Welcome to Madrid, the capital of Spain! Hi, I'm Gwen with CORR Travel, and you're ready to start planning your trip to Madrid, huh? Well, thanks for joining here because I've got 15 tips that I think are going to help get you on your way.
So, let's go ahead and jump in. [Music] Why go to Madrid? Madrid is Spain's largest city and all of Spain's six major roads start in Madrid's Puerta del Sol known as "kilometer zero".
From Muslim and Christian influences, today's Madrid is a mix of architectural and outdoor design of Baroque and Neoclassic palaces, grand churches and gardens, the Golden Triangle of Art, grand avenues and plazas, and Neo-Romanesque, Expressionist and Art Deco architectural buildings. Modern and progressive, Madrid boasts world-class dining and nightlife, great tapas scene, Flamenco dancing, and the oldest restaurant in the world. These and many other reasons are why over 6 million tourists visit Madrid yearly.
Number Two: "When to Go". The best time to visit Madrid depends on time of year and holidays and events because they do impact the number of tourists and your travel costs. Madrid's temperatures average from the low 60s to high 80s / low 90s Fahrenheit year-round, and Madrid has festivals holidays and other events year-round.
Peak season months are June through July and December with the lowest accommodation availability and the highest amount of tourists and travel costs. Low season months are November and January, February, and August with the highest accommodation availability lowest amount of tourists and travel costs. If you're looking for the best time to enjoy Madrid indoors and out with good travel deals, the best time of year to visit Madrid is in the shoulder season months of March through May and September and October.
These months hold nice warm weather, long sunny days, more accommodation availability, and fewer tourists and shorter attraction lines than peak season. Still, always check Madrid's festival and holiday schedule when planning your Madrid itinerary. Number Three: "Getting to Madrid".
The best ways into Madrid are by air, train, or bus. The closest airport to Madrid is Madrid Barajas Airport, or "Madrid Airport", which is approximately 12 kilometers northeast of Madrid City Center. It is comprised of four terminals for international and domestic flights and is the busiest airport in Spain, so allow time in your schedule.
There are several transportation options from the Madrid Airport to the city center, which I'll touch upon in a moment. Renfe, Spain's national railway, provides regional and high-speed train service across the country - many of which going through Madrid. Depending on your departure point, trains will arrive at either the Chamartín or Atocha station - Atocha being the closest to the city center.
Multiple bus lines operate within Spain as well. Madrid has three main bus terminals: Estación Sur, or "South Station", Estación de Avenida de América, and Estación de Conde Del Casal. You can connect with local buses and the Madrid Metro at any of these Madrid stations.
I do not recommend driving to Madrid. The city center parking is very limited, and street parking is controlled and paid. If you must drive, consult with your hotel or other accommodation on parking availability and cost, on-site or alternate parking recommendations.
Number Four: "Getting Around". To get around in Madrid let's first start with getting from the Madrid Barajas Airport to the city center. Like I mentioned, there are multiple transportation options from the airport, but the quickest and least expensive way is by the Madrid Metro.
Depending on the airport terminal and time of day, the metro line 8 takes 35 to 40 minutes to arrive at the Puerto del Sol station in Madrid with a change at Nuevos Ministerios station. Single metro tickets cost 4. 50 to 5 euros plus a 3 euro airport fee.
For information on other inexpensive airport transportation methods, like the Madrid Airport Express Bus, or airport transfers, taxis, and ride shares - yes, Madrid Airport does have Uber and Lyft - consult my ultimate Madrid Travel Guide online. The link is below. Now in the city center, let's talk about getting around the city center.
Taking the metro is ideal for covering longer distances quickly if you're on a limited schedule. Look for the classic red and white diamond shape "Metro" signs. Metro tickets can be purchased with cash or credit card from the ticket machines at the metro stations or tobacco shops.
The metro runs from 6 a. m to 1:30 a. m.
, and metro ML1 and Zone A tickets, which cover the city and airport, cost 1. 50 to 2 euros, or you can purchase the Tourist Travel Pass for one, two, three, five, or seven-day increments, which covers both metro Zones A and T, which is outside the city, city buses, commuter trains, and the light rail. If you can, stay above ground on your first time trip to Madrid by taking the bus, electric tuk-tuks, walking, biking, or using an e-scooter to see more of Madrid.
The red public EMT buses have their own lanes, which saves time on commuting and operate 6 a. m. to 5:30 a.
m. All buses route through Plaza de la Cibeles, and timetables can be found on the bus. Single tickets cost 1.
50 euro, or the metro bus ticket for 10 trips only costs 12. 20 euros. Stamp your ticket on the bus before riding.
Another way to see more of Madrid in a short period of time is the Madrid Hop-on Hop-off bus. Tours like these are great for large cities like Madrid. Madrid City Center is a mixture of flat and slight inclines making it very walkable.
You can explore self-guided or take a guided history tour of Madrid, or food and wine tour. Other options are renting a bike, e-bike, e-scooter, or taking a bike, e-bike, e-scooter or Segway tour of Madrid, which is also a great way to meet other travelers. For great walking, biking, or other tours, see my links below in the video description, or use the Madrid online travel guide.
That said, consider the Madrid Pass as a compliment to the multi-day Tourist Travel Pass. The Madrid pass includes a dedicated Prada Museum entry with a one-hour audio tour, a dedicated Fast Track entry to the Royal Palace of Madrid, smartphone attraction guides, a smartphone city guide, the Yellow Bus Panoramic Bus Tour of Madrid, and a 10% discount on other attractions. You select your visit dates in Madrid and receive tickets via email in advance.
Get it in advance online if you're planning on traveling during peak season. I have a link to it below. Number Six: "Safety Tips".
Madrid's crime rate is considered low, and it is safe to walk alone during day and night. As with any large city just practice general precautions, and stay within well-lit and populated streets at night, and keep your belongings safe and securely on you with no open pockets, and avoid carrying cash or valuables in your pockets, especially in crowded and high tourist areas or on crowded public transportation. If you normally feel uncomfortable being out alone at night, you may want to visit Madrid during the summer months when the daylight hours are longest so you have more time to explore Madrid, or take a ride share if you don't want to walk at night.
And if it helps, I have never felt unsafe in Madrid as a solo female traveler. What are the travel essentials to bring for Madrid? For easy travel, at minimum, bring: a VPN service for data security and a portable Wi-Fi hotspot, a solar charger for your devices, comfortable walking shoes, a water bottle and sunscreen, especially during peak season, and a mono-sling bag or small backpack for keeping your items safe and secure while you're walking around town.
Number Eight: "Where to Stay in Madrid". Madrid has 21 districts so where you stay can really make or break your Madrid itinerary. Retiro and Salamanca are nice districts to stay, and things are very walkable, but El Centro, or the city center, is the heart of Madrid, and it holds most of its iconic and historic attractions and sites, shopping, dining, and nightlife.
Puerto del Sol is as centrally located as you can get with most everything to do being walkable, including access to multiple metro and bus stops, making the city of Madrid, outside day trips, and airport commuting easy. This is where I recommend first time travelers stay. The city center does have accommodations for all budget types.
For reasonable price, amenities, free cancellation, breakfast inclusion, and high ratings, including a "travel sustainable" rating, a few of the hotels I would recommend are: Eurostars Plaza Mayor, Vincci Soho, and Room Mate Alba. And if you want to go the hostel route for either a private room or dorm-style room, I would recommend Toc Hostel Madrid. I had a private room at Toc Hostel on my last trip.
Although not "sustainable" rated, it does employ some environmental initiatives; it has a wonderful staff; amazing breakfast; and, it's just steps from the Plaza del Sol. I highly recommend Toc Hostel Madrid. For a full list of my Madrid hotel and hostel recommendations, see my Madrid Travel Guide online.
Madrid has too many attractions to list here, but here are just some of the top things to do and not to miss while in Madrid. Some are free, but for those that aren't, don't forget the Madrid Pass. [Music] .
. . and many many more.
Don't forget to put these, at a minimum, on your Madrid travel itinerary. For a full list of top things to do, consult my online Madrid Travel Guide. Number Ten: "Dining and Entertainment".
Dining in Madrid is a mixture of traditional dishes served in taverns, to contemporary cuisine, to the sophisticated dishes that served the aristocracy, and Michelin star restaurants, all satisfying any type of foodie. Although landlocked, Madrid serves up many dishes of tuna, octopus, squid, and clams. In fact, the popular fast food is a bocadilla de calamares, a deep-fried calamari sandwich.
Also popular are tapas made from a variety of seafood, meat, and veggies. Wash them down with a Mahou, a local beer, a wine from the favored Valdepeñas region, or sip sparkling Cava. Oh, and don't forget the sangria.
Madrid is full of grab-and-go stands, street stalls, taverns, indoor restaurants, outdoor patios, and rooftop bars. Just a few of the notable and popular spots for tourists and locals are: walk Calle Cava Baja to find some of the best tapas in Madrid, or hit Plaza Mayor for that fast food calamari roll, a beer, and people watching; Chocolatería San Ginés famous for its churros y chocolates since 1894; or, try fine dining at El Botin, the oldest restaurant in the world; or, sip vermouth at Taberna Bodegas Ricla, an authentic Madrid bar since 1867; and, last but not least, cocktails at sunset from Circulo de Bellas Artes rooftop bar. Note, it's always very busy, and there's an entry fee to go up.
So, show up early if you can to avoid the long lines. For help in finding Madrid dining options, try any one of these apps: El Tenador (The Fork), Triposo, Restaurant Finder, or Restalo. Or, like me, you can just wing it and explore El Centro reading the menus and asking locals for recommendations.
And don't forget checking out a tapas and wine tour - there are plenty to choose from in Madrid. Keep in mind tipping in Spain is not customary, but if you feel you had great service, it's acceptable to tip 10 to 15%, and always try to tip in cash. Madrid has no shortage of nightlife and shopping.
The Gran Vía is packed with the big shopping stores, theaters, entertainment venues, restaurants, and bars, and it's active day or night. Calle Preciados, the pedestrian street off the Puerto del Sol, is another top shopping area with bars, live music, and people watching. And for late night dancing and gay bars try the Chueca district.
Or, for an authentic experience, see a flamenco show at the Corral de la Morería, or attend the show at El Teatro, Madrid's Opera House. I have a lot more tips on what to try and where to try them in my online Madrid Travel Guide. If you have time and want to get out of the big city and explore a bit more of Spain, keep Madrid as a home base and try a day trip, or two, starting with these following UNESCO World Heritage Sites: [Music] .
. . and wine tasting in La Mancha is another great day trip idea.
Any of these can be done self-guided or as part of a tour group. Number 12: "Budget Travel Tips". Madrid is considered less expensive to visit than other European capital cities, but still, if you're traveling on a budget, keep the following tips in mind: book early to land the good budget hotels in the city center; or, stay a little further out from the city center, like Retiro or Salamanca, or even a little further out, and just stay closer to a metro stop.
Depending on the time of year location and amenities a Madrid hostel dorm room can start at 16 euros a night in private rooms at 55 euros a night. Avoid visiting on the weekends, during holidays and peak season, and try to access the museums on the days that they are free; or, get the Madrid pass to save on Fast Track entries to top attractions. Take the metro or Madrid Airport Express bus to and from the airport, and get the Tourist Travel Pass good for up to seven days on multiple forms of public transportation.
And to save on expensive dining or drinking out, try shopping at a grocery store or grab some inexpensive fare at Mercado de San Miguel. Next up: "Eco Travel Tips". At CORR Travel you know I'm always promoting eco and sustainable travel ideas, so here are just a few that you can use when traveling to Madrid: If your flight is two hours or less, take the train or bus to Madrid instead.
This could also save you money and provide a more scenic trip. Ditch using automobiles all together and just take public transportation or electric tuk-tuks or rent a Segway, bike, e-bike, or e-scooter, or just walk. And if you do need a car, choose a Bolt Green or Uber Green rideshare option.
Look for sustainable ratings at your accommodations like booking. com's Travel Sustainable properties or Green Globe and Green Key Global certifications, and use your own reusable cup shopping bags and water bottle and bamboo travel utensils on the plane or train or when doing grab-and-go dining or on a food tour. Are you still with me?
Great, because you're going to love these Madrid Pro Travel Tips. [Music] Madrileños dine four to six times a day, so plan on late breakfasts starting around 8 a. m.
, late lunches around 2 p. m. , and dinners sometimes don't start until around 9 p.
m. If you need a free walking map stop at any of the tourism stands like the one next to El Palacio Real. Do not rely on Google as well for opening hours for attractions like Palacio Real - check directly on the attraction's website.
Some entries are free but ask for donations to enter, like the Catedral de La Almudena, so carry some cash on you. The entry to the Circulo de Bellas Artes rooftop bar is around the side of the building not on Calle de Alcala, and they only take reservations for dinner. The Museo del Prado allows free entry from 6 to 8 p.
m. on Mondays through Saturdays and 5 to 7 p. m.
on Sundays and holidays; and, Reina Sofia has free entry from 7 to 9 p. m. on Monday and Wednesday through Saturday and 12:30 to 2:30 p.
m on Sundays and some holidays. Oh, and if there's a huge line in front of the Reina Sofia, go around the back to enter. [Music] Well, now that you know your way around Madrid, would you like to know how to see the best of Madrid in just a few days?
Well, keep watching because I'm going to tell you how to get my incredible Three Day Madrid Itinerary. It takes out all the guesswork, and it's perfect for your first-time travel to Madrid. Well, I really hope you like these 15 tips for Madrid and you're more comfortable in booking your trip.
If you are, go ahead and give this video a 'thumbs up', and Subscribe. If you want some more information on Madrid and Spain, though, check out these next videos and don't forget to use all the links I have for you below to get you going. All right, I hope you have a wonderful time in Madrid.
