Spain · Community of Madrid

Madrid.

Grand boulevards, world-class museums, and dinner at 10pm.

Package from £74 · flight + stay from Stansted

Overview Packages When to go Getting there What to see & do Cost of life FAQ See all packages →

✈️Flight time~2h25from London

🌡️Best seasonApr–Jun, Sep–Oct18–26°C, comfortable evenings

💶Cost of life−25%vs UK average

🗣️LanguageSpanishEnglish widely spoken

🖼️ Museums & art🌳 Retiro Park🍷 Tapas crawls🌃 Late nights🏛️ Grand architecture🚇 Easy metro

Madrid doesn't have a beach, and it doesn't need one — it makes its case with wide boulevards, three world-class art museums within walking distance of each other, and a dinner culture that barely starts before 9pm. It's a city built for wandering between tapas bars, and unlike the coastal cities on this list, summer here means heat rather than crowds, so the shoulder seasons are when it really shines.

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Stansted → Madrid · flight + stay

When to go

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Best valuePeak / expensiveLow season

April–June and September–October are Madrid's best months — mild, dry, and noticeably cheaper than midsummer, when temperatures regularly pass 35°C and many locals leave the city entirely. October in particular tends to combine good weather with lower prices.

Getting there

Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD) is connected to the centre by Metro line 8, reaching Nuevos Ministerios in around 20 minutes for under £5 (including the airport supplement). The Airport Express bus runs 24 hours to Atocha and Cibeles for a similar price.

Ryanair, easyJet and Iberia all operate direct flights from Stansted and Luton, with flight times of around 2h25. Madrid's flight network is large enough that fares fluctuate significantly by day of the week.

What to see & do

The Golden Triangle of Art

The Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums sit within a 10-minute walk of each other. A combined pass is worth it if you plan to see more than one.

Retiro Park

A genuinely huge green space in the centre of the city — rent a rowing boat on the lake, or just find a bench near the Crystal Palace and watch the city go by.

Mercado de San Miguel

An elegant glass-and-iron market hall serving high-quality tapas and wine by the glass. Touristy, but worth a visit for the setting and the variety on offer.

Plaza Mayor & Sol

The historic heart of the city — grand, busy, and the natural starting point for exploring the surrounding tapas streets of La Latina and Huertas.

Templo de Debod

An genuine Egyptian temple, gifted to Spain in the 1960s, now sitting on a hill with one of the best sunset views over the city skyline.

Cost of life

Coffee

£1.50

Local café, sit-down

Lunch menu (menú del día)

£11–15

3 courses + drink

Beer (caña)

£2.20

At a bar

Stay (shared)

£18–28

per night · 8.0+

Stay (private)

£60–95

Central, well-rated

Metro

£1.80

Single journey

Frequently asked questions

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£74per person

Flight + stay from Stansted · Updated daily

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Quick facts

✈️ Flight time~2h25

🌡️ Peak temp35°C (Jul)

💶 CurrencyEuro (€)

🗣️ LanguageSpanish

🛂 PassportRequired

🔌 Plug typeType C/F (EU)

⏰ Time zoneUTC+1 / UTC+2

🚕 Airport taxi~£32

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