🇪🇸 Spain · Southern Europe

Madrid travel guide

Spain's capital — art, late nights and better value than most of Western Europe

Written and last reviewed by the Bemer Travels team on 20 August 2026

Madrid gets overlooked by first-time Europe travellers in favour of Paris and Rome, which is exactly why we like recommending it. Hotel rates and restaurant prices are noticeably lower, the art museums are on the same level as anywhere in Europe, and the city is easy to move around.

The one thing that trips people up is the timetable. Madrid runs late — lunch at 14:30, dinner from 21:00, and streets that are busiest at 23:00. Adjust to it rather than fighting it and the city is much more enjoyable.

Why visit Madrid

The Golden Triangle of art: the Prado, the Reina Sofía (home of Guernica) and the Thyssen-Bornemisza, all within a 15-minute walk.
Strong value — mid-range hotels and restaurants cost meaningfully less than in Paris, London or Rome.
A serious food city, from the Mercado de San Miguel to century-old tabernas and modern Basque cooking.
Fast trains put Toledo at 33 minutes, Córdoba at under two hours and Seville at about two and a half.

Best time to visit Madrid

April to June and September to November

Spring (April – June): Warm, dry and pleasant. The best all-round window, with terraces open and long evenings.
Summer (July – August): Very hot, frequently 35-40°C, and many locals leave the city. Hotels are cheaper but daytime sightseeing is uncomfortable.
Autumn (September – October): Warm days, cool nights, excellent value. Our favourite time to send clients.
Winter (November – March): Cold, crisp and dry, rarely wet. Museums are quiet and rates are at their lowest.

Madrid sits at 650m altitude on a plateau — summer days are hot but nights cool down more than on the coast.

Main attractions in Madrid

Museo del Prado: Velázquez, Goya and Bosch. Free entry in the final two hours of the day, though it is crowded then.
Reina Sofía: Modern and contemporary Spanish art, with Picasso's Guernica as the centrepiece. Also has free evening hours.
Royal Palace of Madrid: Europe's largest functioning royal palace by floor area. Book ahead and check for state-event closures.
Retiro Park: The city's green heart — rowing boats on the lake, the Crystal Palace, and shade in summer.
Plaza Mayor & La Latina: The historic centre and the best area for a tapas crawl, especially on Sunday after the El Rastro market.
Mercado de San Miguel: Beautiful, touristy and expensive per bite. Good for a first taste, not for dinner.
Toledo day trip: 33 minutes by high-speed train. A walled medieval city and the single best day trip from Madrid.
Segovia day trip: A Roman aqueduct and a fairy-tale alcázar, about 30 minutes by fast train.

Where to stay in Madrid

Sol & Plaza Mayor: Dead centre and walkable to everything. Busy and noisy — pick an interior-facing room.
Barrio de las Letras: Our usual recommendation: between the Prado and the centre, atmospheric, good restaurants, calmer than Sol.
Salamanca: Upmarket, quiet, wide streets and good shopping. Best for travellers who want comfort over nightlife.
Malasaña & Chueca: Younger, independent and lively at night. Great food, less sleep.
Chamberí: Residential and genuinely local, with lower rates and a short metro ride to everything.

Getting around and airport transfers

The metro is clean, cheap and extensive. Buy a rechargeable Multi card at any station and top it up.
Barajas (MAD) connects to the centre by metro line 8 (with a supplement) or the Cercanías train from T4. A fixed-fare official taxi to the centre is available from the marked ranks.
The centre is very walkable — Prado to Royal Palace is about 25 minutes on foot.
High-speed trains (AVE) leave from Atocha and Chamartín. Book in advance for the cheapest fares.
A rental car is unnecessary in Madrid and unhelpful in the centre. Hire only if you are touring Castile or Andalusia by road.

Need a vehicle at the other end? Our car rental page explains how driver requirements, deposits and insurance excesses usually work abroad.

Choosing a hotel

Interior courtyard rooms are quieter and often cheaper — worth asking for in Sol, La Latina and Malasaña.
Air conditioning is essential from June to September.
Madrid does not currently levy a city tourist tax in the way Rome and Paris do, which improves the effective value further.
Spanish 'double' rooms may have two single beds pushed together (cama de matrimonio vs. dos camas) — specify which you want.

We can shortlist properties against your budget and travel dates — see how our hotel booking service works.

Tours and activities worth booking

Pre-book the Prado and Royal Palace in high season; the Reina Sofía is usually easier.
A guided tapas walk in La Latina or Huertas is the fastest way to understand how Madrid eats.
Toledo and Segovia are both doable independently by train, but organised day tours handle the timing and entry tickets if you prefer not to plan.
Flamenco in Madrid is real but varies widely in quality — a tablao with a set show time is more reliable than a restaurant with 'flamenco' on a sign.

See our tours and experiences page, or tell us what you want to see and we will build the day around it.

Visa information for Spain

Spain requires a Schengen visa for Nigerian passport holders

Spain is a Schengen state, so Nigerian passport holders need a short-stay Schengen visa. Applications go through the Spanish embassy's appointment provider in Nigeria, and appointment slots are the usual bottleneck in peak season.

The standard evidence set applies: confirmed accommodation, return flights, Schengen-compliant medical travel insurance, bank statements and proof of ties to Nigeria. If Spain is your main destination by number of nights, apply to Spain.

We prepare the travel documentation, confirmed bookings and itinerary that support your application and advise on realistic timing. The decision is the embassy's alone.

How our visa assistance works Travel insurance

Independent agency notice: Bemer Travels is a private travel agency. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government, embassy or immigration authority. Visa approvals are solely at the discretion of the relevant embassy or consulate. Government and visa application fees are paid directly to the relevant authority. See our Disclaimer for details.

Families, couples and solo travellers

First-time visitors: Three to four nights in Madrid plus one day trip to Toledo is a well-balanced first trip to Spain.
Couples: Barrio de las Letras, an evening tapas crawl, and a rooftop bar at sunset.
Families: Salamanca or Chamberí for space. Retiro Park, the Royal Palace and Parque Warner cover most ages.
Solo travellers: One of the easier European capitals to travel solo — tapas bars are built for eating standing up alone, and the metro runs late.

Tips for first-time visitors to Madrid

Nothing serious happens before 10:00. Plan late starts and late finishes.
Many small shops still close in the afternoon; museums generally do not.
Tap water is safe and good. Ask for 'agua del grifo'.
Tipping is minimal — rounding up or leaving small change is normal.
A 'caña' is a small draught beer and is the standard order; in some bars it comes with a free tapa.
Watch your bag on the metro between Sol and Atocha and in the Gran Vía crowds.

Common mistakes to avoid

Booking dinner for 19:00 and finding the kitchen closed or the room empty.
Visiting in August and expecting a full city — much of Madrid is away.
Skipping the day trips. Toledo and Segovia are two of the best things about a Madrid trip.
Eating only around Plaza Mayor, which is the most tourist-priced part of the city.

What things typically cost

Mid-range hotel, per night: About €100-€180 — noticeably below Paris or London.
Metro travel, per day: €2-€6 depending on trips; a 10-trip Multi card is the cheapest option.
Tapas dinner: €20-€35 per person across two or three bars.
Prado entry: About €15, or free in the last two hours of the day.

Indicative planning ranges only. Actual prices move with season, exchange rates and availability — ask us for a current quote for your dates.

FAQs

Madrid travel FAQs

Is Madrid better than Barcelona?

Different. Madrid is stronger on art, food and value; Barcelona has the beach and Gaudí. For a first trip focused on museums and day trips, Madrid usually wins.

How many days do I need?

Three nights for the city, four to five if you want Toledo and Segovia too.

Do I need Spanish?

Helpful but not required. English is common in hotels and central restaurants, less so in neighbourhood bars.

Is Madrid affordable?

It is one of the better-value Western European capitals for hotels and eating out, though flights from Lagos usually connect rather than fly direct.

Planning a trip to Madrid?

Tell us your dates, budget and who is travelling. We will come back with flight options, a shortlist of hotels that fit, and a realistic visa timeline — no obligation.

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