Thanks to the high vaccination rates across Spain and Madrid (around 80% of the population have now been fully vaccinated), and a significant drop in the infection rates, a sense of normality finally started returning to the city in October 2021. Restrictions in the Spanish capital have been all but lifted, although measures such as compulsory mask wearing indoors and outdoors, the availability of hand sanitizer in establishments, ventilation and social distancing in certain settings, continue to be observed.
Since 20 September, all restaurants, cafés and night clubs may now open as late as their licenses allow, and shopping malls, markets, shops cinemas, theatres, museums and galleries no longer have to apply capacity limits.
Please keep in mind, however, that the following measures currently remain in place in the Madrid region:
- As of 24 December it is compulsory to wear a mask outdoors (except for children under 6, and in case of sport practice and natural settings where social distancing can be maintened).
- There are currently no limits on capacity in bars and restaurants, neither indoors nor outdoors.
- There are currently no limits on capacity in night clubs and other late night venues. Dancing is permitted indoors as long as social distancing is followed and masks are worn.
Madrid Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard: See the Community of Madrid’s daily updates (in Spanish)
Urban transport
Madrid’s extensive public transport system is running as usual. Please note that face masks must be worn on all forms of transport:
- The metro, buses and Cercanías regional train are all operating normally.
- Taxis are also operating normally. Please note that the front passenger cannot be occupied.
- The BiciMAD electric bike hire service is also operating normally. Please note that you must wear gloves when riding the bicycles.
Tourist information points
All the Tourist information points are open.
The Plaza Mayor Tourist Information Centre and the city’s five tourist information kiosks (Plaza de Callao, Royal Palace, Reina Sofía, Paseo del Prado and Bernabéu) have been awarded the Safe Tourism Certified Seal (UNE 0066-10 de Mayo 2020). Madrid is the first major city whose tourist information centres have received the seal which is given by the Institute for Spanish Tourism Quality (ICTE).
You can also continue to use the following channels to obtain information about the city:
- Telephone (+34) 915 787 810: 9:30am-8:30pm
- Via e-mail: [email protected]: 9:30am-8:30pm
- On this Tourism website: www.esmadrid.com: 24 hours
Travelling to Spain
There is currently a temporary restriction on non-essential travel from many non-EU countries to the European Union and Schengen zone. The decision to lift or relax restrictions for those who hold a COVID-19 vaccine certificate will depend on which country the tourists are travelling from (see below).
All passengers arriving in Spain must fill in an FCS health control form and will face both a temperature check and a visual inspection. From 7 June 2021, all those passengers (except for children under 12) travelling from a high-risk country/area must present a certificate or document certifying vaccination against COVID-19, a negative certificate of a Diagnostic Test of Active Infection, or a certificate of Recovery after having passed this disease in order to enter Spain.
YOU SHOULD NOT TRAVEL if you have had symptoms consistent with COVID-19, such as a high temperature, a cough or breathing difficulties, in the last 14 days.
EXEMPTIONS AND PARTIAL RESTRICTIONS:
THIRD COUNTRIES
- Restrictions have been lifted on flights between Spain and a number of countries (Click here for the full list of EU and EEA countries). Passengers arriving from these countries do not need to present any health certificates.
- From Wednesday 1 December, all those travelling to Spain from the UK must present proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
EUROPEAN UNION
- The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has established a traffic light system to classify regions in Europe according to their risk level. There are no entry restrictions for passengers from “green” countries nor for those travelling from “orange” and “red” territories, provided they present a negative PCR result or a certificate that demonstrates they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 (visit https://reopen.europa.eu/en/)
