Madrid travel guide

Madrid feels more relaxed with less walking if you give museums one day and the Royal Palace and squares another. Staying in the centre also cuts transport costs, and starting museum days early leaves room to breathe.

The Prado Museum opens Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 20:00; general admission is 15 euros, free for under-18s. The 24-hour airport bus to the city costs 5 euros.

The centre connects on foot or by metro; check the Reina Sofía's daily hours on its official site. Check entry requirements for your nationality before you travel.

Visa and entry requirements for Spain

Whether you need a visa, how long you can stay and which pre-arrival forms apply all depend on your nationality and the purpose of your trip. Check the official source below, and your own government's travel advice, before you book.

• Entry requirements for Spain (Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
• ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) (European Union)
• EES (Entry/Exit System) (European Union)

The Prado Museum opens Monday to Saturday at 10:00 and closes at 20:00; on Sundays and public holidays it's open 10:00 to 19:00. General admission is 15 euros, free for under-18s. Entry is free in the last two hours, but it closes when capacity is reached, so queues can be long. To avoid being rushed, go in the morning with a general ticket.

It's closed on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. The galleries are vast, so don't try to see everything at once; choose two or three rooms first.

Based on Prado Museum official information. Prices and times may change.

With 2 nights: spend day one at the Prado, and walk the Royal Palace and Plaza Mayor together on day two. Walk Retiro Park on the morning of day three before the airport. Separating museum and square days saves your legs.

With 4 nights: add the Reina Sofía on day two, the Royal Palace on day three and Retiro Park on day four. The Reina Sofía covers modern art, and its hours vary by day, so pick a day from its official site. The park, with its lake and paths, suits a light final-day walk.

From Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD), the airport bus or metro line 8 take you into the city. The Exprés Aeropuerto bus 203 runs 24 hours for 5 euros one way, every 15 to 20 minutes by day, reassuring if you land late. At night it leaves from Plaza de Cibeles instead of Atocha, so check the stop first.

Metro line 8 adds a supplement on the airport section. Once in the city, walk or take the metro; the Prado, the Royal Palace and Plaza Mayor are within walking distance, so staying central saves on transport.

Spread your meals in Madrid across cocido madrileño, calamari sandwiches, churros and Spanish potato omelette. Cocido is a slow-cooked chickpea and meat stew, good for lunch; a calamari sandwich is a light bite while walking the squares; churros dipped in chocolate suit breakfast or a snack; tortilla is served in thick slices. We don't pick shops or prices here.

Recheck the Prado's hours and closing days on its official site the day before. Note the Reina Sofía's hours by day in your plan. The airport bus runs 24 hours, but fares may change. If you arrive or leave on a closing day, move your museum day. Spain is in the Schengen Area: the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) records non-EU visitors, and ETIAS (EUR 20) is not yet in operation. Check the official EU information before you travel.