“You can leave Madrid, but it will never leave you”
Over ten million people visit Madrid every single year. And it’s clear to see why. A bustling metropolitan city, the Spanish capital is one of the major hubs in the European Union, with a historical and cultural legacy that inspires wanderlust in travellers across the world. A city where modern architecture is sandwiched alongside its historic neighbourhoods and streets, Madrid is renowned for its art, cuisine, sport and music, hosting some of the most popular events and festivals on the continent. Join us at What We Reading as we offer you the best Madrid travel books to help inspire and plan your next trip across Spain’s capital!
Fodor’s Madrid: With Sevilla And Granada – Fodor’s Travel
Whether it’s experiencing the majesty of the Alhambra or sampling the best tapas on a culinary tour, Fodor’s Travel has one of the best guides to Madrid. Packed with maps, guides and carefully curated recommendations designed to take the hassle out of planning a trip to the Spanish capital and surrounding areas, putting you in front of the best places to visit.
With an easy-to-read layout and up-to-date information as well as a wealth of high-quality colour photographs, it will both inspire your wanderlust and help you navigate Madrid, Sevilla and Granada with ease!
Lonely Planet Madrid – Lonely Planet
The world’s leading travel guide publisher takes readers into the heart of the Spanish capital in their Madrid travel book. Offering the most relevant tips and recommendations on everything from frescoes at Plaza Mayor to hiking through the Parque del Buen Retiro, Lonely Planet Madrid comes with colour maps, highlights itineraries and insider tips that have been designed for tailoring your trip based on your personal needs, saving you time and money in the process.
Lonely Planet’s edition is also one of the best Madrid books for several cultural insights into the city, covering the politics, history, people, art, music, cuisine and religion of the region.
Madrid: By Locals – A Madrid Travel Guide Written In Spain – Guides By Locals
Locals compile the Guides by Locals travel series, and their Madrid edition stands out as one of the top resources for immersing yourself in the city like a native. This guidebook is one of the finest resources for gaining a more personal understanding of Madrid, as it’s created by those who call the city home.
It offers an engaging and informative perspective on the city, delving into the reasons behind the locals’ appreciation for specific attractions and places, while also providing valuable insights into their locations and the best times to visit them.
Madrid: The Monocle Travel Guide – Monocle
Madrid is a city where modernity and history co-exist side by side. And few Madrid books capture the wonder of this quite like Monocle’s Madrid travel guide. The book features all of the best spots to visit in Madrid, hand-picked by Monocle’s in-house travel experts.
From where the ideal place to take an early morning jog is to the best independent retailers, this travel guide is full of quirks and hidden surprises that a unique side to the city. This book guides readers through hidden neighbourhoods, steering them away from the hustle and bustle of tourist zones. It is a must-read for any traveller seeking a genuinely authentic experience.
Madrid Travel Guide: 101 Coolest Things To Do In Madrid – 101 Coolest Things
101 Coolest Things strips away the long-winded descriptions in exchange for a snappy guide through the best spots in Madrid in their travel guide on the Spanish capital. Covering the food, sights, adventures and vibrant experiences the city has to offer, this is one of the best Madrid books for those travellers looking to make their experience memorable.
From the best places to hang out with locals, local events and festivals such as Madrid Beer Week to the most breathtaking historical and cultural sights, 101 Coolest Things combines it all in their edition.
Let’s Go Budget Madrid: The Student Travel Guide – Harvard Student Agencies Inc.
Want to visit Madrid but want to know your budget? Harvard Student Agencies have you covered. In Let’s Go Budget Madrid, they offer the most complete travel guide to making the most out of the Spanish capital, without breaking the bank in the process. Whether it’s visiting Picasso’s Guernica or partying in the mansion-turned-discoteca Palacio Gaviria, this slim guide is jam-packed full of guides on how to make every penny count.
With high-quality imagery to inspire your sightseeing and neighbourhood maps to help keep your bearings on-point, this Madrid travel book is the ultimate resource in finding the cheapest places to eat and stay, as well as offering several invaluable tips on how to get discount prices for museums, performances, and public transportation.
Greater Than A Tourist – Madrid Spain: 50 Travel Tips From A Local – Ana Alonso
For another great guide to Madrid for those looking to experience the city like a native, Ana Alonso has some of the most invaluable travel tips in Greater Than a Tourist. Offering the inside scoop on Madrid, Alonso takes readers past the typical sightseeing and immerses them in all the best spots to visit with local advice on how to best enjoy them.
Through these tips and bits of advice, readers gain a far deeper appreciation for the people and the culture behind Madrid, making for a more profound and memorable travel experience.
Check Out The Best Spain Travel Books
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
