Is Madrid worth a day trip?

Yes: 9.2 hours in Madrid, £83 for the whole day, 30 min into town each way. Enough for the main sights and a proper lunch without rushing.

How long do you actually get in Madrid?

About 9.2 hours in Madrid. Landing to take-off is 12.5 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 19:45. 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 22:15 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 9.2 hours shown. These are estimates; queues run longer on busy days.

Day trip to Madrid.
From London Stansted, back by 23:45.

Spain·Thu 12 Nov · 9.2 hours in the city

£83

the whole day

9.2 hours

in the city

23:45

back in London Stansted

Flying from another London airport? Compare all six

Day Trip Flight Details

Time in the city

9.2 hours

after transfersAfter transfers and airport time

Airport distance

13km

to the centreFrom Madrid centre (MAD)

Daylight

10.1 hours

07:57 to 18:00Sunrise 07:57, sunset 18:00

First EU trip since 2025? Allow 25 min more.

FlightAirport, immigration and transportIn the city

06:15
Leave London Stansted
Ryanair, direct
10:35
In the city
Lands 09:45, 20min immigration, 30min from the airport
19:45
Leave the city
30min back, 120min at the airport incl. immigration
23:45
Back in London Stansted
Flies 22:15

Leave London StanstedRyanair, direct06:15
Land in Madrid2h 30min09:45
In the city20min immigration, 30min from the airport10:35
Leave the city30min back, 120min at the airport incl. immigration19:45
Fly home2h 30min22:15
Back in London Stansted23:45

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

Typical weather for this date

17°C

average high

5°C

average low

2 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.

£83/ 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£34

Google Flights price. Checked 12 hours ago.

Getting to Stanstedfrom free

All in, per person£83

Book on Google Flights

Compare fares on Aviasales · Affiliate link

Estimated cost. Fares last checked 7 Oct, 16:41. 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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Getting to the airportShow

Getting to Stansted

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

Free

Free drop-off at the Mid Stay car parkFree
Free shuttle bus to the terminal. Source

Train

From London (Liverpool Street, Stansted Express)£9.90 each way48 min
Advance single. First train 04:40, last train 23:21 Source
First train too late for this flight: it gets you to Stansted less than 90 min before take-off. Last train leaves before you land.

Coach

National Express from London£10.50 each way
Cheapest advertised single. Runs round the clock. Source

Taxi

From London£90-£130 one way~42 miles
Estimate, not a quote. Uber or Bolt usually £55-£85.

Parking at the airport

Paid drop-off, Short Stay car parkfrom £13
Up to 30 min £13, up to 1 hr £21. Source

More parking

Short StayNo same-day price
From £74.99 (7-day stay). Source
Meet & GreetNo same-day price
From £79 (8-day stay). Source
Mid StayNo same-day price
From £64.99 (8-day stay). Source
Long StayNo same-day price
From £59.99 (8-day stay). Source
JetParksNo same-day price
From £58.99 (8-day stay). Source

Parking nearby

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

Maple Parking Park & Ride£107.99
Multi-day price, not a same-day quote. Shuttle 5 min. Source
I Love Park & Ride£124
Multi-day price, not a same-day quote. Shuttle 5 min. Source
APH Park and Ride£144
Multi-day price, not a same-day quote. Shuttle 5 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.
Ryanair airport check-in. £55 per person, per flight, if you don't check in online. Without a paid seat, online check-in opens 24 hours before and closes 2 hours before. Ryanair, fees
Ryanair bags. One small bag (40 x 30 x 20 cm) under the seat is free. A 10kg cabin bag (55 x 40 x 20 cm) needs Priority & 2 Cabin Bags, £12.49 to £36 when booked. An oversize bag at the gate is refused or put in the hold for £70 to £75. Ryanair, fees

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Day trip to Madrid.
From London Stansted, back by 23:45.

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 Stansted, back by 23:45.

Day Trip Flight Details

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 Stansted, back by 23:45.