Sol
First-timersThe centre, by Puerta del Sol.
Madrid city guide
Things To Do In Madrid
The Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen within a short walk, a nightlife that outlasts everywhere else in Europe, and neighbourhoods that are the point of the city.
87
Hostels in the city
8.3
Average, from 122,702 reviews
1561
Madrid becomes capital
3
Great museums on one boulevard
2021
Paseo del Prado and Retiro join UNESCO
Art by day, bars all night
Madrid became Spain's capital in 1561, chosen for its position in the middle of the country, and the Habsburg and Bourbon kings filled it with palaces and one of the greatest art collections in the world.
The Paseo del Prado, the boulevard that holds the Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen-Bornemisza, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with the Retiro park beside it.
But Madrid is really about its neighbourhoods and its hours: long lunches, evenings in the squares and a nightlife that starts at midnight and runs till sunrise. Three or four days is right, with Toledo and Segovia as day trips.
Where to stay
Stay in the centre, around Sol and La Latina, or in Malasaña and Lavapiés for the bars.
La Latina
TapasCava Baja and El Rastro.
Malasaña
NightlifeBars and cafés.
Lavapiés
ValueMulticultural and young.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 12 top-rated hostels. Map © MapTiler © OpenStreetMap contributors.
How long have you got?
The routes we would take, in the order we would take them.
Things to do
Things to do in Madrid
The Prado holds Velázquez, Goya and Bosch; it is free in the last two hours of the day. The Reina Sofía has Picasso's Guernica, and the Thyssen covers everything in between.
Walk through the Retiro park to the Crystal Palace and rent a rowing boat on the lake. The Royal Palace, one of the largest in Europe, is ticketed.
On Sunday mornings, El Rastro flea market fills the streets of La Latina, followed by tapas on Cava Baja.
Watch the sunset from the Templo de Debod, an Egyptian temple on a hill above the city.
More on things to do in Madrid
Free things
Free things to do in Madrid
The Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen all have free hours or days; the Prado is free in the last two hours of the day.
The Retiro, El Rastro and the Templo de Debod at sunset are free.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Madrid
Madrid's dishes are cocido madrileño, a chickpea stew, bocadillo de calamares, a squid sandwich, and churros con chocolate at any hour. Tapas bars on Cava Baja and in Lavapiés are the way to eat.
The menú del día is €12 to €16.
The Mercado de San Miguel is pretty and pricey; San Fernando in Lavapiés and Antón Martín are more local.
More on food and drink in Madrid
Nightlife
Going out in Madrid
Madrid has the deepest nightlife in Spain. Malasaña for bars, Lavapiés for a younger, mixed crowd, Chueca for LGBTQ+ nightlife, and La Latina for tapas and vermouth.
Clubs start around two and run past sunrise.
A beer, a caña, is €2 to €4. The metro closes around 1:30; night buses, the búhos, run through the night.
Getting around
Getting around Madrid
The centre is walkable, and the metro is excellent.
From Barajas Airport, metro line 8 reaches the city with an airport supplement, and the Express bus runs to the centre around the clock.
AVE trains reach Barcelona in about two and a half hours, Seville in about two and a half, and Valencia in under two. Toledo is thirty minutes away.
Costs
What Madrid costs
Madrid is cheaper than Barcelona. Dorms start around €20. A careful day is €45 to €65.
Free museum hours keep costs down.
The euro is the currency. Cards work almost everywhere, though small bars still like cash.
More on costs in Madrid
Safety
Staying safe in Madrid
Madrid is safe. Pickpockets work Sol, the metro and El Rastro.
Summer heat regularly passes 35°C; plan outdoor walks for the morning and evening.
Emergency number is 112, with English-speaking operators usually available.
Day trips from Madrid
Historic cities within an hour.
Toledo
The walled city of three religions.
Segovia
A Roman aqueduct and a fairytale castle.
El Escorial
A vast royal monastery-palace.
Ávila
Complete medieval walls.
Day trips from Madrid
What's on
What is on while you are there
San Isidro in May is the city's own festival.
Staff pick
1–30 December
Madrid Arts and Crafts Fair
Discover the exquisite craftsmanship at the Madrid Arts and Crafts Fair, where over 170 artisans showcase unique handmade creations ranging from ceramics to jewelry.…
Staff pick
2–11 October
Shakira
Get ready for an electrifying night as global superstar Shakira takes the stage with her signature fusion of Latin pop, rock, and dance. Known…
Staff pick
6–9 October
Madrid International Film Festival
The Madrid International Film Festival is a prestigious event that honors exceptional work in global filmmaking, offering a platform for both seasoned and emerging…
Staff pick
30 Oct – 20 Feb
Inverfest
Inverfest is Madrid's annual winter concert series, bringing together an eclectic lineup of established and emerging artists across some of the city's most iconic…
Staff pick
8 November
NFL Madrid Game
The NFL Madrid Game brings the excitement of American football to Spain with a historic matchup at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. This landmark event…
Staff pick
10–22 November
LesGaiCineMad
QueerCineMad, Madrid's leading LGBTIAQ+ International Film Festival, has been a cornerstone of queer cinema since 1996. Hosted at the renowned Cineteca, the festival draws…
Staff pick
21–29 November
Feriarte
Feriarte, held annually in Madrid, Spain, is a premier art and antiques fair that draws in a sophisticated crowd of collectors and enthusiasts from…
Staff pick
26–29 November
Madrid Horse Week
Madrid Horse Week is an equestrian extravaganza featuring world-class competitions in show jumping, dressage, and vaulting. This prestigious event draws thousands of spectators and…
Hostels
Where to stay in Madrid
The top-rated places to stay in Madrid right now, live from Hostelworld.
Onefam Sungate
Dorms from €24 a night
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Onefam Madrid
Dorms from €20 a night
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Woohoo Hostal Madrid
Dorms from €13 a night
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Ok Hostel Madrid
Dorms from €27 a night
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The Hat Madrid
Dorms from €21 a night
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The Loft House Madrid
Dorms from €22 a night
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Barbieri Sol Hostel
Dorms from €13 a night
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Bastardo Hostel
Dorms from €20 a night
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2060 The Newton Hostel
Dorms from €17 a night
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Far Home Gran Via
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Hostelfly
Dorms from €29 a night
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Latroupe Prado
Dorms from €25 a night
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When to go
April to June and September to October are best. July and August are very hot.
Jan
Cold
Feb
Quiet
Mar
Spring
Apr
Excellent
May
San Isidro
Jun
Pride
Jul
Very hot
Aug
Hot, locals away
Sep
Excellent
Oct
Good
Nov
Quiet
Dec
Christmas
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs. Madrid is high and dry, cold in winter.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Excludes day trips.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Madrid travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
When is the Prado free?
In the last two hours of each day.
Does the metro run all night?
No, it closes around 1:30. Night buses, the búhos, run through the night.
How do I get from the airport?
By metro line 8 or the Express bus.
Madrid or Barcelona?
Madrid for art and nightlife, Barcelona for Gaudí and the beach. Two and a half hours apart.
Is Madrid hot in summer?
Very. July and August regularly pass 35°C.
How many days do you need?
Three or four.
When is the best time to visit?
April to June and September to October.
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