A guide to getting around Madrid on a budget

Madrid has excellent food, warm-hearted people, safe environment, diverse cultural and artistic attractions and many tourist facilities. Even if you’re traveling on a budget, there are plenty of ways to enjoy a vacation in Madrid. The historic squares of the city are filled with centuries-old buildings and statues of prominent Spanish figures, taking you on a historical journey through the Middle Ages. Many of the city’s museums are free to visit, and there are also many public parks in central Madrid where you can spend a great day picnicking and walking. In this article, we will tell you how to save money on your trip in Madrid with a low budget.

About Madrid

Madrid is the capital of the Kingdom of Spain and its largest city with a population of 3,335,000 and an area of ​​604.31 square meters. The metro area in this city has a population of 6,890,000 and is the third largest area in the European Union after London and Paris. The city’s history dates back to the 10th century, when the present-day area of ​​Madrid was known as Mayrit and was conquered by King Alfonso VI. After the Muslim retreat in 1085, the king converted the mosque into a Catholic church and began Christianizing the people living along the Manzanares River. This city became the home of the Spanish royal family in the 16th century. Considering the long and distant history of the Spanish capital, you can start your trip in Madrid on a budget from its nostalgic buildings and magnificent architecture. It is not without reason that Madrid, along with Barcelona, ​​have become the first choice of tourists to tour Spain.

Getting around Madrid on a budget

Madrid is a beautiful metropolis that, while preserving its historical buildings, has a modern and contemporary face. Due to the variety of entertainment and historical places, tourists can experience a pleasant trip in this city with any budget. In the following, we introduce the ways to get around Madrid with a low budget along with free entertainment in this city:

After sunset, visit the Museo del Prado and see the precious work of Las Meninas

Founded in 1819, the Museo del Prado is one of Madrid’s most popular art museums. This museum has a huge collection of masterpieces of European artists such as Bosch, Titin, El Greco, Rubens, Velázquez and Goya. Most of these paintings date back to between the 12th and early 20th centuries, and mostly depict mythological deities, biblical scenes, patron saints, and royalty. Del Prado Museum tickets start at 8 euros, but you can visit the museum for free on weekdays and Saturdays from 18:00 to 20:00 and on Sundays from 17:00 to 19:00.

• Address: Paseo del Prado, s/n, 28014 Madrid, Spain
• Visiting hours: Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 8 pm, Sunday from 10 am to 7 pm

Stroll through Plaza Mayor and try Madrid’s famous calamari sandwich

Plaza Mayor is one of Europe’s most magnificent open-air squares that can be added to the list of things to do in Madrid on a budget. This square has 9 entrances, 17th century wall paintings and a bronze statue of King Philip III, which is right in the middle of the complex. Now a popular tourist attraction in Madrid, the Plaza Mayor has experienced lively events over the years, including Christmas celebrations and celebrations for San Isidro, Madrid’s patron saint. If you get hungry after walking around the square, there are plenty of cafes that serve coffee, and the Bocadillo de Calamares (calamari sandwich) is one of Madrid’s most famous sandwiches.

• Address: Plaza Mayor, 28012 Madrid, Spain

Get around Madrid on a budget with a free rooftop view of El Corte Inglés

El Corte Ingles, located in Plaza de Callao, is the largest department store in Spain. On the ninth floor of this complex, there is a large food hall called Gourmet Experience. The restaurant features large glass windows and an open-air terrace seating area, both offering panoramic views of the city. On this terrace you can see the historical places of Madrid such as the Royal Palace and La Almudena Cathedral. Even if you don’t plan to eat at the Gourmet Experience, you can enjoy the panoramic views by going to its terrace. Therefore, El Corte Inglés rooftop can be included in the list of things to do in Madrid on a budget.

• Address: El Corte Inglés, Plaza de Callao, 2, 28013 Madrid, Spain
• Visiting hours: Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 10 pm, Sunday from 11 am to 9 pm

On free days from the museum Reina Sofia visit

The Reina Sofia Museum displays 20th-century and modern art, including masterpieces by Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso. One of the most popular exhibits in this museum is Guernica by Picasso, which was added to the collection in 1937. A visit to the Reina Sofia museum costs 15 euros, but you can visit its exhibitions for free every Monday and Wednesday to Saturday from 19:00 to 09:00. Also, on Sundays, from 1:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., entry to the museum is free. Located in the center of Madrid, this museum is part of the Madrid Art Triangle, which also includes the Museo del Prado and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. Plan your visit on Monday for free entry to all 3 museums.

• Address: Calle de Santa Isabel, 52, 28012 Madrid, Spain
• Visiting hours: Monday from 10 am to 9 pm, Wednesday to Saturday from 10 am to 9 pm, Sunday from 10 am to 7 pm (closed on Tuesdays)

For a budget-friendly tour of Madrid, visit the Royal Palace on Wednesdays

The Royal Palace of Madrid is the official home of the Spanish royal family, but don’t expect to see the king or queen during your visit. Built by King Philip V in the 18th century, this grand structure offers a mix of neoclassical and baroque architecture. The palace contains a total of 3,000 rooms, including the throne room, the armory and the oldest royal kitchen in Europe. Art lovers will find exquisite paintings by famous artists such as Luis Morales, Goya, Juan de Flandes, Caravaggio, Velázquez, and Federico Madrazo in the palace. To get around Madrid on a budget, you can choose Wednesdays to visit the Royal Palace.

• Address: Location: Calle de Bailén, s/n, 28071 Madrid, Spain
• Visiting hours: every day from 10 am to 8 pm

At the Cathedral of La Almudena, visit the apostolic statues that surround the dome of the church

La Almodena Cathedral is a 19th century church that combines neoclassical and Gothic architecture. The cathedral is located along Calle de Bailén, about 700 meters south of the Royal Palace of Madrid, its neo-Romanesque crypt contains a painting of the Virgen de la Almudena that dates back to the 16th century. The museum describes the brief history of the church. You can enter the cathedral for free, but access to the museum and crypt costs about 6 euros. With this description, La Almodena Cathedral can be included in the list of places to visit in Madrid with a low budget.

• Address: Calle de Bailén, 10, 28013 Madrid, Spain
• Visiting hours: Monday to Saturday from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm (closed on Sundays)

To get around Madrid with little money Take a walk in El Retiro Park

El Retiro Park is a vast park in Independencia Square, one of its most popular attractions is the Walk of the Statues, a path lined with 18th-century Spanish royal statues. There is an artificial lake next to the monument of Alfonso XII, where you can enjoy a boat rental. Another beautiful place in the park that is recommended to visit is the Palacio de Cristal, this greenhouse pavilion was built in 1887. El Retiro Park is an ideal place to get around Madrid on a budget.

• Address: Plaza de la Independencia, 7, 28001 Madrid, Spain

Dining options for getting around Madrid on a budget

The city of Madrid, as the capital of Spain, has many small and large restaurants, but for traveling in Madrid with a low budget, it is better to save money on meals from large restaurants and choose local eateries. Calamari sandwiches are a filling and inexpensive dish made from fried calamari in baguette bread and various sauces, and can easily be purchased at Plaza Mayor. Tapas is another relatively cheap food in Madrid, which can be ordered at local restaurants in the city.

Save money on commuting by using public transportation

Using public transportation is the best way to get around Madrid on a budget. For this purpose, you can board regular local buses instead of double-decker tourist buses. The ticket for these buses is only 1.50 euros. In addition, if your hotel is located in the city center, you can choose to walk to visit tourist attractions. The streets of Madrid are decorated with buildings that have amazing architecture and are so attractive and spectacular that walking in them will be very enjoyable and memorable.

Use the Madrid card

The Madrid tourist card is one of the most popular tourist cards in Spain and allows visitors to visit tourist attractions such as museums or use public transportation with significant discounts or for free. Madrid tourist cards are offered as one day (10 euros), two days (17 euros), 3 days (22.5 euros), 5 days (32.50 euros) and 7 days for 42 euros. It is possible to buy these cards through special counters at Barajas airport or metro stations.

final word

Getting around Madrid can be fun and affordable if you know some cheap travel tricks. For this, it is enough to know the free museums, public parks and historical monuments that have incredibly beautiful architecture! Using the Madrid tourist card is another way to get around Madrid with a low budget. In the end, we remind you to contact our colleagues in the foreign tours department to buy a tour to Spain and receive Schengen tourist visa services.