Top 24 Madrid Travel Tips | The Best Hacks on Budget Travel, Sight-Seeing, & More
The capital of Spain is Europe's second-largest city and one of the oldest capitals in Western civilization. Despite the city's contemporary infrastructure, historical areas such as Plaza Mayor and Cibeles Palace and Fountain have been preserved. This page will provide you with a few handy travel tips and hacks if you are visiting Madrid.
24 Essential Madrid Travel Tips
1. Try Menú del Día
Budget Tip
- Eating in Madrid could be inexpensive if you order the “menu of the day” or Menú del Día at restaurants.
- These menus generally consist of two courses, with bread, drinks, and dessert or coffee included. It is one of the best ways to save money in Madrid.
2. Pay the Flat Cab Rate
Transport Tip
- When heading to the city from the airport, you can pay a flat rate of €30 to get to any part of Central Madrid.
- If you want to further reduce your transit budget, you can go for the yellow Airport Express buses that require a fare of €5.
3. Be Prepared for Siesta
Etiquette Tip
- Much like many other Mediterranean cities, Madrid is also known for its afternoon siesta, when the city takes a break after lunch.
- Many attractions and shops are likely to be closed during the period between 2 PM and 5 PM, so do not plan any major visits.
4. Expect Late Meals
Etiquette Tip
- Most restaurants in Madrid don't start serving dinner until after 9 PM. You will also see most restaurants start serving lunch at about 1:30 PM.
- To keep up with Madrid’s mealtimes, you could eat like a local. Include a second breakfast in your day and an afternoon snack at around 5 PM to keep you going.
5. Learn a Few Spanish Phrases
Etiquette Tip
- Like any other native, a Madrileño will appreciate it if you can speak a couple of words in Spanish before you switch over to your own language.
- Learn a few key phrases like “¿Hablas inglés?”, “Hola”, “Gracias”, and “Hasta Luego”, to accentuate your conversation with locals and unleash the helpful side of every Madrileño.
6. Visit Museums for Free
Budget Tip
- Museums of Madrid open their doors to visitors for free for certain hours every week. Take advantage of these hours and visit the top Madrid museums without spending a penny.
- However, because these are typically the busiest times of day for visiting these sights, you may not be able to have a tranquil visit.
7. Know How to Order Wine in Madrid
Etiquette Tip
- In Spain, you order wine by the region and not by the grape. So if you order your wine like you usually do, you will be met with blank stares.
- If you are not sure about which wine to order, you can always go for the house variety. At most establishments, house wines are tasty and cheap.
8. See a Flamenco Performance
Entertainment Tip
- The capital city of Spain is where you'll find the top entertainment in the country. Flamenco dancers, singers, and guitarists of the highest caliber travel to Madrid to train and perform.
- If you want to be close to the dancers and feel the emotion of the dance, Las Tablas is the place to be. The establishment is modest and unobtrusive.
9. Wear a Lot of Sunblocks
Safety Tip
- If you are not used to places with beautiful, sunny weather, Madrid will both delight and torment you. Madrid’s clear skies are great for sightseeing.
- On the other hand, exposure to Madrid's incessant daylight might cause severe sunburn if you aren’t wearing enough sunblock and covering up yourself enough.
10. Tips are not Mandatory
Etiquette Tip
- A service charge is added to your bill at most Madrid restaurants to cover the costs of the waiting staff's services.
- You may, however, leave a 10% tip if you were particularly pleased with the service provided at a restaurant or if your bill did not include a service charge.
11. Try the Street Food
Food Tip
- When you're in Madrid, eat like a local. Although Madrid has numerous exquisite dining facilities, nothing beats soul cuisine from a street vendor.
- Look for places where residents gather. This signifies that the hawker provides tasty cuisine without compromising on quality.
12. Walk Around Madrid
Sightseeing Tip
- It is really enjoyable to walk around Madrid because it is a city with well-kept paths. There is no better way to get to know a city than to go for a walkabout the neighborhood.
- Wearing comfy shoes while wandering through Madrid is vital to avoid foot troubles the next day.
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13. See the Entire Continent at Parque Europa
Sightseeing Tip
- At Parque Europa in Madrid, you may take a virtual tour of Europe, including Michelangelo's David, the Berlin Wall, the Tower Bridge, the Eiffel Tower, the Trevi Fountain, and a Greek amphitheater.
- The park also offers a variety of family-friendly activities. Because it is around 15 miles outside of the city center, many people, especially those from outside Spain, are unaware of this unique environment.
14. Don’t Order Paella for Dinner
Etiquette Tip
- Madrid has some of the best Paella in Spain, but remember that this Spanish delicacy is had for lunch, not dinner.
- Heavy foods like paella aren't appropriate evening meals in Madrid because dinner is served so late. Most Spaniards will eat rice dishes for lunch instead.
15. Avoid Eating at Plaza Mayor
Food Tip
- Despite the attractive settings, many of these restaurants are costly tourist traps, making them unsuitable for enjoying the best of Madrid.
- If you want to eat al fresco in a more neighborhood setting, Plaza Santa Ana has plenty of options. This is a popular square among Madrileño.
16. Use Public Transport in Madrid
Transport Tip
- Madrid is not one of those cities with poor public transportation. Taking use of the public transportation system is one of the best travel ideas for Madrid.
- The metro is an excellent public transportation system, with clean, modern trains and excellent connections. Trains run often and are an excellent way to get around the city.
17. Don’t Buy Single Use Bottled Water
Budget Tip
- Bring a reusable bottle with you and fill water up at the Madrid taps as needed. In the city, tap water is safe to drink.
- Single-use plastic water containers are not only costly but also hazardous to the environment.
18. Bring the Right Credit Card
Money Tip
- The majority of establishments in Madrid accept credit cards. To transact in Madrid, though, you'll need a chipped card with a 4-digit PIN. To use cards, you may be required a minimum transaction amount.
- Check to determine if your card allows you to make foreign purchases for free. If not, seek one that does if you want to save a lot of money.
19. Use Skip the Line Tickets
Sightseeing Tip
- Madrid is usually bustling with visitors, particularly in the regions with the most popular sights. If you wish to save time, purchase skip-the-line tickets.
- Affordable skip-the-line tickets are a fantastic opportunity to see Madrid's beauty while also saving money.
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20. Get a Birds Eye View of Madrid
Sightseeing Tip
- Madrid is dotted with attractions that aren’t often spoken about. Try to take a day out and visit Circulo de Bellas Artes.
- This structure contains a cultural center as well as a rooftop. The entrance fee is €4, but the view of Madrid is well worth it. A bar is also available.
21. Take a Day Trip from Madrid
Sightseeing Tip
- If you're staying in Madrid for more than 3-5 days, take a day trip to the adjacent town of Toledo. It's only an hour from Madrid. You can also visit Segovia for a day.
- Various scheduled excursions will take you around the city and return you in less than 24 hours; all you have to do is choose one that meets your budget.
22. Utilize the Free WiFi in Madrid
General Tip
- Madrid provides unlimited Internet access in both public and private settings, allowing anyone to surf the web without restrictions.
- Most public cultural centers in Madrid now provide free wireless internet connections. Some of the cultural venues where you can stay connected are Conde Duque, CentroCentro, Casa del Reloj, and Casa de Vacas.
23. Bring a Universal Adapter
Packing Tip
- In Spain, type C and F plugs are used by the majority of appliances. Make sure you have a universal adaptor for your phones and other electronics.
- Purchase the adapter in your home country to avoid paying more in Madrid for the same item.
24. Book Tickets in Advance
Sightseeing Tip
- Whatever people say, Madrid's tourist sites are never completely vacant. Purchase your tickets in advance and online to ensure entry to the most popular Madrid attractions.
- If you plan on visiting the city during or near peak season, book your tickets as soon as they become available.
Frequently Asked Questions About Madrid Travel Tips
The best travel tips for transport in Madrid are, always using the public transport system whenever possible, using the shuttle for airport transfers, and walking to places that are a short distance away instead of taking a taxi.
The best travel tips for sightseeing in Madrid are visiting the free attractions, leaving early if you want to go to one of the popular attractions, and taking a day trip from Madrid.
The best travel tips for accommodation in Madrid are picking the right locality to make sightseeing easier and going to a rooftop to get a birds-eye view of the city.
The best tips for budget travel in Madrid are booking your flight and attraction tickets well in advance, having street food from popular vendors, and drinking tap water.
Avoid ordering paella after lunch, visiting the city during the peak tourism season, and eating at the eateries of Plaza Mayor.
Check if you have the right credit card, purchase a universal adapter for your electronic appliances, and book tickets for the major attractions before leaving for Madrid.
In Madrid, you should obey the traffic rules, carry a scarf for the evenings in case the weather turns cooler, and wear comfortable shoes for walking. Conversely, avoid going for dinners before 8:30 PM, visiting the city during the peak tourism season, and going to the city without learning a few Spanish phrases.
When traveling to Madrid for the first time, always fly to the closest airport to your hotel.
Madrid’s eateries generally levy a service charge on the bill. Even so, if you feel inclined to tip, you may.
Depending on the time of the year, a comprehensive trip to Madrid will take 4 to 5 days.
Try to stay as centrally as possible on your first trip to Madrid. Malasaña, La Latina, and Barrio de las Letras are all great neighborhoods to stay in on your first trip.
No, Madrid is not expensive to visit. The average daily cost for a person in Madrid is €110. The weekly budget for a couple in Madrid is about €1500.
No, Madrid is a fairly clean city despite a high tourist volume. The authorities are quite proactive in maintaining the hygiene standards in Madrid.