Madrid capital:
History of Madrid in a few lines:
Origins:
Madrid traces its roots to a 9th-century Muslim settlement called Mayrit, established as a defensive outpost. Its strategic location in the center of the Iberian Peninsula fostered its development.
Middle Ages:
Following the Christian conquest in the 11th century, Madrid became an important town within the Castilian kingdom. It was known for its fairs and its administrative role.
19th Century:
In the 19th century, Madrid was transformed by the arrival of the railway and urban growth. It became a political and cultural center, undergoing major architectural reforms.
Present:
Today, Madrid is the capital of Spain, renowned for its vibrant cultural life, historical heritage, and economic importance. It is a cosmopolitan city that blends tradition and modernity.
Nothing can be said, except that Obviously, we have to go, no matter what. Apart from the beach, the rest has everything and an endless cultural range.
You'll need more than a day to see the main sights, and if you delve into museums, theaters, musicals, etc., quite a bit more than one.
Transport:
You have all the possible options to get around Madrid, but if you have to make a long journey, for us, the best way to do it is the metro, it has countless stations and the frequency of passage is around 3-4 minutes between one and the other.
Driving on the surface is always worse due to the amount of traffic, but if there are several of you, an Uber is another good option and much cheaper than a taxi.
There are some free buses that not everyone knows about. Free lines 001 and 002:
Line 001: which crosses the Centro district and covers the route between Atocha Renfe and Moncloa.
Line 002: which crosses part of the Centro district from Argüelles to Puerta de Toledo.
If you like theater, concerts, stand-up comedy, movies, dance, tours, etc., you won't get tired of this app. Kultur It's great because it gives you discounts from 25% to 50% a couple of hours before they start.
There are thousands upon thousands of places to go for tapas. One that has become fashionable lately and is located near Gran Vía is... Bar Padrao Cops They serve enormous tapas with your drinks, although it's usually packed. You can't make reservations and it's a bit of a free-for-all, but we like to go there every now and then.
In this case, we ordered 4 Cokes, and this is the tapa for 4. You can see the size compared to the hand at the bottom of the photo or to the glass. One breaded chicken breast sandwich for every 2 people. Other times it's paella or whole chickens for every 2 people... Amazing.
Where to eat: If you want to eat at a restaurant, there's also the app. TheFork which has many discounts. If you book with the code 7C1B79A3 When you are finishing the booking, you will get 1000 Yums = €10 discount at your next meal. In addition to other special offers they often have, or simply to accumulate points and use them for discounts on your next payments.
It operates in several countries, including Spain, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, and Australia.
Express guide to museums and places with free admission days and times HERE. Information obtained from the web: https://www.esmadrid.com.
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Round trip flight: XXXX
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Airbnb: XXXX
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Visit to parliament: XXXX
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1-hour cruise: XXXX
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Ruin Bars Route: XXXX
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Széchenyi Thermal Bath: XXXX
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Great Synagogue of Budapest (Dohány): XXXX
Information obtained from the web: https://www.exteriores.gob.es
Passport/ID: Both are valid.
- ESTA form: Spanish citizens must complete the ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) form at least 72 hours before their flight. This allows stays of up to 90 days without a visa. 40,271 TP4T/Person. The price doubled on September 30, 2025. LINK.
Vaccines: There are no mandatory vaccinations for entry.
European Health Insurance Card: NOTE! This is NOT valid as North Macedonia is not currently a member of the EU.
European Health Insurance Card: It's necessary, it's free and very easy to request online and they send it to your home. Request.
Travel insurance: We always operate within these 3 options; depending on the location, one may be better than others in terms of price and conditions: Iati, Heymondo o Globalfine.
Badge: Euro (EUR).
Payment card/currency exchange: We always travel with Revolut.
Roaming: NO There is, so if you have data enabled you can take a nice little gift back.
GPS: Maps.me Download the maps for Spain and they work great offline, whether you're on foot, by car, or on public transport.
International driving permit: It is required because you are not a member of the EU. You can apply through the website of the DGT.
It costs €10.51. The good thing is you can order it online and pick it up without an appointment. It took a couple of days for ours, then you go to pick it up and it's a cardboard card like the ones they had 20 years ago.
Where to eat: If you want to eat at a restaurant, there's also the app. TheFork which has many discounts. If you book with the code 7C1B79A3 When you are finishing the booking, you will get 1000 Yums = €10 discount at your next meal. In addition to other special offers they often have, or simply to accumulate points and use them for discounts on your next payments.
Don't miss out on Madrid: 
