Car Hire Madrid Airport

A quick guide to Madrid

The beating heart of Spain, Madrid is one of the most exciting capitals in Europe. It’s a place of riotous celebration, wonderful food and fierce local pride. It’s a city with art to show off and breathtaking galleries to show it off in, and it’s also a place that truly comes alive at night, when the Madrileños take to the streets.

Madrid’s own magic

Madrid is a beautiful city filled with incredible architecture on every corner. Marvel at the Puerta de Alcala, known as the ‘gateway to Madrid’, an impressive archway dating back to 1778, or be blown away by the ornate Palacio Real, official residence of the Spanish royal family.

Spain’s capital also boasts some of the world’s most amazing works of art from renowned artists such as Hieronymus Bosch and Salvador Dali, whose work can be found hanging in the Museo Nacional del Prado. Picasso‘s famous ‘La Guernica’ graces the walls of Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, and is just one of many striking pieces of modern art that live in the city.

Eat all day, party all night

Food is not to be rushed in Madrid, the simple flavours and relaxed way of life make dining a true pleasure. For breakfast, visit Chocolateria San Ginés, home to some of the finest churros with chocolate in the city. At the weekend, explore the street food of Rastro flea market, or savour a Bocata de calamares (calamari sandwich) and café con leche in Plaza Mayor.

At night Madrid bursts with life down on the Gran Via, known as Madrid’s Broadway, where you can take in a show or enjoy tapas and cocktails as you soak in the vibrant atmosphere. As you’re in a city that never sleeps, you can dance the night away in Kapital nightclub or enjoy something a little more alternative in the laid-back Ocho y Medio.

Escape to the country

The stunning walled city of Toledo is just an hour away from Madrid, on a route that takes you through the golden landscapes of the Spanish countryside. Toledo is truly a sight to behold, sitting proudly on a hill above Castilla-La Mancha. Striking Segovia, famous for the Alcázar de Segovia rumoured to be the inspiration behind Disney’s iconic palace logo, is also easily reached by car. Here in the heart of the country you can head whichever way you want, assured of discovering Iberian splendor.

Madrid isn’t just all sun, sights and shopping, however. If you love to ski then travel roughly two hours by car from the capital in winter and you can hit the slopes of Valdesquí, one of the most popular ski areas in the region. Car rental in Madrid is about more than just unearthing the wonders of the city itself, it’s about the rest of Spain too – from bold Barcelona to marvellous Malaga.

Driving in and around Madrid

As soon as you land at the airport you’ll want to get on the road and explore what the city of Madrid and the surrounding areas of Spain have to offer. Luckily, navigating in and around Madrid Airport couldn’t be easier. Roads are well signposted and also very well connected so you can quickly jump on the M40 and M11 and get to where you need to be.

Madrid city centre is bursting with life, so the city streets can get a little congested. However, there are three rings roads in Madrid that can help you skirt the city, the M50 being the outermost and the M40 and M30 moving you closer to the heart of things.

Take the AP-6 away from Madrid Airport and the walled city of Ávila awaits you, with Gothic architecture and amazing dining experiences. If you’re looking for more of a road trip then why not take a trip across the stunning landscapes of Spain to the city of Valencia. Travel on the A-3 and arrive in this beautiful port city that boasts a mix of classic and modern architecture.

The roads within Spain range from major motorways that are large and well maintained, to smaller country roads that deliver the better views but take longer from A to B. Speed limits on the roads vary, with the motorway carrying the highest limit of 120 km/h, reducing to 50 km/h in towns. Radar speed guns are widely used on Spanish roads and carry a hefty on-the-spot fine, so make sure to monitor your speed.