Top things to do in Madrid
Attractions, tours and activities in Madrid
Recommended museums in Madrid
Where to discover culture and the arts in Madrid
Madrid: the city's best neighbourhoods
Find a great area to stay in Madrid
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Centro
In the city centre
Start your adventure at Madrid’s crown jewel - Palacio Real de Madrid, the royal palace and adjacent Sabatini Gardens. Madrid’s oldest district includes the popular landmarks of Plaza Mayor, Gran Vía and Plaza Cibeles, or the popular area of Lavapies in Embajadores.
Places to stay from £4 per night
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Retiro
1.4 miles from city centre
This historic district can’t be missed. Loop around the Retiro Park – once the royal family’s private garden, it’s full of lavish monuments and tree-lined avenues. People-watch along Paseo del Prado boulevard with its joggers, street vendors and promenading locals, then explore El Prado Museum’s important collection of paintings.
Places to stay from £32 per night
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Salamanca
1.6 miles from city centre
Serrano and José Ortega y Gasset (in Lista) are lined with high-end luxury shopping. The residential neighbourhoods of Recoletos, Lista, Goya and Castellana feature some of Europe’s most expensive real estate, while the area itself is one of Madrid’s most important commercial zones.
Places to stay from £26 per night
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Chamberi
1.2 miles from city centre
This small historic residential district is slowly becoming gentrified as young professionals move to the area. Divided over 6 neighbourhoods, it’s a lively district to visit for some local flavour and has a village-like atmosphere. Filled with Modernist, Gothic and Neo-Mudéjar architecture, its streets are best explored on foot.
Places to stay from £16 per night
About Madrid
Including tips for the best time to visit Madrid
Madrid is all bustling plazas, lively tapas bars and a rich variety of museums that showcase Spain’s most celebrated artists. The mesmerising Prado Museum is perhaps the best-known of these, featuring works by Goya and Velázquez. It forms a ‘golden triangle’ with the Reina Sofía Museum – home to Picasso’s ‘Guernica’ – and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, a massive private collection that highlights a breadth of artistic styles.
Centuries of history are evident in Madrid’s medieval architecture – including the intricate portico arches of Plaza Mayor – and sites like the baroque Royal Palace, where state ceremonies are still held. You can visit top attractions like these using the city’s efficient and high-speed Metro service.
Spain's sprawling capital is also a city that lives and breathes football. If you’re a fan, be sure to catch a game at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium – the home of Real Madrid football club – and join in with the roars of the crowd as the ‘Galácticos’ enter this famous pitch.
Madrid’s weather is pleasant for most of the year, with comfortably warm temperatures either side of summer. But a winter vacation still virtually guarantees clear blue skies – a brilliant sight when approaching Madrid airport during the day.
Tonight
From £30 per night
This weekend
From £74 per night
Next weekend
From £74 per night
| Most popular time to visit | October–December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January–March |
| Local currency | € 10 = £8.45 |
| Language | Spanish |
| Average weekend price | £101 per night |
| Average weekday price | £107 per night |
| Typical stay | 2 nights |
Points of interest in Madrid
Stay near the top sightseeing spots in Madrid
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Gran Via
0.2 miles from city centre
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Puerta del Sol
In the city centre
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Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
2.5 miles from city centre
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Paseo de la Castellana
3.1 miles from city centre
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Plaza Mayor
0.2 miles from city centre
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Sabatini Gardens
0.6 miles from city centre
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Lope de Vega Theatre
0.4 miles from city centre
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Puerta de Alcalá
0.8 miles from city centre
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Calle Princesa
0.7 miles from city centre
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Wanda Metropolitano
5.7 miles from city centre
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Madrid reviews
What other travellers say about Madrid
Madrid is a beautiful city with stunning architecture.
12 August 2022
Madrid is a beautiful city with stunning architecture. Look up! Many of the buildings have statues etc on the roofs. This was not my first visit but this time we fitted in the Royal Palace and Mercado San MIguel - both worth the time. Public transport is efficient - frequent buses and also metro. Good value on trips- you can get a bus card for up to three days. Be aware that users of public transport must wear masks. Many of the main sights are within walking distance. August was busy but not overwhelmingly so. Choosing a hotel outside the city with a pool was a real plus, particularly as it was so easy to get into the city.
The old buildings are amazing , so many beautiful parks ,...
6 August 2022
The old buildings are amazing , so many beautiful parks , history just oozing out of everywhere . The old bars and cafes so friendly and cheap compared to where we live. Great for leather shoes made in Spain . Everyone talks about Barcelona which is also great but we really liked Madrid , it was not so crowded .
We have been for the second time in Madrid and happy to pick...
4 August 2022
We have been for the second time in Madrid and happy to pick the same area Barrio de las Letras and the same Hotel VINCCI Soho. Very easy and safe to walk around in the most interesting museums and attractions, lots of shops, restaurants and tapas bars. Beautiful city, only recommended to be visited when it’s not too hot…
Clean, organised and probably the best city in Europe...
2 August 2022
Clean, organised and probably the best city in Europe we've seen in 10 years! Friendly people and lots of tourists. Parks were magic. Wide roads, organised traffic and no bike lanes (hooray !). So much cleaning and painting going on with the buildings. Easy eating and lots of choice. Great value for money. The Sunday market was amazing value. The city is showing pride in itself.
Madrid is a great metropolitan city with a bustling...
1 August 2022
Madrid is a great metropolitan city with a bustling nightlife. Transportation is very reliable and easy to navigate even for passengers who are not fluent in the local language. Shopping and many food choices await!
Beautiful city!
1 August 2022
Beautiful city! Didn’t have much time to explore but what we did see was amazing. Highly recommend the San Miguel market for food and walk around the square and all the little side street have great roof top bars and quirky shops. Highly recommend the Mad Cool Festival, great value for money and so many amazing acts! If your accommodation is quiet far from the festival I’d say get the bus to the festival for €1.50 then Uber back. Make sure you walk 10-15mins away from the festival to order your Uber or you will be waiting up to an hour or someone else will jump in it.
Popular places to stay in Madrid
Stay in some of the best accommodation Madrid has to offer
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ARTIEM Madrid Ciudad Lineal, Madrid
From £61 per night
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Room Mate Alba Centro, Madrid
From £114 per night
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VP Plaza España Design Centro, Madrid
From £296 per night
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Woohoo Rooms Fuencarral Centro, Madrid
From £63 per night
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Plaza de España Skyline Moncloa-Aravaca, Madrid
From £109 per night
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