Madrid

Madrid is Spain's capital, where three art museums line one boulevard and dinner is eaten late.

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Madrid is the capital of Spain, on a high plateau near the center of the country. Its best-known sights are the Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen-Bornemisza, three museums along the Paseo del Arte in the city center. Visitors also come for the tapas bars, the old quarters such as La Latina and Malasaña, and the habit of eating dinner late.

Madrid suits a city break built around museums, walking and food, and it has enough to fill a first visit or a return trip. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons, since summer afternoons are often very hot. Plan at least three full days for the main museums and neighborhoods at an easy pace, and add a day for Toledo, a short train ride away.

Madrid in five

Use the Prado's free evening slotThe Prado offers free entry for a short window before closing on most days, covering the permanent collection. Lines form early, so arrive well before the slot and check the museum's site for current times.
Take metro line 8 from the airportLine 8 links every Barajas terminal to Nuevos Ministerios; airport stations add a supplement to the single fare. Cercanías trains also run from Terminal 4.
Avoid sightseeing in July and August afternoonsHighs often pass 32°C in July and August. Plan museums for the afternoon and walk the old center in the morning or after dark.
Eat on Madrid timeLunch runs from about 2pm to 4pm and dinner from 9pm. Many kitchens close between the two.
Expect a biometric check at the borderNon-EU visitors are registered in the EU Entry/Exit System on arrival, which replaced passport stamps in April 2026.EES explained

Things to do in Madrid

See all attractions in Madrid

Sight · MadridTurismo Madrid

Monument · MadridThe Bear & the Strawberry treeGo early in the morning or later in the evening for a less crowded photo.

Castle · MadridRoyal Palace of MadridBook tickets in advance, especially during busy periods.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to MadridPut the places you like in Madrid on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Madrid-Barajas (MAD), about 30 min by metro line 8
Getting there: High-speed trains from Barcelona in about 2.5 hours
Getting around: Metro and walking; the center is compact
Best base: Barrio de las Letras or Sol for sights, Malasaña for nights
Time needed: 3 days

Weather by month

Rainy days
Festival

Best
Good
Mixed

JanuaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh11°Low2°Cold, sunny
FebruaryPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh14°Low4°Cool, dry
MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh16°Low6°Mild
AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh19°Low8°Mild, showers
MayClear7 rainy daysHigh24°Low12°San Isidro
JuneClear5 rainy daysHigh30°Low17°Hot evenings
JulyClear1 rainy dayHigh35°Low21°Very hot
AugustClear1 rainy dayHigh34°Low21°Very hot, quiet
SeptemberClear5 rainy daysHigh28°Low16°Warm
OctoberClear8 rainy daysHigh22°Low12°Mild, clear
NovemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh15°Low7°Cool
DecemberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh12°Low4°Christmas

Average daily high and low in Madrid, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Festivals: May festivities of San Isidro Labrador · Jun PHotoESPAÑA · Jul PHotoESPAÑA · Aug PHotoESPAÑA · Sep PHotoESPAÑA

Right now in Madrid

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 15°
Humidity: 19%
Wind: 6 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Castile and León

09:43 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today20°6°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 0%.
Tue15°7°0%Tuesday: Clear. High 15°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 0%.
Wed15°4°8%Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 15°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 8%.
Thu17°6°9%Thursday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 9%.
Fri16°5°28%Friday: Rain. High 16°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 28%.
Sat16°11°36%Saturday: Rain. High 16°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 36%.
Sun15°13°78%Sunday: Rain. High 15°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 78%.

Updated 07:03 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8961 EUR

Amount

Converted to

EUR · Euro

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Madrid

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Every year

Mayfestivities of San Isidro LabradorMadrid
Jun–SepPHotoESPAÑAMadrid

Day trips by train

Toledoabout 35 min by high-speed trainThe walled old city above the Tagus, with its cathedral and synagogues.Read the guide
Segoviaabout 30 min by high-speed trainThe Roman aqueduct, the Alcázar and the cathedral.Read the guide
El Escorialabout 1 hour by commuter trainThe royal monastery and palace in the hills.

Before you go to Madrid

Prado and old center toursGuided museum and tapas walksCompare tours

Trains to Toledo and SevilleCompare high-speed operatorsRead the guide

eSIM for MadridMetro maps and airport arrival dataRead the guide

Travel insurance for MadridMedical cover for August heatRead the guide

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Rules for Madrid, checked

Madrid is in Spain, part of the Schengen Area. Check entry requirements on the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs site (exteriores.gob.es) before you book.
Non-EU travelers may be registered at the border under the EU Entry/Exit System. Check the European Commission's EES page for current rules.
Madrid's low emission zone, called Madrid 360, limits which vehicles can drive in the center. Check the Madrid City Council website before you drive or hire a car.
Carry your passport or other valid ID at all times. Police can ask to see it.

Plan around Madrid

All of Spain

Regions, rail, entry rules and money

Read the guide Toledo

Walled old city, 35 minutes by fast train

Read the guide Segovia

Roman aqueduct and Alcázar, 30 minutes away

Read the guide Barcelona

Gaudí and the beach, 2.5 hours by train

Read the guide Seville

Andalusian capital, 2.5 hours by train

Read the guide Getting around Spain

High-speed trains, buses and ferries

Read the guide

Madrid FAQ

When is the Prado free?

For a short evening window on most days, with different times on Sundays and holidays. Free entry covers the permanent collection. Check the museum's official site for the current slots, since they can change.

How many days do you need in Madrid?

Three days covers the Prado and one more museum, the old center, the Retiro and a night out. Add a day for Toledo or Segovia.

Is Madrid too hot in summer?

July and August highs often pass 32°C. Many locals leave in August and some restaurants close, but museums and evenings stay busy.

How do I get from Madrid airport to the center?

Metro line 8 runs from all terminals to Nuevos Ministerios in about 15 minutes, with a supplement on the fare. The Airport Express bus runs to Atocha day and night.

How do I get from Madrid to Barcelona?

By high-speed train in about 2.5 hours. Renfe, Iryo and Ouigo all run it, so compare prices by day and time. Flights add airport time and rarely save hours.