One of the major capital cities in Europe, the sights and attractions of Madrid are easily explored by car.

From Madrid Barajas Airport, pick up your Avis hire car and start touring Spain’s capital and beyond at your own pace.

 

Plan your trip from Madrid Barajas Adolfo Suárez Airport

The airport is just under 20 kilometres from Madrid's historic city centre, via the M-40. 

Madrid is Spain’s vibrant capital city, jam-packed with museums and art galleries, roof-top bars and nightclubs, with lots of restaurants where you can sample delicious tapas dishes.

Check out the Museo del Prado, which is in the upper echelon of art galleries. It houses more than 7000 exhibits and the building itself is a work of art.

Plaza Mayor is a grand square located in central Madrid; it’s a popular meeting place, home to the Tourist Office and a great place to enjoy street performances. Plaza Mayor has a rich and storied history with a bustling central square. It was built during Philip III's reign - opening in 1619.

The Palacio Real (Royal Palace of Madrid) is open to the public and you’ll get to see important works of art, valuable tapestries and paintings throughout the 50 rooms on show to the public. Highlights include the Throne room itself, the Royal Armoury where you’ll see the armour worn by Emperor Charles V, and the Royal Pharmacy where the medicine given to the royal family was once stored.

Segovia
Just over an hour’s drive from Madrid, Segovia is a city full of ancient history. Its impressive and well preserved Roman aqueduct dates back to A.D 50, and it boasts a large number of Romanesque churches. Another wonder of Segovia is the Alcázar - a royal palace which is said to be one of Walt Disney’s inspirations for Cinderella’s castle. Unusually, it is built in the shape of the bow of a ship and was originally meant to be a fortress.

Toledo
Toledo is a one hour drive from Madrid and known in some quarters as the spiritual capital of Spain. Many different religious denominational influences on the city's architecture are clear to see. Toledo’s cathedral is one of the most extravagant cathedrals in Spain, the Mezquita del Cristo de la Luz is a modest, yet beautiful mosque and Sinagoga del Tránsito is a magnificent synagogue with rich stucco decoration.

Córdoba
Once an important Roman city, Córdoba is around a four hour drive from Madrid. The beautiful Mezquita de Córdoba (Córdoba Mosque) dates back to 987 A.D. and represents a time when Córdoba was one of the the biggest and most prosperous cities in Europe. In the middle of the mosque you’ll find a Renaissance cathedral nave which was built in the 16th Century; the reason it is sometimes referred to as ‘Mezquita-Catedral’.