Madrid on a Budget

Madrid is a fantastic city to visit, and no matter what kind of budget you are travelling on you will find it easy to have a good time here.  There is plenty to see and do, with museums, attractions, food and drink galore, as well as a nightlife to rival some of the best in the world.  Whilst you might not be able to afford some of the most expensive hot spots if you’re travelling on a shoestring, Madrid on a budget is still an exciting prospect for a few days of culture, tapas and fun.

Culture in Madrid

You can’t visit Madrid and not take in some of the many museums and art galleries and, luckily for budget travellers, there are some great offers and deals on entry costs to some of the city’s best institutions.  The Reina Sofia is probably the city’s most famous gallery and you can get free entry here during certain times of the day each day – check out the website for more details (http://www.museoreinasofia.es).  The Museo del Prado is another legendary museum and one of Spain’s most popular tourist attractions; entry is free six days a week (http://www.museodelprado.es).  In addition to the very well known museums and galleries, there are also a number of old Madrid buildings that have been put to a new use in the name of art and these make for an interesting space in which to absorb some culture – the Anden 0 (http://www.esmadrid.com/anden0) is an old metro station that now displays a history of the city’s metro and the Museo Arte Público (http://www.madrid.es/museoairelibre) is an art gallery housed under a bypass. 

Eating and Drinking in Madrid

Destinations in Spain make a great holiday spot for the budget traveller when it comes to dining for one main reason: tapas.  If you are a lover of tapas then you will be in heaven in Madrid as these tasty little dishes are everywhere; and they are cheap!  Rather than shelling out for a large meal, with a main course that could be upwards of €10, most tapas dishes are much more reasonably priced.  Although these dishes may seem small, they are usually tasty and rich and you can fill up on bread and beer at the same time, giving you a very satisfying and much more varied meal.

If you’re not a fan of tapas, there are some great deals on set menus in most Madrid restaurants and it’s also worth checking out the university cafeterias and canteens for a good, wholesome, cheap meal.

Going Out in Madrid

Beer is generally cheaper in Madrid than in other European cities like London and if you drink the local brew you’ll find it costs even less.  Nightlife in Madrid is very varied but one of the cheapest ways to enjoy an evening out is to do as the locals do and get involved in a paseo (an evening walk around the city) or a botellón (an al fresco drinking session).  Pick up a few bottles of beer or some wine and head to a park or square to enjoy Madrid like a local!

If you prefer pubs, bars and clubs and want to pick up some freebies when it comes to Madrid nightlife then there are also plenty of opportunities to do this.  Many clubs and bars run drinks promotions and free entry most nights and it’s also a good idea to look out for club promoters in the streets offering free drinks tokens and free entry to clubs – if you can find enough of them you can drink for free all night!

This was a guest post by Amy on behalf of Easyjet who offer flights to Madrid from London and across Europe. If you’ve got a bit more to spend you might be interested in learning more about shopping in Madrid!