Things to do in Madrid: top sights and where to go
Madrid, Spain's capital, is a city of great museums: along the Paseo del Prado stand the Prado with Velázquez and Goya, the Thyssen and the Reina Sofía with Picasso and Dalí. The old centre holds the Royal Palace, Almudena Cathedral, Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol, with the green Retiro Park and the Egyptian Temple of Debod close by. Easy day trips lead to Toledo, Segovia, Ávila and El Escorial.
Sights
Madrid itineraries
Madrid travel guide
What to know before you go: neighbourhoods and where to stay, the airport and metro, museums, weather by month, food, costs and trips to Toledo and Segovia.
Madrid on your own: the essentials
- Entry
- Schengen rules; ETIAS for visa-free visitors when it starts
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - How long
- 2–3 days, +1–2 days for day trips
- Best time
- April–June and September–October
- Food
- Cocido, calamari sandwiches, churros
- Money
- Euro; contactless almost everywhere
- Airport
- Barajas (MAD) — metro or train to the centre ≈ 25–40 min
- Transport
- Metro and Cercanías commuter trains
- Museums
- Free evening hours at the Prado, Thyssen and Reina Sofía
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Meal times
- Lunch from 2pm, dinner after 9pm
- Time zone
- CET (UTC+1), CEST (UTC+2) in summer
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Key facts
Sourcei
Wikipedia, MadridSourcei
Wikipedia, MadridSourcei
UNESCO World Heritage List, no. 1618Sourcei
Wikipedia, Paseo del PradoThings to do in Madrid
Madrid's headline sights are the three great museums on the Paseo del Prado, the Royal Palace and Almudena Cathedral, Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol, Retiro Park and the Egyptian Temple of Debod. Almost everything central is walkable. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above.
| Paseo del Prado | Prado, Thyssen, Reina Sofía | 1–2 days |
|---|---|---|
| Habsburg Madrid | Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol | 2 hours |
| The royal hill | Palace, Almudena | ½ day |
| West of the centre | Temple of Debod, Plaza de España | 1–2 hours |
| The Retiro | Retiro Park | 1.5–2 hours |
| The Castellana | Santiago Bernabéu | 1.5–2 hours |
Rather not plan it yourself? The list above includes ready-made itineraries for 1 to 3 days and with kids.
Madrid itinerary: 1, 2 or 3 days
One day in Madrid covers Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace and an evening at the Temple of Debod. With two days, add the Prado and Retiro Park; with three, the Thyssen, the Reina Sofía and the Bernabéu. Days four and five are for Toledo and Segovia.
- Day 1 — Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace, the Temple of Debod.
- Day 2 — the Prado and Retiro Park.
- Day 3 — the Thyssen, the Reina Sofía, the Bernabéu.
- Days 4–5 — Toledo, Segovia, El Escorial or Ávila.
Where to stay in Madrid
The handiest base is the centre, around Puerta del Sol, the Barrio de las Letras or Gran Vía, within walking distance of the museums and palace. Malasaña and Chueca are lively with bars, Salamanca is quiet and upmarket, and Atocha is convenient for trains to Toledo and Seville.
| Sol and Las Letras | First visit, all close | Noisy at night |
|---|---|---|
| Malasaña, Chueca | Bars, young crowd | Nightlife |
| Salamanca | Quiet, shopping | Pricier |
| By Atocha station | Trains and day trips | Less picturesque |
Madrid airport to the city centre
Madrid's Adolfo Suárez Barajas Airport (MAD) is 13 km from the centre, with terminals T1 to T4. You can reach the centre by metro line 8, by Cercanías commuter train from T4, or by the 24-hour Exprés Aeropuerto bus to Atocha. Taxis to the centre charge a flat fare.
| Metro L8 | T1–T4 — Nuevos Ministerios | ≈ 15 min + change |
|---|---|---|
| Cercanías C1 | T4 — Atocha, Sol | ≈ 25 min |
| Exprés Aeropuerto | T1–T4 — Atocha | ≈ 40 min |
| Taxi | Airport — centre | ≈ 25–30 min |
| Avant train | Madrid — Toledo | ≈ 33 min |
| AVE train | Madrid — Barcelona | ≈ 2.5 h |
Madrid weather by month
Madrid has a continental climate: summers are hot and dry, over 30 °C by day, and winters cool, around 10 °C by day and near freezing at night. The city sits high, so nights are fresh even in summer. The best months are April to June and September to October; in July and August, sightsee in the morning and evening.
°CiLong-term averages, °C: day and night air, sea water near the shore, rain — rainy days a month. Any given year can be warmer or cooler. Tap a month for details below. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 10° | 12° | 16° | 18° | 22° | 28° | 32° | 31° | 26° | 19° | 13° | 10° |
| Night | 3° | 3° | 6° | 8° | 11° | 16° | 19° | 19° | 15° | 11° | 6° | 3° |
| Rain | 6 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Warm — 20 °C and above by dayBest time to go: April–May and September–October
- day ≈ 10°
- night ≈ 3°
- rain 6 days
Cold and sunny.
- day ≈ 12°
- night ≈ 3°
- rain 5 days
Cool, almond blossom.
- day ≈ 16°
- night ≈ 6°
- rain 4 days
Spring, warming up.
- day ≈ 18°
- night ≈ 8°
- rain 6 days
Warm, Holy Week.
- day ≈ 22°
- night ≈ 11°
- rain 5 days
A lovely month, San Isidro fiesta.
- day ≈ 28°
- night ≈ 16°
- rain 2 days
Warm, the heat begins.
- day ≈ 32°
- night ≈ 19°
- rain 1 days
Hot and dry.
- day ≈ 31°
- night ≈ 19°
- rain 1 days
The hottest, the city empties.
- day ≈ 26°
- night ≈ 15°
- rain 2 days
Warm, busy again.
- day ≈ 19°
- night ≈ 11°
- rain 6 days
Mild, golden autumn.
- day ≈ 13°
- night ≈ 6°
- rain 6 days
Cool, some rain.
- day ≈ 10°
- night ≈ 3°
- rain 6 days
Cold, Christmas lights.
15 May is the feast of San Isidro, Madrid's patron saint, with street parties, chotis dancing and concerts in the parks.
What to eat in Madrid
Madrid's food is hearty and simple: cocido stew, fried calamari sandwiches, eggs with potatoes, tapas in the bars and hot chocolate with churros. The San Miguel market and the bars of La Latina and the Barrio de las Letras are the easiest places to try it all.
- Cocido madrileño — a stew of chickpeas, meat and vegetables.
- Bocadillo de calamares — a calamari sandwich.
- Huevos rotos — fried eggs over potatoes.
- Churros with chocolate — the classic breakfast.
- Tapas and vermouth — in La Latina's bars on Sundays.
- Violet sweets — an old Madrid confection.
Madrid sightseeing costs
Free in Madrid: the squares, Retiro Park, the Temple of Debod, Almudena Cathedral and walks around the old centre; the main museums have free evening hours. You pay for the Royal Palace, the museums, the Bernabéu tour and viewpoints.
| Santiago Bernabéu Stadium | 56 | 1 h 45 min | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Palace of Madrid | 53 | 1 h 45 min | Paid |
| Prado Museum | 52 | 2 h 30 min | Paid |
| Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum | 43 | 2 h | Paid |
| Reina Sofía Museum | 42 | 2 h 30 min | Paid; free evenings |
| El Escorial | 33 | 5 h | Paid |
Free — 9 places: Puerta del Sol, Almudena Cathedral, Plaza Mayor, Temple of Debod, Plaza de España, Toledo, Retiro Park, Segovia and more.
Tips
- Visit museums in their free hours or on a morning ticket.
- In summer, walk in the morning and evening; spend midday in museums.
- Book trains to Toledo and Segovia ahead.
FAQ
What should I see first in Madrid?
The Prado, the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, Retiro Park and the Temple of Debod.
How many days do you need in Madrid?
2 to 3 days, plus 1 or 2 for Toledo and Segovia.
How do I get from Madrid airport to the centre?
By metro L8 with a change, Cercanías train from T4, or the Exprés Aeropuerto bus to Atocha.
What's the weather like in Madrid in May?
About 22 °C by day and 11 °C at night, a good month to visit.
What's Madrid like in summer?
Hot and dry, over 30 °C by day, with fresher nights.
Where should I stay in Madrid?
Around Puerta del Sol, the Barrio de las Letras or Gran Vía.
When are Madrid's museums free?
The Prado, Thyssen and Reina Sofía have free hours, usually in the evening; check their sites.
What food is Madrid known for?
Cocido, calamari sandwiches, churros with chocolate and tapas with vermouth.
What day trips can I take from Madrid?
Toledo, Segovia, Ávila or El Escorial, each an hour or so away.
Sources and fact-check
- UNESCO World Heritage List, no. 1618 — Paseo del Prado and Buen Retiro
- Wikipedia: Madrid; climate of Madrid (1991–2020 normals)
- Madrid-Barajas Airport and Madrid Metro official sites