Madrid, Spain Practical Travel Information

Your Madrid Guide!

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PRACTICAL INFORMATION

The capital and largest city in Spain, Madrid is located in the geographical heart of the country. The population of the city is 3,155,359 (2005) and that of the metropolitan area is 5,964,143 (2005 est.). Covering 531 sq km (205 sq mi), Madrid lies at an elevation of about 640 m (2,100 ft). Madrid serves as the commercial, cultural, and transportation center of Spain, as well as the capital of Madrid province. Surrounded by a rolling plateau, Madrid is located along the Manzanares River, a small tributary of the Tagus (Tajo). The Sierra de Guadarrama, reaching 2,430 m (7,972 ft), overlooks the city in the north. Madrid's climate is marked by extremes. Summers are very hot and dry, with temperatures reaching as much as 40 deg C (104 deg F) in July. In January the average temperature is 4 deg C (40 deg F). Average annual rainfall is 406 mm (16 in) and falls mostly in the winter. Madrid is often subject to strong winds, which are dry and dusty in summer and piercingly cold in winter.

Flags.

Madrid City flag.
Madrid Community flag.
Flag of Spain.

When to come.
The best time to visit Madrid is in April-May and September-October when temperatures are good. During the summer months the city is not very crowded as most Madrileños leave for coastal areas, however it is too hot even after midnight.

Currency.
The national currency of Spain is the Euro (€). Bills are 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 Euro notes. Coins are 1 and 2 Euros, and 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 euro cents. Here is a great currency converter.

Time Zone.
Madrid is on Central European Time, GMT + 1 hour (+ 2 hours during Summer time from the last Sunday in March to the last Saturday in October).

Language. Spanish.

Religion.
According to Spain's Constitution, Spaniards have freedom of religion, but the vast majority (86%) are Roman Catholics.

Politics and Government.
Spain is a Parliamentary Monarchy and the King Juan Carlos I is the Head of State. Executive power lies on the Presidente del Gobierno who is elected every four years and appointed at the Congreso de los Diputados. The two major political parties in Spain are the center-right People's Party (PP) and the center-left Socialist Party (PSOE). The current mayor of Madrid is Ana Botella of the People's Party.

Electricity.
Spain, like most other European countries, has 220-volt AC, 50Hz current and uses two-pin continental plugs. Visitors from the UK will need an adapter for electric appliances, and US citizens need a converter/transformer as well in order to use their 110/125V appliances.

Temperature.
Spain uses the Celsius scale to measure temperatures.

Celsius -20º -15º -10º -5º 0º 5º 10º 15º 20º 25º 30º 35º 40º 45º

Farenheit -4º 5º 14º 23º 32º 41º 50º 59º 68º 77º 86º 95º 104º 113º

Weights and Measures.
The official system of weights and measures in Spain is the metric system, thus:
1 meter = 3.28 feet.
1 kilogram = 2.2046 pounds.
1 liter = 0.2641 US gallons. 1 US gallon = 3.7854 liters.
Weights and Measures Converter Click Here.

Tipping.
In Spain, tipping is not obligatory but always appreciated. A tip of between 5 and 10% in restaurants and hotels would be fine.

Tourism.
Spain was visited by almost 65 million foreign tourists in 2014 and is the second most visited country in the world after France. Madrid alone received more than 8 million. The main tourist office in Madrid, Madrid Tourism Center (Tel. 91 588 16 36) is located in the Plaza Mayor, 27, and is open everyday from 09:30 to 20:30 hours.

SPAIN TOURIST FIGURES

Year Number of Tourists

2014 64.9 million

2013 60.3 million

2012 57.7 million

2011 56.9 million

2010 52.6 million

2009 52.2 million

2008 57.4 million

2007 59.7 million

2006 58.5 million

2005 55.6 million

2004 52.5 million

2003 52 million

2002 51.7 million

2001 49.5 million

2000 47.8 million

Passports and Visas.
No visa is required for citizens of European Union countries, the USA, Canada, Australia, or Japan, who are planning to stay for less than 90 days. Passports however need to be valid for three months beyond the end of your stay. Citizens of other countries should consult their Spanish embassy or consulate for information before traveling to Spain.

Driving in Spain.
In order to be allowed to drive in Spain, you need your national driving license, and, in case you are not from a EU country, the International Driving Permit which is usually valid for one year. To rent a vehicle you must be 21 or over. It is illegal to drive while wearing headphones or using hand-held mobile phones. Seat belts must be worn at all times in front seats and rear seats where fitted.

Foreign Population.
Almost a million foreigners representing 15% of the population live in Madrid (2006 figures), and most of them come from Latin America.
- Ecuador: 185,000
- Romania: 127,000
- Colombia: 82,000
- Morocco: 81,000
- Peru: 49,000
- Bolivia: 37,000

Opening Times.
Banks are usually open from Monday to Saturday, 9:00 am to 13:00 pm. Sundays and holidays are closed.
Most shops and businesses open from Monday to Saturday, 10:00 am to 14:00 pm and 17:00 pm to 20:30 pm. Big shopping malls such as La Vaguada and department stores like El Corte Inglés remain open non-stop from 10:00 am to 20:30 pm. On Sundays and holidays almost all businesses are closed.

Holidays.
- January 1st: New Year's Day.
- January 6th: Día de Reyes.
- March 19th: Saint Joseph.
- March-April: Easter Thursday and Good Friday.
- May 1st: Día del Trabajo (May Day).
- May 2nd: Madrid Day.
- May 15th: San Isidro. Madrid's Patron Saint.
- October 12th: Día de la Hispanidad (Spain's National Holiday).
- November 1st: All Saints Day.
- November 9th: Virgen de la Almudena. Madrid's Patron virgin.
- December 6th: Constitution Day.
- December 8th: Immaculate Conception.
- December 25th: Christmas.

Cash Dispensers.

Madrid ATM ATMs (Automated Teller Machines) are the easiest way of obtaining cash in Spain as there are thousands of them and can be found outside bank offices and airports. The two main ATM networks that operate in Spain are Servired and 4B, and all major cards are accepted: VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club, etc. Remember that ATM cards use a 4-digit PIN number.

Telephones.

Madrid Phone Booth There are public phone booths everywhere in Madrid. Most take coins but others will need phonecards which can be bought at tobacco shops (estancos). Some phone booths accept credit cards as well. All Madrid phone numbers begin with 91 followed by seven digits.
The dialing code to call to Spain from overseas is 34.
To call from Madrid to the USA and Canada is 00 1.
To call from Madrid to the UK is 00 44.
To call from Madrid to Germany is 00 49.
An example of how to make an international call:

00
International
Code + 44
Code for
the UK + 151
Code for
Liverpool + 85 96 35
Subscriber's
number

Phone Numbers of Interest in Madrid:
Emergencies: 112
Local Police: 092
National Police: 091
Police 24 hours crime reporting: 902 102 112
Fire Department: 080
Ambulance: 061
Red Cross: 91 522 222
Tourist Information: 010 from within Madrid. (+34) 91 540 40 40 or (+34) 91 540 40 10 from outside Madrid.

Mail.

Madrid Buzón Letters and postcards sent from Spain to the US and Canada cost 0.78 Euros up to 20 grams.
Letters and postcards sent from Spain to the UK and other EU countries cost 0.57 Euros up to 20 grams.
Letters and postcards within Spain cost 0.29 Euros.
Stamps (sellos) are sold at post offices and any tobacco shop (estanco). To post a letter or postcard just look for any of the yellow post boxes (buzones) spread all over the city.
The main post office, the Palacio de Comunicaciones, is located in the Plaza de Cibeles.
Spanish Post Office (Correos) website: http://www.correos.es