Quick facts
Budget breakdown
| Category | Budget | Midrange |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | €18–35 | €60–120 |
| Food | €12–20 | €25–45 |
| Transport | €4–8 | €10–18 |
| Activities | €0–10 | €15–30 |
| Drinks | €3–8 | €10–20 |
| Daily Total | €37–81 | €120–233 |
Daily per-person estimates. Costs vary by season and travel style.
Practical info
Visa & Entry
- Schengen Zone — most nationalities get 90 days visa-free within any 180-day period
- Passport must be valid for 3+ months beyond planned departure. EU/EEA citizens just need a national ID card
- Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD) has excellent metro and bus connections to the city centre (€1.50–5)
Health & Safety
- No vaccinations required. Tap water is safe and excellent — Madrileños are proud of their water. Free refills everywhere
- Pickpocketing on metro (especially Lines 1, 3, and Sol station) and at Rastro market — standard big-city precautions
- Emergency 112. Pharmacies (farmacias) marked by green crosses are on every other block — some are 24hr
Getting Around
- Madrid Metro: 13 lines, clean and fast. Runs 6am–1:30am. Multi-ride card (10 trips): €12.20. Single: €1.50–2
- BiciMAD electric bike-share: €2 per 30 min. Uber/Cabify work well. Taxis (white with red stripe) are affordable — €8–15 across centre
- Central Madrid is very walkable — Sol to Retiro is 15 minutes, Sol to Malasaña is 10 minutes on foot
Connectivity
- Free WiFi in most cafes, all Starbucks/McDonald's, and public libraries. Many plazas have municipal WiFi
- EU roaming works at home rates with EU SIMs. Otherwise, Vodafone, Orange, or Lycamobile prepaid SIMs from €10 for 5–10GB
- Download CityMapper for Madrid transport, ElTenedor (TheFork) for restaurant deals with up to 50% off
Money
- Cards accepted almost everywhere. Contactless widely used. Carry €10–20 cash for markets, small bars, and Rastro stalls
- ATMs (cajeros) everywhere — use bank ATMs (BBVA, Santander, CaixaBank) to avoid fees from independent machines
- Tipping is not expected — service is included. Rounding up the bill or leaving loose change is appreciated but optional
Packing Tips
- Summers are scorching (35–40°C Jul–Aug) — light clothes, hat, sunscreen. Winters are dry and cold (2–10°C) — bring a proper coat
- Comfortable walking shoes essential — Madrid is hilly and cobblestoned in the old quarters
- Smart-casual for evenings — Spaniards dress up more than Northern Europeans. A nice pair of shoes goes a long way
Cultural tips
Spanish Schedule
Lunch is 2–4pm, dinner is 9:30–11pm. Nightlife starts after midnight and clubs close at 6am. Adjust your body clock or you will miss everything and eat alone at 7pm.
Caña Culture
Order a caña (small draft beer, 200ml, €1.50–2.50) — not a pint. Spaniards drink small and move between bars. Ordering a full pint is uncommon and marks you as foreign.
Siesta Hours
Many smaller shops close 2–5pm. Don't plan shopping during siesta hours. Use the time for a long lunch, museum visit, or park nap — the locals have this figured out.
Dos Besos
Greet people (especially women) with two kisses on the cheeks — left then right. This applies to social situations, not shops or restaurants. A handshake is also fine.
Speak Some Spanish
"Hola", "por favor", "gracias", and "la cuenta, por favor" (the bill, please) will get you far. English is limited outside major tourist areas — a few words of Spanish earn enormous goodwill.
Terraza Culture
Outdoor terrace seating (terrazas) is a way of life. Spaniards will sit outside even in winter with heaters. Drinks cost €0.50–1 more on a terraza versus the bar — but the atmosphere is the whole point.
