Madrid lies in the middle of the Iberian peninsula. Buzzing with life virtually 24 hours a day, it’s equally rich in grandiose architecture and comfortable neighbourhoods.
More than most European capitals, it preserves a national identity, a quintes-sential “Spanishness” that has much to do with its allure.
Getting around is easy; Madrid’s districts are surprisingly close to one another; museums and some tempting shopping streets are easily reached by the efficient metro system.

Coming to Madrid is exhilarating, and it should be a pleasure, not a history lesson or cultural marathon. Soak up the atmosphere; it will stay with you far longer than the memory of yet another painting by Goya or Velasquez.
Explore the different “barrios”, each is unique, and do some people-watching in a bar: it’s the best way to get a handle on the character of the city. It’s up to you to pick and choose what appeals and get your own, unforgettable impression of Madrid!

GETTING THERE

ARRIVING BY AIR
All flights arrive at Barajas Airport, which is 16 km (10 miles) east of the city.
There are four terminals: T1 for International Flights, T2 for National flights, T3 for regional flights and T4 for flights run by IBERIA (starting from February 5, 2006).

For information on Barajas airport +34 393 6000 - flight information +34 90 2353570
A bus leaves Barajas from 6am to midnight every 5 minutes (look for EMT sign).
It arrives in Avenida de America. The journey takes 30-60 minutes and costs € 1,00.
The airport has also a metro station (line 8). The 30-minute journey to city centre costs € 1,00 and you will have to change lines at least twice.
A taxi from the airport takes around 20 minutes and costs about € 20-30.

ARRIVING BY TRAIN
Trains from France, Portugal and Northern Spain arrive at Chamartin Station.
Trains from Southern and Eastern Spain and express services from Lisbon arrive at Atocha Station. Both are on the metro system.

ARRIVING BY BUS
Madrid is served from other parts of Spain by many private bus companies.
Inter-city coach services arrive at the Estación Sur de Autobuses on Calle Mendez Alvaro, Southeast of the city centre. Bus from outside Spain (France, Portugal, Italy) also terminate here.

ARRIVING BY CAR
Drivers access Madrid via the Spanish system of toll motorways (autopistas) or highways (autovias). From France and the North routes run along both the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts then head towards Madrid; routes through the Pyrenees are slower but more scenic.
All roads connect with two ring roads circling Madrid: an outer one (M40) and an inner one (M30).

GETTING AROUND
Metro stations are indicated by name and by a diamond-shaped symbol.
Services run from 6.30 am until 1.30 am. Single-journey tickets are bought at metro stations.

Buses run every 15 minutes from 6 am to midnight. Night buses (called "BUHO") start in Plaza de la Cibeles, running every 30 minutes between midnight and 3 am and every hour after that.

Taxis are fairly inexpensives. Take only taxi with green light on the top and check that the driver has reset the meter.

WHEN TO GO
Because of its site high on the inland plateau, Madrid can have some of the most extreme weather conditions in central Spain.
Spring, summer and autumn are the best times to visit.
Summer (Mid-June to August) is hot and dry. Rain is unusual.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Anyone entering Spain must have a valid passport (or official identity card for EU nations). Nationals of Australia and South Africa require a valid passport and a visa.

MONEY
The euro is the official currency in Spain.

ELECTRICITY
The standard current is 220 volts. Plugs are of round two-pin type.

TIPPING
Tipping are discretionary, but 10 % is normal practice.

OPENING HOURS
Shops: 9.00-13.00 hrs; 17.00-20.30 hrs - Department stores: 9.00-21.00 hrs
Museums: considerable variation, but many close on Monday
Banks: Mon-Fri 9.00-14.00 hrs

KEY ATTRACTIONS
Catedral de Almudena
It reflects years of Spanish architectural thought. The mixture of styles shows how relaxed madrilenos have been about this building.
- Almudaina means “small walled city” in Arabic
- Crypt is built of stone coming from Portugal
- There are 600 columns in the crypt
- Partly built with money from noble families buying their own chapels
- There are 20 chapels: 9 on the right and 11 on the left.

Palacio Real
Also known as the Palacio de Oriente or the Palacio Nacional, the Royal Palace was begun under Philip V in 1737 after the old Muslim fortress was destroyed by fire in 1734.
It was completed in 1764, to design by Giambattista Sacchetti.

Plaza Mayor
The cobbled Plaza Mayor strikes a chord with everyone entering it for the first
time: it’s here that you fully realize you are in the capital of Spain. Surely it is
only in Madrid that a building as old as the Casa de la Panaderia could have
been frescoed over 400 years later.
- Number of arches: 114
- Number of balconies: 377
- Shop at nr. 4 opened in 1790
- Three destructive fires: 1631, 1672, 1790

Puerta del Sol
Almost inevitably, you will cross this square several times. For many madrilenos, it is the true soul of the city and each year thousands gather here to see in the New Year.
In this square the Spain’s Kilometre Zero, the point from which all distances in Spain are measured, can be found.
Always in this place you will find the symbol of the city of Madrid: the bear with a strawberry tree.

Plaza de la Cibeles
Despite the constant traffic, this plaza, a sheer mass of stone around a statue of the fertility goddess, La Cibeles, is Madrid’s most overwhelming, the city’s equivalent of the Eiffel Tower.

Museo del Prado
The city’s pride in the magnificent Prado is justified. With its Goyas, El Grecos and other masterpieces, it is one of the great museums in the world.
It is unequalled in the world, with a collection numbering 7.000 pictures.
Among them, there are 115 Goyas, 83 works by Rubens, 50 by Velasquez.

SHOPPING IN MADRID
Fashions for men, women and children and Spanish international designers take up shops around the streets of Almirante and Conde de Xiquena, as well as in the district of Salamanca which concentrates the best shops for jewellery, shoes, leather goods, furniture, gifts, etc.

Concentrated in and around the Plaza Mayor are an assortment of shops selling traditional articles such as espadrillas, fabrics, hats and religious articles.

Large department stores are located close to Puerta del Sol and on the streets of Princesa, Goya and Castellana.

Open-air markets
The Rastro is the most famous of the flea markets which opens on Saturdays and Sundays between the Plaza de Cascorro, La Latina and the street of Em-bajadores. Everything imaginable can be found here from valuable antiques to used clothing, including cards collector, books, records, paintings, etc.

USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Emergency Telephones
Emergency telephone of Madrid --- 112
All-night chemists’s --- 098

Fire
Madrid and Mostoles --- 080
Community of Madrid --- 085

Police
National --- 091
Municipal --- 092
Guardia Civil --- 062

Public Health
SAMUR (accident in public places) --- 092
INSALUD (urgencies) --- 061

RED CROSS
- Emergencies 0034 91 522 22 22
- Ambulance 0034 91 473 93 61

Lost or Stolen Credit Cards
- American Express 0034 91 572 0303
- Eurocard-Mastercard 0034 91 519 2100
- Diners 0034 91 547 4000
- VISA 0034 91 519 2100