Spain
City guide · Spain
Madrid
About Madrid
Madrid, Spain's capital since the 16th century, stands on a high plateau at the centre of the country. It is a confident, elegant city of grand boulevards, leafy parks and lively squares, with a late-evening rhythm that visitors soon adopt.
Highlights include the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol, and the art museums along the Paseo del Prado: the Prado, the Reina Sofía (home to Picasso's Guernica) and the Thyssen-Bornemisza. Retiro Park, the shopping on Gran Vía and the Santiago Bernabéu stadium of Real Madrid are popular with groups.
Two to three nights work well. Toledo and Segovia are each about 30 minutes away by high-speed train, and both make rewarding day trips; the monastery of El Escorial is about an hour away. Barcelona is about three hours by high-speed train, and Seville around two and a half.
Football fans in the group will enjoy a stadium tour, and families appreciate the open space of Retiro Park with its boating lake.
Practical Information
Useful to know before your group arrives in Madrid.
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Madrid has a continental climate: hot, dry summers and cold, bright winters.
- Summer (June–August): hot and dry, with highs around 31–34°C.
- Autumn (September–November): warm in September, cooling to around 13–15°C by November.
- Winter (December–February): sunny but cold, with highs around 10–12°C and nights near freezing.
- Spring (March–May): highs from about 16°C to 24°C.
April to June and September to October are the most comfortable months. In summer plan outdoor sightseeing for mornings and evenings; in winter bring a warm jacket. Comfortable shoes are essential.
- Arriving: Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport is about 15 km from the centre. Metro line 8 and suburban Cercanías trains connect it to the city, an express airport bus runs to Atocha, and a taxi takes about 25–30 minutes.
- Getting around: the metro is extensive and efficient, supported by buses and suburban trains. Multi-journey tickets and tourist travel passes are better value than single tickets.
- On foot: the area between the Royal Palace, Puerta del Sol and the Prado is compact and easy to walk.
- Groups: much of the historic centre is pedestrianised or traffic-restricted, so coaches usually set down at the edge and groups continue on foot.
For travellers from India, an eSIM or a European data plan bought before departure usually costs much less than Indian international roaming packs. Local prepaid SIM cards are sold at the airport and in phone shops; a passport is needed to buy one. An EU SIM or eSIM also works in other EU/EEA countries under EU roaming rules.
Free Wi-Fi is common in hotels and cafés. The power supply is 230 V with Type C/F sockets; Indian Type D plugs do not fit, so bring a universal adapter.
Madrid has many Indian restaurants, and the Lavapiés neighbourhood is well known for its long-established South Asian community, with Indian and Bangladeshi restaurants and grocery shops. Halal food is easy to find there and in Middle Eastern restaurants across the city. Jain meals should be requested in advance through the DMC or the restaurant.
Vegetarian-friendly local dishes include patatas bravas, pisto (a slow-cooked vegetable stew, sometimes served with egg) and gazpacho in summer. Tortilla española is vegetarian but contains egg. For snacks and supplies, look for Mercadona, Carrefour, Dia and Lidl.
