See also: 100 Things to Do in Madrid
1. Decide When to Come to Madrid
When you come to Madrid will dictate greatly what kind of experience you have. In summer Madrid is unbearably hot, in winter it can get pretty cold.
More: Weather in Madrid
Though the cafes, bars and restaurants and Madrid's many museums are the same all year round (apart from in August, when many businesses shut for the summer), the many festivals that take place in and around Madrid are worth planning your trip around.
More: Madrid Festivals
2. Book Your Flight to Madrid
Book early for the best deal. A price aggregator is the best way to get a good deal, but even they are not perfect. So shop around using a number of price aggregators.
- Compare Flight Prices with Kayak (book direct)
- Compare Flight Prices with Expedia (book direct)
- Compare Flight Prices with Travelocity (book direct)
- Compare Flight Prices with Skyscanner (book direct)
See also Last-Minute Deals on Packages from the US to Madrid.
3. Book Your Accommodation
- Hotels in Madrid - Which District Should You Stay in?
- Compare Hotel Prices with Kayak (book direct)
- Compare Hotel Prices with Expedia (book direct)
- Compare Hotel Prices with Travelocity (book direct)
4. Book Guided Tours
Madrid doesn't display its tourist attractions quite as openly as, say, Barcelona. Guided tours aren't just for the timid traveler who can't branch out on their own - they're a great way to get to know a strange city. Do a tour or two on your first couple of days and spend the rest of your time exploring by yourself.
5. Find Out What Else Madrid Has to Offer
The best way to see Madrid, after the guided tour has acquainted you with the city as a whole, is to go off and explore. But having an idea of what you want to see will help.
Madrid is divided into a number of districts. Knowing what these are is a good way to start breaking down this huge city into more manageable chunks: Madrid by District
See also: 100 Things to Do in Madrid
6. Decide What to Do at Night in Madrid
7. Plan a Couple of Day Trips
Though Madrid is a long way from Spain's famous coastal cities, there are a number of excellent smaller destinations close to the capital that are worth a trip. In fact, I'd say Madrid has the best day trips in Spain.
Madrid's excellent AVE high-speed train service makes it even possible to take a day trip to Seville. But if you're going to see one of Spain's best cities in such a brief trip, a guided tour is your best option.
8. Consider Going a Bit Further Afield
Madrid and its day trips could easily occupy you for a fortnight, but if you are staying in the city for more than a week, you might want to consider a stay in another of Spain's fine cities. Madrid is the best connected city in the country, so take advantage of that fact!
See:
But don't head straight for your favorite hire car company. Often the bus (and sometimes the train) will be a better deal. For more information, see: How to Get from City to City in Spain
You might also want to consider a multi-day tour of the south of Spain: Spain Tours from Madrid
9. Plan Your Arrival
If you are arriving at Madrid airport, you'll want to think about how you're going to get to your hotel. The Metro is the cheapest option and is not as scary as it looks, but you might find it a bit of a hassle. But taxis from the airport may try to rip you off - so why not think about an airport transfer?
See Madrid Airport Transfers for information on private transfers and public transport links to the city.
