Finally you have decided to pay Madrid a visit and this makes the team from ShMadrid very happy. We are sure that the capital of Spain will not disappoint you in any way, on the contrary, we think you will absolutely love it here. Madrid has many things to offer, even more than you might think, and that is exactly why you will enjoy being here, even if it is only for a few days. For this reason, this article by ShMadrid will give you some important tips, if you have planned a short visit to the capital.
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Tips for visiting Madrid for a short period of time
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Once you get to Madrid, you can move around the capital in many ways. First of all we will tell you what to expect (pricewise) if you want to travel from the airport to the capital: If you travel by taxi they charge you with an airport supplement, and getting to the centre of Madrid will cost you around €35. Luckily you will not have any problems finding a taxi, although queues outside the airport can be long, and you might have to wait a little while. You can also choose the metro, which is a very cheap option, because travelling to Madrid costs only €3.50 and you can enjoy secure and modern facilities. The price of €3.50 for the metro includes the airport supplement of €2.00. There is also the option of taking the bus. There is a special express service that runs all day and all throughout the year, that will drop you of at railway station Atocha or Plaza de Cibeles during the night. When travelling within the city, you can walk or buy a metro card with 10 rides. This ticket costs around €12.20, and it allows you to save a little, since a single ride costs between €1.50 and €2.00, depending on the area. You should take the number of days that you will be in Madrid into account, to see if this option pays off for you.
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When it comes to accommodation, we would recommend choosing a hotel or hostel with excellent reviews. You can check reviews before you make a reservation on platforms like Trivago, Tripadvisor or Booking. Opinions from previous clients can be an important guide to what to expect from services and facilities in a hotel complex. You should also check out what options you have for dining out, when you are in the capital. Of course, like in any big city, you can eat at a fast food chain (McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC), but you can also find international cuisine (Indians, Africans, Lebanese …) and an abundance of typical Madrid bars to go for tapas and a beer. We can recommend going to a bar during the day and on Sundays in the neighbourhood of La Latina. You can also visit the Rastro, one of the most interesting historic street markets in the capital, and, of course, you should try a calamari sandwich at the Plaza Mayor! When you visit Madrid you should definitely not miss: visiting the Royal Palace, seeing the sunset from Templo Debod, taking a walk through Retiro Park, through Puerta del Sol, or along the Gran Vía, and letting the Prado Museo, Thyssen Museum or wonderful Reina Sofia Museum surprise you in many ways.
What advice would you give to someone visiting Madrid for only a short period of time?
