podtour
At a glance
- Country
- Spain
- Region
- Community of Madrid
- Language
- Spanish. Hello: hola or buenos días. Thank you: gracias.
- Currency
- Euro (€)
- Population
- Around 3.5 million people
- Sockets
- Types C and F, 230 V; bring an adaptor for UK plugs
- Emergencies
- 112
- Tap water
- Yes. Mains water is drinkable; bring a reusable bottle.
- Card payments
- Cards are widely used; some cash is useful for small purchases.
- Tipping
- Tipping is optional; leave something if you want to thank staff for good service, without assuming a fixed percentage.
- Driving side
- right
When to go
| Season | Approximate temperature | Rain | Daylight | Atmosphere |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Roughly 7–24 °C. | Rain alternates with dry days. | Increasing daylight. | Good walks, with changing temperatures. |
| Summer | Roughly 18–35 °C; it can be hotter. | Usually little rain. | Long days. | Strong sunshine and dry heat. |
| Autumn | Roughly 7–25 °C. | More likely than in summer. | Shortening afternoons. | Pleasant at first; layers later. |
| Winter | Roughly 1–12 °C. | Occasional rain and pronounced cold. | Short days. | A coat matters even beneath blue skies. |
- For plenty of walking: spring and autumn usually give you more flexibility than summer heat.
- May · San Isidro: celebrations and a festive atmosphere; some areas become crowded.
- August · Neighbourhood fiestas: La Latina and Lavapiés are lively; plan breaks for the heat.
- December · Christmas: lights and crowded central squares; allow time to get around.
Walking the city
- Hills: from Sol towards La Latina and Lavapiés you head downhill; the return makes itself felt. The Royal Palace area also overlooks a slope.
- Underfoot: stone paving, cobbles and some stepped passages. The free route includes the steps around Arco de Cuchilleros; it’s not presented as step-free.
- Weather: summer is dry and open squares are exposed. In winter, a clear sky doesn’t guarantee warmth.
- Distances: Sol, Plaza Mayor, the palace and Barrio de las Letras link well on foot. Use the metro for distant areas or tired legs.
- Crossings: traffic drives on the right; remember to check left as well as right. Wait for signals on main roads and watch cycle lanes.
- Daily rhythm: lunch and dinner are later than many British visitors expect. Nightlife streets stay busy; a parallel residential street may be much quieter.
Getting there and around
- Airport: metro, suburban rail from the railway terminal, buses and taxis. Choose for your terminal and final destination.
- Rail: Atocha and Chamartín connect with metro and suburban trains; not every station opens straight into the old town.
- In the city: metro for longer jumps, walking for neighbouring squares and streets.
- Local tip: recognising a station name isn’t enough; check the direction before boarding.
The neighbourhoods
| Neighbourhood | What it's like | Who it suits | Our routes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sol and Plaza Mayor | Pedestrian squares with constant activity. | A first visit and a useful starting point. | From Puerta del Sol to Plaza Mayor Free |
| Palacio and Ópera | Open spaces, gardens and western central streets. | Monuments and broad views. | The Royal Palace and the Opera |
| La Latina | Slopes, small squares and terraces. | Urban history and food breaks. | La Latina: From the Medieval Town to the Virgin of La Paloma |
| Lavapiés and Rastro | Sloping streets, shops and varied local life. | Everyday Madrid. | The Rastro and Lavapiés: Cigar-Makers, Corralas and Legends |
| Barrio de las Letras | Compact streets between squares and museums. | Literature without long avenues. | Barrio de las Letras: Cervantes, Lope and Quevedo |
| Gran Vía | Busy pavements and buildings worth looking up at. | Architecture and city bustle. | The Gran Vía: From Zarzuela to War |
| Prado and Jerónimos | Tree-lined walks and major museums. | Art and pauses between visits. | The Paseo del Prado: from Cibeles to the Retiro |
| Arenal and Descalzas | Passages and squares close to Sol. | A less obvious central walk. | The Descalzas and San Ginés: Hidden Madrid |
What to try
| Dish or drink | What it is |
|---|---|
| Cocido madrileño | Chickpeas, vegetables and meat, usually served in stages. |
| Bocadillo de calamares | Fried squid rings in a bread roll. |
| Callos a la madrileña | A rich tripe stew with sausage and sauce. |
| Gallinejas and entresijos | Fried lamb offal, for stronger flavours. |
| Tortilla de patatas | Spanish potato omelette, useful for a simple break. |
| Patatas bravas | Potatoes with a sauce whose heat varies. |
| Churros with chocolate | Fried dough for dipping in thick hot chocolate. |
| Rosquillas | Ring-shaped sweet pastries with plain or coated finishes. |
| Torrijas | Bread soaked, usually in milk, dipped in egg and cooked. |
| Vermut | Aromatised wine as an aperitif, best taken slowly with food. |
- Try the tap water too: Madrid’s tastes good and is perfectly drinkable.
What to pack
- Comfortable soles: a compact centre still adds up, particularly on slopes.
- Summer: hat, sunscreen and water; keep the bag light.
- Winter: a coat, scarf and a layer for the colder evening.
- Spring and autumn: layers and a light waterproof.
- Reusable bottle: bring one to refill during your walks.
- Types C and F sockets. Bring an adaptor for a UK plug.
- Podtour works offline: download what you want to listen to before heading out.
For the trip
Customs and common mistakes
- Say hello and ask who is next if the order at the bar is unclear.
- At a table, ask for the bill when you want it; it may not arrive unprompted.
- A tapa and a ración are different sizes: ask before ordering several dishes.
- Step aside before taking photographs of buildings.
- Keep bags and phones under control in crowds and on transport.
- Keep residential doorways and steps clear when listening.
- Respect quiet and photography guidance in places of worship.
- Lower your voice beneath residential windows when leaving busy nightlife streets.
If it rains (or it's very hot)
- Rain: From Puerta del Sol to Plaza Mayor Free offers a pause beneath the square’s arcades, but the route remains outdoors. Take care on wet Cuchilleros steps.
- An indoor break: combine The Paseo del Prado: from Cibeles to the Retiro with a separate Prado Museum visit.
- Heat: postpone the open spaces of The Royal Palace and the Opera if they are in full sun; divide the day between walking, food and rest.
- Parks aren’t automatic protection: find actual shade and an indoor break if the heat is uncomfortable.
Itineraries with Podtour
Allow a break between routes. Indoor visits are separate plans from the walk and the audio.
Days Plan
1 day
Start with From Puerta del Sol to Plaza Mayor Free. Continue towards La Latina: From the Medieval Town to the Virgin of La Paloma, taking a break before heading farther down into the neighbourhood.
2 days
Day 1: as above. Day 2: Barrio de las Letras: Cervantes, Lope and Quevedo and The Paseo del Prado: from Cibeles to the Retiro, neighbouring areas with room for a museum visit.
3 days
Days 1 and 2: as above. Day 3: The Royal Palace and the Opera and The Descalzas and San Ginés: Hidden Madrid, linking Ópera and Arenal.
What to see with Podtour
marks places covered by the free route. Outdoor listening doesn’t include admission to interiors.
| Place | Why go | Route and stop |
|---|---|---|
| Puerta del Sol | A starting point and a sculpture almost everyone wants to find. | From Puerta del Sol to Plaza Mayor Free · «The bear that moved house» |
| Real Casa de Correos | Look up at a clock tied to the square’s daily life. | From Puerta del Sol to Plaza Mayor Free · «The clock that gave back the time» |
| Plaza Mayor and Casa de la Panadería | Take in the façades as a great public stage. | From Puerta del Sol to Plaza Mayor Free · «Five names for one square» |
| Arco de Cuchilleros | The slope tells you something a map can’t. | From Puerta del Sol to Plaza Mayor Free · «Eight storeys above a moat» |
| Plaza de la Villa and Torre de los Lujanes | A compact square for comparing different periods. | La Latina: From the Medieval Town to the Virgin of La Paloma · «A capital without a decree» |
| Royal Palace, outside, and Plaza de la Armería | The palace’s scale is striking from outside too. | The Royal Palace and the Opera · «A palace for eternity» |
| Plaza de Oriente and Teatro Real | An equestrian statue raises a question about balance. | The Royal Palace and the Opera · «The horse that should not have stood up» |
| Almudena Cathedral | A cathedral beside the palace with an uneven building story. | The Royal Palace and the Opera · «A cathedral that took a hundred and ten years» |
| La Latina and Cava Baja | The shape of a street preserves a trace of an earlier city. | La Latina: From the Medieval Town to the Virgin of La Paloma · «The street that was a moat» |
| Lavapiés and its corralas | Listen to the lives of people arriving in the neighbourhood. | The Rastro and Lavapiés: Cigar-Makers, Corralas and Legends · «A neighbourhood of newcomers» |
| Trinitarias Convent | A discreet convent linked to a very familiar writer. | Barrio de las Letras: Cervantes, Lope and Quevedo · «Where Cervantes is: the Trinitarias» |
| Ateneo de Madrid | A façade leading into a story of ideas. | Barrio de las Letras: Cervantes, Lope and Quevedo · «The Ateneo: words and torn-down stars» |
| Plaza de Cibeles | A fountain linking the monumental city with celebrations. | The Paseo del Prado: from Cibeles to the Retiro · «The goddess who changed sides: Cibeles» |
| Prado Museum, outside | Give the building a look before thinking about its paintings. | The Paseo del Prado: from Cibeles to the Retiro · «The museum meant for science: the Velázquez entrance» |
| Descalzas Reales Monastery, outside | An enclosed world amid the bustle. | The Descalzas and San Ginés: Hidden Madrid · «Governor at eighteen» |
| Metrópolis building and Calle de Alcalá | A monumental corner with a rooftop worth studying. | The Gran Vía: From Zarzuela to War · «The phoenix that moved house» |