Car Rental Madrid

General information about Madrid

Madrid Airport is called Barajas and lies 13 km northeast of the capital. The airport is easily accessible by car, but you must know to which terminal you have to go. From Madrid's ring road (M-40) take the A-2 towards Barcelona and then exit 12 to the M-14, which runs along terminals 1, 2 and 3. For T4 and T4S you'll have to drive through a tunnel where the road number changes into M-13. Exit 0A leads to the terminal.

Sightseeing with your rental car

You'll probably know the famous guitar concert Concierto d’Aranjuez, which is most likely inspired by the beautiful surroundings of the village of Aranjuez on the river Tagus. You can get there via highway A-4. The Palacio Real was originally built by Charles V and Philip II expanded it. There is a costume museum and the palace is surrounded by wonderful gardens. There are also statues of figures from Greek mythology.

West of Madrid lies the highest town in Spain, Ávila de los Caballeros at an altitude of 1127 meters. You can get to this city by car from Madrid via the A-6 and the AP-51. The town is surrounded by a magnificent medieval fortress wall with no less than 88 towers and 9 gates. The cathedral of the city is part of that wall. There are a few Romanesque churches and monasteries. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Southwest of Madrid lies the picturesque town of Toledo on a granite rock on the Tagus. The old town still bears obvious traces of the Moors. You should definitely wander around the steep streets of the old Jewish quarter. The cathedral from the 13th century is well worth a visit. Toledo is the city of the Greek artist El Greco. Nowadays, his house is a museum.

Also southwest of Madrid lies a protected nature reserve, Parque Nacional de Cabañeros. This forest is a bird lover's paradise. The park can only be reached by car. Take the N-403 and then go in the direction of Pueblonuevo del Bullaque, Santa Quiteria or Alcoba de los Montes.

Renting a car in Madrid

You can pick up your rental car from Madrid Airport, various downtown locations and three train stations: Atocha, Chamartin and Nuevos Ministerios. Madrid is a bustling town and if you're not familiar with the streets of Madrid, it can be difficult to find your way around. Even finding a parking space is a challenge. But, for visiting the attractions in the area, a rental car is essential. Please do keep in mind that on the Spanish highways (autopistas) you'll have to pay tolls.