Madrid travel blog — The fullest Madrid city guide for a great trip to Madrid on a budget for the first-timers

Barrio Salamanca: The city’s premium area, and also the safest area in Madrid. The shops and restaurants here are all expensive and luxury.

Below are some best cheap, budget, mid-range and upscale hotels with good ratings and reviews you can refer to.

Novotel Madrid Center (Address: Calle de O’Donnell, 53, 28009 Madrid, Spain / Phone: +34 912 21 40 60), a 4-star hotel with room rates from $126/night. (You can check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Wellington Hotel (Address: Calle de Velázquez, 8, 28001 Madrid, Spain / Phone: +34 915 75 44 00), a 5-star hotel with room rates from $274/night. (You can check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

ICON Casona 1900 (Address: Calle de Don Ramón de la Cruz, 10, 28001 Madrid, Spain / Phone: +34 911 56 71 71), a top rated 4-star hotel with room rates from $130/night. (You can check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Heritage Madrid Hotel (Address: Calle de Diego de León, 43, 28006 Madrid, Spain / Phone: +34 910 88 70 70), a top rated 5-star hotel with room rates from $277/night. (You can check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

H10 Puerta de Alcalá (Address: Calle de Alcalá, 66, 28009 Madrid, Spain / Phone: +34 914 35 10 60), a top rated 4-star hotel with room rates from $106/night. (You can check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Vincci Soma (Address: Calle de Goya, 79, 28001 Madrid, Spain / Phone: +34 914 35 75 45), a top rated 4-star hotel with room rates from $85/night. (You can check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

NH Collection Madrid Colon (Address: Calle Marqués de Zurgena, 4, 28001 Madrid, Spain / Phone: +34 915 76 08 00), a top rated 4-star hotel with room rates from $128/night. (You can check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Dormirdcine (Address: Calle del Príncipe de Vergara, 87, 28006 Madrid, Spain / Phone: +34 914 11 08 09), a top rated 4-star hotel with room rates from $86/night. (You can check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Apartamentos Ramon de la Cruz 41 (Address: C/ Don Ramón de la Cruz, 41, 28001 Madrid, Spain / Phone: +34 917 81 15 97), a top rated apartment with room rates from $128/night. (You can check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Hotel Hospes Puerta de Alcala (Address: Plaza de la Independencia, 3, 28001 Madrid, Spain / Phone: +34 914 32 29 11), a top rated 5-star hotel with room rates from $160/night. (You can check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Madrid travel guide blog: Best places to visit and top things to do in Madrid

Royal Palace (Palacio Real De Madrid)

The official residence of the Spanish Royal Family, which is also the largest and most majestic palace amongst countries in Western Europe, is often used to organize national events and festivals. Admission fee around €10 and if you don’t come early you will have to queue for a long time. On weekends from 6-8pm the royal palace will be open free for visitors.

Address: Calle de Bailén, s/n, 28071 Madrid, Spain
Construction started: April 7, 1735
Hours: 10AM–8PM
Architectural styles: Baroque architecture, Classical architecture
Admission: EUR10

Museums

Prado Museum (Museo Nacional Del Prado): National Museum of Spain, where displaying artworks from the 12th century to the early 19th century. Here exhibits the works of Raphael, Bosch, Goya, .. Admission fee is € 14.

Address: Paseo del Prado, s/n, 28014 Madrid, Spain
Hours: 10AM–8PM
Founded: 1819, Spain

National Archaeological Museum (Museo Arqueológico Nacional): Exhibits archeological artifacts from prehistoric to Renaissance, the highlighting is the half body statue of Lady of Elx – from the 5th century BC. Admission is € 3 but free after 2pm on Saturday and from 9:30 to noon on Sunday.

Address: Calle de Serrano, 13, 28001 Madrid, Spain
Hours: 9:30AM–8PM / Sunday: 9:30AM–3PM / Monday: Closed
Tickets: €1–3
Founded: March 20, 1867

The Queen Sofia Museum (Centro De Arte Reina Sofia): The National Museum showcases works of art by Spanish artists and 20th century, including works by artists of Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí. Admission is €8.

Address: Calle de Santa Isabel, 52, 28012 Madrid, Spain
Hours: 10AM–9PM / Tuesday: Closed

Plaza Mayor

Plaza Mayor in Spanish means Main Square, this is truly the heart of Madrid known as the largest central square of this city. At first glance Plaza Mayor is quite similar to the square in the Louvre – Paris with red painted buildings in Baroque architectural style, small windows are arranged neatly and built around a large area.

This large square is a place famous for its cultural exchanges and sightseeing that attracts millions of visitors each year. Here has the statue of King Philip III, not far from the statue is the adventurer statue of Don Quixote in the literary work of the same name located in Plaza de España.

Buen Retiro Park

The life of the people of Madrid is concentrated in large crowded squares, and tourists can visit more famous museums and monuments. But sometimes you can visit places like Retiro Park to find purity and spiritual relaxation. Retiro Park is one of the major parks in Madrid, located in an area close to the famous sights of the city. After visiting the main attractions you can rest for a while on the green grass, enjoy the fresh air or hire a boat to visit the lake.

Address: Plaza de la Independencia, 7, 28001 Madrid, Spain

Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida

A small church located in the center of the city, at the outside, there is nothing special but when you get inside you will have to surprise when admire the frescoes on the artistic arches painted by Goya. Tickets to this church are free.

Address: Glorieta San Antonio de la Florida, 5, 28008 Madrid, Spain
Opened: 1798
Hours: Thursday 9:30AM–8PM / Monday: Closed
Architectural style: Neoclassical architecture

Plaza de Santa Ana

Plaza de Santa Ana located in the lively Huertas district, where there are many shops, eateries, pubs, bars and cafes. The tapas shops here are also very delicious.

Address: Plaza de Santa Ana s/n, 28012 Madrid, Spain

El Rastro

This is one of the largest flea markets in Europe, selling a lot of souvenirs, where you feel like you can find everything at a good price. Go to El Rastro to get along with the life of the people of Madrid, go with them to the market, shopping, eating street food full of rustic. Near to El Rastro is the Cibeles Square with the symbol of the goddess Cibeles.

Address: Calle de la Ribera de Curtidores, 28005 Madrid, Spain
Hours: Thursday 9AM–8PM
Phone: +34 915 29 82 10

Puerta del Sol

Also located in the city center, Puerta del Sol is a public square for business of people of Madrid, one of the main streets of the city. It is always crowded with tourists and people, walking and sightseeing. That’s why you are always careful with pickpockets, especially in crowded areas.

Coming to Puerta del Sol, remember to visit the bear statue and strawberry tree, one of Madrid’s symbols. It is a black statue with a bear standing and towards the strawberry tree, from here go to the left about 500m is the zero milestone of Spain, marked on the road with a compass.

Address: Puerta del Sol, 28013 Madrid, Spain

Paseo (Paseo del Prado)

The Paseo Avenue is similar with Paris’ Champs Elysee, but Paseo has more trees, fresh air and more famous museums of the city than Champs Elysee.

Santiago Bernabeu Stadium

For the devotees of football and fan of the famous Real Madrid club, this is a place not to be missed when coming to this city. Located right nearby the Nuevos Ministerios (the end stop of the Metro line 8) from the airport to the city, this 100.000 seats stadium is truly a treasure and a symbol of Madrid. The Madrid people also prefer going to the stadium to watch live football rather than sitting at home watching TV, because here you are like to participate in the festival, to join the rhythm of football with people with similar interests.

You can buy a stadium tour or buy a ticket to watch a live match of Real Madrid. The Bernabeu Stadium Tour ticket price of EUR20, visiting time of about 1.5 hours and opening at 10AM – 7:30PM from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays or holidays opening hours from 10:30AM – 6:30PM.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Madrid you can refer to

• Private Madrid International Airport (MAD) Transfers for Madrid
• Toledo and Segovia from Madrid
• Toledo & Windmills Tour from Madrid
• Toledo Half Day Guided Tour from Madrid
• Madrid Segway Tour
• Avila and Segovia Full Day Guided Tour from Madrid
• Madrid Half-Day Tour with Prado Museum, Royal Palace or Bernabeu Stadium Visit
• Prado Museum Skip-the-Line Entrance Ticket
• Madrid City Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
• Royal Palace of Madrid Guided Tour with Fast Track Access
• Real Madrid Santiago Bernabéu Stadium & Museum Entrance Ticket in Madrid
• Cheapest & Fastest Trains from MADRID to BARCELONA
• Eurail Pass for Spain (3, 4, 5, 6 or 8 Days)

Are you looking for more top things to do in Madrid: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Let’s check it out here. And how to travel around Spain by train? Read more: Guide to rail transport in Spain — How to travel around Spain by train & travel by train in Spain.