Blog
Madrid travel blog: getting here, getting around, eating and enjoying
Practical, up-to-date guides for travellers: from the airport to your hotel, where to eat and sleep, events, phone and internet, and everything worth knowing before, during and after your Madrid trip.
Tips ·
What to see in Madrid in 3 days: a first-time itinerary
A 3-day Madrid itinerary for first-timers: Prado, Retiro, Sol, Royal Palace, La Latina, markets and viewpoints, with links to hours and prices.
Tips ·
Healthcare in Spain for foreigners: private insurance or the public system?
What medical care you get in Spain as a tourist or foreign resident: emergencies, the EHIC, the special agreement (€60) and when insurance makes sense.
After your trip ·
Cost of living in Madrid in 2026: rent, salaries and monthly budget
How much it costs to live in Madrid in 2026: rent by district (€23.4/m²), monthly budget, minimum wage (€1,221), average salary and the remote-work visa.
Events ·
What to do in Madrid this weekend (24-25 October 2026) and the week after
Madrid plans from 24 October to 2 November 2026: vermouth in Chamartín, dance, flamenco, jazz and IFEMA. Dates from official sources.
Where to eat ·
Authentic local food markets in Madrid (and the truth about San Miguel)
Madrid’s most authentic local food markets with hours and Metro, plus why San Miguel Market is built for visitors rather than madrileños.
Tips ·
Madrid weather by month and what to pack
Madrid's climate month by month from AEMET data: temperatures, rain and sunshine. What to pack and when to go to avoid the heat or the cold.
Phone and internet ·
How to call home from Madrid without a nasty surprise on your bill
How to call home from Madrid without bill shock: EU roaming rules, what changes if you come from the UK or US, Digi plans with minutes and free wifi calls.
Tips ·
Help in Madrid for travellers: theft, emergencies and the SATE office
What to do if you are robbed or need help in Madrid: dial 112, the SATE tourist office on Calle Leganitos and how to access public healthcare.
Getting around Madrid ·
BiciMAD for visitors: fares, sign-up and how to use it
How to use BiciMAD in Madrid: electric bikes at 683 stations, basic fare of €0.50 per 30 minutes, a €10-a-month flat rate and sign-up in the app.
Tips ·
Where to leave your bags in Madrid: luggage storage by area, prices and hours
Where to leave your bags in Madrid: luggage storage at Atocha, Chamartín, Sol, Plaza Mayor and the airport, with daily prices, hours, ratings and directions.
Getting around Madrid ·
Madrid Metro map PDF: download the city-centre diagram
Download a PDF diagram of the central Madrid Metro with lines 1 to 10, key stations and Cercanías links, plus the official full map.
Tips ·
Public holidays in Madrid until the end of 2026 and what closes
Madrid public holidays in November and December 2026: 2 and 9 November, the 7-8 December bridge and Christmas, and which museums and sights close.
Tips ·
Madrid on Monday and Tuesday: what is open and closed
Plan your Madrid trip without surprises: what is open and closed on Monday and Tuesday at Debod, the Reina Sofía, the Thyssen, Retiro and El Capricho.
Where to eat ·
San Miguel Market and San Fernando Market: hours and how to get there
Official opening hours of Madrid's San Miguel and San Fernando markets, where they are, how to get there by Metro and which one to pick for tapas.
Getting around Madrid ·
Madrid Metro for tourists: tickets, the Multi card and rules
How to buy Madrid Metro tickets: single ticket price, the €2.50 Multi card, airport supplement, hours and rules you should know before you ride.
Getting around Madrid ·
How to get around Madrid at night: night buses, Metro, taxi and the Airport Express
How to get back to your hotel at night in Madrid: the Metro closes around 1:30 am, night buses leave from Cibeles, taxis and the Airport Express run 24 hours.
Tips ·
Free museums in Madrid: when to enter the Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen for free
When you can enter the Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen for free in Madrid: free-entry days and hours, what they cover and tips to avoid long queues.
Tips ·
Royal Palace of Madrid: winter hours and free entry
Royal Palace of Madrid hours from October to March, the free-entry slot Monday to Thursday, last entry times and tips to avoid queues.
Tips ·
Free gardens and hidden corners in Madrid: October to March opening hours
Retiro, Campo del Moro, Temple of Debod and El Capricho: October to March hours, free entry, weather closures and which one opens only at weekends.
Getting around Madrid ·
Madrid Tourist Travel Pass: prices, what it covers and is it worth it
Madrid tourist ticket: zone A from €10.30 (1 day) to €43.20 (7 days). What it covers, where to buy it and when a 10-trip ticket is cheaper.
Getting to Madrid ·
Madrid-Barajas airport to the city centre: Metro, bus and taxi
How to get from Madrid-Barajas airport to the centre: Metro line 8, Exprés bus 203 and the €33 fixed-fare taxi. Prices, hours and tips to avoid scams.
Getting to Madrid ·
How to get to central Madrid from Atocha and Chamartín stations
Arriving by train in Madrid: how to get to the centre from Atocha and Chamartín by Metro and Cercanías, hours, ticket prices and tips to save time.
Where to eat ·
Where to eat in Madrid in the early hours: what is open 24 hours
Landing in Madrid at night and hungry? Places open 24 hours, how to get around in the early hours and what to expect in the centre and at the airport.
After your trip ·
VAT refund for tourists in Spain: how to do it step by step
How to claim back VAT on purchases in Spain if you live outside the EU: who qualifies, the 3-month deadline, airport stamping and collecting your refund.
Where to stay ·
Where to stay in Madrid: best neighbourhoods for how you travel
Which Madrid neighbourhood to choose: Sol, Austrias, Malasaña, Chueca, La Latina, Salamanca and Paseo del Arte. Pros, cons and tips for your stay.
After your trip ·
Day trips from Madrid by train: Toledo, Segovia and other ideas
What to see near Madrid in a day: Toledo and Segovia by Avant train in about 30 minutes, plus Alcalá, Aranjuez and El Escorial by Cercanías. Tips to go.
Where to eat ·
What time to eat in Madrid: meal times and the menú del día
What time lunch and dinner are in Madrid, what the menú del día is, how much it usually costs and how to avoid restaurants made only for tourists.
Events ·
What to do in Madrid in November 2026
Madrid agenda for November 2026: exhibitions at the Prado, Thyssen and Mapfre, flamenco and plans with dates confirmed by the tourist office.
Phone and internet ·
SIM and eSIM for tourists in Spain: what to buy when you land in Madrid
Which SIM to buy in Madrid: Digi prepaid plans from €3 a month, which ID you need, how to activate it and what to know about eSIM and EU roaming.
Getting around Madrid ·
Taxi and VTC in Madrid: 2026 fares and tips for tourists
Madrid taxi fares in 2026, how they differ from Uber and Cabify (VTC), the €33 fixed airport fare and tips to avoid surprises with the price.
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