Madrid has no tourist tax, but the Prado, the Royal Palace and a flamenco show each cost more than people expect. Airport taxis, card fees and a day trip to Toledo or Segovia add the rest.
Starts with a sample trip. Change any number to match yours.
Compare hotels in central Madrid →The sample is 2 travelers for 4 nights. Your plan ($2,980) covers the main costs most people budget for, the ones you enter on the left. Costs people forget ($707, about 24% more for this trip) are the fees, taxes, tips and extras listed in the calculator. Prices were last checked on October 17, 2026.
Share of the $3,687 real cost. Nights and travelers multiply most of these costs, so changing either one moves the total the most.
9 of this trip's numbers link to a published price or rate. The rest are our estimates, and each one says what it is based on. You can also read how we calculate every trip.
| Cost | Default | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Airfare per person | $850 per traveler | This guide puts round-trip economy fares from North America at about $550 to $950. Source |
| Hotel per night | $170 a night | This guide lists 3 to 4-star hotels at €100 to €190 a night; $170 is about €150. Source |
| Food per person, per day | $60 per traveler, per day | This guide puts a mid-range day of meals at about €35 to €55 per person; $60 is about €53. Source |
| Cost | Default | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Checked bag fees Off by default | $90 per traveler | Most economy fares to Europe include one checked bag, so this is off by default. Basic economy fares charge extra. Source |
| Passports Off by default | $165 per traveler | A new adult passport costs about $165 and can take weeks. Our estimate |
| Airport transfers | $75 for the trip | A taxi inside the M-30 is a fixed €33 each way, about $75 round trip; the Airport Express bus is €5. Source |
| Prado, Royal Palace and museum tickets | $50 per traveler | The Prado is €15, the Royal Palace €18 and the Reina Sofia €12, about $50 in total. Source |
| Metro and bus fares | $12 per traveler | A 10-trip ticket is €7.30 through 2026, plus €2.50 for the reusable card. Source |
| Flamenco show | $45 per traveler | This guide puts a tablao show with a drink at about €35 to €45 per person. Source |
| Tips | $3 per traveler, per day | Tipping is optional in Spain; most people round up or leave small change. Our estimate |
| Day trip to Toledo or Segovia Off by default | $60 per traveler | Fast trains make an easy day trip, but tickets and sights add up. Our estimate |
| Phone data | $30 per traveler | An international plan or eSIM. Our estimate |
| Card fees | 3% of your plan | Foreign transaction fees on credit cards are usually around 3% of each purchase. Source |
| Travel insurance | 6% of your plan | Squaremouth says a comprehensive plan averages about 6% of the trip cost, usually 4% to 10%. Source |
| Pre-trip shopping | $60 for the trip | Our estimate for travel-size toiletries, sunscreen and small things bought before a trip. Our estimate |
| Pet boarding or sitter | $50 a day, if you check Pets | Dogster puts regular kennel boarding at about $35 to $85 a night. Overnight sitters at home cost more. Source |
For 4 nights with flights, a central hotel and food, plan on about $3,000. Once you add the costs most visitors forget, like museum and palace tickets, a flamenco show, airport taxis and card fees, it's closer to $3,700. Use the calculator above to change any number to match your trip.
No. Madrid has no tourist tax in 2026. In Spain, Catalonia and the Balearic Islands are the regions with a general one, so a Barcelona stay costs more in tax than a Madrid stay. Source
Taxis charge a fixed €33 to anywhere inside the M-30 ring road, luggage included. The Airport Express bus is €5 per person, paid on board. Metro line 8 also works, but it adds a €3 airport supplement to the fare. Source
Yes, in the last two hours of each day: Monday to Saturday from 6 to 8 pm, and Sunday from 5 to 7 pm. Otherwise a ticket is €15. The Royal Palace costs €18 and does not offer free hours to visitors from outside the EU. Source
Late January, February and November usually have the lowest hotel rates and the fewest crowds. July and August can also be cheaper, but daytime highs often reach 95°F or more. Source