Madrid is Spain's capital and largest city: about 3.5 million people in the municipality and over seven million in the Community of Madrid. It lies almost exactly at the centre of the Iberian Peninsula, on the Meseta plateau, at about 650 metres, the highest capital in western Europe. It has neither sea nor a great river, but it has a captivating energy: some of the world's most important museums, squares that are always full, tapas bars on every corner and nights that end at dawn. Madrileños like to say that nobody is a foreigner in Madrid, because almost everyone comes from somewhere else.
This page is the gateway to Spagna.cc's Madrid guide: from here you can reach the pages on museums, monuments, neighbourhoods, food, nightlife and all the practical information.
Madrid in figures
Madrid grew impressively in the 20th century, through migration from the countryside and the annexation of neighbouring towns in the 1950s. After a dip in the 1990s, when many families moved to the suburbs, the population has risen again thanks to immigration, mainly from Latin America, which gives the city an ever more international character.
Today Madrid is Spain's economic engine, home to the government, parliament, the royal family, the big banks and many multinationals, with average incomes above the national level and a dynamic job market, but also with some of the country's highest rents. See living and working in Madrid.
Don't miss
| Place | Why go |
|---|---|
| Prado Museum | Velázquez, Goya, El Greco, Bosch, Titian: one of the world's greatest art galleries |
| Reina Sofía and Thyssen | Picasso's Guernica and a journey through European art history |
| Royal Palace | The largest royal residence in western Europe, with Almudena cathedral |
| Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol | The heart of Habsburg Madrid and Spain's kilometre zero |
| Retiro Park | The great royal garden, with the Crystal Palace and the boating lake |
| Gran Vía and Cibeles | Early 20th-century buildings, theatres and rooftop terraces |
| Santiago Bernabéu | Real Madrid's renovated stadium, with museum and tour |
| Temple of Debod | A genuine Egyptian temple in a park, at sunset |
For a wider list and planning tips see what to see in Madrid.
Museums
The Paseo del Prado, the great tree-lined boulevard from Atocha to Cibeles, is called the "golden triangle of art": in less than a kilometre are the Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen-Bornemisza, three museums that together tell the story of European painting from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. In 2021 the Paseo del Prado and Retiro Park were inscribed by UNESCO as a "landscape of arts and sciences". Beyond the big three, Madrid has dozens of museums: the Sorolla, in the painter's house, the Lázaro Galdiano, the Cerralbo, the National Archaeological Museum with the Lady of Elche, the Museum of the Americas, the Royal Academy of San Fernando and the new Royal Collections Gallery beside the Palace. See all Madrid museums.
Neighbourhoods
| Neighbourhood | Character |
|---|---|
| Sol and the Austrias | The Habsburg historic centre, with the Plaza Mayor and surrounding lanes |
| La Latina and Lavapiés | Tapas on Cava Baja, the Sunday Rastro, a multi-ethnic district |
| Barrio de las Letras | The district of Cervantes and Lope de Vega, between Sol and the Prado |
| Malasaña and Chueca | The young, alternative districts, heart of the night and the LGBTQ+ scene |
| Salamanca and Chamberí | Bourgeois elegance, luxury shops, traditional neighbourhood life |
For a full overview and where to stay see Madrid neighbourhoods.
How many days
For the three big museums, the old centre and the Retiro you need at least three days. With four or five days you can add a trip to Toledo or Segovia and enjoy the city at leisure: a Sunday vermouth after the Rastro, a football match, a flamenco show, a night in Malasaña. See itineraries from 1 to 4 days.
Eating and going out
Madrid is the capital of tapas and street life. People eat cocido madrileño, the chickpea and meat stew, callos, fried squid in a roll (bocadillo de calamares), patatas bravas and churros with chocolate; they drink draught vermouth, small beers (cañas) and wines from all over Spain. Madrileños lunch at 2 pm and dine at 9.30 pm or later, and nightlife starts at midnight and ends at dawn. See eating and drinking in Madrid, nightlife and markets and shopping.
Getting there and around
Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport is one of Europe's largest, about 12 km from the centre, with direct flights from all over Europe; it is linked by the metro (line 8), Cercanías trains, a 24-hour express bus and flat-fare taxis. Atocha and Chamartín stations are the heart of Spain's high-speed network, with trains to Barcelona in under three hours. In town the metro, one of Europe's most extensive, goes everywhere; the old centre is walkable. See from the airport to the centre and getting around.
Where to stay
For a first visit the most convenient areas are Sol, Huertas, La Latina and around the Prado; nightlife lovers choose Malasaña or Chueca, those seeking calm and elegance Salamanca or Chamberí. See where to stay in Madrid.
When to go
Madrid's climate is continental, dry and sunny: very hot summers, cold but bright winters. The best seasons are spring and autumn; August is scorching and many Madrileños leave the city.
See when to go to Madrid and festivals and events.
Day trips
Madrid is surrounded by World Heritage cities, reached by train in under an hour: Toledo, the city of three cultures; Segovia, with its Roman aqueduct and Alcázar; the monastery of El Escorial; Ávila, with its medieval walls; Alcalá de Henares, Cervantes's town; Aranjuez, with its royal palace and gardens. See day trips from Madrid.
A short history
- 9th centuryThe emir of Córdoba builds the Arab fortress of Mayrit above the Manzanares.
- 1085Alfonso VI of Castile takes Madrid.
- 1561Philip II moves the court to Madrid, which becomes the capital.
- 1619The Plaza Mayor is completed.
- 1755Construction of the Bourbon Royal Palace is finished.
- 1808On 2 May the people of Madrid rise against Napoleon's troops.
- 1936-1939Madrid resists siege for almost three years during the civil war.
- 1980sAfter the dictatorship the Movida madrileña explodes.
Read more in the history of Madrid.
Madrid and Italy
Italy is more present in Madrid than you might think. The Royal Palace was designed by Filippo Juvarra and built by Giovanni Battista Sacchetti, and the throne room ceilings were painted by Giambattista Tiepolo. Charles III, the king who modernised the city and was called "Madrid's best mayor", had previously been King of Naples, and brought with him the architect Francesco Sabatini, designer of the Puerta de Alcalá. The Prado holds some of the finest Italian paintings, from Raphael to Titian, from Fra Angelico to Caravaggio, and the famous castrato Farinelli sang for years at the court of Philip V. Today Madrid has a large Italian community of workers, Erasmus students and professionals.
Green Madrid: parks and gardens
Madrid surprises those who picture it as stone and asphalt: it is one of Europe's capitals with the most trees per inhabitant. Besides the Retiro, the green lung of the centre, there is the Casa de Campo, the former royal hunting estate west of the Manzanares, five times the size of Central Park, with a lake, an amusement park and the zoo; the Parque del Oeste, with its rose garden and the Temple of Debod; Madrid Río, the riverside promenade of about ten kilometres created by burying the M-30 ring road, now loved by runners, cyclists and families; the Royal Botanical Garden beside the Prado, founded by Charles III; and the Capricho de la Alameda de Osuna, a late 18th-century romantic garden open only at weekends. To the north, less than an hour away, the Sierra de Guadarrama, a national park since 2013, offers trails, glacial lakes and in winter even a few ski runs.
Madrid today: what life is like
For newcomers, Madrid is one of Europe's most welcoming cities. It enjoys some 2,700 hours of sunshine a year, social life happens in bars and squares, public services are efficient and the transport network is excellent. Madrileños are open and direct, and a newcomer soon feels at home. The weak points are the cost of housing, which has risen sharply over the past decade, especially in the central districts, the summer heat and long working hours. Many foreigners work here in tourism, hospitality, finance, technology and teaching, and every year Madrid hosts thousands of Erasmus students at its universities, from the Complutense to Carlos III. For salaries, rents and paperwork see living and working in Madrid.
Madrid and football
In Madrid football is a religion with two churches. Real Madrid, Europe's most decorated club, plays at the Santiago Bernabéu on the Paseo de la Castellana, renovated with a retractable roof and turned into an arena for concerts and events; the stadium and museum tour is one of the city's most popular visits. Atlético de Madrid, the "working-class" team with fiercely passionate fans, plays at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in the east. The derby is one of Spain's most heated sporting events. You can also watch Real Madrid's basketball team and the Mutua Madrid Open tennis at the Caja Mágica in late April.
Madrid with children
Madrid is an easy city for families: children are welcome everywhere, even in bars in the evening. The Retiro with its rowing boats and puppet shows, the zoo and the amusement park in the Casa de Campo, the cable car gliding over the pines to the Casa de Campo, the Naval Museum, the Railway Museum in the old Delicias station, the planetarium and the Warner theme park south of the city all suit younger visitors. Under-18s get into the Prado and the Reina Sofía free.
Frequently asked questions
Madrid or Barcelona? They are very different: Barcelona has the sea, Gaudí and a Mediterranean feel; Madrid has the great museums, more authentic neighbourhood life and less mass tourism. If you can, see both: the high-speed train links them in about two and a half hours (see Madrid-Barcelona trains).
Is Madrid expensive? Less so than London or Paris for eating and going out: a set lunch menu costs around €13-16, a caña just over two euros. Hotels in the centre, however, can be pricey during trade fairs and big events.
Is Madrid safe? Yes, it is one of Europe's safest big capitals, even at night. The only widespread problem is pickpocketing in tourist areas and on the metro.
Quick tips
- Book the Prado and the Royal Palace online and make use of the big museums' free evening hours.
- On Sunday morning go to the Rastro, then have vermouth in La Latina like the locals.
- Adapt to Spanish hours: dinner after 9 pm, nightlife after midnight.
- Watch out for pickpockets at Sol, on the Gran Vía and on the metro.
- In summer walk in the morning and evening; in the hot hours, museums or a siesta.
More tips in practical tips.