|
|
|
|
Barajas Airport, the best way in and out of Madrid
Our overview of transport in Madrid would not be complete without mentioning Barajas International Airport, located approximately 13 km northwest of Madrid. Barajas is one of Spain’s busiest airports and among the five largest airports in Europe. In addition, the airport offers a complete range of services to travellers. Barajas is easily accessible from Madrid by taxi, metro, bus and train. There are also a number of rent-a-car companies in the airport terminals.
Madrid also has Torrejón airport, although this facility mainly operates private charter flights.
 Transport in Madrid
The main difficulty many visitors encounter on arrival in the Spanish capital is the chaotic traffic at all hours of the day. In fact, traffic congestion is one of the problems Madrid has yet to resolve. We therefore recommend you avoid using cars to move around the city, despite the numerous public and private cark parks garages you may see. Ideally, you should use public transport systems.
Visitors to Madrid can take advantage of the money-saving Madrid Card for tourists. Among other benefits, the card grants you access to public transport, free entry to a number of the city’s museums, and discounts in shops.
Below is an explanation of the best way to move around the city on public transport in Madrid.
Buses - a large fleet serves the entire city
Madrid has an extensive urban bus network. There are over 1,958 buses operated by the Municipal Transport Company – EMT - serving all areas of the city. You could think of it as “if you can’t get there by metro, you can always take the bus.”
In addition to the normal daytime buses, the EMT also offers night buses, called búhos [night owls]. There are approximately twenty night routes and the ticket costs the same as during the day. However, the frequency of these buses is significantly less than during normal hours.
Metro – the fastest and most efficient way to get around
As is typical in large cities and capitals in almost every country around the world, the metro system is the quickest and cheapest way to get around Madrid. The vast metropolitan network serves the majority of the capital and many outlying areas.
The Madrid metro currently comprises twelve lines, some of which have been recently extended and modernised. Thousands of metro users enjoy comfortable and efficient service each day. As with the city buses, a number of different types of tickets and passes are available, even allowing you to combine both metro and bus trips.
Train - regional service
The regional rail network is operated by the Spanish railway company, RENFE, with 13 lines running through the Autonomous Region of Madrid. All these lines connect at, or start from the well-known Atocha train station. In certain zones, you have the advantage of being able to use the same passes or tickets on both Metro and buses.
The quick and cheap service make the regional train network one of the most recommended options for travelling across Madrid and for visiting the outlying areas.
Madrid cable car, an unusual and pleasant alternative
The Madrid cable car was built in 1969 to connect two major parks in Madrid - Rosales and Casa de Campo. Although the cable car only runs the short distance of 2.5 km, from an approximate height of 40 metres it offers a unique bird’s eye view of the city which should be on any traveller’s agenda.
The weather varies constantly in Madrid, especially between seasons. In general, Madrid has a dry, continental climate.
In winter, temperatures dip low, although they barely ever fall below 0ºC. Madrid does not have excessive rainfall - usually only 30 days of rain per year in normal conditions. However, summer temperatures can reach up to 45ºC in the shade. Normal summer temperatures range around 40ºC.
|
 The intricacies of traditional Madrid cuisine actually date back to the reign of King Phillip II, the monarch who moved the Spanish court to Madrid. However, both time and the influx of people from other regions in Spain, with their culinary customs and habits, have made Madrid’s cuisine a virtual melting pot of Spanish regional cooking.
Nevertheless, despite these influences, traditional Madrid-style recipes can still be savoured in the capital, including cocido madrileño chickpea stew, the typical Spanish potato omelette, and Madrid-style tripe. Among other dishes.
Considering that Madrid is a land-locked city, it could appear surprising that fish is such an important part of its cuisine, and is both plentiful and of high quality. In fact, Madrid is home to one of the leading fish markets in the world. Oven-baked cod and bream are among the most well known fish dishes. Of course, Madrid’s delicious cuisine would not be complete without a Madrid designation of origin wine, which is young, aromatic, fruity and available in red, rosé and white.
Among the many desserts and sweet dishes on offer, the Rosco del Santo is especially worth a mention. This delight is often eaten around the feast day of Saint Isidro, the patron saint of Madrid.
Mesón Txistu
Pl. Ángel Carbajo, 6
Price: High
Speciality: Basque cuisine. Dishes: Beef steak, gilthead bream and tapas
Asador Donostiarra
C/ Infanta Mercedes, 79
Price: High
Speciality: Basque cuisine. Dishes: meat and fish.
Casa Lucio
C/ Cava Baja, 35
Price: High
Speciality: Typical dishes from Castile and Madrid. Dishes: runny fried eggs, capon in almond and saffron sauce, tripe, exquisite cured ham and bull’s tail tapas.
Hard Rock Café
Paseo de la Castellana, 2
Price: Affordable
Specialities: American cuisine: hamburgers, ribs and typical American desserts.
Il Pastaio
C/ Pradillo, 30
Price: Affordable
Speciality: Italian cuisine. Dishes: homemade filled pasta, gnocchi and lasagna with garlic and basil.
La Vaca Argentina
C/ Gaztambide, 50
Price: Average
Speciality: Argentinean cuisine. Dishes: Grilled Argentinean meat and fish
Furama
Plaza de la Florida, 2
Price: Average
Speciality: Asian cuisine
Piu di Prima
C/ Hortaleza, 100
Price: Very high
Speciality: Italian cuisine
Hotel Liabeny 4*
C/ Salud, 3
Price: High
Well-located in central Madrid. Luxury and comfort
Hotel Regente 3*
C/ Mesonero Romanos, 9
Price: High
Located in the heart of Madrid. Pleasant rooms and full customer service
Hotel Don Pío 4*
Avenida Pío XII, 25
Price: High
Well-equipped with nicely decorated rooms and full customer service
Hotel Nuevo Madrid 4*
C/ Bausá 27
Price: High
Comfortable and modern, offering a full range of services and the latest technology.
Hotel Mora 2*
Pº del Prado, 32
Price: Affordable
Close to the Prado Museum and located in the historical and cultural centre of Madrid
Hotel Villa Magna 5*
Ertzaintza
Price: High
Luxury hotel in the heart of the Salamanca district. Maximum comfort and services
 Traditional shops, luxury boutiques, craft shops, street markets, shopping centres, fashion stores, and all types of shopping are available in Madrid...with sizes and colours to suit all tastes! Shopaholics can get their fix on nearly any street in Madrid, notably the following:
Shopping itineraries
The Golden Mile in the Salamanca district. The most important national and international designer labels can be found in stores of this well-known area of Madrid. The Golden Mile, one of the most chic and glamorous parts of Madrid, covers the following streets: Goya, Jorge Juan, Ortega y Gasset, Serrano, Velázquez, Príncipe de Vergara and Castelló.
Traditional shops
One of the most typical shopping areas in Madrid is around the Puerta del Sol, the heart of the city. Here you can wander through older, more traditional shops that have stayed true to their original style. Generations of clients have come to this area to purchase the one-of-a-kind goods at these stores. This area, surrounding Spain’s zero kilometre point, is steeped in tradition.
The Rastro, a stroll that cannot be missed
Dating back to medieval times, the Madrid rastro [flea market] market combines ancient flavour with modern flair. Every Sunday morning, the streets surrounding the Plaza de Cascorro come alive with stores and shops, buyers and sellers, and visitors and locals. The atmosphere of the rastro is unique and multicultural, and has become one of the most popular spots in Madrid.
Without a doubt, your best bet is to roam the streets of the rastro and blend in with the crowd. Dive into this unique atmosphere, and don’t forget to try your hand at haggling! |
 Madrid by Bicycle
A different, fun and healthy alternative is to take a bike tour through Madrid, to contemplate the urban, artistic and cultural beauty of the city. The bike tours are an initiative of the Madrid Tourist Bureau, in collaboration with various centres, and take place every Sunday morning.
The tour leaves from Puerta de Sol, where participants receive with all the necessary equipment. From here, you can view two of the most popular monuments of the area: the Old Post Office bell tower clock and the statute depicting the symbol of Madrid, a bear leaning against a strawberry tree.
From Puerta del Sol, the tour takes you along Calle Arenal to the Temple of Debos, an architectural jewel built to honour the Egyptian gods Amon and Isis. The tour turns around near the pools of water outside the temple and heads toward Plaza de España, passing by fascinating architecture along the way. Interesting sites along the route include Torre de Madrid, Edificio España, the Compañía Asturiana de Minas building, the Church of Santa Teresa and the Gallardo family home.
The tour continues toward Plaza de Oriente, where a number of Madrid’s top monuments are located, including the Royal Palace. The Palace officially dates from 1775, although its origins are significantly older. While in this area, you can also view the Sabatini Gardens and the well-known Cathedral de la Almudena .
A prominent statue of King Phillip IV on horseback and the Royal Theatre are located directly across the plaza from the Royal Palace.
Once you have passed through the area of Madrid that prospered under the Bourbon Dynasty, the route continues along Calle Bailén and into the old Moorish quarter. The churches of Jesús el Pobre and San Andrés are sights that ought not to be missed in this area.
The next stop is the Plaza de la Villa, which can only be explored on foot, so the bicycles will have to be parked. The City Hall, built in 1664, stands in the centre of the plaza and next to the Casa Cisneros, which is an integral part of present day Madrid governmental bodies. The Casa de los Lujanes stands across from the City Hall.
The tour continues along Calle del Codo, which leads to Plaza de la Provincia, where a brief stop will allow you to view the current Ministry of Foreign Affairs.The tour cycles on to the Plaza Mayor, where you can catch a quick look at the Casa de la Panadería and the statue of King Phillip III. From there, the route leads to the district of las Letras and to Plaza de Santa Ana, both of which are representative of the cultural boom of the Spain’s golden age.
The next stop is the Paseo del Prado, the focal point of Madrid’s cultural attractions. Along this main road, you will see statues honouring the gods Cybele, Apollo and Neptune, as well as the Prado Museum, the botanical gardens, and the obelisk in homage to people of Madrid who lost their lives in the battle of 2 May 1808.
End of the bike tour
The route continues swiftly on to the Retiro Park, one of the most popular areas in Madrid. Here you will discover the oldest tree in the city - a bald cypress aged over 400 years. After taking a break strolling through the park to the see the Crystal Palace, the bike tour ends at the Puerta de Alcalá, a Madrid landmark. Given the wide range of cultural and artistic activities available in Madrid, it is difficult to narrow down the ample offer of must-see monuments and artistic spaces in the Spanish capital.
Museums in Madrid:
The Prado. This popular Madrid gallery houses works by some of the most important artists in history, such as Velázquez, Titian, Goya and El Greco.
The Museo Reina Sofía. This museum features new trends in modern art. The famous Picasso painting Guernica is its centrepiece.
The Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza. Near the Prado and the Reina Sofia, the Thyssen-Bornemisza forms part of Madrid’s Art Walk
National Archaeology Museum of Spain. This museum walks us through prehistoric periods and delves into the life of our ancestors. Park areas in Madrid.
Although Madrid is clearly a large cosmopolitan area, it is full of park areas, the most prominent of which are the Retiro Park, the Royal Botanical Gardens and the Sabatini Gardens.
 Buildings and monuments in Madrid:
The juxtaposition of older buildings with modern constructions makes Madrid an urban and cosmopolitan city. Some of the most popular landmark buildings are:
The Temple of Debod. In 1968, the Egyptian temple – built in honour of the Egyptian gods Amon and Isis - was placed in La Montaña park, nearby Plaza de España.
Plaza de la Cibeles The beautiful sculpture atop the fountain is the centrepiece of this plaza. Fans and players of the Real Madrid football team have traditionally congregated here after big wins.
Plaza de España. A central statue pays tribute to the Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes. This plaza also marks the start of the Gran Vía, one of the most modern streets in the city.
Puerta del Sol. This plaza is especially known for its bell tower clock, that chimes in the New Year. However, the Old Post Office is the most noteworthy landmark in the plaza.
Plaza Mayor. Built under the reign of King Phillip II, this plaza is a reference point for locals and tourists alike.
Puerta de Alcalá. This city gate was built in the 18th Century and stands in the centre of the Plaza de la Independencia.
Kio Towers. At over 110 meters high, these towers are the main symbol of contemporary Madrid.  Although Madrid’s roots can be traced back to the Palaeolithic era, the first real historical reference to the city dates from the mid-9th century, under the reign of Emir Mohamed I. However, in 1083, Alfonso VI conquered the walled city, which bore the Arabic name of al-Mudaina.
Yet, the key date in the history of Madrid would have to be 1561, when King Phillip II moved the imperial court from Toledo to Madrid. From the 16th to the 18th centuries, the city underwent spectacular growth and became the capital of the Spanish empire. Spain’s golden age was ushered in during the reign of King Phillip IV when Madrid experiences cultural splendour. This was the age of illustrious writers such as Quevedo, Cervantes, Lope de Vega and Góngora, to name but a few.
Continual expansion and growth in Madrid
In the early 18th Century, the Bourbon Dynasty took over the Spanish throne, leading to a renaissance period after the disastrous reign of Charles II. Charles III welcomed in the Enlightenment and is considered to have been the best king to have left his mark on Madrid. Libraries, museums and academies sprang up all over this city during this period. In the early 19th Century, during the reign of Isabella II, Madrid experienced the Romantic period and underwent spectacular urban and industrial expansion.
The first half of the 20th century was characterised by the ideals of the “Generation of 98”, a political and cultural movement influenced by the significant political and cultural changes of the time. The reign of Alfonso XIII was followed by the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera and subsequently by the Second Republic. The Spanish Civil War marked a before and after in the Spanish capital, which was under siege throughout the entire conflict. It was in the post war period, around the 1950s, when Madrid can be said to have begun its great period of expansion, forming the basis of the city we know today.
In the 1990s, Madrid gained status as a cultural centre, especially when it was named European Capital of Culture in 1992. Madrid is not just a leading city in Spain; it is a focal point for the south of the European Union.
|