Coworking and remote work in Madrid: where to work while travelling

Madrid is an easy city for working remotely for a few days or a few weeks: wifi is common in cafés, there are plenty of coworking spaces, the metro is good and the time zone suits Europe. This guide helps a traveller or remote worker choose between a day pass, a café and a longer stay. Prices and hours of these spaces change often: the figures below are rough orders of magnitude to confirm on each space's website before you go, and we do not treat any price as definitive.

Choosing between coworking, a café and your accommodation

For a day or two of work, a café with sockets and wifi is enough if your calls are short. Once you have video meetings, sensitive documents or a long day, a coworking day pass is more reliable: desk, proper chair, call room, stable connection. For a stay of several weeks, compare a monthly membership with the cost of accommodation where you can work comfortably.

Your need	Best option	What to check
A light afternoon of work	Café or library	Sockets, atmosphere, expected purchase
Regular video calls	Coworking day pass	Phone booths or call rooms, booking
One to four weeks	Flexible membership or a book of days	Minimum term, deposit, opening hours
Long stay	Monthly coworking or equipped flat	Contract, cancellation, real speed

Coworking spaces: what to expect

Madrid has many networks and independent spaces. Well-known names include Impact Hub (several addresses in the city) and Utopicus. Day passes are usually sold on the operators' websites or on booking platforms; the orders of magnitude we found run from about twenty to forty euros a day depending on the address, but they change and depend on the plan chosen. Many spaces open on weekdays during office hours and may be closed at weekends or on public holidays: check the exact date.

Before booking, check five things: access hours, wifi included, access to a meeting room or call booth, the cancellation policy and the exact address. A space "in the centre" can be further from your accommodation than it looks on the map; check the metro or walking time.

Cafés, libraries and public places

Cafés in Malasaña, Chueca and La Latina are often used for work, but many prefer that you order regularly, and some limit laptops to quiet hours or weekends. Ask politely before settling in for hours. Avoid loud calls indoors.

Municipal and university libraries can offer quiet desks, but access, registration and opening hours depend on each one: check on site or on the institution's website. For the rhythm of a working day, keep the Spanish schedule in mind: late lunch, restaurants barely full before 1:30 pm and offices that empty late.

Where to stay when you work remotely

Look for accommodation with a desk or suitable table, a stated and ideally tested connection, and a quiet neighbourhood at night if you work in the morning. Chamberí is residential and well connected; the Salamanca district is elegant and pricier; Malasaña is lively but noisy at weekends. To compare areas, read where to stay in Madrid.

A coworking space

Internet, equipment and security

If you travel with a laptop, bring a European plug adapter (type C/F) and a suitable charger. Your mobile connection can back up faulty wifi: see our guide to SIM cards and eSIMs in Madrid. In a café, never leave your laptop unattended, even to go to the toilet, and keep the screen out of view from the street. Pickpocketing exists in tourist areas; see scams to avoid.

Working legally in Spain

Working remotely for a foreign employer during a short tourist stay is not the same as settling in. Depending on your nationality, the length of your stay and the nature of your activity, a visa or residence permit may be required. Spain has created a visa for international remote workers ("digital nomads"); its conditions change and are set by the Spanish authorities. Check with the consulate or official websites before staying more than a few weeks. This guide is not legal or tax advice.