Everything that a visitor to Spain needs to know can be found here in this Madrid Practical Information guide. From the climate and what clothes to carry, to the currency and languages spoken, you will find this guide to be of great help before you make that trip into Spain’s largest and capital city.

Population and Language

Madrid is the third most populous metropolitan city (around 300,000 people) in the European Union, after London and Paris. Here, the main language spoken is Spanish. English and French are the secondary languages.

Currency

The currency of Madrid is the euro (€). Since the euro replaced the peseta in 2002, you might sometimes see prices listed in pesetas along with the euro price. Visitors will find no problem changing cash or travelers checks at virtually every bank. At present, 1€ = $1.35 USD.

Climate

It is said that Madrid’s weather is a climate of extremes for the winters are cold and the summers scorching. But it’s not so bad if you are on holiday because there’s practically no humidity. In Madrid, winter presents cool days but cold winds do blow in at times. July and August see extreme heat As such, there’s no bad time to visit Madrid. But it’s important to carry layered clothes for the winter months and barely there summer wear for the hotter months.

Visa Information

Spain falls among the 25 member countries of the Schengen Convention. Those who are citizens of a non-Schengen country need to check in with a Spanish consulate in their own country about the requirement of a visa. The usual tourist Schengen visa issued is usually valid for 90 days and is not renewable in Spain.

Safety

Visitors to Madrid do not usually meet with any problems since Madrid is known as quite a safe city in Spain. However, it’s always better to be alert of pick pocketing as with any tourist destination. It’s a good idea to carry a money pouch for a good degree of safety. And, as usual, it’s best to keep your passport and other travel documents safe in your hotel room safe. Make sure that you have your travel insurance policy in check because non-EU citizen have to pay for any medical treatment other than emergency treatments.