Madrid

Arriving at Madrid Airport (MAD)

Madrid Airport, also known as Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport, is located 13 km northeast of the city’s central Puerto del Sol square. There are four terminals at the airport. Ryanair and Norwegian Air arrive to Terminal 1. Iberia Express and Iberia arrive to Terminal 4.

Both Terminal 1 and 4 have arrival halls on the ground floor of the building and offer a currency exchange, cash machines and food and drink options.

There are several options for onwards travel from the airport. The metro line 8 stops at all airport terminals and takes around 15 minutes to Nuevos Ministerios in the city centre. If you’d like to take the train, you can do so from Terminal 4; it’s a slightly quicker journey than the metro (around 11 minutes) but you will pay a bit more. Local buses and intercity buses also depart from both Terminal 1 and Terminal 4.

There is also a taxi rank outside the terminals, or, if you’d prefer to drive yourself, there are car hire options too.

Pre-book your transfer with HolidayTaxis and avoid the queues when you arrive.

What to expect in Madrid

Whether you’re looking for a culture-rich long weekend or an exciting city break, Madrid is a top choice destination. With rich history, great food and a lively atmosphere that goes long into the night, you’ll be spoilt rotten for things to do.

Spanish is the main language in Madrid, but English is widely spoken and understood, particularly in the main tourist areas. That doesn’t mean learning a few Spanish phrases isn’t recommendable though; ‘hola’ (hello), ‘gracias’ (thank you) and ‘por favor’ (please) will do to start.

Madrid enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate. If you’re visiting during the summer, you can expect hot temperatures and dry skies, whilst winters are generally mild. May and June are the best months to visit with pleasant highs in the 20s, perfect for exploring all that the city has to offer. July and August are very hot, with temperatures sometimes reaching up to 40 degrees. Rainfall for the year peaks in October and November but, generally, the city is dry.

Culture in Madrid

Madrid offers its visitors a complex and beautiful mixture of old Spain and modern life. A city of elegant boulevards and expansive, manicured parks alongside streets lined with restaurants, cafés and bars. Equally famous for its rich repositories of European art and its pumping nightlife, Madrid is a wonder in the daytime and a city that never sleeps.

You’ll find that day-to-day living in Madrid may seem less ‘Spanish’ than other smaller towns and cities in Spain and a bit more like you’re used to at home. The Spanish siesta, or midday nap, is gradually diminishing, so you will find most shops and restaurants remain open all day.

With more bars per capita than any other country in the EU, Spain is a treasure trove of possibilities when it comes to delicious food. As the capital city, the sheer number of options in Madrid can be a little overwhelming, but you can’t leave the city without sampling some tasty tapas or fresh seafood paella.