In many ways, Madrid is similar to many other international metropolises — it’s Spain’s largest city, has the largest population, is the capital and is the centre for international business. But, before you jump to conclusions, hush … if you listen carefully, you can hear the gentle melodies of the Spanish guitar, the swish of a flamenco dancer’s skirt, and the happy laughter from a midday meal infused with too many glasses of sangria. Yes, Madrid is for travellers interested in famous paintings and stunning architecture, but it’s also, and maybe more so, for those looking for an unhurried good time.
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Madrid travel guide for first-time visitors
Best Months to Visit
The best time to visit Madrid is in the fall (September to November) or spring (March to May), when balmy temps blow through the city, making it come alive. But if you don’t mind the drab weather and a rather listless Madrid, visit in the winter when hotels reduce their rates. Peak tourist season is summer — despite the nearly unbearable heat — but many Madrileños close up shop this time of year and take vacations themselves.
How to Save Money in Madrid
- Walk Madrid is the largest city in Spain, but the biggest attractions are all within a 2-mile radius of each other.
- Gorge on the “Menú del Día” These Monday-to-Friday lunchtime menus offer you a taste of traditional Spanish cooking without the requisite high price.
- Botellón Madrid is best-known for its nightlife, but a good time comes with a price. Instead of drinking at bars, locals opt to buy alcohol at convenience stores and drink on streets or in parks to save money. Then they go out and party.
Culture & Customs
Madrileños love to live life to the fullest. Much like the rest of Spain, they don’t live to work, they work to live. Travellers visiting Madrid will find this evident quickly upon arrival. When the weather is right (and sometimes not), visitors will see hordes of Spaniards dining al fresco along the city’s streets for hours on end, and laying out on a blanket with loved ones in Parque Retiro. At night, regardless of the season, the city truly comes alive when its citizens get off work and party all night. In Spain, dinner starts at 10 p.m., drinking starts at midnight and clubbing starts at 1 a.m. at the absolute earliest, as clubs tend to close at 6 a.m. If you’re unsure of where to start, try Sol. There are club and bar promoters stationed there throughout the night offering discounts on drinks and entrance fees. But don’t feel tied down to one place. It’s a Madrileño pastime to bar and club hop unless you have paid a steep cover charge, of course.
To save money on drinking at bars and clubs, Spaniards hold botellóns. A botellón is a gathering of friends to drink in a park or street before they go out. Since the drinking age in Spain is 18, and drinking alcohol in public is legal, stumbling onto a botellón during a night out is very likely. If you don’t know any Spaniards, there is always a big botellón at Templo Debod, located near the Palacio, on Friday and Saturday nights during the spring and summer months.
Madrileños are an easygoing bunch, as evidenced by their unofficial motto, no pasa nada, which translates to “don’t worry about it.” However, they can be very proud people and don’t like to speak English (even though most of them know it). Learning a few Spanish phrases will take you far, but if you’re having trouble, it’s best to approach the younger crowd for questions and directions, as the older Spaniards tend to know less English.
Service with a smile is few and far between in Spain, so don’t expect anything else of your server aside from taking your order and handing you your food. Service moves slowly in Spain, as many Spaniards dine for long periods of time. There are fewer grab-and-go places in comparison to the U.S., so when sitting down for a meal, Spaniards take their time eating and engage in sobremesa, or after dinner conversation, which can last for hours. Because of this, checks take much longer to arrive so don’t be afraid to ask more than once to get your bill. It’s important to note that words from Latin American Spanish differ in Castellano or Spain’s dialect of Spanish. Baño, which means ‘bathroom’ in Latin American Spanish, is Servicio in Castellano. And instead of saying adios, or ‘goodbye’, Spaniards tend to say hasta luego instead.
At restaurants and bars, a 15 percent tip is usually added to the bill but you can add 3 to 5 percent more depending on service. And in hotels, doormen and maids should be tipped about a euro for their services. Madrid’s official currency is the euro (EUR). Since the euro to U.S. dollar exchange rate fluctuates often, be sure to check what the current exchange rate is before you go. Major credit cards are accepted at most restaurants and shops.
What to Eat
Traditionally Madrid’s cuisine is fairly rustic. Meat, bread and cheese heavy, Madrid’s food is best tasted in tapas — which are small plates or samples of Spanish dishes that come free when ordered with a drink at a bar. Note that Madrileños eat a late, large lunch and then a later, lighter dinner meal. Unfortunately, there are few traditional tapas bars left in Madrid, as many have opted to charge for tapas to bring in more revenue. However, that doesn’t change the quality of the food one bit. Estado Puro, located near Neptune’s Plaza on Paseo Del Prado, and run by Michelin-starred chef Paco Roncero, features classic Spanish fare served with an artistic, contemporary twist. There is also the incredibly popular Mercado San Miguel which offers ready-to-go tapas as well as coffee, cocktails, dessert and produce stalls. The market even has a sushi counter. However, if your heart is set on having traditional complimentary tapas with a drink, head to El Tigre. Located near Chueca, El Tigre serves large drinks with equally large plates filled with tapas piled high on top of each other. El Tigre is messy, small and incredibly loud, but quintessentially Madrid, serving as a stop for many Madrileños on the way to the club. A big local hangout, it is unlikely you will find tourists here.
Spanish specialities include tortilla española (potato omelette), paella (rice with fish), croquetas (fried breadcrumb rolls typically filled with mashed potatoes, cheese and meat), gazpacho (cold soup) and patatas bravas (sautéed potatoes typically served with a spicy aioli). But the country’s most beloved dish is a simple plate of jamón Iberico or Iberian ham. Visitors should not leave Spain without sampling the jamón Iberico, as it is considered by food experts to be some of the best ham in the world. It also isn’t widely available in the U.S. Jamón is everywhere in Madrid. You will not only see it on many restaurant menus and tapas plates but hang in its original form in shop windows as you stroll the streets. It is just as much of a staple in Spanish culture as flamenco and bullfighting, only much more delicious. Also, keep in mind, the world’s oldest restaurant, Sobrino de Botín, is located near Plaza Mayor.
If you grow tired of the heavy Madrid fare, the city also offers a number of international establishments serving up Indian, Asian and Latin American cuisine. The best area to find great global cuisine, especially Indian food, is in Lavapies, one of the city’s most diverse neighbourhoods. For cheap, and truly delectable Chinese food, venture underground Plaza de España to the Cafeteria and sample the tallarines Fritos (or fried noodles). As for drinks, order a Jarra (pitcher) of Sangria, a glass of tinto de verano (summer wine), wine from the Rioja region and Mahou beer.
Safety
Madrid is a pretty safe place, but it does see its fair share of pickpocketing. Be especially mindful of your wallets and purses when taking out money at ATMs, when using public transportation to or from the airport and when touring Madrid’s top attractions like Sol, Plaza Mayor and El Rastro market.
Getting Around Madrid
The best way to get around Madrid is by metro. More than 10 metro lines extend as far north as the Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) as well as into the city’s southern suburbs. Buses are an option, too, as are metered taxis, which can be hailed on the street or found in ranks throughout the city. Renting a car is another alternative, but you should note that it’s nearly always rush hour in Madrid.
