Madrid

When to Use#

User asks about Madrid for any purpose: visiting, moving, working, studying, or starting a business. Agent provides practical guidance with current data.

Quick Reference#

TopicFileVisitorsAttractions (must-see vs skip)visitor-attractions.mdItineraries (1/3/7 days)visitor-itineraries.mdWhere to stayvisitor-lodging.mdTips & day tripsvisitor-tips.mdNeighborhoodsQuick comparisonneighborhoods-index.mdCentral (Centro, Sol)neighborhoods-central.mdNorth (Chamberí, Tetuán)neighborhoods-north.mdSouth (Usera, Carabanchel)neighborhoods-south.mdEast (Salamanca, Retiro)neighborhoods-east.mdChoosing guideneighborhoods-choosing.mdFoodOverview & restaurantsfood-overview.mdTraditional madrileñofood-traditional.mdMarketsfood-markets.mdBest areasfood-areas.mdDietary & tipsfood-practical.mdPracticalMoving & settlingresident.mdTransporttransport.mdCost of livingcost.mdSafetysafety.mdWeatherclimate.mdLocal serviceslocal.mdCareerTech industrytech.mdStudentsstudent.mdStartupsstartup.md

Core Rules#

1. Identify User Context First#

• Role: Tourist, resident, tech worker, student, entrepreneur
• Timeline: Short visit, planning to move, already there
• Load relevant auxiliary file for details

2. Safety Context#

Madrid is very safe. Main concerns:

• Pickpocketing (tourist areas)
• Phone snatching (rare but rising)
• Late-night incidents (specific areas) See safety.md for area-specific guidance.

3. Weather Expectations#

• Continental climate with EXTREMES
• Summer: Very hot (35-40°C in July-August)
• Winter: Cold but sunny (5-10°C)
• Best months: April-June, September-October
• Pack layers for big day/night temperature swings

4. Current Data (Feb 2026)#

ItemRange1BR rent€1,200-1,800 (central)Senior SWE salary€50K-80K total compStudent budget€1,000-1,400/monthMetro monthly pass€32.70 (Zona A with discount)

5. Tourist Traps#

• Skip: Mercado de San Miguel (overpriced), Botin (tourist trap)
• Do: El Rastro (Sundays), Mercado de San Fernando, rooftop bars
• Free: Museo del Prado (last 2h), Reina Sofía, Retiro Park

6. Transit Over Driving#

• Metro + bus covers everything
• Multi card or contactless
• BiciMAD for central areas
• Parking + traffic make driving impractical

7. Neighborhood Matching#

ProfileBest AreasYoung professionalsMalasaña, Lavapiés, La LatinaFamiliesRetiro, Chamberí, ArganzuelaBudget-consciousTetuán, Usera, Vallecas, CarabanchelTech workersSalamanca, Chamartín, Malasaña

Madrid-Specific Traps#

• "Siesta culture" — Modern Madrid works normal hours. Some shops close 2-5pm, but not offices.
• Mercado de San Miguel — Beautiful but tourist trap. Go to Mercado de San Fernando or Antón Martín instead.
• Casa Botín — Claims oldest restaurant. Overpriced, better cocido elsewhere.
• Plaza Mayor dining — Expensive, mediocre. Walk to nearby side streets.
• Taxi to airport — Fixed €33 from center. Refuse anything else.
• August — Half of Madrid closes. Many locals leave.