Royal Palace of Madrid
Huge palace used for state ceremonies, with richly decorated rooms, a royal armoury and formal gardens. The Spanish royal family does not live there.
Madrid
Lively food markets, Retiro Park, the Royal Palace and the Prado Museum fill Spain's capital.
Attractive locations
Almudena Cathedral
Cathedral next to the Royal Palace, finished in 1993 after more than a century of building. Its dome offers a high viewpoint over the rooftops.
Plaza Mayor
Large arcaded square from the 17th century, enclosed by uniform red buildings. Cafés fill its edges, and it hosts markets and events through the year.
Puerta del Sol
Busy square at the centre of Madrid, with the kilometre zero marker for Spain's roads and the statue of the bear and strawberry tree. Crowds gather here at New Year.
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
Art museum with paintings from the 13th to the 20th century, a good complement to the nearby Prado. It holds works by Dutch, Impressionist and modern painters.
El Retiro Park
Large city park with a lake for rowing boats, tree-lined paths, a glass pavilion and a monumental fountain. Locals come to walk, jog and relax on the lawns.
Temple of Debod
Ancient Egyptian temple, over two thousand years old, moved stone by stone to a park in Madrid. It is a favourite spot for watching the sunset.
National Archaeological Museum
Museum of Spain's ancient past, from prehistory through the Roman era. Highlights include the Lady of Elche and a replica of the Altamira cave paintings.
Prado Museum
Spain's main art museum, holding major works by Velázquez, Goya, El Greco and many European masters. Its galleries are the starting point for understanding Spanish painting.
Reina Sofía Museum
Madrid's national museum of modern and contemporary art, best known for Picasso's Guernica. Galleries also show works by Dalí, Miró and other 20th-century Spanish artists.
Gran Vía
A long, busy avenue lined with early-20th-century buildings in grand styles, with theatres, shops and cafes. Walking its length gives a quick look at the city's architecture and nightlife.
Plaza de Cibeles
A large square marked by a fountain of the goddess Cybele on a chariot, surrounded by grand buildings including the former central post office. It is one of Madrid's best-known meeting points.
Airports
Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport MAD
It is about 14 km in a straight line from Madrid.
Getting around
From Madrid-Barajas Airport
Metro Line 8 runs between Nuevos Ministerios and the terminals, with an airport fee on top of the normal fare. Route 203, the Airport Express bus, operates around the clock, starting from Atocha station by day and from Plaza de Cibeles between late evening and early morning. Its stops are O'Donnell metro station and Terminals 1, 2 and 4, and the trip from Atocha to T1 takes about 30 minutes. Cercanías line C-1 connects Chamartín station with T4.
- Source: Madrid Tourism (Madrid City Council): Getting to Madrid by plane (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Madrid Tourism (Madrid City Council): Airport Express shuttle (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Metro, Cercanías and buses
Madrid's Metro network has a short link line running between Ópera and Príncipe Pío, three light-rail lines (ML1 to ML3) and twelve numbered lines. Suburban Cercanías trains run between the city and nearby towns such as El Escorial and Aranjuez, and city buses cover the streets above ground.
- Source: Madrid Tourism (Madrid City Council): Getting around Madrid by Metro (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Madrid Tourism (Madrid City Council): Getting around Madrid (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Multi card and tourist pass
The Tarjeta Multi, a reusable contactless card holding pay-per-ride tickets, can be bought from red-sticker machines, tobacconists and other authorised retailers. Public transport is unlimited for 1, 2, 3, 5 or 7 days on the Tourist Travel Pass, and the Multi card is included at no cost. Single Metro tickets expire on the day they are bought. Single bus tickets and Airport Express tickets cannot go onto the Multi card and are purchased on board.
- Source: Madrid Tourism (Madrid City Council): Getting around Madrid by Metro (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Madrid Tourism (Madrid City Council): Getting around Madrid (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Scams and safe taxis
Madrid taxis, ranks and fixed fare
A Madrid taxi is white with a diagonal red band and the city emblem on the front door, and a green light means it is free. In most of the city you can raise a hand; ranks carry a blue sign bearing a white T, and only the rank may be used at stations and the airport. A fixed fare applies on trips linking the airport and the area inside the M-30 ring road. Check that the meter starts when the journey begins and ask for a receipt.
- Source: Madrid Tourism (Madrid City Council): Getting around Madrid by taxi (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Aena: Madrid-Barajas airport, getting there by taxi (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Taxi app from the city council
Madrid City Council's official app, TXMAD, gives travellers and taxi professionals information about the city's taxi service. The tourism board further lists private services for ordering taxis, among them pidetaxi, Tele Taxi, Join Up Taxi and Free Now. Radio taxi companies begin the meter as soon as the driver sets off toward you, whereas some apps only start charging once you are in the car.
- Source: Madrid Tourism (Madrid City Council): Getting around Madrid by taxi (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Pickpockets in busy places
Common places for petty theft, according to Canadian advice, include Plaza Mayor, Retiro park, the Puerta del Sol area, Paseo del Prado, Plaza Cibeles, Gran Vía, Atocha station and Barajas airport. On public transport the National Police advise keeping a handbag closed and held in front, using front pockets, being alert to people near cash machines who may distract you, and watching your bags even while checking in to a hotel.
- Source: Government of Canada travel advice: Spain (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Spanish National Police: Safety tips for tourists (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan3.8 °C38 mm
- Feb4.7 °C39 mm
- Mar7.9 °C48 mm
- Apr11.2 °C52 mm
- May15.7 °C42 mm
- Jun21.8 °C22 mm
- Jul25.3 °C9 mm
- Aug24.8 °C14 mm
- Sep20.0 °C24 mm
- Oct14.1 °C66 mm
- Nov7.6 °C54 mm
- Dec4.4 °C40 mm
Driest months: Jun, Jul, Aug. Wettest months: Apr, Oct, Nov.
Costs
Prices here are about 65% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
112 works across the EU for police, fire and ambulance.
local government
Policía Nacional (National Police)
Helps with: Spain's national police. Its tourist leaflet gives 091 for reporting a crime or getting information, and lists tourist attention offices (SATE) with interpreters in 13 places, including Madrid, Málaga and Sevilla.
Who qualifies: Tourists and other visitors who are victims of a crime in Spain.
Phone: 091
local government
112 emergency number (Spain.info, national tourism site)
Helps with: Spain's emergency number, free to call across the country. The national tourism site says translation is available in several languages and that calls can be located by emergency services.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Spain, including visitors, in an emergency.
Phone: 112
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Spain
Helps with: The UN migration agency's office in Madrid. Contact it about migration matters in Spain.
Who qualifies: Migrants and organisations working on migration. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +34 915943670
Email: IOMMadrid@iom.int
Address: C/ Fernando el Católico nº 10, 1ºB, 28015 Madrid
embassy
Foreign embassies and consulates in Spain (official lists)
Helps with: For a lost passport or serious trouble, contact your own country's embassy. The Spanish foreign ministry publishes a diplomatic list and a consular list of missions accredited in Spain.
Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy or consulate.