Senior travel: Madrid
An easier pace for an older traveller: how many stops fit in a day, which places are step-free, and what the guide says about getting around, medicines and stairs.
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Pace for a day
About 2 stops a day. 5 h out − 45 min rest, divided by an average visit of 89 min (from this city’s guide) + 30 min to move.
Places, easiest access first
- Almudena CathedralStep-free: yes · about 45 minLevel entrance and nave; the dome is by steps.
- Plaza del Dos de MayoStep-free: yes · about 60 minFlat paved square; toilets are in bars.
- Reina Sofía MuseumStep-free: yes · about 90 minLifts throughout; the old building and the new Nouvel wing are both step-free.
- Retiro ParkStep-free: yes · about 90 minPaved main paths; gravel side paths are slower.
- Thyssen-Bornemisza MuseumStep-free: yes · about 130 minLifts to every floor; wheelchairs on loan.
- Prado MuseumStep-free: yes · about 150 minStep-free entrances and lifts; wheelchairs on loan (check).
- Plaza MayorStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 25 minCobbles across the square; the arcades are smoother. No public toilets on the square.
- Royal Palace of MadridStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 120 minA step-free route exists inside; some rooms and the armoury need steps. Ask at the door.
Getting around in Madrid
Madrid is manageable on wheels. The Metro has lifts at many stations, museums are step-free, and the newer pavements are wide; the old centre has cobbles and steep streets, and some hostales have no lift.
- Pavements:
- Wide on Gran Vía and the Paseo del Prado; narrow with cobbles in the Austrias and Huertas.
- Metro:
- Many stations have lifts, but not all; check the Metro map before you set out. Lifts fail at times.
- Buses:
- The EMT bus fleet is low-floor with a ramp; a good step-free option.
- Taxis:
- Adapted taxis are available by request; book ahead in the app.
- Hotels:
- Newer hotels have lifts and roll-in showers; many old-building hostales are up narrow stairs.
- Toilets:
- Accessible toilets in museums, malls, El Corte Inglés and stations.
Medicines and health on the ground
The Spain guide lists no medicine paperwork. Check the official customs page for your medicines.
- Heat:
- June–August: water, a hat and a break indoors at 14:00–18:00.
- Water:
- Tap water is safe and good; bottled is not needed.
- Pharmacy:
- Pharmacists advise on minor illness; the green cross marks them; duty pharmacies stay open at night.
- Vaccinations:
- No special vaccines are needed; keep routine ones up to date.
- Ticks and sun:
- The Casa de Campo and the sierra have ticks in spring; wear long trousers on trails.
More: how much medicine to pack, medicine times across time zones.
Ask your insurer
Age limits and prices differ by policy and the guides do not hold them, so put these to the insurer before you buy.
- What is the oldest age the policy covers, at purchase and on the last day of the trip?
- Does the price or the cover change after a certain age?
- Are existing conditions covered, and what must be declared?
- Does the cover include medical evacuation and trip interruption?
Not medical advice. This page does not know anyone’s health. Ask a doctor before the trip, and carry a list of medicines and conditions.