Madrid travel tips

Sunday in Madrid starts on a hill in La Latina. El Rastro, the city's open-air flea market, fills the streets below Plaza de Cascorro every Sunday and public holiday from 09:00 to 15:00, free to wander, with a different trade on every side street: paintings, second-hand books, film cameras, decorations, souvenirs, clothing, old furniture. The vermouth comes afterwards.

Madrid's interactive museum scene has expanded well beyond the Prado and Reina Sofía. From inflatable art installations and immersive projection rooms to playable retro consoles and quantum physics experiments with VR headsets, the city now has a growing crop of spaces where adults can touch, play and participate rather than stand behind a rope. This guide covers some of the best, with practical details for each.

Getting from Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport to the city centre takes 15 to 45 minutes, with prices ranging from €1.50 on a city bus to a fixed €33 taxi fare. This guide covers every option — taxi, Metro, train, express bus, rideshare apps and rental cars — so you can pick the right one for your budget, luggage and travel style.

Madrid has 29 public outdoor swimming pools open every summer, from mid-May to early September. Tickets start from under a euro for a half-day slot. This guide covers both networks (municipal and regional), how booking works, what to bring, and the full list of pools with addresses and transport.