Is Madrid worth a day trip?

Yes, as a short day: 6.1 hours in Madrid, £108 for the whole day, 30 min into town each way. Enough for the centre and one paid sight; pick one, not three.

How long do you actually get in Madrid?

About 6.1 hours in Madrid. Landing to take-off is 9.4 hours; the trip into town and back, passport checks and the time at the airport come off that.

How do you get from Madrid airport into town?

Metro 30 min, €5. A day ticket on local transport is Billete Turístico, Zone A, 1 day, €10.30.

What does a day in Madrid cost, not counting the flight?

About £49 a person for the day: local transport, lunch, dinner and a drink. Paid attractions are listed separately because most people do one or none, and an average that includes them is a number nobody actually pays.

Is the flight price on this page the one I will pay?

The fare shown is the cheapest recently seen on this route, not a live quote for these exact flights. Check the airline or the booking link for the price you will actually pay.

How early do I need to be back at the airport?

Leave the city by 18:25. That allows 30 min to get back to the airport and 120 min there, including 30 min for passport checks on the way out, before the 20:55 flight home.

Will passport checks eat my day?

We allow 20 min on landing for the EU Entry/Exit System (fingerprints and a photo on your first trip) and 30 min extra on the way out. That is already taken off the 6.1 hours shown. These are estimates; queues run longer on busy days.

Day trip to Madrid.
From London Gatwick, back by 22:20.

Spain·Thu 26 Nov · 6.1 hours in the city

£108

the whole day

6.1 hours

in the city

22:20

back in London Gatwick

Flying from another London airport? Compare all six

Day Trip Flight Details

Time in the city

6.1 hours

after transfersAfter transfers and airport time

Airport distance

13km

to the centreFrom Madrid centre (MAD)

Daylight

9.6 hours

08:13 to 17:50Sunrise 08:13, sunset 17:50

First EU trip since 2025? Allow 25 min more.

FlightAirport, immigration and transportIn the city

07:50
Leave London Gatwick
easyJet, direct
12:20
In the city
Lands 11:30, 20min immigration, 30min from the airport
18:25
Leave the city
30min back, 120min at the airport incl. immigration
22:20
Back in London Gatwick
Flies 20:55

Leave London GatwickeasyJet, direct07:50
Land in Madrid2h 40min11:30
In the city20min immigration, 30min from the airport12:20
Leave the city30min back, 120min at the airport incl. immigration18:25
Fly home2h 40min20:55
Back in London Gatwick22:20

Last bus or train to the airport: about 02:00.

Typical weather for this date

12°C

average high

3°C

average low

3 in 10

years it rained

This date is too far out to forecast. These are Madrid's actual figures for the same date across the last 10 years.

Also on in Madrid

Coming up in Madrid: Cabalgata de Reyes Magos de Madrid, 5 Jan

Things to do in MadridShow

Royal Palace of MadridTickets on TiqetsAffiliate link
Prado MuseumTickets on TiqetsAffiliate link
Santiago Bernabéu StadiumTickets on TiqetsAffiliate link
Parque de Atracciones MadridTickets on TiqetsAffiliate link

All things to do in Madrid · Tiqets, affiliate link

With kids in MadridShow

What a day in Madrid costs

Flights and on-the-ground spend, per person.

£108/ all in, per person

Metro to city centre and back£8

Local transport£9

Lunch£12

Dinner£20

Beer calculator× 0£0

Entry fees, on top (optional)

Museo Nacional del Prado£13 (€15)

Royal Palace of Madrid£15 (€18)

Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza£12 (€14)

Museo Reina Sofía main building (individual visitors only), Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza is free on Mondays 12:00-16:00, Royal Palace of Madrid is free Monday-Thursday 17:00-19:00, El Retiro Park, Plaza MayorFree

On the ground£49

Prices checked 3 Oct 2026

Return flight from£59

Google Flights price. Checked 19 hours ago.

Getting to Gatwickfrom free

All in, per person£108

Book on Google Flights

Compare fares on Aviasales · Affiliate link

Estimated cost. Fares last checked 8 Oct, 22:20. Prices and availability change and are set by the airline or agent when you book.

The main button opens the airline or Google Flights; Compare fares goes to Aviasales, who pay us a small commission.

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First 1,000 members

Become a founder

Half the price, kept for good, for the first 1,000 members.

£19a year, locked for life

Day Trips is live.

Try it for 14 days. Full refund if it's not for you.

Built by Josh and Samar

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Getting to the airportShow

Getting to Gatwick

Per person. Not in the total above. Prices checked 25 Sept 2026.

Free

Free drop-offFree
Long Stay car park: free for 0-2 hours, with a free shuttle bus (10-12 min) to the terminal. Source

Train

From London (Gatwick Express, Victoria)Price not published30 min
Source
From London (Southern / Thameslink, Victoria / London Bridge / St Pancras)Price not published30-45 min
Source

Coach

National Express from LondonPrice not published
Source

Taxi

From London£100-£160 one way~30 miles
Estimate, not a quote.

Parking at the airport

Paid drop-offfrom £10
Drop-off zone: £10 for 10 min, then £1/extra minute up to 20 min, maximum daily charge £30, maximum stay 30 min, payable by midnight the next day. Source
Short Stay£70
"12-24 hours" walk-up (roll-up) rate. Source
Premium Short Stay£87.50
"12-24 hours" walk-up rate. Source
Long Stay£38
"2-24 hours" band (first 2 hours free). Source

More parking

Mid StayNo same-day price
Source
Valet ParkingNo same-day price
Source
Premium Parking / Robotic Parking (South Terminal only)No same-day price
Source

Parking nearby

No same-day price published. See multi-day prices

Cophall Parking£4.21
Multi-day price, not a same-day quote. Shuttle 10-15 min. Source
Airparks Park & Ride£4.24
Multi-day price, not a same-day quote. Shuttle 10-12 min. Source
APH Park & Ride£4.36
Multi-day price, not a same-day quote. Shuttle 15 min. Source

Costs people forgetShow

Costs people forget

Not in the total above. Worth a minute before you go.

Phone data. EE, Vodafone and Three charge about £2.75 a day to use your allowance in Europe. O2, Tesco Mobile and giffgaff include it free.
Card fees. Many cards add a foreign-exchange fee to every payment abroad. Check yours before you go, or take one that doesn't charge it.

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Tips from day trippers

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Day trip to Madrid.
From London Gatwick, back by 22:20.

Day Trip Flight Details

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Related reading

Day Trip to Madrid from the UK: What 9 Hours Actually Cost Us

Related reading

Day Trip to Madrid from the UK: What 9 Hours Actually Cost Us

Day trip to Madrid.From London Gatwick, back by 22:20.

Day Trip Flight Details

Become a founder

Become a founder

Related reading

Day Trip to Madrid from the UK: What 9 Hours Actually Cost Us

Related reading

Day Trip to Madrid from the UK: What 9 Hours Actually Cost Us

Day trip to Madrid.
From London Gatwick, back by 22:20.