KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Madrid travel tips

Essential Madrid Travel Tips

Madrid, Spain, is an incredible city with much to offer. The walkable city also makes a perfect home base for a week-long adventure. To begin planning your trip, understand the essential details to make the best vacation.

Madrid is an accessible city to get to. Luis Barragan International is centrally located, just 30 minutes outside the city. EU and North American citizens do not need a visa to enter. Immigration at the airport is straightforward, and we have breezed through in under 20 mins on each visit. Getting to the center city, take the Renfe Train to Atocha. This is the mid-distance train and is cheaper and quicker than the metro. If you aren’t ready to navigate public transportation, prebook a car or get a taxi just outside the departures area.

Any day is a good day to visit Madrid. Peak Summer (May-August) will be the hottest and most packed with tourists. Shoulder season – March-April/September-October – cooler weather offers a more enjoyable experience. The winter months (November-February) are still pleasant, but expect temperatures that require a light jacket and some rain. Very rarely, snow and colder temps. can occur during this time. We visited in the summer and in September. Our September trip was more enjoyable with fewer people and warm, sunny days.

Most of Spain speaks the official Castilian Spanish. In select regions, versions of the language are spoken: Galician, Basque, Catalan, and Aranese. English is available in tourist areas, and with basic Spanish, you will get by. In the less tourist areas, be prepared to speak in Spanish – at least enough to get by – it goes a long way to building goodwill.

Spain and most of Europe use 230V. Most devices do not have the correct plug for Spain. The type F adapter is the most common option. If you are staying in older areas or hotels, there are not as many outlets in the rooms. So a power bank or multi-plug will be important to keep everything fully charged. Also in the older hotels, the room key acts as a connector to turn on the lights, AC, so when you leave, the power to the room will be off.

Madrid is an enjoyable walking city. The tree-lined streets, interesting architecture, and cafes make it perfectly easy to stroll for hours. The metro and trains work together to get you near and far. We found the metro easy to navigate; if you have been in any other large city, it will feel familiar how to use the stations. The high-speed trains are great for day trips from Madrid. Visit Renfe.com for maps, prices, and timetables

Madrid and all of Spain are quite safe for tourists. Typical pickpockets and petty thievery can occur, but as always, keep your valuables close and keep your eyes open. In the past few years, Spain has seen more political and social protests, which have been non-violent and can disrupt train travel and block streets.

We have more to read on Madrid – check out Discover Madrid, Best Day Trips from Madrid, and Madrid Neighborhoods to inspire and help you plan your visit. Don’t forget to check out the top experiences from Viator, our trusted partner.

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