Holiday in Madrid
City in Spain — tips, highlights & best time to visit 🇪🇸
Country
Spain
Type
City
Best time to travel
March–May, September–November
Budget/day
80–140 €
Getting there from Germany
Direct flights from all major German cities in about 2.5–3 hours. Barajas Airport is 30 minutes from the center by metro.
About Madrid
Madrid, the vibrant capital of Spain, combines world-class museums, royal palaces, and an unparalleled nightlife. The golden triangle of art consisting of the Prado, Reina Sofía, and Thyssen-Bornemisza houses masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, and Picasso — the Prado alone displays over 8,000 paintings and is one of the most significant art museums in the world. Picasso's Guernica in the Reina Sofía is one of the most powerful anti-war images in history. The Palacio Real, Europe's largest royal palace with over 3,400 rooms, overlooks the Manzanares Valley and is surrounded by the Sabatini Gardens and Campo del Moro. The Gran Vía pulses day and night with cinemas, theaters, and shops, while the Plaza Mayor invites you to linger as the centerpiece of the old town. The La Latina district transforms into a colorful spectacle on Sundays with the Rastro flea market. Madrid's true soul reveals itself after 10 PM: The nightlife in Malasaña, Chueca, and Lavapiés is among the best in Europe — Madrileños rarely eat dinner before 10 PM, and clubs fill up only around 2 AM. Culinary highlights include the Mercado de San Miguel, the Chocolatería San Ginés (Churros con Chocolate since 1894), and the tradition of Cocido Madrileño. The Retiro Park offers a green oasis with rowboats, a crystal palace, and a rose garden in the heart of the metropolis. Rooftop bars (Azoteas) provide spectacular city panoramas at sunset.
Top 5 highlights in Madrid
The places you absolutely must not miss.
Museo del Prado
One of the most significant art museums in the world, it houses masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, El Greco, and Bosch.
Palacio Real
The royal palace with 3,418 rooms is the largest palace in Western Europe – only the state rooms are accessible, but they are spectacular.
Retiro-Park
Madrid's green lung with the Crystal Palace, the rose garden, and the large lake is the perfect place to relax.
Museo Reina Sofía
The museum of modern art houses Picasso's Guernica – one of the most powerful anti-war paintings of all time.
Mercado de San Miguel
The glass market hall next to the Plaza Mayor is a gourmet paradise with tapas, oysters, and Spanish wine.
Hotels in Madrid
Vergleiche tausende Hotels, Apartments und Resorts auf Expedia – mit Bestpreis-Garantie, kostenloser Stornierung und Bonuspunkten.
* Weiterleitung zu Expedia.de. Es gelten die dortigen Nutzungsbedingungen.
Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen
Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie
Best time to travel for Madrid
Recommended travel time
March–May, September–November
Summer
Very hot and dry, 32–40 °C
Winter
Cold, 2–10 °C, occasional snow
How much does a holiday in Madrid cost?
Average costs per person per day
Budget
40–60 €
Hostel, Street food, Public transport
Mid-range
80–140 €
Hotel, Restaurant, Excursions
Luxury
200–450 €
Boutique hotel, Fine dining
Book a package holiday to Madrid
Compare thousands of package holidays to Madrid and find the best deals with flight & hotel.
Compare package holidays now5 travel tips for Madrid
Insider knowledge that makes your holiday better.
The Prado offers free admission from Monday to Saturday after 6 PM (Sunday after 5 PM) – plan for a queue.
A tapas tour through La Latina on Sunday afternoons is a Madrid institution – visit El Rastro flea market beforehand.
Madrid has the highest density of bars and restaurants per capita in Europe – take advantage of it.
Nightlife starts around midnight and lasts until dawn – Malasaña and Chueca are the hotspots.
The Abono-Turístico card offers unlimited travel on public transport for 1–7 days.
Food & drink in Madrid
These specialties you must try!
