Madridisuserfriendly offers you some useful information for your stay in Madrid.
LOST AND FOUND
Municipal Lost Property Office, Paseo del Molino 7, tel: 91 527 95 90, Metro “Legazpi”
TIME
Six hours ahead of New York and one hour ahead the UK. +1GMT in winter and +2GMT in summer
MONEY
The EURO is the official currency.
CREDIT CARDS
Are accepted in all large establishment and most of the smaller ones.
OPENING HOURS
Shops from 10 in the morning and close at 8 PM, if they are small and the big shops may stay open until 10 PM. Some are open Sundays, depending on their size mainly. In the area of Sol, they are all open on Sunday.
MUSEUMS
Many close on Mondays
Prado free of charge after 6PM.
BANKS
Mon-Fry 09.00-14.00 between October and May. Some of the banks open from 09.00-13.00 on Saturdays. The savings banks are open on Thursday afternoon, but shut every Saturday.
TAXIS
The official taxis are white with a diagonal red stripe. A green light on the roof shows it is free to take passengers. There is an extra charge for the airport and the train stations. All extra charges must appear on the meter. Otherwise you don’t have to pay anymore than what you see. The taxi drivers have a habit of not punching the buttons, so the right price will come up and pocket the extra...the madrileños know this, but can be confusing for a visitor.
Sometimes the taxi drivers “forget” to put the meter on…so you will need check they have and remind them if they haven’t. ONLY PAY what the meter says. In case of doubt, ask for a receipt with their license number. Taxis are obliged to take children yet sometimes they refuse. If you are at the airport where refusing to take kids is a bad habit, call the police and let them sort it out with the cab driver. The cab drivers at the airport aren’t great news; have to be honest about this.
BUSES
The buses are great if you are in the center. 1 euro per persona. But if you go past a cigarette shop or newspaper stand you can buy a “bono metro bus” with 10 rides and two people can use the same ticket. You just punch twice.
METRO
Madrid is very proud of their metro. Recently renovated and extended it will take you anywhere. Just need to get a hold of one of those bono metro buses at the metro station, which will take you anywhere. Same deal, the ticket can be shared by as many people up to ten.
ELECTRICITY
The standard current is 220 volts. Plugs are of the round two-pin type.
TIPPING
Discretionary but 5% would be normal. Most Spaniards just leave the change. If you want something extra done, brandish the cash and nine out of ten they will do all sorts of things!
EMERGENCY
Police 092
Police, Ambulance, Fire 112
TOURIST OFFICES
Plaza Mayor 27 / Calle del Duque de Medinaceli, 2 / Estación de Atocha / Estación de Chamartin / Madrid Barajas Airport
BANK HOLIDAYS
These vary every year, but for 2009, Madrid’s holidays are as follows
January 1 New Years Day January 6 Three Kings Day March 19 San Jose or St. Joseph’s day April 9 Holy Thursday April 10 Good Friday May 1 Labour Day May 2 Community of Madrid May 15 San Isidro August 15 The Assumption La Asuncíón October 12 Hispanic Day November 1 All Saints Day December 8 Immaculate Conception December 25 Christmas
AVERAGE TEMPERATURES
Sun and snow in the RETIRO PARK - January 2009
Spring (mar. to mid-jun.) Along with autumn, the springtime is the most pleasant time of year, with blue skies and sunny days, though there may be showers.
Summer (mid-jun. to aug.) is hot and dry. Rain is unusual.
Autumn (sept. to oct.) Rainy at times Temperature can be very comfortable as well.
Winter (nov. to feb.) can be very cold , but with dry, clear days, rain and snow make their appearance, but every year varies. The cold spells start mid December and end January.
CLOTHES
Madrid is a capital city, not a beach resort so shorts look silly! The madrileños dress casually but very neatly. Jeans, but no running clothes unless you are doing just that. Otherwise sporty casual is just fine and runners are OK. If you are going to a nice restaurant, most probably you will find everyone dressed with a certain chic and men will have ties. Brand names are not big in Madrid.
MOVING ABOUT IN MADRID
Madrid is technically a walker friendly city, or at least it could be. Good weather, lots to see, the center of the city is manageable. The shopping district of Serrano is like New York…. built in squares. The older part is full of small streets but they are near to each other and easy to handle.
However, Town Hall doesn’t have much respect for pedestrians. Every possible article is placed on the already thin sidewalks… from construction sights, motorbikes, bicycles, garbage areas, posts…lots of posts…trees, seats…If it isn’t a car it goes on the sidewalk. It becomes a bit of an obstacle race…
Parking is a pain…. so if your hotel doesn’t have a parking area, don’t try and leave your car on the street. Ok for a couple of hours, but you will have to move it constantly. The parking garages are expensive, very expensive. Hopefully, one day, Madrid will figure out a way to give tourists a special 48 hour pass for tourists who drive in for a couple of days.
