LANGUAGE

Spanish

CURRENCY

Euro

BEST TIME TO VISIT

September to November and March to May

NEAREST RAILWAY STATION

Puerta de Atocha

NEAREST AIRPORT

Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport (MAD)

EMERGENCY HELPLINE NUMBER

112

INTERNET ACCESS

Most midrange and top-end hotels, as well as some cafes and restaurants, have wi-fi. Otherwise, check out www.madridmemata.es/madrid-wifi for a reasonable list of wi-fi hot spots.

Most of Madrid’s internet cafes have fallen by the wayside. You’ll find plenty of small locutorios (small shops selling phonecards and cheap phone calls) all over the city and many have a few computers out the back.

VISA

Generally not required for stays of up to 90 days (not at all for members of EU or Schengen countries). Some nationalities need a Schengen visa.

Spain is one of 26 member countries of the Schengen Convention, under which EU member countries (except the UK and Ireland) plus Switzerland, Iceland and Norway have abolished checks at common borders. Legal residents of one Schengen country do not require a visa for another Schengen country. Citizens of the UK and Ireland are also exempt, although the future remains uncertain at the time of writing due to Brexit negotiations. Nationals of many other countries, including Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand and the US, do not require visas for tourist visits of up to 90 days every six calendar months. All non-EU nationals entering Spain for any reason other than tourism (such as study or work) should contact a Spanish consulate, as they may need a specific visa.

If you’re a citizen of a non-Schengen country, check with a Spanish consulate about whether you need a visa. The standard tourist visa issued by Spanish consulates (and usually valid for all Schengen countries unless conditions are attached) is valid for up to 90 days and is not renewable inside Spain.

HOTEL

Hotels anywhere between the Royal Palace and Retiro Park, an area that includes both Plaza Mayor and Plaza Porto del Sol, are convenient for sightseeing. Most major tourist attractions lie in these neighborhoods, with the greatest concentration of art museums along Paseo del Prado, the famed Mile of Art, paralleling Retiro Park. These highly-rated hotels in Madrid are all in this central area:

LUXURY

Catalonia Las Cortes

Hotel Atlantico

Westin Palace Madrid

MID-RANGE

Ibis Styles Madrid Prado

Artrip Hotel

BUDGET

Hotel Francisco I

Room Mate Mario

Mayerling Hotel

COST OF LIVING

Compared to most of the rest of western Europe, Madrid is a bargain. Hotels are reasonably priced and standards are quite high, and hostels are plentiful in the city center for those on a tighter budget. Find the best deals on our recommended Madrid hotels page for great choices that are cheap and have central locations.

The attractions mostly have very reasonable price tags and several of the museums have frequent periods with free admission so the budget traveler can see a lot for very little, as long as they don’t mind the big crowds that always come along with that approach.

Food in Madrid is also refreshingly cheap compared to most of the rest of Europe, and those who like ham will be especially happy here. Tapas joints are all over and budget travelers will have no problem assembling an affordable meal in these social establishments. Drinks also tend to be cheap, especially the beer that is so common at the tapas restaurants and most everywhere else. Good wine can be found in restaurants at very reasonable prices as well, though mixed drinks can be pricey, especially at night clubs and such.

Hotels in Madrid are quite popular all year round, but the sizzling months of July and August are actually considered the low season, partly since most Europeans head for beaches during those months. The peak seasons are those surrounding Christmas and Easter so if you are intending to come then it’s best to book as early as possible. Generally it’s not too difficult to get a hostel bed or hotel room once you arrive in Madrid, though the cheaper and more popular places in the city center do get filled up in advance so you might have to settle for something a bit farther out. Most of spring is crowded here so it’s best to book something if you know when you are coming and in which area you’d like to stay.