Car Hire in Madrid

About Madrid

Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain, located in central Spain along the Manzanares River. Madrid is considered the second-largest city in the European Union, right after Berlin. It is the cultural, economic, and political centre of Spain and also the residence of the Spanish royal family.

Madrid is a city that offers pretty much everything that the capital of the country has to offer. The city has a wide variety of faces and is, in a way, Spain in a nutshell. Here you can experience the chaos of a metropolis full of locals and tourists pushing through the city centre at rush hour and on weekends, while at the same time enjoying one of the many green parks at the other end of the city where you completely lose the sense of scale. From the park, you can walk to parts of the city that are full of small colourful narrow streets, which in turn lead to the large promenades where monumental architectural landmarks are located. You can visit countless different squares, museums, galleries, theatres, opera houses, monuments, shopping malls, markets, and much more, just to name a few.

So, if you have decided to take a road trip through Spain, Madrid is a must-see as the capital of this beautiful country. Despite its size, Madrid has a very well organized transport system and most importantly, a large number of parking garages where you can park your car at your leisure and then ride around the city by bike, which you can rent at various places in the city. You can also use the metro and bus services or simply set off on foot to explore this unique city.

Many say that Madrid has a day and night image. This is probably true, as at night the streets and squares come to life in a completely different light, living their nightlife and the different cultural communities that populate this Spanish capital ensure that you have a really wide range of different ambiences in which to enjoy music and dance or just sit in peace, listen to live music and chat over a glass of wine and a bite of tapas. If you are interested in Spanish culture and tradition, you can visit one of the many festivals that take place in the city throughout the year.

Madrid is also a city of football, as it is home to one of the most famous football clubs in the world, Real Madrid, and of course, a visit to the mythical Santiago Bernabeu stadium, where you can watch the Spanish La Liga or the UEFA Champions League, is compulsory. you might also be interested in the Spanish King's Cup, the Copa del Rey. However, if you are not excited by the crowds at the stadium, you can tour the stadium at your leisure, even when there are no football matches taking place, as there are plenty of guided tours of this beautiful facility. However, if you are not interested in Real Madrid and are more into Atletico Madrid, you can check out the new stadium that was built a few years ago by Wanda Metropolitano.

Since the city is located in the centre of the country and is the cultural, economic and financial centre of Spain, in this city you will meet people from all over the country and also from all over the world. It is this mixture of different cultures that gives Madrid a special atmosphere that you simply must experience and once you get to know the city well, you will return here again and again.

Basic info and car hire in Madrid

• Location: Central Spain
• Population: 3.265.038
• Official language: Spanish
• Currency: Euro
• Weather:   Madrid has a continental Mediterranean climate
• Holidays in Madrid: Find more information about public holidays in Spain here.
• Internet coverage: Hotels, bars, restaurants, and cafés offer Wi-Fi.
• Road conditions:  Most roads in Madrid are in good condition.
• Car hire in Madrid:  The most common pick-up point for vehicles in Madrid is Madrid airport, Madrid Atocha Railway Station and Madrid Chamartin Railway Station. Please note that prices vary frequently. It is best to book a car 3 to 8 weeks in advance of your desired pick-up date - this will ensure you get the cheapest rental rate. Alternatively, it is also possible to find cheap last-minute car hire. Find the best deal on car hire in Madrid!

 Driving in Madrid

To drive a car in Madrid you must be 18 years old, have a valid driver's license, and show valid proof of insurance for the vehicle you are driving. In Madrid, vehicles drive on the right-hand side of the road. The speed limit on the motorway is 120 km/h (75 mph). On normal roads the speed limit is 90 km/h (75 mph), on urban roads, it is 50 km/h (50 mph), and on all other through roads, there is a speed limit sign.

It's good to know that Spain has strict drink-driving laws, allowing only 0.5 milligrams of alcohol per millilitre of blood - stricter than in the UK, where the limit is 0.8. Novice drivers are effectively banned from driving under the influence with a very low limit of 0.1 mg/l. Seatbelts front and rear are compulsory everywhere.

 One thing: for those not used to roundabouts: There are a lot of them in Spain! And the following rules apply: The driver who is already in the roundabout has the right of way unless there is a traffic light at the roundabout that regulates the flow of traffic. Before leaving the roundabout, you should put on your right turn signal to indicate that you are leaving the roundabout.

If you are caught speeding in Madrid, the Spanish police act very quickly, and the lack of Spanish is not considered an excuse. The police do not mind that you are a tourist on holiday, and fines are often issued immediately unless you can prove that you are a permanent resident in Spain. If you receive a fine, make sure the officer gives you an official receipt and if you pay immediately, the fine is usually reduced by 20%.

The Spanish law on the use of indicators on motorways is strictly enforced. You risk a fine if you fail to signal before overtaking and after overtaking if you move back into the adjacent lane. Traffic coming from the left always has the right of way. If you see a solid white line in the middle of the road, do not cross it. Continue until you either see a dotted white line or look for a sign that says "Cambio de Sentido" where you can safely and legally turn around.

• Age limits: The minimum age to drive a car in Spain is 18 years. However, most car rental companies require you to be at least 21 to rent a car and at least 25 years to avoid paying an additional young driver fee. 
• International Driving Permit:  Yes, if you are a non-EU licence holder.  
• Additional papers:   Identification(passport), a valid driving licence, and valid proof of insurance. (It is advisable to buy insurance at the car hire agency in case your policy doesn't cover you while driving in Spain)
• Additional requirements:  Glasses (in case you need glasses, you must always have a spare pair in the car), light bulbs (are usually already in the car and are provided by the car rental company), warning triangle (2 are required for all vehicles registered in Spain and 1 if coming from abroad), high visibility vest (recently made compulsory)- First aid kit (not compulsory, but we strongly recommend you have it with you, just in case).
• Children in the car:  If you are travelling with children under 12 or less than 135cm tall, you are required by law to have a child seat in your car. If you do not have your own, most car rental companies will provide one for a fee. However, it is advisable to request such a seat before collecting the vehicle, otherwise one may not always be available.
• Driving side of the road: Right
• Lights:  Check that all lights are working, clean, and correctly aimed.
• General speed limits:  The speed limit is 50 km/h in cities, 90 km/h on rural roads, and 120 km/h on the motorway.
• Parking suggestions:  Parking is prohibited in Spain in all areas where the curbs are marked yellow. The parking spaces marked in blue usually have a parking meter and you must buy a parking ticket to park in these spaces. You will usually find a machine nearby where you can purchase your parking ticket. Most of these blue areas have a parking limit of 2 hours, but this is displayed on the machine.

What to see in Madrid

Plaza Mayor

Many also call it the main square of Madrid. The intertwining of rich tradition and history can be felt in this square. Bullfights and fiestas took place here, convicts were beheaded here, trials took place here, royal speeches were made here ... today it is one of the main tourist attractions because here you can enjoy various street performers, sit in bars and enjoy snacks. and drinks. 

Royal Palace of Madrid

Today, the Royal Palace is only used for some official ceremonies. The royal family lives on the outskirts of the city in a small mansion, while part of the Royal Palace is open to the public, where you can see museum collections of furniture, books, and other items mainly related to the Spanish royal family. You can also opt for a guided tour of the palace where you will learn even more about the history of Spain and of course the Spanish royal family with the help of a guide.

Retiro Park

Madrid is known for its parks. The city has a lot of green spaces where you can relax after a busy day and feel like you have escaped from the big city to the countryside or nature. One of the biggest and most beautiful parks is Retiro Park, where you can relax under the treetops, amidst flower plantations or overlooking the lake inside the park. If you like rowing, you should rent a boat and row on the beautiful lake in the middle of the park. 

Temple of Debod

A unique monument that you must see. It was donated from Egypt to Madrid in 1970, from where it was brought to Spain piece by piece and built here in Madrid. It is an Egyptian temple that is considered one of the most popular places to watch the sunset, as it is slightly elevated on a hill and offers a breathtaking view of the sunset. 

The Prado

Certainly one of the best and most famous museums in the world. In addition to the greatest Spanish artists in history, you can also admire the works of other painters and sculptors from all over the world in this museum. On display are works by authors such as: Velázquez, El Greco, Rembrandt, Brueghel, van Dyck, Rubens, Titian, Caravaggio, Botticelli and Tintoretto. In addition to the paintings and statues, the museum also has an extensive collection of objects from different periods and parts of the world that you must see.

Best restaurants in Madrid:

Los Montes de Galicia

SteakBurger Gran Via 55

Kathmandu Tandoori House

Astor

Pizzart Fuencarral

Lettera Trattoria Moderna