Coronavirus Madrid: latest information and advice

On Sunday 21 June, the country's three-month state of alarm came to an end, and borders were reopened to visitors from Schengen countries, the UK and twelve other third countries. People are now allowed to travel freely around the country, although face masks continue to be mandatory in public places and social distancing rules must be followed at all times.

Latest coronavirus measures

• Facemasks must be worn in all public spaces in Madrid, both indoor and outdoor. The only exception are people doing sports and children under the age of 6.
   
• Social distancing rules must be followed at all times.
   
• Gatherings, both indoors and outdoors, are limited to a maximum of 6 people. This means that groups at individual tables in restaurants and bars may also not exceed that number.
• Smoking outdoors in public places is forbidden if and when a 2-metre distance cannot be maintained.
   
• All group tours in museums and other attractions may no longer exceed 10 people.
   
• Maximum capacity in betting shops, casinos and racecourses is now reduced from 75% to 60%. This is also the case for leisure centres, zoos and amusement parks.
   
• Maximum capacity in most establishments (including shops, shopping centres, libraries, cinemas, theatres, indoor sports centres, theme parks and bullrings) is between 60% and 75%.
   
• Restaurants, bars and cafés can open indoor dining at 75% capacity, and are allowed to serve at the bar, at 50% capacity. Outside seating is now allowed at 100% capacity although there must be at least 1.5m distance between each table. Closing time is now 1am.
   
• Sports events may now be held with an audience, as long as everyone is sitting at least 1.5 metres apart and is wearing a mask at all times. A maximum of 300 people are allowed indoors and outdoors.
   
• Funeral services may be held with a maximum of 50 mourners outdoors and 25 indoors.
   
• Bullfighting events may not currently be held.
   
• Night clubs and other late night venues are now closed.
   
• All public parks and gardens will shut between 10pm and 6am until further notice.

Please note that the above measures apply to the whole of the Madrid region and may change depending on the epidemiological situation in the region.

New restrictions in 37 areas of Madrid

Since Monday, 21 September, the following measures now apply in 26 health areas of the city and 11 health areas in the Region of Madrid (see below for the list of affected areas):

• Residents are only allowed to enter and exit the zones on work, educational, legal or medical grounds.
• Residents may move freely around their zones but may not step outside the perimeter without a legitimate reason. Police officers will carry out daily checks in the affected areas to ensure these restrictions are respected.
• Churches, mosques and synagogues must reduce their capacity to one third. Funeral services may be held with a maximum of 15 mourners outdoors and 10 indoors.
• Shops must reduce their capacity to 50% and bring their closing time forward to 10pm (except chemists’, health centres, vets, petrol stations and other shops regarded as essential).
• Restaurants, bars and cafés are no longer allowed to serve at the bar and must reduce capacity to 50%. They must close at 10pm, except if they are providing home delivery services.
• Academies and driving schools must also reduce their capacity to 50% and groups attending lessons may not exceed 6 people.
• Both indoor and outdoor sports facilities remain open although their capacity is reduced to 50% and the groups are limited to 6 people.
• Parks remain closed.

Affected zones:

In the city of Madrid, the affected health areas are located in the city districts of Carabanchel (the health areas of Puerta Bonita, Vista Alegre and Guayaba), Usera (Almendrales, Las Calesas, Zofío, Orcasur and San Fermín), Villaverde (San Andrés, San Cristóbal, El Espinillo and Los Rosales), Villa de Vallecas, Puente de Vallecas (Entrevías, Martínez de la Riva, San Diego, Numancia, Peña Prieta, Pozo del Tío Raimundo, Ángela Uriarte, Alcalá de Guadaira and Federica Montseny), and Ciudad Lineal (Doctor Cirajas, Ghandi, Daroca and La Elipa).

The affected municipalities besides the capital are Fuenlabrada (the health areas of Alicante, Cuzco and Francia), Parla (San Blas and Isabel II), San Sebastián de los Reyes (Reyes Católicos), Getafe (Las Margaritas and Sánchez Morate), Alcobendas (Chopera and Miraflores) and the entire towns of Humanes and Moraleja de Enmedio.

Museums and Cultural Centres

Many of the city’s museums and cultural institutions have reopened, all of them with the necessary social distancing and safety measures put in place. We strongly recommend you visit the venue’s official website before visiting to get the most reliable and up-to-date information.

• Paseo del Arte: the three major museums on the Art Walk – The Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza and Reina Sofía – are open since 6 June, as are CaixaForum and the Mapfre Foundation Recoletos exhibition hall.
• The following national museums opened on 9 June: National Archaeological Museum, National Museum of Decorative Arts, Sorolla Museum, National Museum of Anthropology, Cerralbo Museum, Museum of Romanticism, Museum of the Americas.
• The Royal Palace reopened on June 10 while the biweekly Changing of the Guard resumed on July 18 (the grand monthly Solemn Changing remains suspended for the moment).
• The rest of the palaces and royal sites of Patrimonio Nacional in Madrid and the surrounding area are also open: Royal Palace of El Pardo, Royal Palace of Aranjuez, Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso and gardens, Royal Palace Riofrío and the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial.
• Also reopened: Lope de Vega House Museum, Royal Tapestry Factory, Museum of Natural Sciences (with discounts all summer), National Library, Lázaro Galdiano Museum (free entry until the museum opens fully), San Fernando Royal Academy of the Fine Arts, Liria Palace, Espacio Fundación Telefónica.
• Visits to the city’s two main football stadiums, the Bernabéu and Wanda Metropolitano, resumed at the beginning of June as did the live horse races at La Zarzuela race course.
• All parks and gardens as well as most theme parks (including the Zoo, Parque de Atracciones and cable car) are once again open to the public.
• Matadero Madrid and the Conde Duque cultural center have partially reopened to host the Veranos de la Villa festival throughout the month of August.

Urban transport

Madrid's extensive public transport system is up and running again. 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.

Excursions

Make the most of your visit to Madrid and discover beautiful towns and villages that are a short train or bus journey away from the city. Many of them are UNESCO World Heritage sites!

Tourist trains: please note that only the Zorrilla Train (Madrid - Valladolid) and the Philip II Train (Madrid - El Escorial) are currently operating.

Travelling to Spain

On 21 June Spain reopened its borders to members of the EU’s Schengen Zone and the UK. Travellers do not need to self-quarantine upon their arrival in Spain.

The borders have also reopened to residents of Australia, Canada, China, Georgia, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay.

The European Union has launched "Re-open EU", an interactive tool that provides you with the information that you need to confidently plan your European travel and holidays, while staying healthy and safe.

Health control to travellers

If you are preparing a trip to Spain, you must know that due to the COVID-19 health crisis, it is mandatory to fill out a Health Control Form which can be accessed from the page spth.gob.es or by downloading the app on your mobile from the same page.

YOU SHOULD NOT TRAVEL if you have had symptoms consistent with COVID-19, such as a high temperature, a cough and breathing difficulties, during in the last 14 days.

Tourist information points

• On 10 June the SATE resumed service, as did the Tourist Information kiosks (Callao, Royal Palace, Reina Sofía, Paseo del Prado and Bernabéu)
   
• On 15 June the Plaza Mayor Tourist Information Centre, including the shop, opened to the public.
   
• The tourist information point located in Terminal 4 of Barajas airport reopened on 7 July.
   
• The tourist information points located in Terminal 2 of Barajas airport and in CentroCentro will be opening at a later date.

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: turismo@esmadrid.com: 9:30am-8:30pm
• On this Tourism website: www.esmadrid.com: 24 hours