Return to Madrid Guide

IES Abroad Advancement & Alumni Engagement is pleased to bring you a few tips and pointers for returning to Madrid. The IES Abroad Chicago office number is 800- 995-2300. For any questions or more information about our alumni weekends in Madrid please email iesalumnievents@IESabroad.org or go to www.IESabroad.org/alumni.

• Be sure that your passport expiration date extends at least six months beyond your travel dates.
   
• Visit the State Department's Spain Information page here for detailed information about safety abroad:
  Spain State Department Information Page

Options from Adolfo Suarez Madrid airport to downtown:

Via Taxi: After collecting your luggage, follow the signs to the taxi queue. The taxi ride will cost you €30-35 aprox. There is no extra charge for luggage. All taxis will accept credit cards; make sure that you tell them upon entering the taxi if you will be paying with credit card. It is recommended to bring some cash (€100) in case the card reader does not work.

Via Metro: Is located within the airport. Take the pink line 8 all the way to Nuevos Ministerios, where it ends, and then switch to the metro line that will take you to your hotel. Please check the Metro de Madrid. A metro ticket is around €5 including the airport supplement; be aware that most metro stops do not have elevators or escalators.

Via Bus: Look or ask for the Airport Express 24 hours bus service. It stops outside all the airport terminals and costs €5 aprox.

The following hotels are suggested by the IES Abroad Madrid Center (sort by star rating):

• Hotel Only You Boutique- Calle del Barquillo, 21, 28004
• Hotel NH Collection Madrid Suecia- Calle del Marqués de Casa Riera, 4, 28014
• Hotel Casa de las Artes Meliá Collection- Calle de Atocha, 83, 28012
• AC Marriot Hotel Recoletos- Calle de Recoletos, 18, 28001
• Hotel Petit Palace Plaza Lealtad- Calle de Antonio Maura, 5, 28014
• Hotel Regina- Calle Alcalá, 19, 28014
• Hotel 7 Islas- Calle de Juan Valverde, 14, 28004
• Hotel NH Collection Madrid Paseo del Prado- Plaza Cánovas del Castillo, 4, 28014
• Hotel Vincci The Mint- Gran Via, 10, 28013
• Hotel Soho Boutique Congreso- Calle de Zorrilla, 7, 28014
• Hotel Petit Palace Chueca- Calle Hortaleza, 3, 28004
• Hotel Catalonia Gran Via Madrid- Gran Via, 7-9, 28013

The original location of IES Abroad Madrid Spanish Studies was Avenida de los Reyes Católicos, 4 in a share 5th floor building of the Instituto de Cultura Hispánica (currently “AECID”) a few minutes from the Temple of Debod. In 1996, the Madrid Studies Center moved to a private apartment in the Colegio Mayor San Agustín. Nowadays, the Center is located in the Paseo de Recoletos, 15 since September 2025, and students have been enjoying the heart of Madrid, just steps from some of the city's most iconic neighborhoods—Chueca, Barrio de Salamanca, Retiro, and Chamberí.

The IES Abroad Madrid Center is a unique plivileged site: Paseo de Recoletos, 15. If you would like to visit the IES Abroad Madrid Center, please make arrangements by contacting the alumni office at iesalumnievents@IESabroad.org. Class reunion groups are also invited to visit the Center for a special program when arrangements are made in advance.

The IES Abroad Madrid Center for the Language, and Area Studies may be able to provide information from your class year during the Center visit. Class members are also invited to provide information by emailing digital photos from their year to iesalumnievents@IESabroad.org or by bringing original or copied material which will be catalogued in the IES Abroad archives. By doing so, you grant permission for IES Abroad to share the photos online with other IES Abroad alumni and others via Internet sharing sites.

The following restaurants can be used as gathering spots and group meals for IES Abroad reunion groups:

• El Pimiento Verde Quintana- Calle de Quintana, 1, 28008
• Restaurante Casa Suecia- Calle del Marqués de Casa Riera, 4 (Planta baja), 28014
• Café de Oriente- Plaza de Oriente, 2, 28013
• Posada del León de Oro- Calle de la Cava Baja, 12, 28013
• Casa Orellana- Calle de Orellana, 6 (bajo izquierda), 28004
• La Paella Real- Calle de Arrieta, 2 (second floor), 28013
• Restaurante Casa Mono- Calle del Tutor, 37, 28008
• Restaurante La Braserí- Calle de la Montera, 47 (9ª Planta), 28013
• Restaurante Panamera Madrid- Calle de Fernández de la Hoz, 57, 28003
• Casa de Valencia- Paseo de Pintor Rosales, 58, 28008
• Hotel Palacio San Martín- Plaza San Martín, 5, 28013
• Restaurante Soho (Hotel Vincci Soho)- Calle del Prado, 18, 28014
• Restaurante Torcuato- Calle de Serrano, 61, 28006

Madrid by mouth: Madrid Restaurants that are Good for Groups

• Visit to the Liria Palace
• Visit the Gallery of the Royal Collections
• Go to a Opera or Ballet in the Teatro Real
• Enjoy a Music Concert in the Auditorio Nacional
• If you are a soccer fan, do not miss this guide tour of Santiago Bernabeu Stadium
• Madrid is known for the sunny days, we encourage you to do a picnic in the Retiro Park
• Visit El Escorial town 

Madrid has a great public transportation system that allows you to get around very easily on the metro, the bus, and the suburban trains. The best option for people visiting is to get the “Tourist Travel Pass” from 6€ at any transportation counter. You can then charge tickets at any transportation terminal or with your phone with the application "Tarjeta Transporte". Taxis and Ubers are also easy to find and order. RadioTaxi is one major taxi company that you can reserve online.

*IES Abroad does not endorse any of the companies mentioned in this guide. IES Abroad does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy, content, completeness, or reliability of this information. IES Abroad shall not be liable for any loss or damage of whatever nature from your use of information on this site. This website provides links to websites owned by third parties, which are not in our control, and IES Abroad does not take responsibility for the information or content thereon.