What Is the Capital of Spain? Madrid

Q: What time zone is Madrid in?

Madrid is on UTC+1 — UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). Daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October.

Q: Which capital is closest to Madrid?

Among the capitals of neighbouring countries, Andorra la Vella (Andorra) is the closest, 492 km away in a straight line.

Madrid at a glance

Name origin

The meaning and origin of the name is unclear; the city grew from a small Moorish fort that was called Majerit in the first recorded mention in A.D. 932; some trace the modern-day name back to the Roman era, with the Latin word materia (materials) as a possible source.

Time zone

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). Daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October.

Coordinates

40 24 N, 3 41 W · IANA time zone Europe/Madrid

Location of Spain

Southwestern Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Biscay, and Pyrenees Mountains; southwest of France

Largest cities in Spain

1

Madrid Capital

6.8 million

2

Barcelona

5.7 million

3

Valencia

838,000

Urban-area population · CIA World Factbook (public domain)

Capitals of neighbouring countries

Capitals closest to Madrid

Straight-line distance between capitals.

Frequently asked questions about Madrid

What is the capital of Spain?

The capital of Spain is Madrid. About 6.8 million people live in the Madrid urban area — 13.7% of the country's population.

Is Madrid the largest city in Spain?

Yes — Madrid is also the largest urban area of Spain (6.8 million).

What time zone is Madrid in?

Madrid is on UTC+1 — UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). Daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October.

Where does the name Madrid come from?

The meaning and origin of the name is unclear; the city grew from a small Moorish fort that was called Majerit in the first recorded mention in A.D. 932; some trace the modern-day name back to the Roman era, with the Latin word materia (materials) as a possible source.

Which capital is closest to Madrid?

Among the capitals of neighbouring countries, Andorra la Vella (Andorra) is the closest, 492 km away in a straight line.

Data: CIA World Factbook (public domain); population: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0).

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