Madrid for Two: One Week, Under $2,500. Here's How.

My first taste of Madrid was on a solo trip as a single parent. I immediately fell in love with the city’s impressive architecture, incredible food (especially the churros), and friendly locals.

It left such a positive impact on me that I decided to go back. But this time, with my daughter.

We had a full week of history, culture, food, and lots of activities, all under budget. Here’s how we explored the best of Madrid on our trip for two.

“Typical” Madrid Prices vs. What I Paid in November

The author's daughter using a tablet while sitting on the floor at the airport in Madrid — *My daughter using her tablet at the airport in Madrid*

The author Claudicet Pena, posing for a photo in front of a mural at the airport — *Me admiring the art murals at the airport in Madrid*

Summer is the most popular season to vacation in Madrid. Rates tend to skyrocket during the summer months. Although the weather can be hot, it is still favorable for enjoying the city’s cultural events.

November is usually an underrated time to visit Spain. Many American travelers book domestic trips to spend time with family during Thanksgiving week. Therefore, tourist rates drop, and so do rates for flights and accommodations.

See below, to give you an idea of how prices compare.

✈️ Flights comparisons:

– I paid $900 for two direct round-trip flights from Boston to Madrid via booking.com

– “Normal” prices exceed $1,000 per person

🛏️ Accommodation comparisons:

– I paid $883 for a one-week stay at an Airbnb in Madrid

– “Normal” prices can jump up to $1,800 for a week

Where to Stay On a Budget in Madrid

The bed in the middle of the spacious bedroom in an Airbnb — *Shot of my spacious bedroom in our Airbnb*

The author Claudicet Pena, smiling for a photo at the Airbnb’s private rooftop — *Me enjoying the view of our quiet street from the rooftop*

The city center is known to be the most ideal area to stay in Madrid. Here, you’re in the middle of all the action. However, it usually comes with a steep price.

We opted to stay outside the city center of Madrid, which was more cost-effective for our long stay.

A stall with local produce in Puente de Vallecas neighborhood — *Produce market in the Puente de Vallecas neighborhood*

Our Airbnb was located in Puente de Vallecas. I really enjoyed staying in this bustling neighborhood. It’s a working-class area with immigrant families from a variety of ethnicities. It was really easy to get around on foot with plenty of eateries, markets, shops, and pharmacies nearby.

We used common sense while experiencing the neighborhood culture of Puente de Vallecas. The Airbnb was an 8-minute walk from the Metro, which got us to the city center in just 20 minutes. At night, which was usually quiet, we would Uber back home and get dropped off at our door.

The author's daughter, watching the train at the Metro station — *My daughter watching our train arrive at the Metro station*

We took the Metro every chance we could during our trip. For someone who enjoys experiencing the city as a “local,” I definitely used the “tourist” card to take advantage of the Tourist Travel Pass.

This pass offers a discounted rate on the Multi-Day Metro Pass. It can be purchased at any Metro station. We used our pass countless times while exploring Madrid on foot.

I usually opt for an Airbnb over a hotel when I travel abroad because it offers more privacy with a sense of being at home.

We had a spacious two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment to ourselves with a fully-equipped kitchen. There was an in-unit washer and dryer that came in handy for tackling some laundry during our stay. We also had access to our own private rooftop with views of our quiet street.

The space and amenities were perfect for home-cooked meals and relaxation between activities. You can also search through a library of Airbnb Experiences to soak up as much culture and history as you can, while in Madrid.

Our Airbnb in Puente de Vallecas was ideal for us, but there are plenty more accommodations in Madrid. Here are some more recommendations:

More accommodation recommendations in Madrid:

Best Overall Hotel – Hotel Regina
Best Location (Apartments) – Madrid 1915 Private Suites
Best Budget – B&B Hotel Madrid Centro Puerta del Sol
Apartments – Airbnb Rentals

Our Favorite Budget-Friendly Activities in Madrid

The author's daughter, exploring the colorful shops near Plaza Mayor — *My daughter exploring shops near Plaza Mayor*

Madrid is a city abundant in history, culture, food, and outdoor spaces to explore. The best part? Most of them are free!

My daughter and I roamed through countless streets and squares full of shops and cafes. Each area we explored was beautiful and unique, with its own sights, smells, and sounds.

A huge holiday tree in Puerta de Sol at night — *View of Puerta de Sol in the evening*

We made constant visits to Puerta del Sol.

This semi-circle square is located in the literal center of Spain. It is surrounded by restaurants, shops, street artists, and musicians. It is the perfect spot for people-watching.

The crowd wandering around the holiday market in Plaza Mayor — *The holiday market in Plaza Mayor*

Closeup look of the churros and hot chocolate at Chocolateria San Gines — *Our churros and hot chocolate at Chocolateria San Gines*

Many streets branch out from the center of Puerta del Sol. One of them takes you straight to Plaza Mayor. This bustling hub hosts many events, including the annual Holiday Market.

I suggest you have a bite to eat in one of the surrounding cafes. Chocolateria San Gines was our go-to spot for crispy, sweet churros and piping hot chocolate to warm us up.

The author Claudicet Pena, sitting on a bench in the Jardines de Cecilio Rodríguez, Parque de Retiro — *Me in the Jardines de Cecilio Rodríguez, Parque de Retiro*

El Parque del Retiro was our favorite park in Madrid. This historic park has about 300 acres of land to explore. It is family-friendly and the most popular hangout spot for locals and tourists alike.

This park is a must-see. You can rent a paddle boat on the lake at Estanque Grande, explore the Palacio de Cristal with rotating art exhibits, smell the 4,000 roses in La Rosaleda, and wander freely with peacocks at Jardines de Cecilio Rodriguez.

Parque del Retiro has so much to offer. With playgrounds, fountains, gardens, and historic buildings, it kept us entertained for hours. Best of all, it’s free!

The author Claudicet Pena at the entrance of La Tienda de los Deseos — *Me at the entrance of La Tienda de los Deseos*

Roaming through the streets of Madrid, we stumbled upon a magical hidden gem: La Tienda de Los Deseos. This secret spot is tucked away in the heart of the city, where locals and travelers can manifest their dreams. Not many people know about this store of wishes, yet.

The experience is completely free, and donations of just one Euro are optional. We wrote our wish on a piece of paper, hung it on their grand mural of wishes, and rang the bell so that the Universe could hear. It was pure Disney magic for both of us.

The author Claudicet Pena, posing for a photo at the Banksy Museum — *Me at the Banksy Museum, Madrid*

Madrid is a hub for world-class cultural attractions. On this trip, I got to see classic European masterpieces I had only seen in pictures at Museo del Prado. We immersed ourselves in the thought-provoking world of street artist Banksy. And finally, we spent an entire day learning about natural wildlife during a visit to ZooAquarium Madrid.

Exterior view of the Museo del Prado — *Exterior of the Museo del Prado*

View of Las Meninas inside the Museo del Prado — *View of Las Meninas in the exhibit at the Museo del Prado*

The Prado Museum is one of Spain’s top attractions. It houses the largest collection of work from Spanish artists like Diego Velázquez, who is the mastermind behind my personal favorite… Las Meninas.

We took advantage of the free entry days to the museum. You can enjoy masterpieces by Velázquez and Goya without spending a euro between Mondays and Saturdays at 6-8 pm and on Sunday at 5-7 pm.

A graffiti art by Banksy — *Graffiti art by Banksy*

The author's daughter, interacting with the art at the Banksy Museum — *My daughter interacting with the art at the Banksy Museum*

The Banksy Museum Madrid has the largest collection of work by the street artist, Banksy, in Europe. This British artist is a favorite of my daughter and me.

The museum had a promotional offer online with discounted rates. My daughter and I snagged admission for two online and paid a little under $20 USD. The museum was engaging, fun, and thought-provoking.

We got to see over 180 recreations of his iconic work. Short video clips dotted the exhibit, and art descriptions were in multiple languages. This museum is a must-see for locals and tourists. You can purchase tickets here.

View of the tigers from across the water at the Madrid Zoo Aquarium — *View of the tigers at the Madrid Zoo Aquarium*

My daughter is an animal lover, so naturally, the zoo in Madrid was at the top of our list. ZooAquarium Madrid is about 20 minutes outside of the city center in Casa de Campo.

We took advantage of their discounted weekday admission rate online and paid around $60 USD for two. Because we went during the week, the zoo was tranquil with no crowds at all.

The zoo is well laid out, clean, and has lots of space to explore. It felt like we saw every animal in the world, from giraffes and tigers to pandas and sea life.

The staff was very friendly and highly knowledgeable about the animals. We got to watch a live show on birds and then seals. They were all engaging, informative, and entertaining.

Hands down, it is one of the best zoos I have ever been to! Purchase your tickets in advance here.

Madrid in November: Why I Recommend the Off-Season

The author Claudicet Pena, posing for a photo at the entrance of La Rosaleda — *Me at the entrance of La Rosaleda, Retiro Park in Madrid*

Madrid is a popular travel destination year-round. However, the time of year you visit does impact your trip.

It gets very hot in Madrid during the summer months. Many locals leave for the coast while tourist numbers remain high at their peak. November is a highly underrated month. Yet, there are fewer crowds and cheaper rates since tourist numbers drop.

I’m a Boston local and have experienced some brutal winters. I found the weather in Madrid to be very pleasant in November. It was sunny and dry with cool temps.

The author's daughter, entering the El 17 de Moreto restaurant — *My daughter entering the restaurant, El 17 de Moreto*

A building with holiday lights display in Madrid — *Watching Madrid light up for the ceremonial holiday displays*

We were really lucky that serendipity took place during our visit to Madrid in November. Over dinner one night at El 17 de Moreto, our waiter suggested we check out the ceremonial lighting of the Holiday lights.

So we did just that! Once the bill was paid, we followed the crowds towards the city center. All at once, Madrid transformed with 13 million twinkling light bulbs.

Each year, the Madrid City Council sets up over 240 locations in holiday displays. The ceremony has special guests and performances. We were so happy to catch the holiday magic by chance in Madrid.

***

Our November trip to Madrid was the perfect blend of history, culture, food, and family activities. We experienced better travel deals, fewer crowds, and comfortable weather. It was the perfect time to explore the city on a budget.

We will continue to return to Madrid, especially towards the end of November, to enjoy the holiday magic.

For more on Madrid, see our 6-day Madrid itinerary.

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