguably one of the city’s most iconic monuments. See the largest palace in …El Rastro Flea Market
With its lakes, monuments and beautiful gardens, El Retiro Park is one of Madrid’s true natural gems. If you need to escape the hustle and bustle …Museo del Prado
At Madrid’s Museo del Prado, you’ll see artwork collected by Spanish kings between the 16th and 17th century, including work by Spanish, Italian …Currency
Madrid travel money
The currency in Madrid is the Euro. You’ll find plenty of banks and exchange offices in Madrid but a lot of travellers like to exchange their Sterling before they go. If you’re on a city break it’s good to be able to get on with enjoying the galleries of El Prado, checking out the shops in Barrio de Salamanca, or heading to the home of European football at Real Madrid without having to worry about finding somewhere to change your money or falling foul of high airport exchange fees.If you prefer to limit the amount of cash you carry, then you’ll find ATMs are plentiful. Ask your bank what they charge for spending money abroad and if you’re not happy with the fees, which can be quite high, you might find a pre-paid travel money card is a useful alternative. You can load it up before you travel, then top up as you need to. There’s no charge for purchases, and withdrawing your currency in Madrid is a flat cost, so you know exactly where you are. Cards are accepted in most major shops, bars and restaurants, making it an easy way to organise your spending.
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