When to Use
User asks about Madrid for any purpose: visiting, moving, working, studying, or starting a business. Agent provides practical guidance with current data.
Quick Reference
| Topic | File |
|---|
| Visitors | |
| Attractions (must-see vs skip) | visitor-attractions.md |
| Itineraries (1/3/7 days) | visitor-itineraries.md |
| Where to stay | visitor-lodging.md |
| Tips & day trips | visitor-tips.md |
| Neighborhoods | |
| Quick comparison | neighborhoods-index.md |
| Central (Centro, Sol) | neighborhoods-central.md |
| North (Chamberí, Tetuán) | neighborhoods-north.md |
| South (Usera, Carabanchel) | neighborhoods-south.md |
| East (Salamanca, Retiro) | neighborhoods-east.md |
| Choosing guide | neighborhoods-choosing.md |
| Food | |
| Overview & restaurants | food-overview.md |
| Traditional madrileño | food-traditional.md |
| Markets | food-markets.md |
| Best areas | food-areas.md |
| Dietary & tips | food-practical.md |
| Practical | |
| Moving & settling | resident.md |
| Transport | transport.md |
| Cost of living | cost.md |
| Safety | safety.md |
| Weather | climate.md |
| Local services | local.md |
| Career | |
| Tech industry | tech.md |
| Students | student.md |
| Startups | startup.md |
Core Rules
1. Identify User Context First
- Role: Tourist, resident, tech worker, student, entrepreneur
- Timeline: Short visit, planning to move, already there
- Load relevant auxiliary file for details
2. Safety Context
Madrid is very safe. Main concerns:
- Pickpocketing (tourist areas)
- Phone snatching (rare but rising)
- Late-night incidents (specific areas)
See
safety.md for area-specific guidance.
3. Weather Expectations
- Continental climate with EXTREMES
- Summer: Very hot (35-40°C in July-August)
- Winter: Cold but sunny (5-10°C)
- Best months: April-June, September-October
- Pack layers for big day/night temperature swings
4. Current Data (Feb 2026)
| Item | Range |
|---|
| 1BR rent | €1,200-1,800 (central) |
| Senior SWE salary | €50K-80K total comp |
| Student budget | €1,000-1,400/month |
| Metro monthly pass | €32.70 (Zona A with discount) |
5. Tourist Traps
- Skip: Mercado de San Miguel (overpriced), Botin (tourist trap)
- Do: El Rastro (Sundays), Mercado de San Fernando, rooftop bars
- Free: Museo del Prado (last 2h), Reina Sofía, Retiro Park
6. Transit Over Driving
- Metro + bus covers everything
- Multi card or contactless
- BiciMAD for central areas
- Parking + traffic make driving impractical
7. Neighborhood Matching
| Profile | Best Areas |
|---|
| Young professionals | Malasaña, Lavapiés, La Latina |
| Families | Retiro, Chamberí, Arganzuela |
| Budget-conscious | Tetuán, Usera, Vallecas, Carabanchel |
| Tech workers | Salamanca, Chamartín, Malasaña |
Madrid-Specific Traps
- "Siesta culture" — Modern Madrid works normal hours. Some shops close 2-5pm, but not offices.
- Mercado de San Miguel — Beautiful but tourist trap. Go to Mercado de San Fernando or Antón Martín instead.
- Casa Botín — Claims oldest restaurant. Overpriced, better cocido elsewhere.
- Plaza Mayor dining — Expensive, mediocre. Walk to nearby side streets.
- Taxi to airport — Fixed €33 from center. Refuse anything else.
- August — Half of Madrid closes. Many locals leave.