Is it your first time in Madrid? If that’s your case, you surely have a ton of questions even before start thinking about travel dates or planning any details of your trip.
Well, there’s nothing to worry about.
A lot of travelers having been there before you, and I get asked many of these questions through my social media or email. I always respond, but sometimes it’s hard to reply to everyone with enough detail.
That’s why I’ve decided to write a simple post that addresses those common questions that come up before traveling to Madrid – or even during the trip.
This survival guide to traveling to Madrid contains all the relevant and practical information you need to read about. It guides you step by step through all the main decisions you have to take and answers to the ‘Big 5’ – who, what, when, where, how.
Is this your first time in Madrid?
In many cases, the questions and doubts I receive are often repeated. And that’s totally understandable. What might be obvious to me after many years of writing about Madrid, and even living there, may not be obvious to you.
After all, Madrid is a city that can seem very different, so I understand why certain questions come up. That’s why I’ve compiled the basic questions here so you won’t have any issues when planning your trip. And while you’re at it, take a look at how to plan your trip to Madrid. There you’ll find a ton of resources to help you decide what to include in your trip, whether it’s museums, history, shopping, food…
Before we begin, let me start with a basic recommendation: don’t overthink it! Madrid is a very friendly city for travelers, and although there may be many things that surprise you, it’s a modern, safe, and well-connected country with people willing to help, which will make your trip easier. So don’t be afraid and dive right in!
And if this list of frequently asked questions about traveling to Madrid doesn’t include yours, just let me know. I’d be happy to add your question to the list so it can help other travelers too.
In any case, I also have a frequently asked questions section in the article about weather, temperature, and rainfall. There are a lot of very specific questions that are better covered there. I also have a frequently asked questions section in the tutorial about bullfight tickets, which exclusively covers how to buy them.
Why should you go?
While Barcelona is usually considered the most EU city in Spain, Madrid has had centuries of culture behind it and it offers plenty of cultural activities which make it an enormously popular destination for anybody searching for some time away in a fascinating and different European capital.
The city is full of great monuments and interesting museums. It’s also a great place to have a glimpse at flamenco, Spain’s most popular dance. And if you happen to be a sport enthusiast, fútbol is sacred in Spain, but the real question here is Real Madrid or Atlético?
If you intend to get to Madrid by plane, have a look at this complete guide to fly to Madrid where I show you how to find very cheap international flights.
When is the best time of the year to visit Madrid?
Madrid is an exciting city that offers plenty of activities all year round, and with a nice weather.
So if you ask me, what’s the best time of the year to visit Madrid my answer is: it depends.
On what? Well, it depends on what you’re looking for depending on the type of traveler you are and your travel dates flexibility.
- High season: From April to June, September, October and December.
- Shoulder season: March, July, August and November.
- Off-season: January and February.
Short answer: late spring and early fall are the best time to visit Madrid.
- Best overall time to visit: October.
- Most popular month: May.
- Best weather: May, October.
- Best month to avoid crowds: January.
How much time should you spend in Madrid?
To travel smartly, your first decision must be determining how many days you should spend in Madrid, especially if you’re a first-time visitor. You could visit Madrid for weeks and still not see half of what’s interesting!
- One day is simply not enough.
- Two or three days will give you the chance to have a general overview of the city, visit a couple of museums and partially enjoy the best Madrid has to offer.
- A satisfactory first-time visit might take four days, ideally five.
- There is easily enough in Madrid to keep you busy for a week if you want to explore off the beaten path or do some day trips.
No matter how much time you have in the city, have a look at my Madrid itineraries, which are designed to help you make the best of your time.
Do you need a visa to travel to Madrid?
If you plan to travel to Spain, visa procedures will depend on your nationality. Not everybody needs a visa to enter Spain and special conditions apply to most European countries, especially to member countries of the European Union.
Keep in mind that the tourist visa has time limitations that you should be aware of! And don’t forget that the validity and obligations of the visa apply to all Schengen countries.
Should you get a travel and health insurance?
In short, yes. Getting a travel insurance is a must.
Travel insurance is vital for Spain and indeed anywhere in the world. Spanish health care is excellent, but also expensive especially in the event of an illness or accident.
Besides your health, you want to be protected against cancelled flights, missing baggage etc. Hopefully you’ll never have to use it, but travel insurance makes all the difference if you do.
Is a vaccine required to travel to Madrid?
No. There’s no mandatory vaccine that you need in order to visit Madrid.
How can you get mobile internet in Madrid?
In Madrid, the most convenient way for me to get mobile internet is by using a data SIM card, which in some cases, depending on my phone, could be an eSIM or Embedded SIM. In this case, you wouldn’t even need to change the physical card, as it can be loaded virtually with a QR code.
Should you exchange money beforehand or can you withdraw money there?
Exchanging money at your bank before traveling usually isn’t the best idea.
Don’t exchange your local currency into euros after arriving in Madrid either. You’ll pay abusive commissions and you’ll get horrible currency exchange rates.
Be a smart traveler. Get a travel money card and pay with it everywhere in Madrid.
Can you pay with credit card?
When it comes to money, in Madrid, you can use a card at 99% of places. However, to avoid the fees and extra charges for currency exchange that traditional cards charge, the best option is to pay with a travel card, like Wise.
With this card, you can also withdraw a small amount of euros from ATMs without a fee, just to have some cash in case it’s ever needed (for example, to leave a tip).
For more details, check how Wise works in Madrid, and you can order a card to start spending immediately.
What type of plugs are there in Madrid?
In Madrid and all over Spain, the voltage for plugs is 230V, and the standard electric sockets are the same as in most of Europe – type C which has two round pins.
My advice is to buy a plug adapter and bring a power strip so you can connect multiple devices using just one adapter. In some cases, there are hotels with outlets that are ready for any type of plug without needing an adapter.
Where should you stay in Madrid?
Madrid has a wide range of excellent hotels, from international brands to beautiful boutique hotels.
Another good option if you’re traveling with your family or you want your own, self-catering space is a Madrid vacation rental, giving you the feel of living in your own apartment.
Finally, there are also numerous backpacker hostels and low cost hotels if you happen to be a budget conscious.
How do you get to Madrid?
Madrid is an extremely well connected city that provides several options to get to, either from other parts of Spain or other cities around the world. The city has a major international airport, Barajas International Airport (MAD), linking to every possible destination you can think of.
If you’re coming from other parts of Spain, Madrid is well served by the high-speed train (AVE) and bus.
And before getting your plane tickets, consider the benefits of online travel insurance. When traveling, better safe than sorry!
How can you your get from Madrid Airport to your accommodation?
There are several options to exit the airport.
- Metro. The subway is the most popular means of transport to leave the airport.
- Train. It’s a very good and sometimes faster alternative to the subway, especially when traveling to Atocha or Chamartín.
- Bus. While it’s not always be the fastest option, there are several bus routes serving the airport: Línea Exprés Aeropuerto (line 203), lines 200 and 101 of the EMT buses.
- Taxi. Definitely the most expensive and the riskiest option I can imagine.
- Private Transfer. Obviously the most comfortable and fastest option.
For more details, you should definitely check out my ‘Arriving at Madrid Airport’ guide. It’s a complete guide that explains in detail how to exit the airport to get to the city center.
What should you see in Madrid?
I’m personally not a big fan of travel checklists and “must-see” tourism. Still, there’s no denying that Madrid has a bunch of attractions that you should check out.
Here are some things you should consider include in your bucket list of attractions and activities in Madrid: the Museo del Prado, the Museo Thyssen, the Reina Sofía, the Royal Palace, attend a flamenco show, try some delicious tapas in one of the many tapas bars scattered around Madrid, and walk around off the beaten path.
The Madrid Tourist Card gives you access to tons of attractions, all in one ticket. So, it’s definitely the cheapest and most convenient way to visit Madrid.
And if you have limited time, check out my ‘Madrid in 9 Walks’ guide.
What are the top things to do and see in Madrid?
The month-to-month Madrid events calendar is a summary of the top things to do and see.
You won’t find most of these Madrid events in your travel guide or asking at your hotel’s lobby. Actually, cool events don’t get advertised, they are either spread by word of mouth or can be found in local magazines or newspapers. And best ones can only be found online, usually subscribing to this or that newsletter.
But most importantly, all this information is in Spanish… To make things easier for you, I go through every list, select only the best ones and translate every single detail. You won’t miss anything, I promise.
Is it easy to get around Madrid?
Despite being a relatively big city, Madrid offers an excellent public transport system. It’s very easy to get around.
Even if the central areas are walkable and I always recommend going on foot whenever it’s possible, it’s also nice to have some alternatives if you plan to go further away or you suddenly feel tired.
The Madrid Traveller maps will surely prove helpful as well.
Is Madrid a safe city?
Madrid is a safe city to visit. You should be wary of pickpockets in certain areas (those frequented by tourists as you would have guessed).
But in general, you shouldn’t act differently than at home. Take some basic precautions and everything will be fine.
Be extremely careful in bus or train stations and other similar crowded places, because pickpocketing is common there.
Also, exercise caution at El Rastro (Madrid’s flea market) over the weekends.
Where can you get more information about other destinations in Spain?
Additionally, you can explore the charms of Central Spain planning several day trips from Madrid, or you can decide to go further away, including other destinations around the country in a longer itinerary.
There are several must-see destinations in Spain within easy reach of Madrid. They all make great additions to any Spain travel itinerary.
As people kept asking, it was a natural move to create additional travel practical information for those like you, who want to discover these destinations’ secrets and enjoy them as a local. These concise guides provide details about what to see and do.
In addition to this, since most of you travel to other exciting Spanish cities, I’ve written and designed the Spain Traveller eBooks collection to help you maximize your time and enjoy your trip to Spain.
