When you visit Madrid, you have to leave your American habits at home. No one eats and runs; meals are meant to be savored, many businesses close for lunch or siesta in the afternoons, and everyone stays up late.

Once you adopt the rhythms of local life, you’ll fall in love with the Spanish capital. It’s a buzzy city known for its museums, culture, food and friendly residents. Here’s the quick guide to planning an unforgettable trip to Madrid.

3 reasons to buy travel insurance for Spain

1. If you get seriously sick or injured, insurance can cover the costs. In Spain, healthcare is generally free for citizens. It is not free for tourists. Don’t expect a hospital in Madrid to accept your U.S. health insurance, either. You need to have travel insurance with emergency medical benefits and emergency transportation benefits, which can reimburse the cost of covered medical care and pay to transport you home, if necessary.
2. Insurance is your best defense against travel mishaps. Worried your trip to Spain will be disrupted by flight delays, flight cancellations, and other hiccups? Allianz Travel Insurance has your back. Travel delay benefits can reimburse you for eligible expenses, such as food and accommodations, during a covered delay. Even better: if your plan includes SmartBenefits®, you can opt to receive a fixed inconvenience payment of $100 per insured person, per day for a covered delay. You don’t need to provide any receipts—just proof of the delay!
3. Travel insurance can save the day if you’re the victim of a crime. “Pickpocketing and other minor crimes, such as theft, are very common in Spain including instances where the victim is purposefully distracted to facilitate the theft,” the U.S. Department of State warns.¹ When you’re exploring Madrid, be extra-vigilant when you’re in tourist areas (such as train stations and popular attractions.) If your money, valuables, or passport is stolen, contact 24-hour assistance. We can help you report the crime and replace stolen documents, while your baggage benefits can reimburse covered losses.

3 of the best travel insurance plans for Spain

1. On a budget? OneTrip Basic delivers trustworthy trip protection for an affordable price. You get up to $10,000 in emergency medical benefits and up to $50,000 in medical transportation benefits, plus trip cancellation/interruption benefits and more.
2. For international vacations, you can’t go wrong with OneTrip Prime. Our most popular plan includes all the benefits you need. Plus, kids 17 and under are covered for free when they’re traveling with a parent or grandparent (not available on policies issued to Pennsylvania residents).
3. If you’re taking two or more trips in the near future, AllTrips Premier is a great buy. Get protection for every trip you take in 365 days—near or far, long or short.

See all our plan options and get a quote for your next trip.

3 of the best things to do in Madrid

1. Spend a romantic afternoon in Capricho Park. One of the best-loved parks in Madrid, El Capricho was created as a whim by an 18^th-century duke and duchess. In the park you’ll find statues, replica temples, a labyrinth, and a bunker from the Spanish Civil War.
2. Shop the Mercado de Vallehermoso. Come hungry. This 1930s market is home to dozens of restaurants as well as the nation’s only permanent farmer’s market, where all the vendors are from in and around Madrid. This is your place to buy (and taste!) cheese, coffee, chocolate, pastries, sausages and so much more.
3. Catch a flamenco show. Madrid is one of the best places to see this whirling, snapping, exuberant dance. Corral de la Morería is one of the larger and fancier spots, with a renowned sherry selection and great food. For an intimate flamenco performance, snag a table at Las Tablas.²

3 of the best boutique hotels in Madrid

Find affordable luxury at H10 Villa de la Reina - Madrid, right on the Gran Via. Guests love the welcome glass of cava, the lively lobby bar, and the gracious staff. The rooms are small, but that’s the price of staying in an elegant, century-old building.

Even if you don’t stay at The Principal Madrid, you have to take the elevator to the top floor. There, you’ll discover not one but three rooftop restaurants & bars. Have a cocktail at La Terraza, an “urban garden with stunning views of the iconic buildings of Madrid.” This boutique hotel has spotless rooms that also boast beautiful views and a great breakfast to fuel your day of exploration.

Dating to 1886, the Gran Hotel Ingles is one of the oldest hotels in Madrid. It was one of the first to get electricity! This luxury hotel was recently redone with a warm Art Deco vibe: padded leather walls, bronze and glass. And you can’t beat its location in Barrio de las Letras, Madrid’s neighborhood of famed writers and artists.

3 of the best restaurants in Madrid

Eater calls Desde 1911 “one of the most beautiful restaurants Madrid has ever seen.”³ This family-owned restaurant is dedicated to one thing: showcasing the very best seafood. Every day, the chef’s team chooses the finest fish from Pescaderías Coruñesas’ daily catch, then builds a tasting menu around it.

Sala de Despiece also builds meals around great local food, serving them on metal plates at a long kitchen counter. On the menu, you might find Spanish specialties like pig’s ear, jamon iberico, and torched Basque truffles.

No trip to Madrid is complete without a visit to the legendary sherry bar La Venencia. It opened in 1928 and hasn’t changed much since then. “The waiters don’t suffer fools, tips are forbidden and so are photos. The only drinks they serve are tap water and sherries. You’ll feel welcome,” says writer François Monti.⁴

What do I need to travel to Madrid?

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