An Expressions tailor-made holiday to Madrid is a chance to explore this lively and passionate capital city with a laid-back lifestyle. Atmospheric cobbled streets link bustling squares which are filled with pavement cafes, whilst tree-lined boulevards are overlooked by neo-classical buildings. Our luxury holidays to Madrid feature some of the best four- and five-star hotels in the city, including elegant hotels and more boutique properties. Visitors to Madrid will find plenty to fill their days. Art and culture play an important role, primarily thanks to the three world-class art museums which make up Madrid’s Golden Triangle of Art, home to works by Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí and Francisco de Goya. Illustrating the city’s rich history are the sights of Old Madrid, including the lavish Royal Palace, the grand Plaza Mayor, and the city’s spiritual centre – Puerta del Sol. There are plenty of designer shops to browse throughout the city, as well as small boutiques and flea markets which visitors might stumble across. It is after dark that Madrid really comes alive as the streets, parks and open-air cafes fill with people of all ages and the bars and clubs remain open until dawn. What better way to recover from a late night than to while away a morning in the Parque del Retiro, strolling through the beautiful gardens and perhaps hiring a rowing boat on the park’s tranquil lake. For those who wish to escape the energetic city, a number of towns are located nearby which make for an interesting day trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Madrid's main sights fall into two areas: the historic centre around the Royal Palace and Plaza Mayor, and the museum district along the Paseo del Prado. The Royal Palace, built in the 18th century, is still used for state occasions, and the Royal Collections Gallery beside it opened in 2023. Plaza Mayor and the streets of the Habsburg quarter lead to the Puerta del Sol, the symbolic centre of Spain. To the east, the Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza and Reina Sofía museums sit close to the Retiro Park, with its lake, gardens and Crystal Palace.
The Golden Triangle of Art is the name given to three major museums within a short walk of each other on the Paseo del Prado. The Prado holds Spain's royal collection, including Velázquez's Las Meninas and major works by Goya, El Greco, Titian and Rubens. The Thyssen-Bornemisza traces European painting from the medieval period to the 20th century, and the Reina Sofía focuses on modern and contemporary art, including Picasso's Guernica. The Paseo del Prado and the Retiro Park were inscribed together as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021.
Three nights allows time for the main museums, the historic centre and the Retiro Park without hurrying, with a fourth night for a day trip to Toledo or Segovia. The centre is easy to explore on foot, and the Metro and taxis cover longer distances. It is best to book timed tickets for the Prado and the Royal Palace in advance, and to plan museum visits for the morning and early evening, when galleries are quieter.
Several historic cities lie within an hour of Madrid by high-speed train or car. Toledo, around 30 minutes away by train, is a walled city above the River Tagus with a Gothic cathedral and works by El Greco. Segovia is known for its Roman aqueduct and the Alcázar, and Ávila for its complete medieval walls. The royal monastery of El Escorial lies in the hills to the north-west, Aranjuez has royal palace gardens, and Alcalá de Henares, the birthplace of Cervantes, has a UNESCO-listed university quarter.
Madrid's food culture centres on tapas bars, traditional taverns and covered markets, and lunch is typically taken from around 2pm and dinner from 9pm. Classic dishes include cocido madrileño, a slow-cooked chickpea and meat stew, and chocolate con churros, served at San Ginés since 1894. Botín, founded in 1725, is often cited as the oldest restaurant in the world and is known for its roast suckling pig and lamb. The Mercado de San Miguel and the streets of the La Latina quarter suit an evening of tapas.
Spring, from April to June, and autumn, from September to early November, are the most comfortable times to visit Madrid, with warm days and mild evenings well suited to walking. July and August are hot, often above 35°C, and some family-run restaurants close for part of August. Winters are cool but often sunny, and the run-up to Christmas brings the market in Plaza Mayor and illuminations along the main streets. Madrid's cultural season, including opera at the Teatro Real, runs mainly from autumn to early summer.
There are frequent direct flights to Madrid from London and other UK airports, and the city centre is reached from the airport by Metro, train or taxi. Madrid can also be reached by train from London, travelling via Paris and Barcelona with overnight stops along the way. As the hub of Spain's high-speed rail network, Madrid has direct fast trains to Seville, Córdoba, Málaga, Barcelona, Valencia, Segovia and Toledo, making it a natural starting point for touring holidays by train.
Expressions Holidays offers a selection of five-star and boutique hotels in central Madrid. Hospes Puerta de Alcalá has 41 rooms in a 19th-century townhouse beside the Retiro Park, and Hotel Urso occupies a restored 1915 palace with a Natura Bissé spa. Hotel Urban is a contemporary hotel close to the museums with a Michelin-starred restaurant and rooftop terrace, and Hotel Villa Real combines traditional and modern interiors near the Paseo del Prado. Outside the city, the Parador de Alcalá de Henares occupies a former 17th-century monastery.
Madrid works well as a city break or as the start of a longer journey through Spain, and each holiday is planned around your dates and interests. Examples include the seven-night Andalusia Cultural Cities and Madrid holiday by train from £2,770 per person, the eight-night Spanish Art and Architecture tour of Madrid, Bilbao and Barcelona from £2,640 per person, and the 12-night Madrid and Heart of Spain by Rail holiday from £2,530 per person. One specialist consultant looks after the arrangements from first enquiry to your return, and every holiday includes Expressions Helpful Hints.
Our bespoke, luxury hotel holidays can be
● Single centre or multi-centre● Long or short stays
● Combine a number of different hotels in different regions
● Utilise a variety of transport arrangements to Spain and within Spain, combining flights, hire-car, rail, ferries and private transfers
Our special interest holidays to Madrid
● Food and wine holidays● Art holidays
● Cultural holidays
● Private guided sightseeing
● Family city breaks
Included in all our holidays
● Concierge service● Handcrafted helpful hints and local information provided with all our holidays
● Personal service by your sales consultant who looks after all aspects of your holiday
Call us on 01392 441245
Highlights of Madrid
Numerous squares including the historic Plaza Mayor, the setting of bullfights and executions during the Spanish Inquisition. The Royal Palace, a lavish building which was constructed in the 1700s and is still used today for state occasions. The Prado Museum, one of the largest art galleries in the world which contains an impressive selection of Spanish paintings including works by Goya and El Greco. Reina Sofia Museum, displaying modern works including Picasso’s ‘Guernica’. Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, based on a private art collection which illustrates the history of western art and includes pieces by Goya, Degas and Renoir. Retiro Park formerly used by the royal family and now a popular spot for relaxation. The Teatro Real, an important opera house with performances of opera and dance. Almudena Cathedral. Gran Vía, a famous street which is lined by theatres and shops. Debod Temple, an ancient Egyptian temple which was rebuilt in Madrid in the 1960s. The Santiago Bernabéu Football stadium, home to Real Madrid. El Rastro Market, an open-air flea market which is held on Sundays. Ventas Bullring where bullfights take place every week during the bullfighting season.
Madrid travel information
Madrid is reached very easily from the UK by air and rail. We can arrange for you to travel by train with overnight stops. Some clients choose to take their own car all the way.By air
Madrid-Barajas Airport is the largest within Spain and is served by a huge number of flights to the UK and other destinations around the world. There are a number of daily flights from London airports with British Airways, as well as flights with low-cost airlines to regional airports. Madrid airport is linked to the city centre by metro and bus.Rail travel
High speed trains run between Madrid and other cities in Spain including Barcelona, Seville and Valencia. It is also possible to travel from Paris to Madrid, although it is necessary to travel via Barcelona.Our bespoke, luxury hotel holidays can be
● Single centre or multi-centre● Long or short stays
● Combine a number of different hotels in different regions
● Utilise a variety of transport arrangements to Spain and within Spain, combining flights, hire-car, rail, ferries and private transfers
Our special interest holidays to Madrid
● Food and wine holidays● Art holidays
● Cultural holidays
● Private guided sightseeing
● Family city breaks
Included in all our holidays
● Concierge service● Handcrafted helpful hints and local information provided with all our holidays
● Personal service by your sales consultant who looks after all aspects of your holiday
Call us on 01392 441245
Here you will find a map of Madrid showing the locations of the hotels that we offer
Our bespoke, luxury hotel holidays can be
● Single centre or multi-centre● Long or short stays
● Combine a number of different hotels in different regions
● Utilise a variety of transport arrangements to Spain and within Spain, combining flights, hire-car, rail, ferries and private transfers
Our special interest holidays to Madrid
● Food and wine holidays● Art holidays
● Cultural holidays
● Private guided sightseeing
● Family city breaks
Included in all our holidays
● Concierge service● Handcrafted helpful hints and local information provided with all our holidays
● Personal service by your sales consultant who looks after all aspects of your holiday
