Madrid nightlife guide

Times: Madrid goes out late

81% of parties open between 23:30 and 1:00, and 88% close between 5:30 and 7:00. The usual plan is dinner around 22:00, drinks, and arriving at the club after midnight; before 1:00 many dance floors are half empty.

To start earlier, there are afterworks and day parties that begin in the afternoon and finish at a sensible time.

Which night to go out

Thursday, Friday and Saturday are the big nights, but in Madrid there are parties on sale every day of the week. Thursday is traditionally student night.

How much it costs

Based on parties on sale now, a ticket usually costs between 12 € and 20 €, with half at 15 € or less. It almost always includes one or two drinks. Prices go up in tiers as tickets sell, so buying online in advance is cheaper than paying at the door.

Also, 342 parties have a free guest list: sign up for free and get in without paying until a set time (usually 1:00 or 1:30). For groups, VIP tables include a table and a bottle.

Minimum age and ID

71% of parties let you in at 18 and 20% ask for 21 or older. Each party sets its own age and the door always checks it: bring your original ID card or passport (photocopies and phone photos are usually not accepted).

Dress code

56% of parties have a casual dress code and 42% a smart one. Casual means neat streetwear; smart is a step up (long trousers, shirt or polo and shoes). What almost never gets in: sportswear, flip-flops and shorts for men. More in the dress code guide.

The party areas

• Salamanca (129 parties): Salamanca is Madrid’s smartest clubbing district: upscale venues, VIP tables and a door that is strict about dress code.
• Chamartín (105 parties): Chamartín, in the north near the Castellana, has larger clubs with an upscale crowd.
• Centro (78 parties): Central Madrid (Sol, Ópera, Gran Vía) is home to the city’s classic clubs and is the easiest area to reach by metro and walk between venues.
• Moncloa (67 parties): Moncloa and Argüelles are student areas, with a young crowd and university parties, near Plaza de España and Príncipe Pío.
• Chamberí (61 parties): Chamberí mixes long-standing clubs with smaller venues, between Alonso Martínez, Bilbao and Moncloa.
• Tetuán (56 parties): In Tetuán, Calle de Orense and the AZCA area pack several clubs into a few streets, so it is easy to switch venues on the same night.
• Las Rozas de Madrid (12 parties)

Online ticket, guest list or door

• Online ticket: the safest option. You pay on the official box office, get a QR code by email and skip the box office. Usually the cheapest if you buy early.
• Free guest list: sign up for free and get in without paying until a cut-off time. After that you pay a normal ticket.
• Paying at the door: possible at many clubs, but usually more expensive, and on busy nights it may be full.
• VIP table: a table and bottle for the group; see the table prices.

Special nights

Halloween (31 October) and New Year’s Eve are the busiest nights of the year: higher prices, sometimes higher minimum ages and tickets that sell out weeks ahead. Long weekends and nights before public holidays are also busy, and in Madrid feel like a Saturday.

Getting home

The metro runs until 1:30 and reopens at 6:00, just as many clubs close. In between there are night buses (búhos), most of which leave from Plaza de Cibeles, plus taxis and ride-hailing. Demand is high on weekend nights, so plan your way home.

Tips for a good night

• Buy your ticket online before the day: it is cheaper and you skip the box office.
• A ticket skips the box office, not the door: age and dress code are still checked.
• If you are on a free guest list, arrive before the cut-off time.
• Bring your original ID and only carry what you need.
• Special nights (Halloween, New Year’s Eve) sell out first: book early.

More guides

• The best clubs
• Thursday nights
• Student clubs
• All guides