Madrid from the UK: what a trip really costs
What a day costs in Madrid, when to go, the visa for British travellers and the sights not to miss. Every figure comes from Trip720's checked data, with its source. Updated 21 Oct 2026.
Plan my Madrid tripDay to day in Madrid, per person
| Style | Food | With transport |
|---|---|---|
| Street food and markets | £24 | £29 |
| A balanced mix | £40 | £45 |
| Mostly restaurants | £51 | £56 |
- Local transport: about £5 a day. Taxi: £2 to start, then £1.18 a km.
- Cooking for yourself: about £16 a day for food.
- Tipping: about 5% where service is good.
Your stay, flights and activities come on top: the planner prices them for your dates. Sources: livingcost.org, ultimahora.es, lepetitjournal.com; in GBP at today's rate.
When to go
9°F
10°M
14°A
18°M
23°J
30°J
34°A
33°S
27°O
20°N
13°D
9°
The most pleasant months are April to June, September and October. July is the driest month (9 mm of rain) and October the wettest (66 mm).
Bars: rain each month; green: the most pleasant months. Numbers: average daytime high. Source: NASA POWER climatology.
Best time to visit Spain, place by placeCompare: Spain or Portugal · Spain or Italy · France or Spain · Spain or Greece
Visa for British travellers
No visa needed for a holiday
Official source: gov.uk, checked 2026-10-01. Rules change: your plan checks your own passport when you build it.
Not to miss in Madrid
Calle Huertas (Barrio de las Letras)street · half a day
Malasañalandmark · half a day
Chuecalandmark · half a day
Plaza Mayorsquare · a couple of hours
Parque del Retiropark · a couple of hoursHire a rowing boat on the lake; the Crystal Palace is inside the park
Bernabéu Stadium (Real Madrid)stadium · a couple of hoursStadium tour on non-match days; book a match ticket well ahead
Royal Palace of Madridpalace · half a day
El Escorialpalace · a full dayClosed Mondays; under an hour by local train from Atocha or Chamartin
Alcázar of Segoviacastle · a full dayA day trip by fast train from Chamartin
Calle Cava Baja (La Latina)street · a couple of hours
From our research of travel guides; ticket prices from Tiqets when we found them. Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licences.
Questions travellers ask
How much does a day in Madrid cost?
Food and getting around come to about £29 a person a day eating street food, £45 with a balanced mix and £56 eating mostly in restaurants, before your stay and activities.
When is the best time to visit Madrid?
The most pleasant months are April to June, September and October. July is the driest month (9 mm of rain) and October the wettest (66 mm); daytime highs run from 9 to 34 °C over the year.
Do British travellers need a visa for Spain?
No visa needed for a holiday. Checked on gov.uk on 2026-10-01; rules change, so check again before you book.
What should I not miss in Madrid?
Calle Huertas (Barrio de las Letras), Malasaña, Chueca, Plaza Mayor, Parque del Retiro.
Your whole Madrid trip, priced from your door
Trip720 adds the flights from the UK, the stays, transfers, food, activities and the visa for your dates and budget, home to home.
Plan my Madrid trip