Passports and Visas

No visa is required for citizens of EU countries, the United States, Canada, Australia, Iceland, Norway or Switzerland, who are planning to stay for less than 90 days. Passports need to be valid for three months beyond the end of your stay. Citizens of other countries or non-EU nationals need a visa, and should consult the Spanish Foreign Ministry website or the Spanish Embassy in their country for information before travelling. Schengen visas are also valid for Spain.

A number of countries including Canada, Ireland, UK and US have consular representation in Madrid.

Customs and Immigration

For EU citizens there are no limits on goods that can be taken into or out of Spain, provided they are for your personal use. If you are coming from outside the EU, you may import the following allowances duty-free: 200 cigarettes or equivalent in tobacco; 1 litre of spirits (exceeding 22 per cent proof) and 2 litres of wine; 50ml of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette; plus gifts up to a value of €430 for visitors travelling by air or sea, while for visitors travelling by road, it is €300.

Travel Safety Advice

Visitors can get up-to-date travel safety information from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the US Department of State and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Travel Insurance

EU citizens can avoid basic medical charges by carrying a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which must be obtained before travelling. (Note that dental care is not covered by EU health agreements.) Residents of other countries should purchase private medical cover before travel.

Health

No vaccinations are required for visiting Spain. Bring any medication that you require, and ideally a card in Spanish if you have a serious health issue, such as diabetes or epilepsy.

There are casualty departments (Urgencias) at the Hospital General Gregorio Marañón and Hospital La Paz. Other Spanish hospitals are listed in the Yellow Pages by area. For an English-speaking doctor or dentist contact the Anglo-American Medical Unit.

An illuminated green cross indicates a pharmacy (farmacia) and these are usually open from 10am to 2pm, and 5pm to 8pm Monday to Saturday, while some are open all day. If closed, the address of the nearest alternative will be displayed in the window. Pharmacists will treat minor ailments as well as give medical advice – most speak a little English – but bring any prescription medicines with you as you may not be able to find the exact equivalent. Pharmacists can also provide information about nearby health centres and doctors.

Ask at your hotel or consult the Yellow Pages for the nearest dentist. UDM Clínica Dental covers 24-hour emergencies. Expect to pay at the time of treatment. The key emergency telephone number in Spain (for ambulance, police and fire brigade) is 112.

Personal Security

Madrid is a generally safe city, with little crime. Avoid travelling alone at night on empty streets or in metro carriages, and do not carry large amounts of cash. As in most cities, pickpockets target people in crowds, and at tourist sights. Keep your wallet out of sight and don’t hang bags on the back of your chair in restaurants. Be careful of scams, such as strangers who tell you that you’ve dropped something. Don’t purchase anything from a vendor who approaches you in the street.

Madrileños are not the most careful of drivers. Pedestrians do not have automatic right of way on crossings, and an orange flashing light is generally regarded as a “go” signal by drivers. Crossings are often on street corners, so keep an eye open for cars turning from the side roads.

Emergency Services

Police stations, called comisarías, are listed in the Yellow Pages. You should report any crime, including theft and lost property, for insurance purposes or call on Municipal and Nacional Police numbers. The Foreign Tourist Assistance Service (SATE) offers multilingual assistance from 9am to midnight, daily. If you lose your passport, inform your embassy or consulate, and the police. Foreign visitors can file a police report for most minor crimes from anywhere in Spain by calling this number: 902 10 21 12. English-speaking operators are available from 9am to 9pm, daily. For more information, visit www.policia.es.

Madrileños are generally very polite. Women travellers will not attract unwanted attention if they adopt the same precautions that they would take in any large city.

Travellers with Specific Needs

The city’s facilities for travellers with specific needs have improved considerably during the last decade, but there’s still a long way to go. The tourist information office (see Visitor Information) publishes a useful leaflet called Accessible Tourism Guide to Madrid, available in Spanish and English as a downloadable PDF from Accessible Tourism's website. This recom-mends routes around the city suitable for travellers with specific needs, and provides an accessibility guide for all the important sights. City-run walking tours include options geared towards such travellers. The Madrid Tourist Information Office can also provide a list of accessible hotels. Most buses, train stations and some metro stations (marked on the metro map) are accessible.

Currency and Banking

The official currency of Spain is the Euro. The Euro is subdivided into 100 céntimos. Euro banknotes have the following denominations: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500. Euro coins come in eight denominations: €1, €2, and 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 céntimos. Visitors from outside the eurozone should check the current exchange rates at the time of travel and buy currency in advance.

Casas de cambio are found throughout the city, especially around Puerta del Sol. There are also 24-hour counters at Barajas airport (see Arriving by Air), the two mainline train stations, El Corte Inglés and other central department stores and major hotels. Many banks, such as Bankia also have a currency exchange desk. Banking hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 2pm. Some branches are open from September to June only, on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm. During the San Isidro festival all banks close at noon. ATMs abound in Madrid and offer the easiest way of getting hold of cash. Those accepting internationally recognized cards will give you a choice of English and several other languages. Most hotels and restaurants will take credit cards, but some smaller pensions, tabernas and tapas bars will accept only cash. Shops take cards but very few will ask for identification. Always choose to be charged in euros, while paying via credit or debit card, instead of your home currency.

Telephone and Internet

All Madrid phone numbers are prefixed with 91, followed by seven digits. Phone numbers must always be dialled in full, and include the city code. To phone Spain from overseas, dial the code 00 34. Public telephones take credit cards and phonecards, available from post offices, tobacconists and newspaper kiosks; only a few take coins. Local calls are inexpensive and calls are cheaper between 8pm and 8am, and at weekends and on public holidays.

A 4G broadband mobile will work in Spain, and data roaming can be used on phones from the EU without additional charges to your monthly bill. Alternatively, Spanish SIM cards or pay-as-you-go mobiles are widely available. Free Wi-Fi is available in a number of cafés, hotels and restaurants, as well as in international chains including Starbucks and McDonalds.

Postal Services

Correos is the main postal system in Spain. The main post office in Madrid is located at Paseo del Prado 1, and is open from 8:30am until 9:30pm Monday to Friday, and from 8:30am to 2pm on Saturdays. It offers a wide range of services, including express mail and parcel services, money transfers, and it also sells phone cards. There are several other branches around the city, which are usually open from 9:30am to 8:30pm Monday to Friday, and from 9:30am to 1pm on Saturdays. Postboxes are yellow, and are emblazoned with the “Correos” logo in dark blue. The service offered by the Spanish post office has improved enormously in recent years, and is on a par with that in most European countries in terms of delivery times and reliability. A letter or postcard from Spain to the UK will usually take 3 to 5 days, and from Spain to the US will take approximately 4 to 6 days.

Television and Radio

Most big hotels subscribe to satellite and cable TV, and most TVs give you the option of watching in the original language. If you’re staying in lower-priced accommodation you may have access only to the seven free Spanish channels – TVE1, TVE2, Antena 3, Telecinco, Cuatro, Telemadrid and La Sexta. There are six state radio stations, broadcasting in Spanish, plus several regional stations.

Newspapers and Magazines

If you can read Spanish, most daily papers, such as El País and El Mundo, have a supplement on Madrid, including listings. El País also publishes an English-language supplement that rounds up Spanish news stories. Foreign newspapers and some magazines, such as Time, are available on the day of publication from kiosks. The kiosk at the western end of Puerta del Sol is open 24 hours.

Opening Hours

The month of August is extremely quiet as most Madrileños take their annual summer holidays at this time. While most tourist sights remain open to the public, you will find many bars and restaurants are closed.

In general, the shops in Madrid are open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 2pm, and 5pm to 8:30pm. Most downtown shops are also open on Sundays and holidays. Opening hours for department stores and larger shops and chains are Monday to Sunday 10am to 9pm. Museums have their own opening hours, although many are closed on Mondays.

Public holidays in Madrid are: New Year’s Day (1 January), Epiphany (6 January), Feast of San José (19 March), Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Labour Day (1 May), Feast of the Community of Madrid (2 May), Feast of San Isidro (15 May), Corpus Christi (4 June), Santiago Apostol Day (25 July), Ascension Day (15 August), Hispanic Day (12 Oct), All Saints’ Day (1 November), Constitution Day (6 December), Immaculate Conception (8 December), and of course Christmas Day (25 December).

Time Difference

Madrid is on Central European Time, an hour ahead of GMT, and six hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. Spanish summer time begins on the last Sunday in March and ends on the last Sunday in October.

Electrical Appliances

The local power supply is 220 volts AC. Wall sockets have two-pin plugs. You will require an adaptor for all electric appliances, such as hairdryers, shavers and laptops. If you are using an American appliance you’ll need a transformer.

Driving

European and US driving licences are accepted in Spain. An International Driving Permit (IDP) for visitors from North America is recommended However, if you are planning to stay for more than 6 months, you need to get a Spanish license.

Weather

Madrid sits on a high plateau and has cold winters and hot, humid summers. The coldest months are January and February, with average temperatures ranging between 0° and 10° Celsius (32°–50° Fahrenheit). July and August can reach 35° Celsius (95° Fahrenheit).

Madrid is idyllic in May and June, when the parks and gardens are blooming, and the city hosts its best traditional festival, the Fiesta de San Isidro (15 May). In August, the temperature soars, and many locals desert the city for the beach or mountains, but prices for accommodation drop considerably. September and October are equally enjoyable in terms of climate, but the city also has a special charm in winter, when the light is low (ideal for photography), the sky is a vivid blue, and there are no queues for the major attractions such as the Prado.

Language

The official language in Madrid is Spanish. English is not widely spoken, except in hotels and some restaurants.

Smoking

Smoking is prohibited in hotels, bars, restaurants, clubs and cafés across Spain, although a few have set up designated outdoor smoking areas. Smoking is also banned in all public buildings, such as hospitals, and on public transport. However, smoking is much more commonplace than in many other countries, such as the UK or the USA, and you will find, for example, that café and bar terraces are full of smokers, and that smoking is perfectly common at bus stops and in other public places.

Visitor Information

Madrid Tourist Office is in Plaza Mayor, and is well-stocked with maps and brochures. The staff will help with accommodation but will not book it for you. The Comunidad de Madrid also has a tourist office, and can provide information on the Greater Madrid area, as well. Hi-tech tourist information mobile units situated at Palacio Real, Prado Museum and Caixa Forum are open during peak seasons and festivals. There are smaller tourist offices at Atocha and Chamartín railway stations, Plaza de Cibeles, Plaza del Callao and Plaza de Colón. Barajas airport (see Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport) has two information centres in Terminals 1 and 4. Yellow information stands are also located in various terminals.

The official city website (www.esmadrid.com) has a number of free publications that can be downloaded from its website. These include maps, guides, ideas for walks, information on day trips and practical advice for disabled travellers, as well as the free monthly magazine which provides information about what’s on in the city. Numerous websites cover Madrid, including the official Tourist Office site (www.esmadrid.com). Another useful resource is www.madrid.es, the city council’s website. The Madrid region (Comunidad de Madrid) has its own website and an app (http://turismomadrid.es), with extensive coverage of the whole region.

Useful apps include Madrid Travel Guide by Triposo and GPS My City, which provide detailed self-guided walks. These are available offline as well. Another app is the Madrid EMT, Metro, Renfe app (available from iTunes and Google Play), which provides travel information for public transport, including a route planner. Other apps include TripAdvisor, for reviews of attractions, hotels and restaurants; and Google Translate or iTranslate, for quick and fairly reliable translations.

Useful and inspiring blogs include FotoMadrid (www.fotomadrid.com), showcasing beautiful photographs of the city, and Secretos de Madrid (www.secretosdemadrid.es), which reveals Madrid’s hidden corners, as well as tips for unusual things to see and do. The Madrid Cool blog (www.madridcoolblog.com) includes food and drink listings.

Trips and Tours

The hop-on, hop-off Madrid City Tour service operates from 10am to 6pm between November and February, and from 9am to 10pm from March to October. There are two routes: both cover the Paseo del Prado, then the blue route heads west around the Royal Palace, and the green route goes north to Salamanca and the Bernabéu Stadium. Tickets are available for one or two days (€21/€25 for adults, or €10/€13 for children under 7).

The tourist office (see Travellers with Specific Needs) organizes a wide range of walking tours, including some geared towards disabled travellers. Themes include art and literary tours, haunted Madrid, food and wine-tasting, and crime and mystery tours. Tickets can be purchased at the tourist office, or via their website.

Bravo Bike runs city tours with a choice of standard or electric bikes (some streets in the old centre are very steep). It also offers tours of towns outside Madrid, including bike tours of El Escorial, Aranjuez and Toledo. You could also take a tour of of Madrid on a Segway: tours of the essential sights, restaurant tours and flamenco tours are some of the options available. Tours include an initial training session.

Another fun alternative is to scoot around the city in a vintage Seat 600. There are several tours to choose from, and prices can include lunch or a pit stop for chocolate con churros (hot chocolate with fried dough strips), if required. Alternatively, take a helicopter tour with Heliflight Spain and marvel at Madrid, Toledo or Aranjuez from the skies.

Shopping

Madrid is a world-class shopping destination, offering everything from vintage and cutting-edge fashion to gourmet treats. You’ll find all the popular Spanish chains, from Zara to Camper, along the Gran Vía, while the Chueca and Malasaña districts offer one-off boutiques and vintage shopping (see Fashion Shops). Top international and home-grown fashion labels are found in upmarket Salamanca. Foodies shouldn’t miss Madrid’s markets, where the stalls are piled high with every imaginable type of produce.

Winter sales usually start after the Three Kings celebration on 6 January, and summer sales begin on 1 July.

VAT (IVA) is currently 21 per cent on most goods. Non-EU residents can apply for tax refunds on purchases that cost over €99 when they are bought at participating stores. You will be given a form to be stamped at airport customs, to claim your refund at a casa de cambio or bank.

Dining

Madrileños love to eat, and the city’s dining scene offers something for everyone, from humble tapas bars to Michelin-starred establishments featuring the creations of world-famous chefs. The hearty local cuisine, as you might expect from an inland region, features plenty of stews and roast meats, but Madrid is also, rather surprisingly for a city so far from the coast, famed for its seafood, flown in freshly each morning from the ports of northern Spain. You can take a culinary tour of all Spain in Madrid, where there are restaurants offering the cuisines from every part of the country. Restaurants serving good international food are on the increase, offering everything from borscht to pad thai. Vegetarian and vegan eateries, while still rare, can now be found dotted across the city.

Restaurants are usually open from 1:30 or 2pm to 3:30 or 4pm for lunch, and from 8:30 or 9pm to 11pm or midnight for dinner. and are often closed on Sunday evenings and on Mondays.

Many restaurants, offer a great value menú del día (set lunch) on weekdays. This is a good way to try some top-notch cuisine without breaking your budget. Some restaurants will also offer a menú infantil (children’s menu). Tapas are ideal for kids, providing small portions of plenty of different foods, and cafés are regularly open all day for light fare. If you need a highchair, rarely available at restaurants, bring your own or phone ahead.

Accommodation

Madrid offers a wealth of options in all price categories. Whether you’re looking for deluxe hotel with all the trimmings or a cosy guesthouse, you’ll find something to suit your taste and budget.

Accommodation fills up quickly during holidays and events such as big trade fairs, so book well in advance. Room prices usually decrease in August, particularly at the chain hotels, which largely cater for business clients.

Accommodation in Spain falls into the following categories: hotels, rated with between one and five stars; hostals, which are simple guesthouses that often resemble hotels, and shouldn’t be confused with youth hostels; B&Bs; holiday apartments; youth hostels, and student residences, which provide an inexpensive stay during the summer break. By booking via Airbnb, Expedia, Booking.com, Hostelworld.com you can often grab bargains. The nearest campsite to the city and metro, Camping Osuna provides basic facilities near the airport.

The Madrid tourist office provides an online database of a variety of accommodation options, but it does not provide a booking service. Book directly with your accommodation choice, or via one of the online booking portals.

Light sleepers should pack earplugs, as street noise lasts well into the night, particularly at weekends, especially in the centre.