Madrid Spain Tourism (2020) Travel Guide Top Places

"Madrid: the cultural capital of Spain"

Madrid Tourism

The capital city of Spain, Madrid is most popular for its cultural and artistic heritage. It also has the liveliest nightlife in the world. It is a cosmopolitan city which is the main centre of business as well as the seat of the government. It is also the political centre of Spain.

Located in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula, Madrid is the largest city in Spain. With a population of over 3.3 million, the city is best known for its cosmopolitan nature. The city provides too a wide range of things to do, places to eat and it has all the facilities that a tourist needs. The city provides many conference resorts, leisure facilities and some of the best restaurants in Spain. It is also a great place for shopping, theatre, opera, museums, parks and more. The international airport of Madrid has three terminals and is the busiest airport in Spain. It is an amazing place for the children as well as there are numerous theme parks, excursions and zoos to keep them occupied. It is also a place to spend some romantic evenings in the stunning gardens and parks that provides tranquillity.

Top Places to Visit In Madrid

Puerta del Sol

Plaza Mayor

Plaza de la Villa

Palacio Real

Catedral de la Almudena

Museo del Prado

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Madrid Packages

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Royal Barcelona, Madrid & 2 places

8 Nights

Starting from $484

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Glories of Madrid & Barcelona

4 Nights

Starting from $636

CUSTOMIZE & BOOK

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Book Madrid Activities

Toledo and Segovia from Madrid

11 Hrs Duration

Deals start $69

4.7 /5

290 ratings

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Avila and Segovia Full Day Guided Tour from Madrid

9 Hrs Duration

Deals start $76

4.3 /5

250 ratings

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Flamenco Show at Corral de la Moreria

1 Hrs 10 Min Duration

Deals start $47

4.3 /5

104 ratings

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Madrid City Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

Deals start $21

4.3 /5

97 ratings

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Las Rozas Village Shopping Express With Optional EUR50 Gift Card

Deals start $15

4.2 /5

97 ratings

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Royal Palace of Madrid Guided Tour with Fast Track Access

2 Hrs Duration

Deals start $28

4.2 /5

71 ratings

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Shopping in Madrid

Madrid is considered to be one of the most popular destination for the shopping lovers. There are some of the largest malls, along with small family run shops that sell traditional goods. The major shopping districts are the Sol Salamanca And Chueca and Fuencarral Street areas. There are also many markets like El Rastro, Cuesta de Moyano and El Corte Ingles.

Currency in Madrid

Being a part of the European Union and the Euro Zone, the currency used in Spain is Euro. People from any of the countries under European Union could travel to Spain without worrying about exchanging currency. Notes with denominations of five ten, twenty, hundred. two hundred and five hundred are made available. The coins start with a one cent piece and ends with a two euro one.

Exchanging Money in Madrid

The rate of exchange of currency keeps varying from time to time. Travellers are advised to bring traveller cheques, credit cards and about 2 days worth of Euros. There are Spanish auto banks where anyone with a visa based card can withdraw cash in Euro. One may also withdraw cashing using switch cards. The credit cards are acceptable in most shops and restaurants.

Daily Budget for Madrid

The approximate daily budget of Madrid is 55-60 EUR. One needs to spend about 25 EUR for food on a daily basis. Transportation costa vary from 15 EUR to 30 EUR depending on the places where one is travelling. Apart from these, there are many attractions where you need to get the passes.

Religion of Madrid

The religion of most of the population in Spain is Catholicism but only a quarter among them are regular churchgoers. Islam is the second largest religion here accounting to almost 3 percent of the population.

Madrid Customs

The strict religious customs are now paving way to modern thinking, but there are some traditions that are still maintained in Spain. It is common to acknowledge and greet people when you meet. Common phrases that can be used are "Buenos dias"(Good Morning) or "Hola"(Hello). One should wear proper casual dresses while travelling. It is better if you do not wear swimming costumes outside your resort or the beach. In case of tips, most of the places have service charges. But, if it is not mentioned, one can pay 10 to 15 percent of the entire amount as a tip.

Language of Madrid

The main language of Madrid is Spanish. The younger generation knows English, but the majority know only a few words. It will be better if you know the basic Spanish phrases. Some common phrases are Hola (Hello), Garcia's (Thank you), Adios(Goodbye) and Per done (Sorry).

History of Madrid

There are evidences that say there was a Roman settlement nearby in Madrid dating back to the 4th century. The courtesy for the real founder of Madrid goes to Muhammad I of Cordoba in 9th century who built a castle on the site of today's Palacio Real. Madrid was taken from the Moors by the Christians in 11th century and they turned the mosque into a cathedral. In the 14th century, Ferdinand IV of Castile was the one who started the Spanish Parliament here. Madrid was modernised in the 18th century, with new buildings, bridges, city gates and then the Palacio Real was constructed next to the Plaza de Oriented square. In the 19th century, Napoleon seized control over it, After he was defeated, there was a decline in Spain which led to the formation of First Spanish Republic. The second Spanish Republic came in 1931 and got over with the Civil War in Spain because of which there was heavy damaged in the city of Madrid. General Franco took charge of the country in 1939. After his death in 1975, King Juan Carlos I helped the country to go back to democracy.

Nightlife in Madrid

It is often said that Madrid never sleeps. It is one of the liveliest cities in the world. All the clubs and pubs stay open till the wee hours of the morning all the days. Some of the most happening nightclubs in Madrid include Kapital, Joy Eslava, The Riviera, Serrano 41, Pacha and Bangaloo. There are also many Tapas bars in Madrid like El Tigre, The Sherry corner, etc., where you can get free food with your drinks.

Best Time to Visit Madrid

Commuting within Madrid

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Top Hotels In Madrid

CoolRooms Atocha

9.6 (940 reviews)

$ 242 onwards

9.5 (587 reviews)

$ 338 onwards

Only YOU Boutique Hotel Madrid

9.4 (2680 reviews)

$ 186 onwards

Catalonia Las Cortes

9.4 (1400 reviews)

$ 139 onwards

Hostal Central Palace Madrid

9.4 (2460 reviews)

$ 54 onwards

Relais & ChÃ¢teaux Hotel Orfila

9.4 (295 reviews)

$ 284 onwards

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FAQs on Madrid

What are the top hotels in Madrid?

There are 4587 in Madrid which can be booked through Holidify. The most popular hotels in Madrid are Metropol Rooms ChamberÃ, Friendly Rentals Barcelo, Heima Serrano Penthouse, Mercado San Miguel & Pl Mayor Apartment, Apartment Maldonado, Apartamento Lujo Velazquez 160. You can see all the hotels in Madrid here

What are the things to do in Madrid?

The top things to do in Madrid are Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Plaza de la Villa, Palacio Real, Catedral de la Almudena, Museo del Prado. You can see all the places to visit in Madrid here

What are the places near Madrid?

The top places near to Madrid are Barcelona which is 505 km from Madrid, Ibiza which is located 470 km from Madrid, Majorca which is located 577 km from Madrid, Tenerife which is located 1792 km from Madrid, Seville which is located 390 km from Madrid

How much does a package cost for Madrid?

The packages for Madrid start at INR 35693 which can be further customized based on number of people, days, hotel category, vehicle type and customizations. You can have a look at all packages here

What is the best time to visit Madrid?

March-May (Spring) and September - November (Autumn) is the best time to visit Madrid. There is plenty of daylight during this time, and the weather is pleasant. The climate of Madrid is continental and it remains dry and extreme all the times. Summer are hot in Madrid while the Winters are frigid with sporadic snowfalls; there are chances of rainfall too. Summers see a surge in tourism during this time as a lot of exciting festivals are held. Hence, the good part about visiting during Spring and Autumn are the considerably low accommodation prices.
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What is the local food in Madrid?

The major Spanish dishes are served widely in Madrid. There are also a few typical dishes here. Gallinejas and Entresijos are portions from different parts of lamb fried in its fats which is a major traditional dish from the city. Callos a la Madrilena is a hot pot of spicy beef tripe and Cocido Madrileno is a chickpea stew with meat and vegetables. Sopa de Ajo is a rich and oily garlic soup with grated Spanish ham. Every Spanish meal in Madrid starts with a glass of anise port wine. Maques de Riscal Rioja wine is recommended along with the meat dishes. Famous restaurants in Madrid include La Vaca Veronica, Gure Etxea and Botin, which is the oldest restaurant in the world
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