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 £33 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 £18 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 £247 per night
Next weekend
From £186 per night
| Most popular time to visit | October–December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January–March |
| Local currency | € 10 = £8.57 |
| Language | Spanish |
| Average weekend price | £107 per night |
| Average weekday price | £111 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
2.6 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
1.1 miles from city centre
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Wanda Metropolitano
5.7 miles from city centre
Madrid reviews
What other travellers say about Madrid
My first time in Madrid and it didn't disappoint me:...
25 April 2024
My first time in Madrid and it didn't disappoint me: there isn't that much nice tourist attractions (but I like that)... I liked the small streets around 'Tribunal' and 'Noviciado'. In general there is a lot of green and a lot of nice parks and small playgrounds to sit and relax and enjoy the sun. The 10-trip-card for metro and bus works perfect (and more worth than the Madrid-pass)
Madrid became one of my favourite European city.
24 April 2024
Madrid became one of my favourite European city. I've alread been twice there and I just love it - the vibes, the food, the night and daily life. Good to know although is that not everyone speaks English so you need to be pacient or preparaed with some knowledge of Spanish :D
Used one of the Hop On Hop Off Tourist Buses.
23 April 2024
Used one of the Hop On Hop Off Tourist Buses. Ideal for visiting a city for the first time. We also had a Madrid Card for public transport which is cheap and easy to use. Wide variety of eating places and prices were very reasonable.
Madrid is a beautiful, pedestrian-friendly city.
23 April 2024
Madrid is a beautiful, pedestrian-friendly city. Public areas are extremely clean and well-maintained, as are major tourist sites. We wandered the central city day and night and felt very safe. There are many wonderful capital cities in Europe but after a recent tour, Madrid tops my list of favorites.
Spent a total of 14 nights in last 2 weeks of March.
23 April 2024
Spent a total of 14 nights in last 2 weeks of March. We used it as a base to travel to several areas of Spain. So we were not able to see all of Madrid. We did see many of the sights along Gran Via. The variety of restaurants and shops in the central city is great. Had a few days of rain & weather was generally cool. Used both of the big train stations. Quite easy to travel throughout country. WARNING!! DO NOT STAY AT THE “SUITES YOU ZINC” HOTEL / VACATION RENTAL. IT IS HORRIBLE!!!!
Madrid is amazing and we stayed in the Sol area in the...
22 April 2024
Madrid is amazing and we stayed in the Sol area in the center of Madrid in the oldest Palace in Madrid. We walked everywhere and did the hop on, hop off bus to see the highlights of the old part of Madrid. Wasn't east to find the pick-up spot, but we already knew that after reading reviews. The food / beverage was great with plenty of places to enjoy local cuisine and specialty dishes.
Popular places to stay in Madrid
Stay in some of the best accommodation Madrid has to offer
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CoolRooms Palacio de Atocha Centro, Madrid
From £256 per night
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ARTIEM Madrid Ciudad Lineal, Madrid
From £82 per night
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Hotel Regina Centro, Madrid
From £229 per night
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Bob W Arte Arganzuela, Madrid
From £137 per night
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Woohoo Rooms Fuencarral Centro, Madrid
From £139 per night
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Other accommodation in Madrid
Choose from a wide variety of places to stay in Madrid
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Apartments
From £15 per night
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Villas
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Cabins
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Cottages
From £129 per night
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Glamping Sites
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Serviced Apartments
From £34 per night
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Holiday Homes
From £129 per night
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Guest Houses
From £4 per night
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Hostels
From £8 per night
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B&Bs
From £26 per night
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Homestays
From £39 per night
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Campsites
From £21 per night
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Boats
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Luxury Tents
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Self Catering Accommodation
From £20 per night
