Madrid'''Madrid''' is the capital of Spain. ==Get in and out== ===By train=== Not only the capital of Spain, Madrid is also the hub of the country's train system. Some of the more major routes include hourly trains to Barcelona on the east coast (5 hour journey), where it is possible to continue on to the French coast, and to Paris to the north with access to most of the rest of Europe. Spain's high-speed train makes the Madrid-Seville run in around three hours but costs significantly more than the 5-6 hour regular trains. Barcelona and northern bound trains arrive and depart from Chamartín station, while trains to Seville, Valencia and southern Spain depart from Atocha railway station. ===By bus=== Madrid has eight, gargantuan international and intercity bus stations. Tourist offices can tell you where buses to a particular destination depart from. Many of the international buses, and those headed south of Madrid, arrive at / depart from '''Estacion Sur de Autobuses''' (''Calle de Mendez Alvaro, Tel: 91 468 4200'') which is connected to the rest of the city by Metro. Buses to / from Barcelona are based from the '''Avenida de America bus terminal''' (''Ave. de America''), also on the Metro. ===By plane=== Madrid's international airport is Barajas. It is well-connected to the city by the Metro line number 8. Taxis from the airport to city centre will cost around. ===By car=== vvv ==Get around== ===Metro=== Using the expansive Metro system is efficient and usually easier than using the buses, especially if you are new to the city. Single trip '''tickets''' with unlimited changes within the inner Zone (A) cost €1.30. If you plan to make at least five metro trips, consider the better value '''Bonobus tickets''' which offer 10 rides for €5.80. You can buy these tickets at Metro stations and ''estancos'' (tobacco shops). These tickets are also valid for the bus and night bus system. Consider also the Turistic Pass. There are five types of pass: lasting 1 (3,50 €), 2(6,30 €), 3(8,40 €), 5 (13,20 €) an 7 (18,40€) calendar days. They are valid from the date they are first used. The date of expiry will be printed on the back of the ticket. http://www.metromadrid.es/ ===Bus=== There are special night buses (called ''Búho'' - "night owl"). All the Búhos start at ''Plaza de Cibeles'', going to all directions from there. ===Taxi=== Taxis are still cheaper than in Paris, Barcelona or Germany, but much more expensive than bus and Metro. They are widely available at all hours except Friday and Saturday night when diners and partiers fight for them. It is next to impossible to get a taxi when it is raining. ===Car=== Public transportation should be preferred to get around in Madrid. The Spanish capital suffers from the typical problems of big cities: too many cars and not enough space. Sometimes there are traffic jams in the ''Paseo de la Castellana'' at three o'clock in the morning. Looking for a place to park your car can be very time-consuming. On the other hand, things could be worse, going home by car on weekends is - of course depending where you live - usually faster than by public transport. ===Bicycle=== Riding a bicycle in Madrid is quite dangerous because there are almost no reserved roads for bikers, and the drivers are not used to seeing bicycles in the city. The Metro limits the times when a bicycle can be carried in. ==See== ===The museum triangle=== *The '''Museo del Prado'''. One of the finest museums in the world. Closed on Mondays and some holidays. Metros Atocha and Banco de España. Bus lines 9, 10, 14, 19, 27, 34, 37 and 45. More information: http://museoprado.mcu.es/ificha.html *''Museo Nacional Centro de Arte '''Reina Sofía'''''. The museum of modern art, near the train station Atocha. It includes Pablo Picasso's ''Guernica''. *'''Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza''' contains a large art collection. *The train station '''Atocha RENFE'''. The interesting thing about it is the winterhouse jungle garden inside the main building. Just outside the main building at the corner of Calle de Atocha and the Paseo del Prado is the best spot in Madrid to find three-Card monty and neon-lit Madrileño fast food. *'''El Retiro''' is the central park of Madrid, the perfect place to take a rest during a sunny day. Or take part in the drum circles around the statue of Alphonso XII on summer evenings. Nearby nice old ladies will accompany vulnerable young girls through the park after dark. *'''La Casa de Campo''' is another park a little bit outside of the city and much bigger than El Retiro park. *The '''Palacio Real'''. Enormous palace, with scorching plains around it and the '''Real Armorial'''. In spite of his name, it's not the residence of the current royals. *'''Catedral de la Almudena'''. By the Palacio Real. Finished in 2003. *'''Gran Vía'''. From the Habsburgs to Manhattan in 2 minutes (from the south). *'''Plaza de Cibeles''' houses one of Madrid's emblems, the fountain of Cibeles, and one of the world's most beautiful post offices, ''Palacio de las Telecomunicaciones''. ==Do== *'''Sports''': Two teams from Madrid play in the Spanish Premier Division (football/soccer), ''Atletico de Madrid'' (at Manzanares stadium) and ''Real Madrid'' (at Santiago Bernabeu stadium). In basketball, there are also two big teams, ''Estudiantes'' and ''Real Madrid''.  *'''Concerts''' *'''Cinemas''' offering international o.s.t. movies can be found in inner city, consult the daily press or websites like ''Guía del Ocio'' (http://www.guiadelocio.com/madrid/cine/index.cfm) for what they show at the moment. *http://www.guiadelocio.com/english/ *'''Other resources (mostly in Spanish)''': http://madrid.lanetro.com/ ==Buy== *'''El Rastro''': Madrid's largest flea market. Metro La Latina. Do not take anything to the Rastro that you cannot live without. It is certain that a pickpocket will be considering you a target. Only Sunday mornings. *'''Cuesta de Moyano''': A nice outdoor book market, near Museo del Prado. Most books are in Spanish, though. *'''Jamón serrano''': The best places to buy ham are the market halls. You can have the ham cut and vacuum packed so that it can be transported without any problems. Beware of places close to typical tourist spots (often called ''Museo de Jamón''), they are usually over-priced. Several countries however forbid importation of Spanish pork. *'''Mercado de Fuencarral''': Fuencarral Street, between Tribunal and Gran Via. Like the typical Spanish Market (3 floors crowded of modern shops), for young people. With the latest and the most daring fashion. Cinema and activities until midnight. ==Eat== Remember that Spaniards have a three-course meal from 1 pm to 3 pm and a lighter meal around 9 pm. ===Local specialities=== *'''Callos''' (tripe with hot sauce) *'''Cocido madrileño''' (chickpea-based food, includes a soup, boiled chickpeas, and different kinds of meat) *'''Tapas''' (they're not a dish; many different dishes are called this way) *'''Fish and Seafood''' *'''Bocadillo de calamares''' (a sandwich of fried squid rings) *'''Regional cuisines''' :Including ''paella'' from Valencia (see below), ''fabada'', ''lacón'' and almost any regional cuisine of Spain. *'''Foreign cuisine''' *'''Paella''' is not typical of Madrid, it is from Valencia (City)|Valencia. Order it only at seafood restaurants. ===Selected restaurants=== ====Restaurant chains==== Most international fast-food chains have a restaurant in Madrid, including (by alphabetical order) Burger King, Hard Rock Café (Plaza de Colón), McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Planet Hollywood (Plaza de Neptuno) ''(chains with address have just one or a couple of restaurants in the city).'' Local restaurant chains, by alphabetical order: * Bocatta (French bread sandwiches) * Cañas y Tapas (Tapas; they don't use to have main courses). * Forster's Hollywood (international food ''according to google, this seems to be a local chain, but I'm not sure'') * Gambrinus (Tapas; they don't use to have main courses). * Museo del Jamón (tapas, food store; it is more like a bar: they don't use to have neither main courses nor tables; products are slightly overpriced, but best quality). * Pans & Co (French bread sandwiches) * VIP's (International food along with convenience stores). ''Most VIP's also include a Gino's restaurant, specialized in pasta and pizza.'' * Telepizza (Pizzas, usually to carry out) ====Other nice restaurants==== *'''EL JARDÍN SECRETO''' - C/ de CONDE DUQUE 2 (Plaça Espanya) 28015, TEL: 0034 91 541 80 23, FAX: 0034 91 559 35 43, - Not to be missed! Here you can taste cakes, chocolate and other sweet melodies from the heaven. You can choose many specialities, two above the others: ''Chocolate Death'', a 4 floors chocolate cake "in the end you have to give up" and ''Aire de coco y mango'' a Mousse (as served at Madonna and Guy Ritchy's wedding.) ==Drink== On weekends, the time to go out for a drink (Spaniards call it ''copas'') starts at about twelve to one a.m., which is a bit later than in other places in Europe. Before that, people usually have some tapas (''raciones'', ''algo para picar''), have "real" dinner in a restaurant, stay at home, or go to cultural events. Some pubs and clubs close in the morning. It is not unusual to have breakfast (''chocolate con churros''), thick, melted chocolate and some cookies before going home. === Typical districts to go out === *'''Plaza de Santa Ana, Huertas''' *'''La Latina''' *'''Tribunal''' *'''Chueca''', the Gay neighborhood. *'''Alonso Martínez''' *'''Plaza Mayor''' *'''Plaza del Dos de Mayo''' === Some places === *'''Esquina de Eusebio''', Calle de Caramuel, Metro Puerta de Angel. A nice bar to start with. Guests of all ages, mostly locals. People drink normally beer, wine, ''clara'' (beer and lemonade) or softdrinks, and eat canapés. You only pay for the drinks. ==Sleep==  *'''Hostal Villagarcía''', - Calle Fuencarral 10 3º Metro station Gran Via, +34.91.522.05.85(''fax +34.91.531.56.21, hostal -at- villa-garcia.com''). This Hostal is so centric that most famous Monuments and Museums can be visited by walking (such as Prado Museum, Thyssen museum, Sol, Plaza Mayor, Palacio Real). Inside the room you can find: bathroom, TV, air conditioning, central heating, laundry and baggage storage facilities. Rooms with kitchen, washing machine and fridge are also available. Free Internet wireless access in the rooms. €28-€65 (''single - room for four''). http://www.villa-garcia.com/ *El Escorial *Alcalá de Henares *Aranjuez *Segovia *Seville *Barcelona *Toledo (Spain)|Toledo *Portugal ==External Links== * [http://www.hot-maps.de/europe/spain/madrid/madrid/homeen.html Map of Madrid] {{stub}} WikiPedia:Madrid ro:Madrid fr:Madrid First page | Prev | Next | Last page |

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