What to see, do, and visit in Madrid and its surroundings with your rental car
Madrid Airport
Madrid–Barajas Airport was inaugurated in 1931 with the opening of domestic and international flights. In 2014, its name was changed to Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport. Located in the Barajas area, just 12 km from the center of Madrid, it has direct connections to the city via metro, bus, train, or taxi, although without a doubt the most comfortable way to access the center of the capital and travel at your own pace is by using your rental car.
Barajas Airport is considered the most important airport in Spain, ranking 5th among European airports and 15th worldwide in passenger traffic. Today, it features more than 70 airlines offering domestic and international flights operating to over 175 destinations; its direct route with Barcelona Airport has the highest frequency of flight connections in the world, and it is the airport with the most air connections to Hispanic America.
It consists of 4 terminals, where travelers can enjoy unlimited free Wi-Fi, public computers with internet access, a printer, free mobile phone chargers, and the option to access VIP Lounges for those who want to enjoy a more relaxed moment while waiting for their flight.
Car hire in Madrid
Renting a car in Madrid is the best option to enjoy the imperial city of the Habsburgs and Bourbons, which has today become one of the most cosmopolitan and important cities in the world.
Touring Madrid with your rental car will allow you to visit the city's main neighborhoods, such as the Austrias Neighborhood (Barrio de los Austrias), La Castellana, Chamberí, the Salamanca District, Chueca, La Latina, or Casa de Campo, among others. You can also take a road trip to some of the best tourist destinations on the outskirts of Madrid, such as the El Pardo Palace, Aranjuez, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, the Valley of the Fallen, or Alcalá de Henares.
Don't worry about parking your rental car in Madrid; here we offer some tips for parking in Madrid so you have everything under control when visiting the capital of Spain.
Tourist Information of Madrid
Madrid is first and foremost a cosmopolitan city where traditional Spain—of the Habsburgs and Bourbons—coexists in perfect harmony with the latest gastronomic and cultural trends, and cutting-edge technology in Spain.
Its origins as a city date back to 1561 when King Philip II decided to move the court from Toledo to Madrid due to its strategic location in the epicentric heart of Spain. A new period was born at this time, the Reign of the Habsburgs (Austrias), which contributed to the development of the city, leaving its mark in Old Madrid (Madrid de los Austrias), one of the areas with the most charm and historical footprint in the city.
Whether you are visiting Madrid for business or want to wander its streets to be surprised by the magic of bygone corners in the capital, we recommend renting a car to discover everything the city has to offer and make the most of its contrasts.
Museums and Attractions in Madrid
Cultural Madrid and the Art Walk
Madrid can boast of being one of the cities with the highest concentration of art per square meter. We recommend parking your rental car and visiting the city's artistic core on foot.
In just one kilometer of distance, you can visit three of the main national and international art galleries in the so-called Art Walk of Madrid (Paseo del Arte): The Prado Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Foundation, and the Reina Sofia Museum. Inside, you will find valuable works by Great Masters such as Velázquez, Goya, El Greco, Bosch, Picasso, Dalí, or Miró.
In addition to these essential visits, Madrid houses other must-see places like the Temple of Debod, an authentic 2nd-century BC Egyptian temple; the Naval Museum, which has 25 rooms and gathers one of the most important naval collections in the world; or the National Library (1982), where a copy of every book published in Spain is preserved.
You cannot miss enjoying a live musical on Gran Vía, also called Madrid's "Broadway", or seeing a play from the vast and varied cultural offering that the city provides.
Shopping in Madrid
If you are a fashion lover, we recommend taking your rental car to visit Madrid at your own pace, currently considered the second shopping destination in Europe.
In the Golden Mile (Milla de Oro), located in the Salamanca District, you can find the most exclusive luxury and the latest trends, although prices are not suited for all budgets. The neighborhoods of Chueca and Fuencarral house small shops brimming with avant-garde style, boasting a bohemian and transgressive flair. If, on the other hand, you want to visit fashion franchises at affordable prices, we recommend visiting Princesa, Preciados, Gran Vía, and Puerta del Sol.
Gastronomic Madrid
Madrid has become a national and international benchmark thanks to its varied culinary offerings—ranging from top avant-garde cuisine with 16 Michelin-starred restaurants to century-old bars where you can enjoy traditional Spanish cooking, such as Restaurante Botín, opened in 1725 and considered the oldest restaurant in the world, or Café Gijón, where poets and novelists of the Generation of '98 and '27 used to gather.
Every year Madrid becomes the world gastronomic summit with the "Madrid Fusión" event, where the best national and international chefs gather to showcase the latest culinary trends.
Nature and Sport in Madrid
Football Stadiums
Another notable visit is to the capital's two most relevant stadiums: the Real Madrid C.F. stadium, Santiago Bernabéu, and the Vicente Calderón, home ground of Club Atlético de Madrid—undoubtedly two of the best football teams in the world. If you have the opportunity to see a Spanish league match in either of these stadiums, the spectacle is guaranteed.
Natural Parks
We recommend driving your rental car to the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park, located just 60 km from the city. In less than an hour, you can enjoy this protected natural space known for its high ecological value.
If you enjoy nature, we invite you to visit other sites of great natural interest, such as Monte de El Pardo, the Cuenca Alta del Río Manzanares Biosphere Reserve, or the Northern Sierra (Sierra Norte). In some of these natural spaces, you can practice skiing, hiking, rock climbing, or multi-adventure sports such as zip-lining, horseback riding, or 4x4 routes, among others.
Madrid Río
Madrid Río is a six-kilometer park that has become one of the main meeting points in the city for sports enthusiasts. At Madrid Río, you can do activities as varied as skateboarding, ice skating, climbing, football, padel tennis, tennis, basketball, or travel along its 30 km of bicycle paths.
Routes through Madrid
Old Madrid or Madrid of the Habsburgs (Austrias)
If you want to discover the essence of Madrid in all its splendor, you cannot miss carefully exploring the Madrid of the Habsburgs, the historic center of the ancient city. The cardinal points of the old city revolve around Plaza Mayor, inaugurated in 1620, and Plaza de la Villa, where the old Town Hall of Madrid was located. We invite you to stroll through Madrid's aristocratic center and transport yourself to the 18th century, during the Bourbon dynasty, an era when the Royal Palace was built, surrounded by the gardens of Plaza de Oriente and situated next to the beautiful Almudena Cathedral.
Other recommendations in the Madrid of the Austrias include visiting the San Miguel Market, featuring over 30 gourmet food stalls and bars where you can grab a traditional Madrid squid sandwich (bocadillo de calamares), enjoying the nightlife with its traditional bars and restaurants, or buying your souvenirs.
Madrid Must-Sees
Our tour of Madrid is coming to an end, so we cannot fail to recommend noting down these must-sees to tour the city with your rental car:
Drive your car past the famous Cibeles Fountain and enter Retiro Park via the majestic Puerta de Alcalá to discover its beautiful lakes and gardens, without forgetting to visit the romantic Crystal Palace built in the late 19th century and stopping by the Real Botanical Garden to be surprised by the wonderful fragrances given off by its flowers.
Walk through the streets connecting Neptune's Fountain to the famous Puerta del Sol to see Spain's Kilometer Zero and the "Statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree" (Estatua del Oso y el Madroño), the symbol of the city of Madrid. From there, continue your walk to the Temple of Debod to watch the sunset over the city with an Egyptian flair.
World Heritage of Madrid
In the vicinity of Madrid, we can visit 3 magical places declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO: Aranjuez, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, and Alcalá de Henares. If your trip to Madrid allows it, do not hesitate to discover everything they have to offer. We assure you that you won't regret it!
