Madrid rarely tops the list for UK travellers chasing a cheap city break—but it should. Flights often drop below £100 return, hotels are cheaper than Barcelona or Rome, and the city’s compact, walkable centre means you won’t spend on taxis or pricey tours.
What sets Madrid apart is the food. Generous three-course menu del día lunches cost €12–€15, and you’ll still find tapas bars where ordering a beer gets you fed. Even day trips to historic cities like Toledo cost less than a London train ticket.
This cheap guide to Madrid strips out the hype and shows you how to enjoy the best of the city—great food, culture, and atmosphere—without blowing your budget.
When to go
Low season (January, February, August): Madrid at its cheapest
January and February are the sweet spot if you’re chasing the lowest prices. Return flights often drop below £50, and hotel rates plummet as tourists avoid the winter chill. Yes, it’s cold—daytime highs hover around 10°C—but it’s dry, skies stay blue, and the city is blissfully quiet.
Shoulder seasons (March–May, September–early November): Best balance of price and weather
For most travellers, these are the golden months. Spring brings mild days, blossoms in Retiro Park, and fewer crowds. Prices creep up from winter lows, but you’ll still find flights around £60–£100 and hotel deals, especially midweek.
High season (June–July, December holidays): Pay more for the atmosphere
Summer days stretch long, with sunset after 9pm—but so do prices. July flights and hotels climb, although not as brutally as other European capitals. December has a similar effect—festive markets and lights pull in crowds, and you’ll pay for the atmosphere.
If you’re flexible, aim for midweek trips. Flying Tuesday to Thursday often knocks £50 off return fares and gets you better hotel deals.
Weather
Madrid’s weather is extreme by UK standards—hotter, colder, drier. But understanding the climate helps you time your trip and avoid paying for things you don’t need, like expensive air-conditioned hotels or taxis when walking would be fine.
Here’s how the year looks at a glance:
| Month | Avg High °C | Avg Low °C | Rainfall (mm) | Worth Knowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10 | 2 | 20 | Cold but dry, cheapest flights and hotel rates |
| April | 17 | 7 | 45 | Mild, good for walking tours, spring events |
| July | 33 | 18 | 5 | Scorching, but hotel prices fall |
| October | 20 | 11 | 40 | Perfect for outdoor dining, day trips, fewer crowds |
| December | 11 | 3 | 25 | Crisp and festive, higher prices around Christmas |
Madrid by season
- Spring (March–May): Best for comfort—perfect walking weather and still decent prices
- Summer (June–August): Great hotel deals if you can handle the heat. Siesta hours matter—plan sightseeing early or late
- Autumn (Sept–Nov): Similar to spring, great value midweek, especially in October
- Winter (Dec–Feb): Cheapest flights, lowest hotel rates, but plan indoor attractions—it’s cold at night
Flights from the UK
For UK travellers, Madrid is one of the cheapest major European capitals to fly to—if you know where to look. Thanks to competition between budget airlines and Spain’s national carriers, flights stay affordable year-round, with prices often lower than Paris, Rome, or Lisbon.
Typical return prices by season:
January to March: £40–£80 return if booked 4–8 weeks out
April to May: £60–£120 return as demand rises
July to August: £90–£180, though prices dip in August for last-minute deals
October to November: £50–£100, especially midweek
December: £70–£200 return—avoid Christmas week
Flying from London is usually cheapest, but regional airports still offer good value if you avoid school holidays.
Airlines flying direct from the UK to Madrid:
Ryanair — cheapest base fares, especially from Stansted
easyJet — solid middle ground, flights from Gatwick, Luton, Manchester
Iberia — Spain’s national airline, often bundles luggage
British Airways — more expensive but watch for flash sales
Jet2 — seasonal routes from Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds
Ryanair seems cheap but add baggage, seat selection, and priority boarding, and the price doubles. Iberia’s basic fares sometimes work out better once you factor in a checked bag.
Getting around Madrid for cheap
One of the best things about Madrid is how little you need to spend on transport once you land. The city is compact, walkable, and has a cheap, reliable public transport system that beats most European capitals for value.
The Metro: Fast, cheap, and covers the whole city
Madrid’s Metro is clean, frequent, and runs late (until 1:30am most nights). Single tickets cost €1.50–€2.00, but it’s rarely the best deal.
For short trips, the 10-journey ticket (€12.20) is solid value—shareable between two people if you’re staying central.
If you’re planning multiple trips in a day, there’s the Tourist Travel Pass:
- €8.40 for 1 day (zones A, which covers almost everything)
- €17 for 3 days
- €35.40 for 7 days
Worth it only if you’re staying further out or planning lots of rides—otherwise, stick to the 10-journey ticket.
Airport transfers: Where most people overspend
Barajas Airport is well connected—but it’s also where first-timers waste €30 on a taxi unnecessarily.
- Metro to city centre: ~€5 total (includes €3 airport supplement)
- Cercanías train: €2.60, no supplement—cheapest and fastest into Atocha or Chamartín if your terminal links to it
- Express bus: €5 flat fare, runs 24/7
Should you bother with taxis or Uber?
For most of the city, no. Madrid’s centre is very walkable, especially between the key areas—Sol, Gran Vía, La Latina, Malasaña.
Taxi minimum fare from the airport is €30, which is fixed and not worth it unless you’re a group of four.
Uber and Bolt operate, but unless you’re out late or staying somewhere awkward, you won’t need them.
If you’re aiming to save, build your itinerary by neighbourhood—one per day means less time (and money) on the Metro.
Where to stay: from hostels to high-end
Madrid offers a range of accommodations that cater to various budgets without compromising on location or quality. Here’s a selection of options across different price points:
Budget (Hostels and low-cost hotels – £50–£80 per night)
The Hat Madrid
A stylish hostel located a short walk from Puerta del Sol and the Royal Palace. It offers both dormitory and private rooms, with amenities like a rooftop terrace and a bar. Private doubles start from £65 per night.
Ok Hostel Madrid
Situated near La Latina, this top-rated hostel offers both dormitory and private rooms. Guests praise its cleanliness and friendly staff. Private rooms start from £75 per night.
The Central House Madrid Lavapiés
Located near Puerta del Sol and the Royal Palace, this hostel provides amenities like a terrace and on-site shopping. It’s known for its modern facilities and vibrant atmosphere. Dormitory beds start from £20 per night.
Mid-range (Good 3-4 star options – £90–£150 per night)
Room Mate Óscar
A stylish hotel located near Gran Vía, offering amenities such as a rooftop terrace and an outdoor pool. Rooms are modern and comfortable, with doubles often under £120.
Petit Palace Plaza Mayor
Set in a converted 17th-century building next to the market and tapas bars, this hotel offers modern rooms with amenities like free Wi-Fi and complimentary bicycles. Doubles around £130.
Catalonia Atocha
Located within walking distance to museums and Retiro Park, this hotel features stylish rooms and a rooftop hot tub. Doubles from £140.
High-end value (4-5 star – £150–£200 per night, but worth it)
NH Collection Madrid Gran Vía
This modern hotel offers great views and a prime central location. Weekend prices often drop to £160.
Hyatt Centric Gran Via Madrid
A luxury hotel that often prices like a 4-star, offering amenities such as a fitness center and a restaurant. It’s a good value for special trips, with rooms from £190 if booked early.
Only YOU Boutique Hotel Madrid
A chic boutique hotel known for its great service and stylish décor, making it ideal for couples or special occasions. Rooms range from £195–£220 depending on dates.
Accommodation tips for Madrid:
- City tax: Be aware of a city tax of €4–€5 per person, per night, which is often not included in the booking price.
- Stay central: Choosing accommodations in areas like Sol, Gran Vía, or La Latina keeps you within walking distance of major sights, saving on transport costs.
- Weekend hacks: Business hotels often reduce prices from Friday to Sunday, making them ideal for a city break.
- Airbnb: While Airbnb can offer decent value, Madrid’s hotel deals often work out cheaper once cleaning fees are factored in.
Madrid’s best restaurants (on a budget)
Madrid’s food scene is made for travellers watching their budget—because the local culture expects good food at fair prices. Menu del día lunches, free tapas with drinks, and low wine prices mean you can eat well without overspending. But Madrid also hides some genuinely good mid-range and high-end meals that deliver quality for the price.
Cheap eats (under €15 per person)
Menu del día is your best friend. Most local restaurants serve a filling three-course lunch with bread and a drink for €12–€15—sometimes less.
- Bar La Campana (near Plaza Mayor): Famed for its fried calamari sandwiches (€4). Locals queue, tourists miss it.
- Museo del Jamón: Not a museum, but a cheap chain of charcuterie bars. Decent menu del día, €12 including a beer.
- El Tigre (Chueca): Buy a beer (€5), get a mountain of free tapas. Packed, messy, brilliant.
Markets also work well for DIY meals: Mercado de San Fernando or La Cebada sell €3–€5 snacks, empanadas, and drinks—ideal for park picnics.
Mid-range meals (great value €20–€40 per person)
- Casa Mono: Stylish bistro in Argüelles. Seasonal Spanish dishes, €20 set lunch or mains around €22–€28. Generous portions.
- La Musa Latina: Creative tapas, cosy vibe, perfect for groups. Sharing plates €8–€12, good wines by the glass.
- Taberna El Sur: No-frills but great food—raciones to share (€8–€12 each). Grilled meats, stews, proper Madrid fare. Two can eat well for €30.
High-end but still good value (€50–€80 per person)
- Bodega de los Secretos: Romantic 17th-century cellar. Seasonal Spanish menu, mains around €25–€30. €35 tasting menu is a steal.
- Restaurante Sacha: Madrid chef favourite—unpretentious but exceptional cooking. Mains €30–€35, worth every euro.
- Casa Lucio: Iconic, old-school Madrid. Famous for huevos rotos (€20), but mains hit €30+. You’re paying for history, but it’s honest value.
Free and cheap attractions
Madrid’s one of those cities where some of the best experiences cost you nothing—if you time it right. Major museums have free entry windows, public spaces rival paid tours, and you can easily fill a weekend without handing over €50 at every turn.
Here’s where to spend—and where you can save:
World-class museums (free if you know when to go):
- Museo del Prado: Free Monday to Saturday, 6pm–8pm and Sundays, 5pm–7pm. Home to Goya, Velázquez, and Spanish masters. Full entry €15 if you miss the window.
- Reina Sofia: Free Monday, Wednesday–Saturday, 7pm–9pm; Sunday, 12:30pm–2:30pm. Picasso’s Guernica is here. Standard ticket €12.
- Thyssen-Bornemisza: Free Mondays, 12pm–4pm. Private collection turned national treasure. €13 full price.
Pro tip: These free hours get busy—arrive 30 minutes early or you’ll queue half your slot away.
Royal Palace (Palacio Real): skip the tour, time the visit:
Free entry Monday to Thursday, 5pm–7pm (winter) / 6pm–8pm (summer) for EU citizens.
Otherwise €12. Worth it for the grandeur, but the gardens and Sabatini steps are free and gorgeous year-round.
Parks and plazas worth your time:
- El Retiro Park: Vast, free, and brilliant. Row a boat (€8) or wander past sculptures, fountains, and locals exercising.
- Madrid Río: Reclaimed riverside—perfect for cycling, running, or just sitting with €3 market wine.
- Plaza Mayor & Puerta del Sol: Yes, touristy. No, don’t sit down for a drink. Walk through, take a photo, move on.
Markets and local culture (skip the tours):
- Mercado de San Fernando or La Cebada: Local food, cheap drinks—not a tourist trap like Mercado San Miguel.
- Lavapiés street art: Free and changes constantly.
Skip:
- Overpriced “skip the line” museum passes—you can plan around queues
Madrid Nightlife
Madrid comes alive after dark—and you don’t need to shell out for VIP rooftop bars to experience it. Tapas bars, local vermouth joints, and live music venues offer a glimpse of real Madrid at prices that beat most UK cities.
Tapas crawl (the cheap, social way to spend a night)
- La Latina on a Sunday evening is classic: streets packed, beers cheap, tapas flowing. You can fill up hopping between bars for €15–€20 all in.
- Pro move: order vermouth instead of wine or beer—€2.50–€3 gets you a glass and usually a tapa.
- Stick to places where locals are spilling onto the pavement—skip anything with laminated menus and photo tapas.
Free flamenco shows (but read the fine print):
- Some bars offer free flamenco performances with a drink—Las Tablas occasionally runs these deals. Always check if there’s a minimum spend.
- Avoid paying €50 for a tourist “tablao” unless you’ve researched the quality. Most aren’t worth it.
Live music and bars:
- Café Central – proper jazz bar, some free sets, others €10 cover but worth it.
Best cheap local experience:
- Vermouth Sunday: Locals drink red vermouth on ice, with olives or anchovies. Head to Casa Camacho (Malasaña)—€2.50 a glass, no fuss.
Skip:
- Tourist bar crawls—€20 for five shots you don’t need.
- Clubbing unless it’s your thing—Madrid’s great, but cover charges kill the budget fast.
Day trips worth the money
Madrid’s location is a gift for budget travellers. Within an hour, you’ve got ancient cities, royal palaces, and mountain castles—most reachable for less than you’d spend on a return train to Manchester.
Here are the day trips that deliver the most value:
Toledo – History, architecture, and views (€14 return by train)
Spain’s old capital, known for sword-makers and layered Moorish, Jewish, and Christian history.
- Renfe train: 33 minutes from Atocha, around €7–€8 each way if booked in advance.
- Pro tip: Walking Toledo’s cobbled streets is free and the best part. Museums and the cathedral are extra (€10–€15).
Segovia – Roman aqueduct and fairy-tale castle (€12–€16 return)
Home to one of Europe’s best-preserved Roman aqueducts and a castle that supposedly inspired Disney.
- Renfe high-speed train: 30 minutes, fares from €6–€8 each way if booked early.
- Local buses to the old town cost a few euros if you don’t fancy the walk.
El Escorial – Monastery, palace, and mountain air (€9 return by Cercanías train)
Spain’s historic royal seat and monastery.
- Trains run from Madrid hourly—€4.50 each way.
- Entry fee €12, but the views and grounds are worth the price.
Hidden gem: Manzanares el Real – Castle and hiking (€7 return by bus)
Stone castle set against the mountains, plus great hiking if the weather’s good.
- Bus 724 from Plaza de Castilla: €3.60 each way.
- Castle entry just €5.
What a cheap weekend in Madrid will cost
Here’s what a 3-day, 2-night trip to Madrid looks like in pounds—whether you’re counting every penny or treating yourself a bit.
| What you’re buying | Budget Traveller (£) | Mid-Range (£) | Higher-End (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flights (return) | £50–£80 | £100–£150 | £180–£250 |
| Accommodation (2 nights) | £110–£160 | £180–£300 | £400–£600 |
| Transport (Metro + airport) | £10–£15 | £15–£20 | £20–£30 |
| Food & drink | £50–£70 | £100–£150 | £200–£300 |
| Attractions & extras (including a day trip) | £15–£30 | £40–£60 | £80–£120 |
| Total trip cost | £235–£355 | £435–£680 | £880–£1,300 |
What you get at each level:
- Budget:
Hostel or budget hotel, menu del día lunches, free museum slots, self-guided day trip (Toledo or Segovia), beers with free tapas. - Mid-Range:
3-star hotel, mix of mid-level restaurants and tapas bars, one paid museum or Royal Palace visit, a proper day trip with train. - Higher-End:
4-star boutique hotel or chain like NH Collection, full meals with wine, paid attractions, taxis where useful, high-speed day trip.
You can hit Madrid comfortably under £350 for a weekend if you plan flights and stay right. The real luxury here is eating and drinking well without a “luxury” budget.
Why a cheap trip to Madrid is a good idea
Madrid doesn’t shout about it—but pound for pound, it’s one of Europe’s best-value city breaks. Flights stay cheap, hotel prices don’t skyrocket like they do in Barcelona or Paris, and once you’re there, the city works hard to give you a good time without rinsing your wallet.
You’ll eat better for less here than in most capitals, drink decent wine for less than the cost of a Coke, and find free or low-cost culture everywhere—if you know when to go and what to skip.
The key to Madrid is doing it smart: flying midweek, booking accommodation central but sensibly priced, and leaning into the local way of eating and drinking. Tapas crawls, menu del día lunches, and a day trip out of the city all add richness to the trip without blowing your budget.
