Practical Tips for Your Visit to Madrid
Good preparation means you can spend your time enjoying the city and its atmosphere. After travelling to Madrid many times, I’ve learned which choices can make your stay a lot easier.
Practical things such as getting from the airport to your hotel and getting around the city can make a big difference. Below, you’ll find my personal tips that I’ve used myself throughout the years during my visits to Madrid.
Getting from Madrid Airport to the City
After arriving at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, you have two easy options for getting to your hotel: taxi or metro.
A taxi is the most comfortable option. There are plenty of official taxis waiting outside each terminal. Depending on your destination, a taxi ride to the city centre generally costs around €30.
If you’d rather travel more cheaply, the metro is an excellent option. From the airport, you can easily reach almost every part of Madrid by metro. Keep in mind that there is a €3 airport surcharge, in addition to the regular metro fare (around €1.20 for a single journey). Tickets are available from the ticket machines at the station.
Getting Around Madrid
Personally, I almost always use the metro during my stay. The metro network is fast, reliable and takes you to virtually all the major attractions and football stadiums in the city. Because of this, renting a car is really unnecessary.
One tip: it can get surprisingly hot underground, even in winter. So make sure you’re wearing something you can easily take off or put back on, so you don’t step off the metro feeling overheated.
