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Madrid

Madrid Travel Guide

Spain's capital and city of art: Prado masterpieces, a grand royal palace and Retiro Park, around the central plazas.

★ ★ 1 Guides · 89 Attractions

📍 Destination Overview

Madrid is the capital of Spain, set on the central plateau of the Iberian Peninsula. It is a world-class art capital: the Prado Museum houses Velázquez and Goya, and the Reina Sofía Museum hangs Picasso's Guernica. The grand Royal Palace shows royal splendor, Retiro Park is green and lush, and Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor are the heart of city life. The bustle of Gran Vía, the never-ending tapas bars and passionate flamenco fill this highland capital with vitality amid its elegance.

👑 Location
Spain · Community of Madrid · the central plateau of the Iberian Peninsula
🗓️ Best Season
Apr-Jun / Sep-Oct
🕐 Time Difference
-6 to -7 vs Beijing
💰 Currency / Language
Euro EUR / Spanish
🕐 Suggested Duration
3-4 days · museums + palace + old town
🔌 Outlet / Voltage
Type C / F outlets · 230V · adapter needed

☀️ Best Time to Visit & Climate

🌸 Spring: Apr–Jun
Pleasant weather with parks in bloom.
🍂 Autumn: Sep–Oct
Crisp clear days for museums and strolls.
Jan
🌤️
10°/2°
Feb
🌤️
12°/3°
Mar
🌤️
16°/5°
Apr
🌷
18°/7°
Best
May
🌸
23°/11°
Best
Jun
☀️
29°/16°
Best
Jul
🌡️
33°/19°
Aug
🌡️
32°/19°
Sep
🍂
27°/15°
Best
Oct
🍁
20°/10°
Best
Nov
🌥️
14°/5°
Dec
🌤️
10°/3°

📷 Top Attractions

More Attractions →
Royal Palace of Madrid
No.1 Madrid
Royal Palace of Madrid
The Royal Palace of Madrid is the largest royal palace in Western Europe, with a Baroque façade and opulent interiors.
Castle & Fortress
Museo del Prado
No.2 Madrid
Museo del Prado
The Prado Museum is one of the world's finest painting collections, famed for Velázquez's Las Meninas and Goya's Black Paintings.
Museum
Old Town of Toledo
No.3 Madrid
Old Town of Toledo
Perched on a rocky hill almost encircled by the Tagus River, some 70 km south of Madrid, Toledo was Spain's capital for centuries and is a UNESCO World Heritage site, once home to Christians, Jews and Muslims living side by side. In the maze of steep lanes, Santo Tomé church holds El Greco's The Burial of the Count of Orgaz, while a former synagogue and a mosque-converted church stand within a few hundred metres of each other. The city has kept its reputation for swordmaking and damasquinado gold-inlay work. Follow the river path for a full view of the skyline at dusk.
Old Town & Historic District
Puerta del Sol
No.4 Madrid
Puerta del Sol
Puerta del Sol is the symbolic center of Madrid, home to the famous statue of the bear and the strawberry tree; nearby Plaza Mayor is a ring-shaped square from the reign of Philip III.
Square & Landmark
Puerta de Toledo
No.5 Madrid
Puerta de Toledo
Puerta, located in MADRID, 西班牙, is among the city's most visited attractions.
Square & Landmark
Parque del Retiro
No.6 Madrid
Parque del Retiro
Retiro, located in MADRID, 西班牙, is among the city's most visited attractions.
Park & Garden

🎯 Madrid Experiences

Golden Triangle of Art
The Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen.
Palace Tour
The splendor of one of Europe's largest palaces.
Tapas Bars
Snacks and wine in the old town.
Flamenco
Passionate Andalusian song and dance.
Rowing in Retiro
Leisurely time on the park lake.
Spring (Apr-Jun) and autumn (Sep-Oct) are most comfortable. In Jul-Aug the highland heat is intense and many locals go on holiday, with some shops closed. Museums have free-entry times worth noting.

📰 Travel Guides

More Guides →

🚌 Transport & Stays

City Transport
✈️
Airport Metro / Express
From Barajas Airport to downtown
Airport Express about €5 (reference)
🚇
Metro
Connects major sights and stations
About €1.5-2 per trip (reference)
🚶
Walking
Central sights are clustered
—
🚄
AVE High-Speed Rail
To Toledo, Seville and more
By fare class (reference)
Recommended Stay Areas
🐻 Puerta del Sol / Old Town (Recommended)
Clustered sights, transport hub
🖼️ Around Prado / Retiro
Near museums, elegant and quiet
🛍️ Gran Vía
Shopping, theaters and nightlife
🌃 Malasaña
An artsy, trendy district
Free Consultation

Free Consultation

1-on-1 travel consultant customizes your Madrid trip for free based on your schedule and preferences.