Where to eat, what to see and how to get around — everything we’d tell a friend. In list or map, your call.
Our favourite, hands down: small plates to share, and it never misses.
Start the day properly
Don't leave Madrid without trying it
Our two safe bets
When dinner is the plan
Things nobody tells you, that you’ll be glad to know
Madrid's tap water is excellent and asking for a glass of it in restaurants is completely normal: no need to pay for bottled.
On weekday lunchtimes, almost everywhere offers a set menu: two courses + a drink for much less than à la carte. Make the most of it.
From the flat you can walk to most of the city centre: nothing is more than 20-25 minutes on foot.
The Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen all have daily free-entry time slots. Arrive 30 min before it opens to skip the queue.
If you're not used to Spanish hours, this will catch you out: lunch here is at 2–3 pm and dinner starts from 9 pm. Before those hours, many kitchens are closed.
If you're not used to it: tipping isn't obligatory here — leave it only if you enjoyed it, and rounding up or leaving €1–2 is plenty.
If you take the metro, a 10-trip Multi card can be shared between two people without any issue.
Rastro market in the morning, vermouth at midday, a stroll through the Retiro in the afternoon, and even some shopping: in the centre, plenty of shops open on Sundays too.
Nearest supermarket, pharmacy and parking