World City Guide

Getting Around

Public Transport
Central Madrid is served by a comprehensive network of more than 150 city bus routes, a modern and extensive metro system and local trains to the neighbouring cities and towns. The main hub is Puerta del Sol.

The Consorcio de Transportes de Madrid (tel: (91) 580 42 60; website: www.ctm-madrid.es) offers maps and information on Madrid’s metro and buses.

The metro (tel: (902) 444 403; website: www.metromadrid.es) system covers more than 220km (143 miles) and is good value, clean and efficient, although crowded during rush hour. Trains run every three to five minutes, daily 0600-0130. Each of the 11 metro lines is distinguished by a colour and number (at stations and on maps). Metros run from approximately 0600-0130.

EMT (tel: (91) 406 8810; website: www.emtmadrid.es) runs Madrid’s bus service. Night buses, known as buhos (owls), depart from Plaza de Cibeles for the suburbs, between 2330 and 0600.

The local train network, operated by Cercanas (tel: (91) 506 61 95/37), comprises 11 lines in the Madrid area and provides a fast link between Charmartn Station and Atocha Station – as well as to destinations such as Toledo and El Escorial (see Excursions).

Single tickets for the metro and city buses, available for purchase on board and at stations, cost 1.15. Metrobs tickets (a carnet of 10 tickets) cost 5.80 and are available for purchase at metro stations, estancos (tobacconists) and EMT information kiosks at Plaza de Callao and Puerta del Sol. The abono transportes pass, for which a passport photo is required, offers unlimited trips on any combination of public transport – metro, bus and train – within the zone and period of time (month or year) chosen. A one-month ticket costs 37.15 (concessions are available). Tourist passes, which allow unlimited travel on all public transport, are also available and cost 3.50 for zone A and 7 for zone T for a day (concessions are available). Passes are also available for two, three, five and seven days.

Taxis
Oficina Municipal del Taxi (tel: (91) 588 9632) is the governing body for taxis in Madrid. City taxis (white with a diagonal red stripe and a green light on the roof) are available for hire at ranks or on the street. Meters start at 1.55 and rates per kilometre are 0.70 (0600-2200) and 0.88 at other times. When entering a taxi, travellers should always check that the meter is not already running, as this is an occasional scam to overcharge passengers. There are surcharges for additional passengers, luggage and telephone or airport pick-up. Taxi touts should be avoided. For tipping, rounding up to the nearest Euro is appreciated.

Major private taxi companies include TeleTaxi (tel: (91) 371 2131 or (902) 50 1130; website: www.tele-taxi.es), Radio Taxi Independiente (tel: (91) 405 1213/5500) for long-distance trips and Radio Taxi (tel: (933) 033 033), which also provides a service for the disabled.

Limousines
Limousines are available for hire at Madrid’s top hotels and from Autos Chamartn (tel: (91) 405 4599; website: www.autos-chamatin.com) and Autos Delicias Limousine (tel: (91) 434 9144). The cost is approximately 350 (plus driver’s lunch) for eight hours. Hiring a Mercedes with driver costs approximately 235.

Driving in the City
Due to frequent traffic jams, aggressive drivers and problematic parking, driving in central Madrid is not recommended to tourists. Visitors who ignore this advice should make use of centrally located car parks (including Plaza Santa Ana, Plaza Mayor, Plaza de Oriente) costing 0.80 per half hour (15.20 for a full day).

The city center is subject to the Servicio de Estacionamiento Regulado (SER, Monday to Friday 0900-2000, Saturday 0900-1500, not applicable on Sundays). This means that bays marked by green lines are for residents (whose car will bear a badge), and non-residents for a miximum of one hour and paying at the parking meter (0.40/1.20 minimum fare up to 20 minutes). Bays marked with blue lines are fine for parking for a maximum of two hours after paying at the parking meter (0.20/1.50 minimum fare up to 20 minutes). Parking meters take the full range of coins and have operational instructions in English and other European languages.

Illegally parked cars might be towed away by the grua municipal. Impounded cars should be recovered as soon as possible as the fines rise every hour (tel: (91) 345 0666).

Car Hire
Cars can be hired by drivers aged 21 years and above, on presentation of a passport and valid driving licence held for at least one year. A valid international insurance policy is also necessary and full insurance is advised. Providers include Avis, Gran Via 60 (tel: (902) 135 531 or (915) 472 048; website: www.avis.es), Europcar, San Leonardo de Dios 8 (tel: (902) 105 030; website: www.europcar.es) and Herz, edificio Espana, Plaza de Espana (tel: (902) 402 405; website: www.hertz.es). Rates start at approximately 65 for one day of car hire.

Bicycle & Scooter Hire
There is no better way for one to get around Madrid than by bombing along on a moped, thus avoiding the parking problems that car drivers often suffer. Moto Alquiler, Calle Conde Duque 13 (tel: (91) 542 0657), offers a choice of vehicles, with prices ranging from approximately 30 to 120 per day. Bicycles are best reserved for trips out of town. Karacol Sport, Calle Tortosa 8 (tel: (91) 539 9633; website: www.karacolclub.com), hires out mountain bikes at 12 per bike – a 40 returnable deposit is required – and organises excursions into the surrounding countryside.