Travel tips to Madrid are a must when planning your vacation. You already have your ticket in hand, passport and luggage ready and you wonder: What will happen when I arrive at Barajas airport? Do not worry because we are going to give you some tips to travel to Madrid and make the most of it!
Where to stay?
Of course we are going to suggest Far Home Hostels because all our locations are right in the center of Madrid, steps away from the most important tourist attractions and also, the comfort and convenience of having a first class accommodation in the middle of the action.
Madrid is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, it is a pleasure to walk through its colorful streets.
But first you must land at the airport and get to the city center.
How to get to the center of Madrid from Barajas Airport?
Once you have arrived, you must decide what type of public transport to use to get to the city center. There are several options that can be adapted to any type of budget:
By Subway: Line 8 (pink) from the airport to the Nuevos Ministerios station, once there, take line 6 (gray) to Cuatro Caminos station (just 1 stop) then take line 1 (light blue) ) to the Sol station.
The minimum price is € 1.50 for a maximum of € 2.00.
Express Shuttle: Another option to get to the center of Madrid is the Express Shuttle or Yellow Bus, it can be taken from any of the terminals of the Barajas airport and costs only € 5.
By Taxi : Another option to get to the center of Madrid is the taxi service, it can be taken from any of the terminals of the Barajas airport and it has a cost of approximately € 30.
You can take the metro to get to our hostels
Atocha is the closest train station to Far Home hostels. You can take the Metro Line 1 from Atocha station and it will leave you just one street away from:
- Anton Martin Station – Far Home Atocha
- Estrecho Station – Far Home Bernabéu
- Tirso de Molina Station – Far Home Plaza Mayor
- To Sol Station then change to Line 3 (yellow) to Callao Station – Far Home Gran Via
Tips to move around Madrid
Another tip to travel to Madrid, very important by the way, is to inform youself about public transport in the city.
The city’s Metro system is a very efficient service that has several lines that reach different areas of tourist interest.
To use the Metro you must buy the Multi card, which is a rechargeable card that allows you to travel in the Metro and costs € 2.50. For more information click here
We recommend that you buy the 10-trip voucher, it costs € 12.20 and if you are going to use it to go to the airport remember that you will have a supplement charge of € 3.
Tips for shopping in Madrid
Preciados Street
Many people from Madrid consider this pedestrian zone one of the best commercial areas in the city.
You will find a bit of everything, fashion stores for men and women to various specialized stores. If you come by Metro, you must get off at the METRO station: Sol.
Fuencarral Street
This is another pedestrian zone that is located in the most hipster neighborhood of the city.
You can find stores ranging from Calvin Klein to cupcake shops to recover energy after touring stores.
The prices are quite reasonable and the variety satisfies all tastes. METRO: Sol
Malasaña
El Rastro
Madrid Museums
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Prado Museum
Located in Calle de Ruiz de Alarcon, 23, 28014 Madrid. It is undoubtedly the most important of all the museums in Madrid.
Open every day of the week at different times.
From Monday to Saturday – 10 am to 8 pm
Sundays and holidays – 10 am to 7 pm
Like many of the museums in Madrid, El Prado offers a free admission schedule for all visitors:
From Monday to Saturday – 6 pm until 8 pm
Sundays and holidays – 5 pm to 7 pm
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Reina Sofia Museum
Located on Calle de Santa Isabel, 52, 28012 Madrid. Reina Sofía is the Spanish art museum of the 20th century.
You can schedule your visit during the following times:
From Monday, Wednesday to Saturday – 10 am to 9 pm
Sundays and holidays – 10 am to 7 pm
The Museum can be visited for free during the following times:
From Monday, Wednesday to Saturday – 7 pm until 9 pm
Sundays and holidays – 1:30 pm until 7 pm
Closed every Tuesday.
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Thyssen – Bornemisza Museum
Located on Paseo del Prado, 8, the Thyssen – Bornemisza Museum is considered the second largest private collection in the world and it is part of what is known as the Golden Triangle of Art, next to the Prado Museum and the Reina Sofía Museum .
The visiting hours of the museum are as follows:
Monday – 12pm to 6pm.
From Tuesday to Sunday – 10 am to 7 pm.
The Thyssen Museum offers free visits every Monday from 12 pm to 6 pm.
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Matadero Madrid
Another place you should visit is Matadero Madrid which is a cultural and contemporary arts center.
The space is incredible, originally it was a slaughter house where cattle were taken to be prepared for sale at the butcher shops of Madrid.
Admission is free and all visitors are welcome.
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Also worth visiting are
Where and what to eat in Madrid
Did you know that in Madrid you can eat in places ranging from Michelin-starred restaurants to food trucks?
If you are into foodietravel, Madrid is the city for you.
Once you get to Madrid you will be surprised with the amount and variety of options that will be available to you at lunchtime.
But if you want to try authentic madrilean food, be sure to eat dishes like:
- El Cocido Madrileño – A soup that carries meat and chickpeas.
- Madrid Callos – A slightly heavy stew made with veal guts, sausage, blood sausage and pig’s trotters.
- El Bocata de Calamares – It is the most famous sandwich in Madrid made with a baguette and battered fried calamaris.
- Starred Eggs – These are fried eggs served on a bed of chips and ham or Iberian sausage.
- Las Torrijas – A typical Madrid dessert consisting of slices of bread, passed through milk and egg, then fried and sweetened with sugar or honey.
- And of course you can not miss Churros with Chocolate, you can not leave Madrid without having a cup of thick chocolate with churros.
Best neighbourhoods to eat
The center of Madrid is full of restaurants where you can taste typical Madrid dishes, another travel tips to Madrid has to include these areas.
When traveling to Madrid you will realize that the hostels of our chain are located in the center of the city and just steps from the most famous neighborhoods.
Barrio de Las Letras
Its name is a tribute to the Spanish writers who lived here during the Spanish Golden Age. Cervantes, Quevedo, Lope de Vega are some of the names that walked through its streets.
The chic atmosphere in this Madrid neighborhood, has no comparison, here you will find a wide variety of restaurants with international cuisine and contemporary design.
Starting with the Plaza Santa Ana, full of places to eat and drink, the neighborhood offers many options, so we highly recommend a visit.
Our Far Home Atocha hostel is in the middle of the Barrio de las Letras and it is just steps away.
Lavapiés
Considered the coolest neighborhood in the world by Time Out magazine, Lavapiés is a mix of nations that you can’t miss.
Only 5 minutes walk from Far Home Plaza Mayor and Far Home Atocha hostels, Lavapiés offers its visitors a unique atmosphere in the city of Madrid.
Full of Indian, African and fusion restaurants, in this neighborhood you will find an exotic mix of flavors and colors.
All within the relaxed and bohemian atmosphere typical of Lavapies.
La Latina
This is the city’s bohemian neighborhood, full of antique shops, vermouth bars and restaurants that offer a super diverse menu of Spanish and international food.
This is the home of Mercado el Rastro, so the dining options are many and the atmosphere is super fun, with young tourists from all over the world, you will surely find the perfect place for you.
Malasaña
Malasaña is the hipster neighborhood of Madrid, a place to see and be seen, full of restaurants that offer the most modern and adventurous cuisine in Madrid.
From vegan options to Asian creations, through bars that produce their own beers, Malasaña is undoubtedly the neighborhood to visit if you want to try the new culinary creations made in Madrid.
What to see and do in Madrid for FREE!
Did you know that Madrid is one of the most expensive cities in Spain? But that is not a problem because you can enjoy the city totally FREE!
There is nothing better than walking the narrow streets of Madrid, enjoying its balconies, discovering beautiful shops or taking the perfect selfie in front of an ornate door of the 18th century.
Fortunately, Madrid offers many options for the first-time visitor who does not want to spend a fortune.
Here are some ideas that, in addition to everything we have recommended so far, will make your trip unforgettable:
The Royal Palace, the Gardens of the Plaza de Oriente and the Almudena Cathedral
The Royal Palace is the most impressive building in Madrid, considered one of the largest in Europe, this is a must when you visit this city.
Our Royal Palace is surrounded by a beautiful square called Plaza de Oriente, enjoy its gardens, just a few steps away you will find the Royal Opera building.
When you come you will see how magical the surroundings really are.
Next to the Royal Palace is the Almudena Cathedral, another equally impressive building in which the current royal couple of Spain were married.
The Temple of Debod
Located in the Parque del Oeste, just 15 minutes from the Royal Palace, the Debod Temple is an Egyptian building dating back 2200 years.
It was a gift from the Egyptian government to Spain and was brought and assembled brick by brick until completing the Temple that can be visited for free.
From the Temple you can enjoy one of the best views and sunsets in Madrid. It is quite a show.
El Madrid de los Austrias
Walking through the center of Madrid is moving you will see palaces and façades that tell the story of the city. The Madrid of the Austrias refers to an area between:
- Main Square
- The Royal Palace
- Villa Square
You must go through these three points of the city to feel the real Madrid, created by the dynasty of the House of the Habsburgs between 1516 and 1700.
Parque de Retiro
This is the largest park in Madrid, it is the favorite place for locals to relax, play sports or just go for a picnic with friends.
In the Retiro Park you will also find the Crystal Palace, a Victorian-style metal and glass structure that was built in 1887 and now houses different installations of artists from all over the world.
You should also visit the lake, where you can rent boats to spend a different afternoon. The monument to Alfonso XII is the perfect frame for the lake.
La Gran Via
It is considered the main avenue of Madrid, full of shops and beautiful buildings, it is a pleasure to walk this avenue all the way until you reach Plaza España where you can see Don Quijote and Sancho Panza´s sculpture.
You should not miss the great stores that are located in La Gran Via, take a whole afternoon of shopping, have fun and find the best offers in Madrid.
Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
If you are a football lover and of course a Real Madrid fan, the Santiago Bernabéu is another must-see when traveling to Madrid.
Visiting this world football icon is an experience for fans of this sport.
While you stroll through the streets of Madrid, you are going to find these iconic places:
- Plaza Cibeles
- La Plaza Colón and the National Library
- Plaza de Neptuno and Paseo del Prado
- Metrópolis Building
- Kilometer cero at la Puerta del Sol
- Puerta de Alcalá
- Puerta de Toledo
- Congreso de los Diputados
- Royal Academy of the Spanish Language
Day trips outside of Madrid
Traveling to Madrid is an adventure that does not stop surprising you, but did you know that only a few kilometers outside the city you can visit medieval villages with structures that are thousands of years old?
Within our tips for traveling to Madrid, we suggest some options for you to include in your itinerary:
Toledo
Toledo is an ancient city located on a hill above the plains of Castilla-La Mancha in central Spain. It is a city that looks like it belongs to a fairy tale.
With its narrow streets, shops and restaurants, you will feel that you have gone back in time because of its medieval atmosphere.
Toledo is known for its Arab, Jewish and Christian monuments in its old walled city.
What to see in Toledo?
The Cathedral of Toledo is one of the most important in Spain, not only for its architectural beauty, but for the elaboration of its interior and works of art of incalculable historical value. It is quite a show.
The Museo del Greco, one of the most relevant spanish painters who lived in Toledo, is one of the attractions you should visit.
El Escorial
The Royal Monastery San Lorenzo del Escorial is a building of the Spanish Renaissance, built between 1563 and 1584, it has served as a royal residence, monastery, basilica and royal pantheon.
Located in the mountains of Guadarrama, just 45 km from Madrid, this palace is a jewel of Spanish architecture.
Not only for the building and its gardens, but for the environment in which it is located. This is an excursion that you will remember all your life.
Segovia
Another must-stop is Segovia, a medieval city located a few kilometers from Madrid.
It is famous for the Roman Aqueduct dating back to the second century, built to bring water to the city from the nearby mountains.
The Alcazar of Segovia is a fairy tale castle located on a hill at the top of the city.
It dates from the year 1120 and was built on the grounds of a Roman fortification. The castle’s style is so beautiful that Walt Disney himself was inspired by it to create the sleeping beauty’s castle.
Tours from Far Home Hostels
Did you know? If you want to visit any of these places while staying at Far Home Hostels, you can go to the front desk and ask for information about the day tours we offer.
These are our Travel Tips to Madrid for everyone who wants to visit this city. Take at least 2 days so you can get to know the most emblematic sites and enjoy this truly magical city!
See you in Madrid !!
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Plaza Mayor Madrid
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Royal Palace of Madrid
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Royal Palace of Madrid
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Reina Sofia Museum
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Atocha Train Station Garden
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Crystal Palace
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Retiro Park
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Royal Music Conservatory
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Plaza Mayor
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Plaza de Oriente
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Plaza de España
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Atocha Train Station
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Almudena Cathedral
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Reina Sofia Museum
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Almudena Cathedral
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Lavapies
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La Latina
