Get Lost

Madrid, Spain is an excellent candidate for solo travel. The vibrant city attracts millions of tourists each year, and it’s position as the Capital of Spain elicits a cosmopolitan vibe throughout the city. The popularity of Madrid does not mean it should be discounted as a destination for solo travel.

Whether you’re in Madrid as a budget backpacker or with a little more spare change in your pocket, visiting as a solo traveler is a fantastic way to spend time in the city. There is a reason to visit Spain’s capital for every traveler. This guide will help in your preparations and expectations for visiting Madrid:

Tourist Highlights

Madrid’s position as a national capital is an obvious tourist attraction. The location of Madrid in the center of Spain is an added travel bonus. It is essentially at the geographic crossroads of Spain, and this has positioned Madrid as an ideal place to start a solo travel journey into the culture and action of the country.

For any traveler, be that a solo backpacker or someone in town for a short travel stay, there are a few highlights of Madrid that cannot be missed on a first visit. These are some of the main tourist attractions in Madrid:

Royal Palace of Madrid

The Royal Palace of Madrid is an imposing sight and the official residence of the King of Spain. Although the Spanish Royal Family wields virtually no power or authority – they seem to be shrouded in scandal more often than politics – it still exists. For whatever reason, Spain still has a king.

Without getting into the politics of it – if you’re not a Spanish citizen, does it really matter? – the Royal Palace of Madrid is a great place to visit at the right time. Portions of the palace are open to visitors throughout the year (with holiday and other exceptions). 

Unfortunately, admission costs €13. There is a free admission period each day for EU citizens and citizens of certain Latin American countries. For the rest of us, don’t expect a discount.

The Royal Palace is spectacular, but the admission price isn’t really in line with a solo travel backpacker budget in Madrid. Photography is also not allowed inside. Take the time to see the exterior of the palace, and wander the surrounding grounds. Skip the entrance fees and the crowds.

Prado Museum

The Prado is the most famous museum in Spain and one of the most well-known art museums in the entire world. Famous artists represented include Goya, Raphael, Titian, El Greco, Rembrandt and many more. The Prado is home to some of the world’s most famous works of art and the world’s largest collection of Spanish art.

If you’re even slightly interested in art or museums, the Prado is a must-see for a first timer in Madrid. The benefit of visiting the Prado for solo travel in Madrid is seeking out the art that interests you and going at your own pace. To state the obvious, art museums don’t appeal to everyone. A solo traveler can freely spend an hour or half a day in the Prado.

The only downside to visiting the Prado is the no photography rule. While it makes sense with flash, it puzzles me that some art museums allow non-flash photography and others fiercely prohibit snapping pictures of any kind.  

Visiting the Prado is a good deal. Admission is only €7.50, and entrance is free from 6-8 PM, Monday-Saturday and 3-5 PM on Sundays. My advice is to arrive at least an hour before the free period begins. The crowds and lines are quite large. 

Travelers with an especially keen interest in art will love the area around the Prado. There are two other art museums, the Thyssen and the Reina Sofia, nearby. These galleries contain art that is not featured in the Prado, such as modern and contemporary art, as well as art from other historical periods.

The Prado (and other nearby art museums) is on nearly every Madrid travel guide for a reason. It is a terrific display of Spanish history and culture at a reasonable price.

Other Notable Museums in Madrid

Madrid’s status as a large city, an old city and national capital means there is a lot of culture and history in a single area. For travelers and tourists wanting to explore a little deeper into that culture, here are some other good museums in Madrid:

• National Archaeological Museum – prehistoric, ancient, medieval and Moorish history in Spain
• Museum of the Americas – great museum for insight into Spain’s once-illustrious empire
• Naval Museum – Spain once had the greatest navy in the world
• Madrid History Museum – local history galore
• Museum of the Royal Mint – for coin lovers and fellow numismatists, this place is a must!
• Dozens more including museums of tapestries, anatomy, rocks, transportation and so on

Almudena Cathedral

Almudena Cathedral, officially Santa María la Real de La Almudena, is the center of Catholicism in Madrid. As a heavily Catholic city in a largely Catholic nation, that’s a significant distinction for a church.

Visiting Almudena Cathedral doesn’t have to be a pilgrimage, and it’s not as incredible as Seville Cathedral. It’s just a large, pretty church that holds an important cultural position in the city. The cathedral is also conveniently located directly across the small Armeria Plaza from the Royal Palace.

Almudena Cathedral is big and beautiful, the kind of church that is popular for a reason. The best part of this church is that admission is free – like visits to all religious sites should be.

Puerta del Sol

All tourists in Madrid will eventually find themselves standing in Puerta del Sol. The de facto center of Madrid, Puerta del Sol is where all roads in the city meet. The large plaza is teeming with people, shops and street performers. 

To be frank, the area around Puerta del Sol isn’t that interesting. If the plaza was empty, it would be a cool sight. As it is, Puerta del Sol is incredibly crowded. This is great for people watching, but travelers need to mind their pockets and bags around here. 

If you’re into shopping at the same stores (or very similar ones) that are found in every big city in the world, this is the place to go in Spain. And if you need to purchase a silly souvenir, this is the area.

There’s also the famous bear statue – The Bear and the Strawberry Tree – where tourists congregate waiting to take a picture. It’s a fun statue with a little bear craning up to the top of a little tree, but apparently it is representative of Madrid. The statue has definitely become a symbol of the city.

Puerta del Sol is one of those places you have to see on a first trip to Madrid. It’s on all the travel guides, and it’s certainly a “thing to do” in Madrid. It’s a lot like Times Square in New York City – it’s a center of tourism with shops of overpriced crap and an absurd amount of people. Puerta del Sol is only useful for people watching and ticking something off a list.

I enjoy getting away from dense crowds when I travel solo, and that’s generally easy to do in Madrid. Puerta del Sol is one exception. It’s a place you kind of have to see at least once, but that’s probably enough. See it, use it as a reference point to get around and then explore the rest of the city.

Plaza Mayor

Where Puerta del Sol is the center of Madrid, nearby Plaza Mayor is the historic main square. Plaza Mayor is equally as touristy, but it is a much more attractive scene. The buildings appear older and are certainly more photogenic.

Plaza Mayor is attracts crowds. Despite being smaller than Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor isn’t usually as busy. The square isn’t as open, and it’s also free of public transit stops.

Plaza Mayor has a few restaurants with outdoor seating into the square. These are almost certainly going to have a tourist element about them, including tourist prices, but the location is hard to beat. If you’re going to splurge for one touristy meal in Madrid, this is a good spot.

Live Sports

Controversy aside, bullfighting is popular in Spain. It is often seen as an artform and has deep cultural ties to the country. Madrid is home to the largest bullfighting ring in Spain, Las Ventas. The stadium is located in Salamanca, with the season running from March-October and the peak in late Spring.

Attending a bullfight may not be for everyone. Let’s just say that the bull rarely wins and doesn’t live to fight again. If you’re up for it and in Madrid during the season, there are few activities to experience local culture better than attending a bullfight.

Far more popular and world-renowned than bullfighting is soccer. Or futbol, football, whatever you want to call it. Madrid is home to one of the world’s best, biggest, and wealthiest soccer clubs, Real Madrid. Atletico Madrid is the second best team in town, and both clubs play in enormous stadiums.

Madrid has other teams, too, including two other clubs playing in Spain’s top soccer league. In other words, soccer in Madrid is a really big deal.

If you can get tickets to a Real Madrid game – well, if you can afford them – this would surely be an incredible experience. Atletico tickets are also going to be expensive and in high demand, though slightly more attainable. 

Even if you can’t make it to watch one of the famous teams, catching a game for one of the smaller teams will be an exciting affair. Soccer in Spain is serious business, and the atmosphere at the games is exciting. Even if you’re not a soccer fan, casual sports fans will thoroughly enjoy this opportunity.

Parks & Green Spaces in Madrid

Madrid has a fair amount of parks. If you count public gardens and other (calm and quiet) public spaces, there are a lot. But there are two parks worth checking out for tourists in Madrid.

Casa de Campo

The largest park in Madrid is Casa de Campo. The enormous park, located near the Royal Palace, was originally on royal land, but today it is open to the public. The park is predominantly green and natural, but it is dotted with historical landmarks, points of interest and even an amusement park.

Casa de Campo is the perfect area to get away from the city without actually leaving the city. Solo travel in Madrid may be overwhelming for some, and others may just want to escape the constant grind of big city traffic and crowds.

Casa de Campo is made for wandering. Pack a helping of jamón, bread, cheese and a cold Mahou, and it’s a great area to spend half a day. At over 4000 acres, it is full of trails and quiet spaces. Casa de Campo is the ideal retreat in Madrid for nature, hiking and a decent view of the city.

El Retiro

The prettiest park in Madrid is El Retiro. This park, located in Salamanca, is more organized and planned than Casa de Campo. The lake in the middle is popular for paddle boats, street vendors selling cheap (probably counterfeit) goods and just hanging out.

Although it’s not as “untouched” as it’s larger counterpart, El Retiro is an equally pleasant escape from the city. The paths are perfect for an easy walk. It’s quiet. And the design of the park is attractive, too.

Best Neighborhoods for Solo Travel Wanderings in Madrid

Centro is the oldest district in Madrid. As the name clearly implies, it is also the central district in the city. This is where visitors will find most of the major tourist attractions in Madrid, such as the Royal Palace, Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor.

Aside from the obvious highlights of Centro, the district is also home to some of the coolest neighborhoods (wards) in Madrid. The Cortes and Embajadores neighborhoods are especially interesting.

This is the area made for solo travel in Madrid. It’s apt for aimless wandering, and the narrow streets are lined with interesting shops and hundreds of tempting places to pop in for a drink or a bite to eat.

The age of this part of the city is apparent in the architecture. Most of Madrid has older buildings, but a lot of the city looks fairly new or recently renovated. The small side streets of Centro is the area to find slightly older buildings lining stone streets that were never intended for cars. It’s definitely the prettiest part of the city and the best area to get a distinctly Madrid feeling when walking around.

For solo travelers who want to get a real feel for Madrid and find a less touristy part of the city, there are plenty of options. Madrid is a huge city by population and area. There are several neighborhoods to walk around aside from Centro, though it is the most conveniently located and most photogenic. Each district and neighborhood is unique from the next.

I especially enjoyed walking around Salamanca, which is an upscale district to the east of Centro. Salamanca is nicer and more expensive, but that is mostly for people living in Madrid. It still has its fair share of cheap food, and the whole area is a pleasant place to take a stroll.

Solo travel in Madrid would not be complete without checking out areas less frequented by tourists. During my three visits to Madrid, I thoroughly enjoyed exploring more of the city. In addition to Centro, I recommend checking out Retiro, Prosperidad, Salamanca and Charmartin to see another side of Madrid.

Madrid is much more than Centro and much more than these few districts. Solo travelers who like to get away from the crowds and tourist attractions will find Madrid an ideal place to wander.

Eating & Drinking in Madrid

The best activity for tourists – be that backpackers, families, couples or solo travel in Madrid – is eating. Food in Madrid is excellent. Eating in the city offers a wonderful blend of cuisine from around Spain. There are also a lot of international options thanks to Madrid’s size and international status.

Solo travel foodies in Madrid don’t have to worry about the city lacking authentic local eats. Madrid also has plenty of local specialties, and pretty much everything is exceptional.

For first-timers in Madrid, there are a few important things to note: This is not the part of Spain where tapas are free and famous, and this is not the paella capital of Spain, either. Lastly, jamón is everything. Eat it. Those are the main points.

For a thorough breakdown of costs, eating cheap, local dishes, drinking the good stuff and a lot more, read the Hangry Backpacker’s Guide to Eating & Drinking in Madrid.

The Best Time to Visit Madrid for Solo Travel

Summer is the most popular time to visit Madrid. This is when the bulk of visitors, tourists of all types, show up en masse. Summer is ideal for the traveler who wishes to travel Spain in the sunshine and include a beach visit or two.

Winter can be more challenging in Spain. It’s not like Winter in Siberia, but mountainous areas are snowy. Winter in Spain also sees popular attractions alter hours and even some smaller tourist businesses shut down for the season.

For independent travelers and solo travel in Madrid, the best time to visit is Spring or Fall. The weather in the city ranges from cool to warm and is pleasant overall. The low season has yet to inconveniently alter operating hours, but the numbers of tourists are significantly lower than the peak season.

Mid-Spring or early Fall is ideal for solo travelers who still want some sunshine and possibly a bit of beach time. It would be wise to expect rainy days and plan accordingly, though. The nice days are made even better by smaller crowds, especially in Fall. The weather in late Fall is inconsistent and unreliable, but the crowds are significantly smaller.

Spain’s climate varies a lot considering the relatively small geographical area. For instance, Summer in the north is pleasant and even cool at night. On the other hand, Summer in Seville is notoriously hot. Madrid is warm during the summertime, occasionally very hot.

For the most part, Madrid is a fairly temperate city. It’s never Bangkok hot or Moscow cold. Solo travel is easiest when there are fewer tourists, and this is the main factor for deciding when to visit Madrid.

How Long Should You Stay in Madrid?

Madrid is a really cool city, but how long is long enough?

Madrid is big, and it’s a national capital. And it’s old. All of these things mean there’s a lot to do. In fact, there is as much to do in Madrid as you want to, so it just depends where your interests lie.

History & Culture Enthusiasts

For travelers interested in history and culture, you could easily spend weeks in Madrid. There are enough museums, galleries, ruins and historical sites to occupy your time for quite a while.

Outdoorsy Travelers in Madrid

Travelers interested in nature and outdoor activities won’t find much need to stay in Madrid for long. It’s a big city, pretty much a concrete jungle, so any sort of hiking, trekking or other outdoor fun will require nature-loving travelers to go elsewhere.

Foodies in Madrid

Food-focused and hungry travelers will love Madrid. There are thousands of bars and restaurants, and the gastronomic scene in Madrid is absolutely top notch. A few days is adequate to get a thorough sampling of cuisine in Madrid. A week of eating in Madrid would be an awesome, thorough way to taste the city. You’ll probably get fat, though, so maybe do some walking.

Solo Travelers in Madrid

Madrid is an excellent choice for solo travel or those who want to escape tourist traps. Yes, there are a lot of tourist attractions (and tourists, at times) in Madrid, but the city is large enough that solo travelers in need of an authentic detour can easily get lost.

There are also several great day trips from Madrid that are ideal for solo travel, such as Segovia and El Escorial. A week is long enough to stay in Madrid if you plan to use the city as a base for day trips, otherwise 3-4 days is enough to see the sights and do some wandering.

Ultimately, how long you should stay in Madrid depends where your travel interests lie. A couple of days is not enough, but a week is probably pushing it for most people. Somewhere right in the middle, about 3-4 days, will be the optimal length of stay in Madrid for most travelers.

Transportation in Madrid for Tourists

Transportation in Madrid is easy and efficient. The city is largely walkable, and there aren’t that many steep hills. Public transportation within the city is easy to use and reasonably priced. Transportation to nearby cities, destinations farther away in Spain and international destinations are also pretty easy to reach from Madrid.

For a full, thorough breakdown of getting around Madrid, including airport transfers, bus/subway prices and more, read the Hangry Backpacker’s Guide to Transportation in Madrid for Tourists.

Is Madrid Safe for Solo Travel?

This is a surprising question that comes up a lot before and after my trips. People are always curious about safety abroad, as if I was heading off to trek through cartel territory or an active warzone.

I guess it’s a reasonable question if it keeps coming up. So is Madrid a safe place to travel solo?

To my American friends, Madrid is far, far safer than most of our big cities. Hell, most of the world is statistically safer than Chicago, New Orleans, St. Louis, Detroit, D.C, Baltimore – should I continue? No, that’s depressing. While tourists aren’t at danger of being hacked away in American cities, rest assured knowing that Madrid is not a dangerous place to travel.

Like any city in the world, travelers should always exercise caution and remain aware of their surroundings. And getting stumbling drunk late at night is not something I would advise.

The only instance in Spain’s capital where I felt uncomfortable was in Plaza Mayor where a non-local vendor got mad that I didn’t want to buy his cheap, fake sunglasses. I walked away when he yelled, and he left me alone. Otherwise, I had no issues whatsoever.

So, yes. Madrid is totally safe, and solo travel in Madrid is totally safe. In fact, traveling alone might be even safer because you don’t stick out and scream “I’m a tourist!” like the mere presence of a tour group. Solo travel is the best way to see Madrid, and it’s very safe to do so.

Best Hostels in Madrid for Solo Travelers

Madrid is made for solo travel. For backpackers and other long-term travelers, social interaction or someone to explore the city with (or a dinner companion!) is an important factor to consider.

Thankfully, Madrid has hundreds of hostels, and most of them are less than €20 for a bed in a dorm. Private hostel rooms can be as low as €25. These are a few of the great hostel options in Madrid:

• OK Hostel
• The Hat
• La Musas Hostel
• Bastardo Hostel
• Open Hostel

Is Madrid Worth Visiting for Tourists?

Madrid is not known as being the most culturally rich, quaint or picturesque city. It’s known more as the big city in Spain. If it’s not spectacular, is it worth your time?

Yes and no. Madrid is not as photogenic as Seville, and it’s not as lively as Barcelona. That doesn’t mean you should skip it. There’s a lot to be said about the national capital and largest city of a country as old as Spain. The cultural impact from those distinctions means there is a lot of important stuff going on. It means there will be a lot of interesting sites and places to see.

Madrid has its pros and cons. More extensive impressions and whether or not I think Madrid is worth visiting for tourists are coming soon.

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Madrid is a cool, fun city with tons of attractions and activities for tourists to enjoy. Solo travel in Madrid comes with the bonus of getting around easier, the ease of wandering, exploring the city beyond the touristy areas and traveling cheaper.

Whether it’s a brief stay or a longer trip, Madrid has something for every traveler. There are few cities with such a high concentration of culture and history that also have fantastic food and are incredibly clean. Madrid is the gateway into Spain for solo travel, and it’s an excellent starting point for anyone heading to the country for the first time.

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As in any foreign destination, tourists in Madrid must navigate the transportation system to make the most of a visit to the Spanish capital. The sooner travelers grasp a reasonable understanding of local transportation, the easier it is to maximize opportunities for important things like sightseeing and sampling local cuisine.

Transportation in Madrid is generally pretty easy. The most challenging part will be navigating the language barrier for those with limited knowledge of Spanish. Even for the linguistically-challenged tourist, transportation in Madrid is simple.

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Transportation From Madrid Airport to the City Center

Transportation in Madrid for most tourists begins at the airport. Madrid-Barajas Airport is the international airport serving the Spanish capital. It is the busiest airport in Spain. With more than 50 million passengers traveling through each year, it is one of the busiest airports in Europe and the world. In other words, if you’re flying into Madrid, it’s here.

After passing through immigration and customs, the next thing for tourists in Madrid is to figure out transportation to the city center. Thankfully, it’s pretty straightforward, fast and easy.

Metro

The fastest way to reach the city center is via the Madrid metro system. It’s as easy as following the “Metro” signs. Reaching the metro from the terminal involves a bit of walking through the airport, so travelers with excessive baggage should take that into consideration.

There is a metro stop located at terminals 1-3 and a stop at terminal 4. When going into the city, it doesn’t really matter where you get on the metro. *Note: when going to the airport, your departure terminal matters when purchasing the subway fare.

The metro trip from Madrid-Barajas Airport to the city center takes about 30-45 minutes depending on the location of your accommodation. 

To reach the Centro District where most tourists stay, take the 8 line (direction: Neuvos Ministerios) 4 stops to Colombia. At Colombia metro station, take the 9 train (direction: Puerta de Arganda) 5 stops to Principe de Vergara. If you exit here, you are in Salamanca.

To continue to Centro, at Principe de Vergara, take the 5 train (direction: Cuatro Caminos) 4 stops to Sol. This metro station is beneath the Puerta del Sol, the de facto center of the city and the epicenter of tourism in Madrid. 

The actual city center is about 10 minutes walking from Puerta del Sol, but most hostels are nearer this area. Puerta del Sol is an easy, practical starting point to get around Madrid.

This isn’t the only metro option to reach the city center. Depending on the precise location of your hotel, hostel or rental, there may be an easier or faster option. Personally, for my first time as a tourist in Madrid, I found this to be the simplest transportation option. It is a short distance from tons of hotels and hostels.

The metro from Madrid-Barajas Airport to the city costs about €7.50. This includes the price of the Madrid Transportation Card, about €2.50. Keep the card for further transportation needs. The price of a return to the airport (or a future trip from the airport) will cost about €5 once you have the card.

Bus

Madrid-Barajas Airport is served by an express bus. This is basically the only way to get the bus directly from the airport and into the city. The yellow buses run every 15 minutes and pick up from terminals 1, 2 and 4.

Taking the airport express bus is not the most convenient method. Being on a dedicated “express” route, there are only 3 stops in the city, so most people will have to take another bus, a metro or plan for a lengthy walk to reach their accommodation.

The airport express from Madrid Airport takes a long time. The express bus to the city center takes over an hour. It’s a good way to see some of the city, but that’s not on the forefront of most travelers’ minds after a long flight. 

Lastly, the bus from the airport to the city costs about €5, so it’s not even a significantly cheaper alternative. Due to the slowness and inconvenient stops, I do not recommend tourists use the bus for transportation from the airport to Madrid City Center.

Taxi/Uber

The fastest and easiest transportation for tourists from Madrid Airport to the city center, accommodation or anywhere else in the area is via taxi or Uber. Of course, this is assuming traffic is not exceptionally bad. 

Taxis from the airport to a hotel will take about 20-25 minutes. A normal taxi fare is about €30, once again, assuming traffic is flowing at a reasonable pace.

Taxis are usually the fastest and easiest method of local transportation. In some places, there is a worry about taxi scams, but that is not an issue in Madrid. The only drawback here is the cost, but peace of mind is worth it for many travelers, especially after a long flight. 

Walking in Madrid

Walking is the easiest and best method of transportation in Madrid for tourists. It’s the best way to see the city, and walking is healthier and free of charge. 

Most of Madrid is easily walkable. In particular, most areas of interest to tourists are concentrated in the city center. Provided your hostel/hotel is nearby, there’s very little need for most visitors to worry about metro lines, bus routes or taxi fares. 

Centro is the center of tourism in Madrid. Getting across the district may take some time due to the mishmash of streets, but it’s not especially physically demanding. Based on the eye test, a large amount of Madrilenians traverse their city on foot.

For tourists in Madrid staying outside of Centro, a quick bus or metro trip will deposit passengers right in the middle of the action in a few minutes. However, depending on the desired level of activity and the willingness to walk, even the neighborhoods around Centro are close enough to justify getting around on foot. 

For instance, the upscale Salamanca district is about 30 minutes from Puerta del Sol. It’s not a short walk, but it’s pretty flat and an easy way to get some exercise.

Overall, Madrid is not a very strenuous place to walk. The city does have hills, but most parts of the city are flat or contain gradual inclines. The old part of Centro does have a few steeper inclines. The only issues for walking in Madrid would be for disabled persons or those carrying a lot of luggage.

Like most cities, walking is the best way to see more of the Spanish capital. In Madrid, walking makes perfect sense. The city is clean and pedestrian-friendly. The health factor of walking is important too, as Spanish food isn’t exactly a low-calorie cuisine.

Madrid by Bus

The Madrid bus system runs 24 hours a day, with limited lines running after 1130 PM. It connects all corners of the city and much of the metro area. The benefit of taking the bus in Madrid is that it can take you just about anywhere with very little walking required.

The cost for a single ride is €1.50, and this can be purchased on the bus. The fare is cheaper when purchasing 10 rides, coming in at €12.20. This saves a few euros, and, for tourists planning to return to Madrid, the rides don’t expire for several years.

Bus (and metro) tickets can be purchased at any metro station, but the easiest place to get bus tickets is at one of the newspaper or tobacco stands on street level. These stands are prevalent around the city.

Personally, I don’t care much for most bus systems. Yes, at times, they are the most convenient (or only) option. However, to me, buses are slow and inconvenient. And they are often very crowded. In Madrid, the traffic slows down buses, and the construction that seems to be taking place everywhere is another factor that slows buses. 

The extensive bus network in Madrid makes it appealing, but I find it to be a headache. Walking is simpler, and the subway is usually faster.

The Madrid Metro

The Madrid Metro is the subway system in the city. For tourists, the metro is the fastest transportation to get across Madrid. It is simpler than the buses and is not affected by traffic or construction. Outside of rush hour, the crowds are not excessive.

The Madrid Metro is reasonably priced compared to most major cities in Western Europe. One ride costs €1.50-2.00. This ticket is good for trips in “Zone A,” which covers most of the city. A combined ticket (ticket outside Zone A) will cost €3. As with the bus system, riders can purchase rides in bulk – 10 rides for €12.20.

When landing at Madrid Airport, tourists will need to purchase a transportation card before using any bus or metro. It costs a small amount, but the card is needed to use the system. Hang on to the card after this initial trip. If you’re planning to return to Madrid anytime soon, that’s another reason to keep the card.

Transportation To/From Madrid

Madrid is a popular destination in its own right, but most travelers will include other places in their trip. Fortunately, transportation for tourists to/from Madrid and around Spain is super easy. 

Spain has an excellent rail and bus network for passengers. I’ve never witnessed such a puzzling display of consistent inefficiency (from a practical, financial perspective), but more on that coming in a future post. The point is that, for a tourist in Spain, it is easy to travel around the country.

Trains are always easier and more expensive. Buses are generally slower but tend to be cheaper and serve more destinations. Here are some basics to know to get around Spain when going to/from Madrid.

Train

Madrid has two main train stations. Puerta de Atocha is the biggest train station in the city. It is located close to the city center, within walking distance of Centro. Atocha is the principal train station to use for trips around much of Spain, though shorter routes also embark from here (regional, Cercanias). It is a big, beautiful train station.

Chamartin is the secondary long-distance train station in Madrid. For the most part, Chamartin is used for medium-distance routes (regional trains) and slower long-distance routes. It is also used for the Cercanias commuter rail system that connects Madrid with nearby smaller cities and towns, such as El Escorial. 

Tourists should go to Puerta de Atocha for the fastest trains to reach other popular places in Spain, such as Seville, Valencia or Barcelona. There are even international trains (to France) from Atocha. For destinations in the north of Spain, Chamartin is the station of choice.

Regional trains in Spain are typically cheaper and slower. A train from Madrid to Segovia costs €7 and takes about 2 hours. This is on the “Media Distancia” train. A high-speed line, AVE or Alvia, also reaches Segovia. However, it is more expensive and the station in Segovia is not centrally located.

AVE or Alvia trains (high-speed) to locales farther away can be expensive. Tickets are usually cheaper when buying far in advance. For example, a ticket from Seville to Madrid on a high-speed AVE train can cost as little as €25-30. A last-minute purchase (like I did) cost over €70. If you know your travel dates, it’s best to buy the tickets early. 

The same goes for the high-speed train between Barcelona and Madrid. Purchased early, the ticket can cost €35-40. On the other hand, buying the ticket right before departure regularly costs €100.

Some of the prices for these trains are pretty steep, but the journeys are fast. The high-speed train to/from Madrid and Seville takes a little over 2 hours, and the journey to/from Barcelona takes about 3 hours. By comparison, the slower trains will take at least 6 or 7 hours.

Bus

The cheapest way to get around Spain is via bus. Lengthy bus trips may not be the most common method of transportation to and from Madrid for most tourists (exception: backpackers, budget travelers), but they are a much better option than most travelers realize. 

If time is on your side, buses are very practical. Most bus stations are more centrally located in cities, and buses serve more destinations than trains. Plus, buses are almost always cheaper than trains. Compared to slow trains, buses take about the same amount of time.

Buses in Spain (and most of Europe) are a good quality transportation method. As an American, that’s a hard concept to grasp. I’ve taken long bus rides in the US, and they are usually less than pleasant. Spain’s long-distance buses beat the hell out of a Greyhound trip every time.

The main long-distance bus station in Madrid is Estacion Sur de Autobuses. It is located near Puerta de Atocha train station, and there are buses here traveling all across Spain. There are even international bus routes leaving from Estacion de Sur going to Morocco, Portugal, France and beyond. 

The secondary bus station in Madrid is Avenida de America. This one is located in the Prosperidad neighborhood, a little farther away from most tourist interests but still in the middle of the city. Most buses from Avenida de America serve destinations in the north of Spain, though there are international routes here as well. 

When going to Avenida de America bus station, go inside and all the way down to the bottom level. This is where the buses park and load, and they are not visible from street level.

All of the long bus journeys I took in Spain were nice, clean and comfortable. About half the time, the free WiFi even works. Also, the buses are usually not full, and there is plenty of room to spread out. As much as I love riding on trains, buses are usually more practical from a comfort and price standpoint. Long-distance buses in Spain are great.

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Spain has a fantastic public transportation network. Fortunately, transportation in Madrid for tourists is equally comprehensive and easily navigable. There is a transportation card specifically for tourists in Madrid. It can be used for 1, 3, 5, or 7 days. However, I find the regular system to be more practical.

Walking is almost always the healthiest and least stressful way to get around a destination. In Madrid, too, walking is the best way to see the city and, most importantly, find all of the delicious food. Other options for getting around are better than decent, though. Whether on foot, by bus or train, getting a grasp on transportation is the first step to enjoying and maximizing time for tourists in Madrid.

Visiting Nazaré and the big waves is an ideal travel detour in Portugal. The seaside city of Nazaré is small and attracts a fair amount of tourists, but the crowds are not overwhelming like other Portuguese destinations.

Most tourists in Portugal visit Lisbon and Porto. These are the two largest and most tourist-friendly cities. Nazaré is located in between the two cities, a little closer to Lisbon. But why is Nazaré worth taking the time to visit? [Read more…] about Nazaré, Portugal: Big Waves & More