Madrid is preparing for one of its busiest weekends in years as the visit of Pope Leo XIV coincides with major events across the Spanish capital, including concerts by Bad Bunny and the city's annual book fair, driving hotel prices higher and prompting warnings about mobility disruptions and overcrowding.
Authorities expect hundreds of thousands of people to move through central Madrid over the weekend as the pope attends public events and religious gatherings expected to draw massive crowds. At the same time, Bad Bunny's performances, which began last weekend, continue drawing large numbers of fans into the city, creating an unusual overlap between religious tourism, concertgoers and regular summer travelers.
