Camping in Madrid

The Spanish capital in the middle of the country invites you to city camping, with travellers choosing from a wide range of pitches. Holidaymakers can spend a pleasant night close to the centre or in a quiet location on the outskirts of the city before strolling through sun-drenched plazas such as the Plaza de Oriente or the Plaza de España. Campers with dogs can stroll through the well-kept Campo del Moro park, while parents with children can visit the Madrid Zoo Aquarium.

Special features of camping in Madrid

Well-maintained sites are located just 15 km from the city centre, so culture lovers can start their sightseeing tour with the Almudena Cathedral and the Plaza Mayor after a hearty breakfast. Many of the sites are equipped with modern bungalows. Shady pitches for caravans are also available.

Those who prefer camping close to nature will find what they are looking for in the east of the metropolis. Close to the Cuenca Alta Manzanares National Park, holidaymakers can combine excursions with shopping and sightseeing in the capital with hikes through the species-rich reserve. The UNESCO-listed area invites you to relax by the Embalse de Santillana reservoir and explore the valley. After an eventful day, campers can enjoy the benefits of the modern pitches, swim in the on-site pool or take advantage of the sports facilities such as tennis or mini golf.

How to get there

Holidaymakers from Germany, for example from Freiburg im Breisgau in the south, have to cover a distance of around 1,600 km to reach the spacious campsites in Madrid. The length of the journey varies depending on where you live in the country. Travellers starting from Hamburg in the north will cross the south of the Netherlands, Belgium and France. There can be more traffic on this route near Paris, so you should allow plenty of time. The French nature park Landes de Gascogne on the Atlantic coast is ideal for a stopover lasting several hours.

Travellers with a caravan from Munich face a route of around 2,000 km, which, after a short section in Austria, runs through Switzerland and the south-east of France. Holidaymakers can expect to spend more time on the motorway through Zurich, Bern and Geneva during the peak season. The journey sometimes leads to the maritime city of Montpellier, which is located on the fine sandy Mediterranean coast and invites you to make a relaxing stopover. After sunbathing on the beach or enjoying a coffee at the fashionable harbour, the journey continues towards Madrid.

Top 5 sights

• Almudena Cathedral: Santa María la Real de La Almudena impresses with its neoclassical style, a richly decorated entrance portal and colourful stained glass windows.
• Auditorio Nacional de Música: The modern music auditorium regularly hosts concerts by the Spanish National Orchestra.
• Faro de Moncloa: At the start of the sightseeing tour, the 110 metre high broadcasting tower with viewing platform invites you to enjoy a panoramic view of Madrid.
• Las Ventas: Holidaymakers can follow in the footsteps of the past in the bullring, which opened in 1934 and is considered the largest in the country.
• Retiro Park: A trip to the well-kept green area in the heart of the capital, with its rose garden and crystal palace, promises relaxation in a green setting.

Top 3 insider tips

• Parque de las Tetas: Romantic travellers enjoy a picnic in the Parque de las Tetas, which offers sweeping views of the city's rooftops thanks to its elevated position.
• Tempo Club: Make new friends at the campsite in Madrid and head to the seventies-style Tempo Club to sip coffee in the afternoon or dance the night away.
• Tartán Roof: Another insider tip is the Tartán Roof restaurant, which offers delicious tapas and a panoramic view of Madrid. It is particularly worth a visit in the evening, when thousands of lights transform the city into an atmospheric backdrop.

Activities and excursions

Madrid offers numerous attractions over 605 km². Modern museums and historical sights make the hearts of cultural travellers beat faster, while parents and children can look forward to hours of fun at the zoo.

Sightseeing in the Spanish capital

Whether by bus, bike or your own caravan: in Madrid, you can quickly reach the top sights and sun-drenched plazas. The Plaza Mayor is particularly popular with its imposing ensemble of buildings. The House of the Bakery, which dates back to 1590, is particularly striking.

In addition to time-honoured buildings, Madrid also boasts modern skyscrapers such as the Torre Espacio and the almost 250-metre-high Torre Cepsa. Art lovers can marvel at world-famous paintings in the Museo del Prado, which exhibits works by Rubens and Dürer, among others.

Family-friendly attractions when camping in Madrid

An animal-friendly zoo with panda bears, lions and crocodiles awaits young and old in the Casa de Campo city park. In the adjoining aquarium, intelligent dolphins glide through the pools and impress with spectacular tricks.

Also in the Casa de Campo, the tour continues to the Parque de Atracciones, an amusement park with rollercoasters, carousels and relaxation areas. Children who want to meet their heroes from cartoon series can visit Warner Park, around 30 kilometres from Madrid, with shows, attractions and comic book heroes.

events

February

• Madrid Carnival: On the last new moon of winter, the carnival is celebrated over five days, especially in the Puente de Vallecas and Retiro neighbourhoods. In addition to the parades, a large costume ball in the Círculo de Bellas Artes art gallery is one of the highlights.
• Fiesta de San Isidro: This is considered the most important festival in Madrid, during which residents and visitors celebrate the city's patron saint for nine days. Exhibitions and a museum in the church on the Plaza Major tell the story of the saint's miraculous deeds. Concerts, dances and colourful parades are also organised.

May

• Fiesta de San Isidro: This is considered the most important festival in Madrid, during which residents and visitors celebrate the city's patron saint for nine days. Exhibitions and a museum in the church on the Plaza Major tell the story of the saint's miraculous deeds. Concerts, dances and colourful parades are also organised.
• Dos de Mayo: Also in May, the Spanish commemorate the 200-year-old uprising against the occupation by French troops. This historic day ultimately resulted in the Spanish War of Independence. A lively city festival is held today to mark the holiday.

June

• The inhabitants of Madrid celebrate the longest day of the year with an impressive fireworks display in Retiro Park.

October

• Bank holidays: On Spain's bank holidays, Día de la Hispanidad, the people celebrate their famous world traveller Christopher Columbus. The discovery of the American continent is commemorated with processions, military parades and a funfair.

Gastronomy

Campers who want to start the day with a typical Spanish breakfast can enjoy a sweet pastry with a coffee or hot chocolate early in the morning. Popular are the elongated doughnuts called churros, which are deep-fried and then sprinkled with sugar. For lunch, Spaniards like to feast on one of the traditional stews, such as puchera montañesa with white beans and pork ribs or potaje de vigilia with cod and chickpeas.

In the evening, hot dishes are also served: meat lovers can look forward to a thinly sliced beef escalope or a knuckle of pork lacón con grelos. If you want to broaden your culinary horizons, order the sarsuela pan with monkfish, langoustines, mussels and eel in a restaurant. The Spanish menu is rounded off with the dessert crema catalana.

Best time to visit

The Spanish capital is characterised by a continental climate, which makes for warm and dry summers when camping in Madrid. From as early as May, the thermometer shows highs of over 20 degrees Celsius and the sun shines for an average of nine hours a day. Cloudless skies and warm temperatures from June to September provide ideal conditions for sightseeing with a break in an ice cream parlour.

July is particularly summery with temperatures of over 30 degrees Celsius and only two days of rain a month. If you prefer cooler weather, come to Spain with your motorhome in October to discover the sights of the city at around 20 degrees Celsius or go hiking in the nearby national park.