Spain

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Madrid

Great museums, royal palaces and late nights

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Best time to visit: Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct
Currency: EUR
Time zone: UTC+1
Country: Spain

Photo: Zarateman, CC0

Spain's capital, with three world-class art museums, a royal palace, a huge park and tapas bars that stay busy past midnight.

Largest cities

Madrid
Barcelona
Valencia
Seville
Málaga

Quick facts

Figures are rounded recent official estimates.

Country: Spain
Capital: Madrid
City population: 3.4M
Population of Spain: 48.6M
Country area: 505,990 km²
Official language: Spanish
Currency: Euro (EUR) · 1 USD ≈ 0.8929 EUR
Time zone: UTC+1
Calling code: +34
Drives on the: Right
Elevation: 650 m
Plugs: C / F · 230V
Emergency numbers: 112
Best time to visit: Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct

Temperatures through the year

Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.

Temperatures through the year

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High	10°	12°	16°	18°	22°	28°	32°	31°	26°	19°	13°	10°
Low	3°	3°	6°	8°	11°	16°	19°	19°	15°	11°	6°	3°

Best time to visitOther months

Approximate daily cost

Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.

ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$76
HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$157
LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$405

Plan a trip to Madrid

Top things to do

≈ $17
Prado Museum
Velázquez, Goya and El Greco in one of the world's great art museums; free in the last two hours of the day.
- Half day
- Paseo del Prado and Retiro
- Indoors
≈ $16
Royal Palace and Almudena Cathedral
One of Europe's largest palaces, with the royal armoury, facing the cathedral across the square.
- Half day
- Sol and Madrid de los Austrias
- Indoors
Free
Retiro Park
Rowing boats on the lake, the glass Crystal Palace and shaded paths in the city's great park.
- Half day
- Paseo del Prado and Retiro
- Good for kids
≈ $30
Santiago Bernabéu stadium tour
Real Madrid's rebuilt stadium, with the trophy room and panoramic views; tours change on match days.
- Half day
- Salamanca and Chamartín
- Good for kids
≈ $10
Plaza Mayor, San Miguel market and tapas
The arcaded square, a glass market hall of tapas, then the bars of La Latina; Madrid dines late.
- Half day
- Sol and Madrid de los Austrias
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
≈ $30
Day trip: Toledo
The hilltop 'city of three cultures', with its cathedral, synagogues and mosque, 33 minutes by fast train.
- Full day
- Around Madrid

Before you go

Entry and visas

Spain is in the Schengen area: up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Many nationalities, including Indian and Saudi citizens, need a Schengen visa; visa-exempt visitors are registered at the border in the EU Entry/Exit System (EES).

Official website

From the airport

Madrid-Barajas Airport is linked to the centre by metro line 8, Cercanías trains and the Airport Express bus (about 40 minutes). High-speed trains from Barcelona take about 2.5 hours.