Flights to Madrid (MAD)

Cheap Flights to Madrid

There are few places on earth where the locals know how to live like they do in Madrid. This where living becomes art and where day segues into night effortlessly. Take a flight to Madrid to discover the sheer, joy, energy and zest for life that this most European of cities offers.

When to Book Flights to Madrid

There’s barely a season when Madrid is dormant. Madrid is a true year-round destination – and it’s not just down to its rather wonderfully inviting climate.

The peak season for flights is July and August. If you are looking for cheaper flights try the shoulder seasons of spring and fall when accommodation and air fares drop.

The 15th of May is when the feast of San Isidro kicks off. Around this time, you can expect Cheap Flights to be almost impossible to come by: Madrid’s biggest holiday forces the costs up even for those looking to book incredibly early.

How to Find the Best Flight Deals to Madrid

We offer you plenty of ways to find the cheapest and most convenient flights to Madrid.

When you search with Orbitz you can use our ‘Nearby airports’ option to explore if there are any deals on flights departing from another accessible US airport or arriving in a suitably close airport to Madrid.

Another great way to bag a bargain is to search with us flexibly. By checking the ‘My dates are flexible’ tick box we’ll return a range of dates for you to see where the cheapest options lie.

You can filter and sort your results on the left-hand side of your Madrid flights’ results page. Slice and dice the results by price or duration, direct or connecting flights, airline, airport or by refundable and non-refundable flights.

US Departures to Madrid

Optimum flight times from US airports to Madrid include:

• Flights from New York to Madrid – 7 hours 20 minutes
• Flights from Miami to Madrid – 8 hours 35 minutes
• Flights from Atlanta to Madrid – 8 hours 35 minutes
• Flights from Chicago to Madrid – 8 hours 05 minutes
• Flights from Washington to Madrid – 7 hours 55 minutes

Main Airports in Madrid

Madrid Barajas Airport, now officially known as Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, is just seven miles from the entre of Madrid.

To reach the city from the airport you can jump on the Expres Aeropuerto bus which runs very regularly from the arrival terminals. The bus only makes two or three stops during its journey so you’ll probably have to also take the metro to get to your final destination.

It may be simpler – but will cost more - to get the metro directly from the airport to the center of the city or to use one of the taxi cabs that wait directly outside the airport.

Which Airlines Fly to Madrid?

Airlines offering direct flights to Madrid from US departure points include:

• American Airlines
• Iberia
• Air Europa
• Delta
• United

How to Get Around in Madrid

The metro in Madrid pretty much goes everywhere – and it costs hardly anything at all. The network boasts 12 lines and 300 stations, covering 182 miles in total. It’s easy to navigate and makes travelling in Madrid a real breeze. Service announcements are made in Spanish and English and all machines, maps and signs are in both languages too.

When the metro closes at 1.30am the Autobus Nocturnos picks up the reigns, with services running every 20 minutes across the vast majority of the city.

What Are the Must-Sees in Madrid?

It’s truly impossible to tire of this inexhaustible city – there’s always something new to see and do. If you are a first-time visitor, here are some essential things to get you started.

• The Prado Museum showcases works by Spain's most famous artists, including Velazquez and Goya.
• The Palacio Real (Royal Palace) is a sumptuous historic delight.
• The El Rastro market and the upscale shops of Salamanca provide hours of pleasurable retail therapy.
• Watch the Madrileños air kiss and go about their business from an open-air café near the Plaza Mayor.
• End your day by sampling the specialties at a tapas bar before you hit the clubs to experience how Madrid lives it up every night.

Tips for Traveling in Madrid

If you fancy escaping the city’s buzz for a bit head out to El Capricho, a stunning park hidden in the suburbs of the city. Once the home of the Dukes of Osuna, today the ground’s dovecotes, reservoirs, statues and wild vegetation is the ideal place for relaxation.

Thanks to pleasant weather and the San Isidro Festival, which officially kicks off the bullfighting season, May might just be the best month to visit Madrid. It’s also a nice time to view the picturesque Real Jardín Botánico, the royal botanical gardens dating back to the 18th century. The 30,000 or so plants bloom during the spring and summer, making the grounds a peaceful place to stroll. The livelier Retiro Park—a huge expanse of statues, greenery, beautiful old buildings, and a lake with rowboats for rent—is also nearby.

In between the festivities of spring and the dry but extreme heat of mid-summer, June promises plenty of sun without the overwhelming crowds that start streaming in during July and August. Take the time to sip sangria on an outdoor patio or look for the perfect keepsake along the Gran Vía. Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises ends at the grand boulevard, but if you’re a shopper, you’ll just be getting started at this mecca of noteworthy architecture and upscale shops.

January and February are the coldest—and least popular—times to visit. But with temperatures ranging from about 30 to 60 degrees, it’s not too chilly to enjoy yourself, and lines at the biggest attractions are nearly nonexistent. The broad, tree-lined Paseo del Prado houses three such attractions you won’t want to miss: the incomparable Museo Nacional del Prado, a must for anyone who enjoys European art; the well-loved Museo Reina Sofía, a contemporary art museum that’s home to Picasso’s Guernica; and Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, which includes a nice assortment of works from the likes of Duccio, Auguste Renoir, and Titian.

*Savings based on all package bookings with Flight + Hotel made on Orbitz.com from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018 as compared to the price of the same components booked separately. Savings will vary based on origin/destination, length of trip, stay dates and selected travel supplier(s). Savings not available on all packages.