Cheap flights to Madrid, Spain from $265

Madrid Travel Guide

Spain’s capital and largest city, Madrid is located in the center of the Iberian Peninsula. Culture vultures take cheap flights to Madrid to “ooh” at the treasure troves that are the Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza and Reina Sofia galleries. All are stuffed with priceless religious paintings and magnificent royal portraits. The streets offer plenty of opportunities to say “aah”. Philip II established his royal court in Madrid in 1561 and later kings added to the streetscape with ever grander palaces, ornate cathedrals, stately public buildings and glorious monuments.

The galleries and museums might feed the mind, but Madrid has plenty to feed the soul too. It is one of Europe’s greenest cities with more than 40 parks. These include Madrid’s best-known park, the Retiro, as well as the Casa de Campo and the Parque Quinta de la Fuente del Berro.

As for feeding the belly, Madrid’s cuisine is a melting pot, featuring of all of Spain’s regional dishes. Renowned in particular for its stews and hotpots and tapas, they provide the fuel for long nights. Starting late, a night out for Madrilenos can end at breakfast time the following day.

Madrid oozes charisma and it’s apparent from every angle. Immediately upon arriving from your Madrid flight, travelers will be captivated by this Spanish city’s charm. The third largest city in Europe and Spain’s capital city, Madrid has something for everyone. Take part in one of Madrid’s famous fiestas or cultural festivals, study at one of the city’s top universities, and explore the ancient city center lined with Spanish architecture and packed with museums and monuments. Book flights to Madrid to see it all.

Summer and fall months host the largest festivals, so travelers booking Madrid flights during those times should plan to party. Carnival, Veranos de la Villa and Festival de Otono are among the top three all year. For the truly eccentric traveler, book a flight to Madrid in May for the San Isidro Festival, which signifies the beginning of bullfighting season.Take time out from the fiesta and hit Madrid’s fashionable shopping district.

If your flight to Madrid is for business purposes, head straight to the Paseo de la Castellana, Madrid’s business quarter, where skyscrapers shape the landscape and the international headquarters of multi-million dollar companies make corporate history. Don’t despair — there will be time for fun outside the office. After a long day in the boardroom, head to Spain’s largest bullring at the Plaza de Toros where regular bullfights still take place.

Whether your flight to Madrid is for overseas studies or you found cheap airline tickets to Madrid for a long weekend full of arts and entertainment escapades, this exciting Spanish city bids you un tiempo bueno.

Getting to and around the city of Madrid

After landing on cheap flights to Madrid, the city is easy to get about on foot. When you get tired of walking taxis can be hailed on the street. There are also several taxi ranks throughout the city.

Madrid also has an efficient metro system with cheap fares. There are 12 metro lines, three tramway lines and the branch line that links Ópera to Principe Pío.

Empresa Municipal de Transporte (EMT) operates the buses. Just like the Metro, bus services are efficient and cheap.

One of the most wonderful ways of getting around Madrid is by cable car. The cars link terminal on Paseo Pintor Rosales with the Casa de Campo. From the cable car there are views of the Air Transport Ministry, Temple of Debod, Plaza de España skyscrapers, Royal Palace and Cathedral of the Almudena.

A frequent, reliable and cheap option is to take the Expres Aeropuerto, a bus which runs very regularly from the arrival Terminals at the airport for a low cost. However, it only makes 2 or 3 stops during its journey so you’ll have to then board the metro to get to your final destination.

If you’re not carrying a lot of luggage this might not be a problem. But if you have a couple of suitcases then this can be quite bothersome after your flights to Madrid.

A much easier method, although more expensive, is to get the metro directly from the airport to the center of the city. Again you might need to transfer once or twice depending on your destination, but it’s a much faster and convenient way to travel. Finally, you can get a taxi from outside of the airport although this will cost a lot more money than the bus or metro. If you have a few friends traveling with you, though, you can split the fare and make the cost more reasonable.

Tips for your stay in Madrid

• El Rastrois a magnet for bargain hunters. It’s the most popular open-air flea market in Madrid, held every Sunday and public holiday. You’ll find it between Plaza Mayor, La Latina and Puerta de Toledo.
• Bull-fighting– Madrid attracts the best matadors in Spain. If you are interested, try to time cheap flights to Madrid during May and June. The San Isidro bullfight festival kicks off on May 15. San Isidro is the male patron saint of Madrid. His day is marked with local pilgrimages, fairs and bullfights.
• The Church of San Nicolás de los Servitasis the oldest church in Madrid, parts of which date back to the 11th century. An exhibition in the small chapel tells the story of Madrid’s early history when the Moors ruled.
• One of the best places to see flamencois Corral de la Moreria.
• Madrid has a wealth of art museums. In addition to the world-renowned Prado, the Centro de Arte Reina Sofia for modern art, and the formerly private collection the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, there is a little-known jewel, the Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales. This elegant convent was built in the 16^thcentury for aristocratic nuns. Each new arrival brought a dowry, many of them priceless works of art. Now open as a museum, the convent has a superb and eccentric collection of religious relics and art, including works by Rubens, Breughel, and Titian. Tours are led by a nun; they are in Spanish, but if you had a couple of years of high school Spanish, you’ll be able to understand a lot of it.
• The Museo Sorolla exhibits the work of Spain’s most important impressionist painter, Joaquin Sorolla, in the house where he lived and worked for most of his life. The house and the gardens are charming. In addition, the Museo Sorollais one of several museums that host occasional concerts under the Ministry of Culture’s program called Tiempo de musica en los Museos.
• The tower of the church of San Nicolas de las Servitasis one of the oldest buildings in Madrid, believed to date to 1085. The exhibits in the church are devoted to the Moorish history of early Madrid.
• Madrid has many lovely parks, of which the foremost is the Parque del Retiro. Originally the private gardens of King Philip IV, the park consist of 350 acres of formal gardens, fountains, lakes, sculpture, playgrounds, and outdoor cafes.
• Much of Madrid’s nightlife is unique. In the summer, cafes spill out onto the terrazas, and the eating, drinking, and partying often go on till dawn. For a typical Spanish experience, visit several tascas, the pubs that serve tapas, those wonderful Spanish appetizers. Each tasca has its specialties in tapas and wines. And you will find the soul of Spain in flamenco music. At a flamenco tavern, you can experience these haunting gypsy folk songs and dances.
• Unlike Daylight Savings Time in the U.S., Spain’s time change is on the first weekend of spring. Be aware of the local time so you don’t miss a flight

Finding Flights from Madrid

There is plenty to see and do right in Madrid, but you may want to head out and explore the rest of the country. Cheapflights can help you find some great deals on flights from the city to other destinations throughout Spain.

Your flight will leave from Madrid-Barajas International Airport, which can get very busy so be sure to leave yourself plenty of time to get through security and reach your terminal. Madrid’s metro line 8 has two stations at the airport and runs daily from 6:00 am to 1:30 am. There are several bus lines that run between the airport and Madrid, including routes 101 and 200. You can also find taxis to take you to the airport.

Madrid, Spain airport overview

On average, 49 million travelers a year make their way through Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD), Spain’s main gateway. Conveniently close to the city center, it is easily accessible by rail or road.

Flights to Madrid Barajas Airport come in from major hubs around the world. Acting as the main bridge between Europe and Latin America, Madrid Barajas Airport places emphasis on speed, efficiency and traveler comfort, and uses the latest technology to facilitate a smoother, more enjoyable journey.

A big part of the running of Barajas Airport is the careful monitoring of the facility’s environmental impact. The airport is run in accordance with Aena Aeropuertos’ environmental quality policy so that its activity stays within regulations. Employees, companies and users all regularly participate in awareness campaigns that examine the facilities and their impact on the airport’s natural surroundings. A ground-breaking and forward-thinking facility, Barajas Airport is as efficient as it is eco-friendly.