Car rental in Madrid at the Best Prices

The capital city of Spain, Madrid, is located right in the middle of the country. Being so centralised is probably the reason why this city is one of Spain’s busiest and most vibrant cities. From its rich cultural heritage, museums, bars, restaurants and tourist attractions, to its cosmopolitan neighbourhoods and galleries - Madrid has it all and more. With a car rental in Madrid your holiday options greatly expand. Why not fully explore the city at leisure or even consider a day trip to other iconic Spanish cities, such as Barcelona or Salamanca.

With over 60 year’s car rental experience, Auto Europe is well positioned to offer you great deals from a large selection of suppliers throughout Spain. We have partnered with local, national and international car hire suppliers to be able to offer you a greater vehicle choice from many locations across the country. If you’re planning to visit Spain then contact one of our reservation agents to discuss your car rental needs and make a booking.

How is the traffic in Madrid?

Capital cities by their very nature can be overly congested and chaotic; with Spain’s capital Madrid being no exception. Locals tend to drive unconventional and careless at times, which can be a challenge for those used to driving in more stringent cities. The city has been designed with three main outer ring roads, and a further three smaller internal ring roads. This means that getting from one side of the city to the other shouldn’t be too much trouble. For starters, you won’t need to pass through the city’s centre.

Driving through Madrid’s old town is extremely complex and tiresome - a labyrinth of tiny streets, one-way roads and dead ends greet you round every turning. If you plan to visit this part of town, we advise sticking to the main roads that cross the centre, for example the Gran Via. Main intersections, especially those leading to the airport and other important parts of the city can also become congested, especially during the summer months.

Where can I park my car rental in Madrid?

Finding parking in Madrid like with all major cities can be difficult and time consuming. On-street parking is available in certain parts of the city but make sure you pay attention to the road signs dictating times of operation. Blue dotted lines indicate a fee payable parking spot. Therefore a pay and display machine should be nearby. Green dotted lines are for residents or permit holders only. Parking here will land you with a fine or your vehicle being towed away.

Secure parking garages are available throughout the city and are often a viable option. Many car parks are open 24-hours per day, with some being perfectly located for access to main tourist attractions and local public transport. For example, the Atocha Station car park is only 10 minutes walking to Prado and 5 minutes to the Reina Sofia Museum. Although it does limit the amount of time you can park.

Madrid Airport

Located around 12 km from central Madrid, its airport consists of three main terminals. The airport caters to many domestic and international airline carriers, including Iberia, British Airways and TAP Portugal. It links Spain throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, North, South and Central America.

Madrid Airport (MAD)
Address: Av. de la Hispanidad s/n, 28042 Madrid, Spain
Website: Madrid Airport
Telephone: +39 0932 961467

What to do in Madrid

As one of the most exciting capital cities in Europe, Madrid is very vibrant and awash with entertainment and the arts. From its urban style to cosmopolitan areas, each borough has its distinct flavour. Consider a visit to the Royal Palace, The Natural Science Museum or its wonderful Botanical Gardens. A city perfect for shopping, its streets are also packed with bars, clubs, restaurants and smart coffee houses. Here’s what we recommend during your visit:

• Madrid Royal Palace: The official residence of the Spanish Royal Family, the palace nowadays is normally used for state ceremonies only. With 135,000 square meters, this palace contains an impressive 3,418 rooms. The changing of the guards makes for a perfect photo opportunity and is conducted every half an hour.


• Warner Brothers Theme Park: Located in the town of San Martin de la Vega, Madrid, the Warner Brothers Theme Park is great for the whole family. With around forty-two attractions and containing the world’s fourth largest drop tower, the park will thoroughly entertain you. Opened in 2002, the park has a total of five themed areas dedicated to the movie and cartoons of Warner Brothers and DC Comics.


• Bernabeu Stadium: For sporting fans visiting Madrid a guided tour of the iconic Real Madrid Stadium is an absolute must. Not only is the stadium mesmerising, it draws you in through its wonderful multimedia displays - you will literally feel like part of the action. Experience the roar of the crowd or winning the World Cup. Visit the trophy room, dressing rooms and pitch side. The tour will last around 90 minutes.


• Plaza Mayor: If you’re looking for a great place to rest or grab a bite to eat, then consider a visit to the Plaza Mayor. This large plaza has an abundance of coffee houses to relax in, restaurants to eat in and shops to shop in, together with ample entertainment. The plaza is situated very close to many of the city’s main tourist attractions and landmarks, which makes it perfect as a place for a quick stop.


• Madrid Tapas Tour: Explore this wonderful Spanish delicacy for lunch or dinner. With a limited tour size of up to 12 people, the Madrid guided tapas tour will not only help you discover some amazing tapas bar’s but also some great dishes too. With an intimate atmosphere savour some chickpea stew, salted cod or little green peppers. All food samples are included in the price of the tour.

Best day trips with my car hire in Madrid

Being so centrally located in the Iberian Peninsula, means that a car rental in Madrid is the ideal method for venturing further out and exploring the rest of Spain. Consider a road trip south, towards Granada or Malaga, or northeast towards Barcelona. Don’t overlook heading north to the Basque country or northwest to Vigo in Galicia. Another great option is driving westwards towards Portugal and its frontier town of Elvas. Here are our recommendations for the perfect Spanish road trip:

Granada:
A truly magical place awaits you only four hours and eighteen minutes away from Madrid. 420 km south along the E-5 motorway you’ll come to the Andalusian city of Granada. This magical place is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada – a perfect place for skiing and snow related activities. A visit to The Alhambra will leave you breathless and in awe of its architectural beauty.

Zaragoza:
Only 314 km from Madrid and taking just over three hours you’ll come across the city of Zaragoza. The city has much to offer… it hosted Expo 2008 and went for European Capital of Culture in 2012. A visit to the Basilica del Pilar, La Seo Cathedral and the Aljafeira Palace should be on your list during your visit. All of which form part of the city’s UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Bilbao:
Bilbao in the Basque Country is located in northern Spain approximately 397 km from Madrid. With your vehicle it’ll take you just over four hour’s journey time to arrive, but once you’re there, this city will unravel numerous architectural gems, such as the Guggenheim Museum, Arriaga Theatre, Iberdrola Tower, Casco Viejo and numerous others. From here you are even able to catch a ferry to the UK.

Badajoz:
The frontier city of Badajoz is located west of Madrid on the Spanish Portuguese border. In around four hours you’ll successfully cover this 403 km journey and arrive with plenty of time to enjoy the city. Much of the city’s architecture is of Moorish and medieval styles, with also some Roman and Visigoth architecture present. The Alcazaba fortress is one of the oldest historical structures in the city along with its 13th century Badajoz Cathedral.

Geographic Information & History

The Spanish city of Madrid is around 654m above sea level and located towards the centre of the Iberian Peninsula. As one of Europe’s highest capital cities, Madrid’s landscape is primarily sand and clay, with its closest mountain being the Sierra de Guadarrama. This mountain accounts for much of Madrid’s weather patterns. During summer the city can reach an impressive 40Cº with low humidity, whilst in winter temperatures have been known to drop below zero.

There is evidence of human settlement in the area since prehistoric times. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the fort which existed in the late 10th century was occupied by the Moors. Moorish dominance ruled over the area until 1085 when Alfonso VI on his way to Toledo conquered the fort. The area had no major strategic advantage, it wasn’t situated on a major river nor was it rich in local natural resources – nevertheless, due to its neutrality in 1329 King Fernando V set up the Royal Court here.

The city exchanged hands numerous times and even was completely destroyed by fire during the reign of Enrique II. Madrid was rebuilt once again during the reign of Enrique III and returned to the Crown of Castille. The Royal Court was re-established in Madrid in 1561 and during the 18th century the city saw many improvements constructed, such as bridges, city gates, the Royal Theatre, the Botanical Gardens and the Natural Science Museum.

Madrid was occupied by Napoleons troops but was eventually expelled by the Anglo-Portuguese forces in 1813, together with various rebellions by the local inhabitants. The city grew significantly under the reign of Isabel II, with many buildings being rebuilt. Nowadays, Madrid is the capital of Spain, a modern city, rich in culture, art, history and entertainment.

How to get around Madrid

Madrid has a modern, efficient and well integrated public transport network consisting of buses, metro, trains, taxis and trams. Often using public transport is more cost effective and faster than driving within the city - although driving does have its perks too. When using the network it is advisable to keep all your belongings close to you. Pickpockets are known to operate on the network around popular tourist attractions.

Bus

With over 175 bus routes crisscrossing the city and into its suburbs, catching a bus is sometimes a viable option. Buses are modern and run on time, although often congestion can delay them. They are generally able to take you to every known tourist attraction easily and stress free. Tickets are bought on-board and you must punch in and out every time you board and alight the bus.

Train

Madrid Atocha Station is not only one of the largest railway stations in Madrid, but also one of the busiest in Europe. Local, regional and international routes all set off from this station. High-speed trains run by RENFE will take you across Spain to numerous cities such as Malaga. International routes also exist to Marseille in France, Portugal and so forth. The station is connected to the Metro system and operates ten local train lines.

Taxis

City licenced taxis in Madrid are white in colour with a red stripe across its front doors. It also has a taxi sign upon its roof. Taxis can be picked up at numerous taxi ranks across the city and at major transport hubs such as the airport. Madrid taxis are metered; however, we advise confirming with the taxi driver estimated costs before commencing your journey.

Tram

Madrid has a tram network that includes modern and older 1960s style trams. A tram route exists along a historical street within the city, plus an additional three lines called the Metro Ligero, that takes you to various parts of the city. Within the southern suburb of Madrid a circular tram line operates linking locals and visitors to other parts of the public transport network.

Metro

The metro system in Madrid is very efficient and will take you effortlessly across the city. During rush hour – normally from 07:00 until 09:40 and 17:00 until 9:30 - it can become congested, so it is best avoided during these times. A total of thirteen metro lines exist, running from 06:00 until 01:30. Metro trains are frequent and you can expect one to arrive every three to five minutes during the day. Tickets can be bought at station kiosks or ticket machines.

Useful links

Tourism Information