Madrid: know before you go

Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) sits about 12 km northeast of the city center. Terminal 4 handles most international flights, including Iberia and oneworld carriers. Terminals 1, 2, and 3 serve the rest. A free shuttle bus links all four terminals, running every few minutes during the day. The main train stations are Atocha (south, serving AVE high-speed trains), Chamartín (north), and Príncipe Pío (west).

Madrid has one of Europe's best public transport networks. The metro is clean, frequent, and covers the city thoroughly. EMT blue buses fill the gaps, especially useful for east-west routes the metro misses. The historic center is compact and walkable; most of our walking tours stay within a radius you can cross on foot in 30 minutes. For longer stays, the Tourist Travel Pass gives you unlimited travel and kills the airport supplement. From June 2026, you can skip the Tarjeta Multi entirely and tap a contactless bank card at the metro turnstile.

Madrid does not charge a city tourist tax on accommodation. What you book is what you pay, aside from VAT already included in published rates. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including small tapas bars and market stalls. Several of the city's top museums open free during set evening or weekend hours, which can save you serious money if you plan around them.

Madrid is a safe city by any reasonable measure. Violent crime against tourists is rare. The real risk is opportunistic pickpocketing in crowded areas: the Puerta del Sol, Gran Vía, the Rastro flea market on Sunday mornings, and inside packed metro cars. Keep your phone and wallet in a front pocket or a zipped bag, and do not leave a bag hanging on the back of a chair at a terrace. The local police (Policía Municipal) are visible and helpful.

Madrid tap water is safe and meets EU drinking water standards. It comes from mountain reservoirs in the Sierra de Guadarrama and is treated and monitored. The mineral content is relatively high, which gives it a harder taste than some visitors are used to, but it will not make you sick. In summer, the heat is the real health concern. July and August afternoons routinely pass 95°F (35°C). Carry water, wear a hat, and plan indoor activities for the midday hours. Pharmacies (farmacias) are marked by a green cross and can advise on minor ailments.

Madrid has excellent mobile coverage and widespread free WiFi. Most hotels, cafés, and the larger museums offer free WiFi networks. The airport has free WiFi for up to 30 minutes. If you need constant data, a prepaid Spanish SIM from Movistar, Vodafone, or Orange is easy to buy at any phone shop with your passport. Many international plans now include EU roaming at no extra cost, so check with your carrier before buying a local SIM.

Madrid runs late. Lunch starts around 2pm, and dinner rarely begins before 9pm; a 10pm restaurant reservation is normal. Many kitchens do not open until 8:30pm, so a 7pm dinner is hard to find outside tourist zones. Greet people with "hola" or "buenos días/tardes" when entering a shop or café. A simple "gracias" goes a long way. Spaniards stand closer when talking than Americans or northern Europeans might expect, and interrupting is not considered rude in animated conversation. Dress is smart-casual; shorts and flip-flops mark you as a tourist and will feel out of place anywhere beyond the pool.

The language is Castilian Spanish (castellano). In central Madrid, English is widely understood in hotels, larger restaurants, and museum ticket desks, but less so in neighborhood bars, small shops, and markets. Learning a handful of phrases will open doors: "buenos días" (good morning), "por favor" (please), "gracias" (thank you), "la cuenta, por favor" (the check, please), "¿dónde está...?" (where is...?). In a bar, "una caña" gets you a small draft beer; "un café solo" is an espresso.

Madrid has made real progress on accessibility but the old city presents challenges. Most metro stations in the center now have lifts, and all EMT buses are wheelchair-accessible with ramps. The Prado, Reina Sofía, and Thyssen museums all offer wheelchair access, accessible toilets, and loaner wheelchairs. The Royal Palace has step-free access and lifts. Narrow cobbled streets in the Habsburg quarter and the Literary Quarter can be tough for wheelchair users. The pedestrianized sections of the city center are smooth and flat. Check individual station and venue websites before you go, since some older metro entrances still lack lifts.

Madrid has two major local holidays beyond the national calendar. May 2 (Dos de Mayo) marks the 1808 uprising against Napoleon and is the city's regional day, celebrated with parades, concerts, and open-air events in Malasaña. May 15 is San Isidro, the feast of Madrid's patron saint, with a week of bullfights, concerts, and the tradition of drinking water from the saint's spring in the Pradera de San Isidro park. In August, the whole city slows down as locals take their own holidays; the San Cayetano, San Lorenzo, and La Paloma neighborhood festivals run from roughly August 6 to 15 with street parties, churros, and free concerts.

Madrid's top sights sell out, especially in spring and autumn. Book the Royal Palace and the Prado at least a few days ahead. The Reina Sofía and Thyssen are easier on the day but still benefit from a timed ticket in peak season. Restaurants at the high end (DiverXO, StreetXO, any Michelin-starred place) need a reservation weeks in advance. For flamenco, book ahead for the better-known tablaos like Corral de la Morería or Cardamomo. If you want to see Real Madrid at the Bernabéu, buy tickets as soon as they go on sale; league matches sell out fast.