Quick facts
Daily budget
For a full category-by-category breakdown of accommodation, food, transport, and activity costs in Madrid, see the dedicated budget guide.
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, and 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, and 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 at €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, as 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), so pack light clothes, hat, sunscreen. Winters are dry and cold (2–10°C), so bring a proper coat
- Comfortable walking shoes essential: Madrid is hilly and cobblestoned in the old quarters
- Smart-casual for evenings, as 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, so 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.
