The Ultimate Packing List For Madrid 2023 – Everything You Need

I used to travel to Madrid on an almost weekly basis, so I have the packing list for Madrid pretty much memorized at this point. 

I have lived in Madrid for nearly a decade now, and it is a very vibrant city with a lot to offer. You will see some wonderful architecture, world famous museums and eat some really good food. Because you will be so busy having fun while walking around Madrid, I want to make sure you have everything you need to have a stress free trip, enjoy this beautiful city and not be caught off guard.

I will let you know what the essential items you should pack for a trip to Madrid are and you can relax and enjoy all Madrid has to offer. They are pretty basic items, and if you are a frequent traveler you will know to do your research. This is just a list of items tailored to the city of Madrid that will make your trip here a little easier and more enjoyable.

The Essential Packing List For Madrid

Comfortable walking shoes

Something I really love about Madrid is it is very well suited to walking. There are the main streets that run through the centre of the city, but most of the shopping districts, where all the squares and restaurants are located are cut off to traffic, so you will be walking around a lot. There is so much to see that you can go for miles and see so much and not realize it, so a good pair of shoes to take care of your feet and be comfortable is really important.

The best option is going to be a pair of sports trainers, like a pair of running shoes or something with a comfortable sole. The streets are all very well taken care of here in Madrid, so you wont need any special type of shoe. In the winter, I actually wear my hiking shoes to walk around Madrid, but what you want is just comfort and a good grip.

Light and Heavy layers

Madrid gets a lot of sun all year around, and even in the colder months, you can get warm days where a large jacket may not be necessary, but it can get cool in the night and in the shade at times. So if you are travelling to Madrid in the summer, shorts and a shirt are going to be just fine for most of the trip, but pack a light sweater and some chinos just in case.

If you don’t, you might end up spending money unnecessarily for not planning ahead. If you have the option there, you can add and remove layers as needed. But you can’t do anything if you are caught in a breeze and have nothing else.

A hat and sunscreen

As I mentioned, Madrid gets over 330 days a year of sunshine. If you are here in the summer, the sun is basically there all day long, no breaks. It is cool in the shade, but if you are walking around a lot, be sure you use sunscreen to protect yourself.

If wearing a hat is not something you are used to or feel self conscious about, don’t. Get yourself a nice wide hat and you will thank me for this later. When you are walking down one of the beautiful tree lined streets of Madrid, taking in all the great buildings, the sun can be unrelenting, so any shade you can create yourself is good, and you want to keep your head out of all that sun anyway.

A water bottle

In Madrid, there are fresh water fountains everywhere. It will be very important to stay hydrated in Madrid with all the walking, so you definitely need to have a water bottle with you at all times. It can be a chore sometimes because you run out of water and carry an empty bottle the rest of the day. But with so many fountains around town, the bottle becomes so much more useful.

If you get thirsty and don’t know where to find a drinking fountain in Madrid, here is a link to a map where you can see the location of every single drinkable water fountain in Madrid. 

A Camera

When packing for a trip to Madrid, a camera is a must as Madrid is one of the most photographable cities in the world. With so much history, and so many historic sites, palaces, gardens, cathedrals, markets, squares, you are going to be snap-happy and be taking a lot of pictures. Most phones nowadays have equivalent or better cameras than a pure camera. If you are a photo enthusiast and have a good camera, then you will appreciate having learnt how to use it when you see what Madrid has to offer a photographer.

Even after so many years of living here, every time I go out for a walk around Madrid, I see a new building, or an old school a hospital and stop and stare at how much effort went into building something so pretty, and I carry a little portable camera with me at all times, as well as my phone because I know by now that there is always something else to see in Madrid.

An adapter for Spanish plugs

Most of the things we use now rely on electricity, so you are going to have at least a couple of chargers with you. Spain uses a different power outlet and voltage, so a three pronged plug will be useless without the adapter. You can pick one of these up quite cheaply before you get to Madrid. Or once you are here, you can also pick one up at the duty free. Most local shops will have a Spanish socket adapter too, just be sure to pick one up. This is another must have when considering things to take when travelling to Madrid.

Get a Spanish translation app

A lot of people in Spain speak a decent level of English, and you will be able to get your point across most of the time. But in the more classic, neighborhood bars, you may need to consult a translation app. In most cases, using google translate will be good enough, and you only need to learn a few key phrases for the time you will be here.

Like ´Hola´ for hello, ´Adios´ for good buy, ¨Una cerveca por favor¨ a beer please, ¨me cobras¨ to ask for the bill at the end of a meal. You get the idea, just make a note of a few things you know you will be needing to say at some point, and keep them at the ready. You don’t need to be fluent, just enjoy your trip and embrace the culture a little more.

Duolingo is my favorite translation app, and other than translating you can also use this app for a few minutes everyday and start learning a second language with ease.

Duolingo for Android 
Duolingo for Apple 

A travel guidebook or App

A travel app is probably going to be the easiest and most popular choice. We have our phones on us all the time, and it is easily accessible and to search. It also pays to have a guidebook that includes information about Madrid’s top attractions and sites, a guide on public transport etc.

Just in case you run out of juice on your phone, and if the language barrier is too much for you to ask for directions, it is really useful to have a physical guidebook or map with points of interest, so you don’t end up getting lost. You can pick up one of these maps at the Madrid Tourism centre in Plaza Mayor, or you can print out a small map and mark a few points of interest.

Prescription and Medications

This is true no matter where you are going to travel. If you have any medications you have to take regularly, then be sure to have enough supply and also check to make sure you will not have any problems getting through customs. Be sure to bring your prescription and a note from your doctor to be on the safe side.

In Madrid, there are many medications you cannot buy over the counter. Like hay fever tablets, painkillers of a certain strength, they all require prescriptions. So if you have hay fever, be sure to bring your own anti histamines on your way over to Madrid.

First aid kit

You can be careful all of the time, and sometimes you can still have a mishap. Or you might just walk so much that you get a blister, sprain an ankle or any other number of misfortunes that can happen. It is best to be prepared and have your own travel first aid kit just in case. Better to be prepared and never need it right.

A Comfortable Backpack

If you walk around when you travel as much as I do, you want to have a backpack that can fit a lot of stuff, and not be too bulky. You also need a backpack that allows air flow to your back so you don’t sweat even more. I use an Osprey backpack that also comes with a water bladder. But any backpack in this style will be just fine.

Portable Power Bank

There are charging points on public transport, on the metro, on the trains, buses etc. You even some across some benches in parks that have a usb charging point, but as you are not going to be sitting in a room all day and will be out exploring Madrid most of the time, you don’t want to run out of battery on your phone, camera, or headphones so it is a good idea to get yourself a quality portable power bank. 

Virtual VPN

You can be careful with your physical good, but we keep a lot of our personal information in digital form now. Investing in a good vpn is one of the best ways to safeguard your digital information. You may be connecting to different Wi Fi networks during your stay here in Madrid, and there is no way to make sure each one is secure.

Having a vpn lets you not have to worry about this, and an added plus is you can watch some streaming services like Hulu and Netflix with no limits, as you can change the country of your connection using Express VPN. 

Travel Insurance

You really should never go anywhere without getting yourself some travel insurance. Hopefully you never have the need to use it, but if you were to have an accident or get sick, without travel insurance those bills can stack up really quick, So it is always worth covering yourself just in case something does happen, you won’t be unprepared.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of sockets do they use in Spain? Spain uses a two prong socket that’s like an indentation in the wall, and has 230v. You will need a European Travel Plug Adapter to be able to use the sockets here in Spain.

Can you travel with medication to Spain? As long as you have a prescription you will be okay to travel with most medications. To be on the safe side though, always check with the airline you will be flying with. You may not be able to have over a certain amount in your hand luggage, so you would need to check it in.

Do service personnel speak English in Madrid? You will be happy to know that most people in Madrid have a decent level of English. If you get stuck for directions, or are ordering at a restaurant, you will be able to explain what you need without the need of too much fuss.

Conclusion:

There are a few essential items you will be needing for your tip to Madrid, but nothing too out of the ordinary. Comfortable shoes, a guide of some sort, your charging equipment for the various electronics, and more importantly any medications or prescriptions that may be necessary while you are over here in Madrid.

Pack lightly if you are travelling to Madrid in the summer month as it is warm night and day, but always worth packing a little sweater for the cooler nights. This is pretty much all you will need for your trip to Madrid, you won’t be caught off guard and can just enjoy your trip to Madrid.