Top 5 Must-See Activities in Madrid

These are the most famous Madrid tourist attractions & sight tours which sees thousands and millions of visitors each year:


Best Car Hire Madrid Airport

Quick Jump links to Madrid Airport

Things to be Consider Hiring a Car at Madrid Airport?

The most important thing to do when you first pick up your car is to thoroughly check it for any existing damage or faults. Make sure you notify the car company about these and that they have properly documented it, otherwise they could decide to charge you for it after you return the car. Also, ensure it has the same amount of fuel when you return it as when you collected it. Again, this will prevent the company charging you for the fuel at an inflated rate.

At all times, behave like a responsible driver while on holiday. Have some awareness of the road laws in Spain. Don’t do anything untoward like drinking and driving, using your phone behind the wheel, or driving tired.

There are six car hire companies at Madrid-Barajas. They can be found in Terminal 1 arrivals level and Terminal 4 (-1 level). Of course, you can book a car straight off the flight, but you can save a lot of money and time by booking ahead of time online.

If you do want to contact the company by telephone

Car Hire Companies at Madrid Airport see below

Company Telephone Number
AeroCity-Ares Mobile +34 917 477 570
Avis +34 913 480 100
Europcar +34 902 405 020
Hertz +34 915 097 300
National Atesa +34 902 100 101
Sixt +34 902 491 616

Driving costs and Potential Destinations

The average price of unleaded petrol in Spain is €1.45 per litre. Using a medium-priced vehicle such as the Smart for Two, which gives 67 miles to the gallon, the approximate fuel cost per 10 miles would be €2.17.

Destination Distance Journey time Directions Video
Museo del Prado 16.5 km 19 minutes https://goo.gl/Y8nwOS https://goo.gl/GHexQm
Buen Retiro Park 15.9 km 17 minutes https://goo.gl/Lc2cNC https://goo.gl/NrwLLm
Edificio de Correos 17.2 km 21 minutes https://goo.gl/c0891j https://goo.gl/jJc6Yx
Hermitage of San Antonio de la Florida 22.8 km 21 minutes https://goo.gl/6PHU8Z https://goo.gl/fEGJ8X
Palacio Real de Madrid 19 km 24 minutes https://goo.gl/v7WmGQ https://goo.gl/XChyp2
Cava Baja 22.5 km 24 minutes https://goo.gl/lY0Sth https://goo.gl/5F6Cwe
Walk Around Madrid Royal Palace 19 km 24 minutes https://goo.gl/v7WmGQ https://goo.gl/51dN0l
Plaza Mayor 17.6 km 24 minutes https://goo.gl/aFi2jL https://goo.gl/wlqHPp
Temple de Debod 23.9 km 24 minutes https://goo.gl/yLylHH https://goo.gl/5XOzRW
Gran Via 15.4 km 27 minutes https://goo.gl/kj4a8U https://goo.gl/NHMP8N
Savingson Attractions and Restaurants

Forgreat discounts on attraction entry, restaurants and much more visitMadridDiscount Cards

Before You Go

Certain conditions need to be met and some documents produced before you can drive away in your car. Most companies require you to be 22 to hire a car, or 25 for some vehicles. There is also usually an upper age limit of around 65. A valid driver’s licence from your home country must be shown; if you’re from outside the EU, you’ll also need an International Driving Permit (IDP). The hire agreement must have each driver’s name on it.

How to Buy Car Insurance

There is usually some basic cover available with your rental. This might be something like a Collision Damage Waiver or Theft Cover. It could come at an extra cost, on top of your basic rental. It would also not be sufficient protection in case of an accident, as you would still need to pay a high excess. Therefore, it’s worth looking into buying excess insurance from a separate specialist company such as insurance4carhire.com. There might be some other additional costs such as airport tax, roof rack, and air conditioning (essential in summer). Extra insurance might be required if you plan to drive to France or Portugal.

General Information & Tips on Car Hire

Adolfo Suárez is by far the largest of Madrid’s five airports, serving approximately 40 million travellers per year. It is Europe’s sixth busiest airport and sits 13 km (8.1 miles) north-east of the Puerta del Sol, the historic city centre. The airport is named after the suburb of Barajas it nestles in, as well as former Spanish Prime Minister Adolfo Suárez. Its location makes it a perfect starting point for a journey via hire car into beautiful Madrid or out into the inviting countryside. There is also access to the Madrid Metro and bus links. The airport opened in 1931 with some local flights and grew rapidly over the following decades. Today, it has four terminals, with the newest, Terminal 4, serving as the primary terminal. This 760,000m² building is one of the world’s largest airport terminals, and was designed by renowned architects Antonio Lamela and Richard Rogers. It aims to give passengers a stress-free experience, with copious natural light streaming through the glass walls and roof domes. The four terminals are connected via the APM automatic underground train. All have a full gamut of facilities including shops, bars, restaurants, ATMs, exchange bureaux, and wi-fi.

The airport opened in 1931 with some local flights and grew rapidly over the following decades. Today, it has four terminals, with the newest, Terminal 4, serving as the primary terminal. This 760,000m² building is one of the world’s largest airport terminals, and was designed by renowned architects Antonio Lamela and Richard Rogers. It aims to give passengers a stress-free experience, with copious natural light streaming through the glass walls and roof domes. The four terminals are connected via the APM automatic underground train. All have a full gamut of facilities including shops, bars, restaurants, ATMs, exchange bureaux, and wi-fi.

Usefull Information

An information desk in Terminal 4 handles any inquiries about flights and other services. The tourist information point in Terminal 1 is on hand to assist travellers with maps and details of nearby attractions.

General inquiries: +34 902 404 704

Lost property and left luggage: +34 91 321 10 00

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