Spain’s capital has a reputation for amazing food and nightlife, but there is much more to Madrid that that. This is a huge city with a royal palace and one of the world’s top art museums, along with a modern way of life that should be experienced at least once by any visitor to Spain. When planning an itinerary for a first trip to Spain, Madrid should be on it.
Spain might sound like a sun-soaked country at first glance, but its cities are world-class and Madrid is at the top of the list. You’ve heard about Madrid’s famous food and nightlife scenes and that is all true.
Especially as the evening arrives, Madrid’s tapas culture is a huge draw as you can have excellent drinks and snacks at a wide variety of spots as you drift around the gorgeous city at night.
| Population | 3,300,000 |
| Area | 6,400,000 |
| Timezone | UTC+1 |
| Currency | Euro |
| Airports | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) |
The attractions mostly have very reasonable price tags and several of the museums have frequent periods with free admission so the budget traveler can see a lot for very little, as long as they don’t mind the big crowds that always come along with that approach.
The Royal Palace and the Prado Museum are among the top draws, and both are highly recommended for your first visit.
If you want to do the famous sightseeing attractions you might read our Madrid Pass review to see if it would save you time and money.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 16.30 - 54.35 |
| 22.83 - 72.83 |
| 31.52 - 110.87 |
| 43.48 - 145.65 |
| 109.78 - 280.43 |
Hostal Triana Doubles from €56/night | |
Our pick: The best cheap and central 3-star hotel in Madrid |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 13.04 - 28.26 |
Barbieri Sol Hostel Beds from €16/night | |
Our pick: The best cheap and central hostel in Madrid |
Food in Madrid is also refreshingly cheap compared to most of the rest of Europe, and those who like ham will be especially happy here. Tapas joints are all over and budget travelers will have no problem assembling an affordable meal in these social establishments. Drinks also tend to be cheap, especially the beer that is so common at the tapas restaurants and most everywhere else. Good wine can be found in restaurants at very reasonable prices as well, though mixed drinks can be pricey, especially at night clubs and such.
| Budget breakfast | Breakfast is often included with hotels and hostels. If not a continental breakfast should be easy to find. | $3.26 - $6.52 |
| Budget lunch | In Spain the big meal of the day is usually lunch, so see the dinner prices if you're doing that. Ham sandwiches are popular and cheap. | $6.52 - $10.87 |
| Budget dinner | Tapas places can be great bargains, and many casual dining places are also affordable. | $9.78 - $18.48 |
| Tapas (per item) | Ordering tapas is complicated at first, with different sizes and styles. Small sizes can add up to a great and cheap meal. | $1.09 - $4.35 |
| Beer (glass) | A glass of beer can be cheap and refreshing at a tapas place. | $2.17 - $5.43 |
| Table wine (glass) | Cheap local wine is easy to find at casual restaurants and bars. | $1.09 - $4.35 |
| Beer (can, retail) | Local lagers are cheap in markets. | $0.00 - $1.09 |
The hop-on, hop-off bus tours of Madrid are quite good and a great way to get oriented on your first full day in the city.
The free (tips-based) walking tours are also great since so much of the city center is more easily seen on foot than in a vehicle.
| Month | High F | Low F | Precip (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 49 | 37 | 1.5 |
| February | 54 | 39 | 1.4 |
| March | 60 | 42 | 1.0 |
| April | 64 | 45 | 1.9 |
| May | 71 | 51 | 2.0 |
| June | 80 | 59 | 1.0 |
| July | 88 | 65 | 0.6 |
| August | 87 | 65 | 0.4 |
| September | 79 | 59 | 1.1 |
| October | 66 | 50 | 1.9 |
| November | 56 | 43 | 2.2 |
| December | 50 | 39 | 2.2 |
Madrid has a famously mild climate most of the year, though summers are known to be blazing hot, often for weeks on end without a break. Humidity during summer isn’t much of a factor, but it’s also not quite a dry desert climate either.
Most people agree that spring and autumn are the nicest times to visit Madrid, both with modest temperatures and not much rain. In fact you’ll be pretty unlucky to encounter much rain in Madrid during any time of the year.
Winters are mild compared to most of Europe, though it does occasionally snow and hover below freezing for a few days in many years.
| 21 Mar | 7:17am | 7:28pm |
| 21 Jun | 6:45am | 9:48pm |
| 21 Sep | 8:01am | 8:14pm |
| 21 Dec | 8:34am | 5:51pm |
Compared to most of the rest of western Europe, Madrid is a bargain. Hotels are reasonably priced and standards are quite high, and hostels are plentiful in the city center for those on a tighter budget. Find the best deals on our recommended Madrid hotels page for great choices that are cheap and have central locations.
Hotels in Madrid are quite popular all year round, but the sizzling months of July and August are actually considered the low season, partly since most Europeans head for beaches during those months.
The peak seasons are those surrounding Christmas and Easter so if you are intending to come then it’s best to book as early as possible. Generally it’s not too difficult to get a hostel bed or hotel room once you arrive in Madrid, though the cheaper and more popular places in the city center do get filled up in advance so you might have to settle for something a bit farther out. Most of spring is crowded here so it’s best to book something if you know when you are coming and in which area you’d like to stay.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| 16.30 - 54.35 |
| 22.83 - 72.83 |
| 31.52 - 110.87 |
| 43.48 - 145.65 |
| 109.78 - 280.43 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 13.04 - 28.26 |
Madrid’s airport is huge and it has decent fares on flights from within Europe as well as from North America and Asia.
If you fly into Barcelona or another major Spanish city you can also arrive by high-speed train. Book well in advance for cheaper fares.
Madrid is mostly flat and it’s a great walking city, especially if you are staying somewhere in the tourist center.
They also have a Metro system that connects the city center with the suburbs as well as the airport.
Taxis are reasonably priced, although knowing some Spanish helps with that.
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Taxi from airport to central Madrid | 29.35 - 35.87 |
| Metro from airport to central Madrid | 5.43 |
| Metro ride in Madrid | 1.09 - 2.17 |
| 3km taxi ride in Madrid | 8.70 - 14.13 |