Madrid Essentials

Madrid Essentials & Tourist Information

Currency	Euro
Exchange Rate	Approx £1 = €1.28
Flight Time	UK 2 Hour 40 mins approx
Time Zone	GMT = +1 hour
Language	Spanish
Voltage	220 V (European two-pin plugs)

National Holidays In Madrid

January 1st -	New Years Day
January 6th -	Epiphany
April 2nd (2010) -	Good Friday
May 1st -	Labour Day
August 15th -	Assumption
October 12th -	National Day
November 1st-	All Saints' Day
December 6th -	Constitution Day
December 8th -	Immaculate Conception
December 25th -	Chrstmas Day

Madrid Tourist Attractions
The gilded rooms of The Royal Palace of Madrid (Palacio Real) are open all year round; from April 1 to September 30 from 9am to 6pm Monday to Saturday and from 9am to 3pm on Sunday; from October 1 to March 31, 9.30am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and from 9am to 2pm on Sunday. As well as on Madrid Day (May 2), the Palace closes twice a week for official functions. On Wednesday the admission is free for EU nationals. Read more information on things to do in Madrid.

 Search for Madrid City Breaks

Useful Spanish Phrases

Good morning	Buenos días		I'm sorry	Lo siento
Good afternoon	Buenas tardes		I don't speak Spanish	No hablo español
Good-bye	Adiós		Please speak more slowly	Hable más despacio, por favor
Yes	Sí		Where is...?	Dónde está...?
No	No		Train Station	la estación de ferrocarril
Please	Por favor		Airport	aeropuerto
Thank you	Gracias		Beer	la cerveza
Currency exchange	cambio		The bill, please	La cuenta, por favor

Madrid Opening Hours
Shops in Madrid are generally open Monday to Friday between the hours of 9.30 and 1.30pm and then 5pm to 8pm. However, during the summer months many will stay open later in the evening. Department stores and supermarkets stay open all day (including Saturday) and are allowed to open on the first Sunday of every month. Banks open earlier, around 8.30am, but close for the day at 2pm.

Madrid Food & Drink
Madrid is famed for its stews and hotpots. Regional dishes include cocido madrileño (chickpea stew), callos a la madrileña, (tripe dish) and the delicious sopa de ajo (garlic soup). Torrijas (similar to our bread and butter pudding) is a firm favourite in springtime around Holy Week. Spaniards are a nation of meat eaters but the people of Madrid are also big fish lovers and, surprisingly for an area that is 250 miles from the sea, the city boasts the second largest fish market in the world, second only to Tokyo. With such an incredibly wide variety of fish and seafood, Madrid has received the paradoxical nickname “the best port in Spain”.

Tipping & Etiquette in Madrid
Service is generally not included in your bill, so in cafés, bars and taxis, just round up the total to the next Euro. In a good restaurant 5% is acceptable, 15% is generous.

Madrid Useful Numbers
• Calling the UK from Madrid: 00+ 44 + area code minus the zero + number
• Calling Madrid from the UK: 00 + 34 +area code + number
• Fire: 112, 080, or 085
• Medical Emergencies: 112 or 061.
• Police: 112 or 091 (National), 092 (Municipal) 062 (Local)

Disabled Access In Madrid
The city is not yet fully prepared for disabled access, however things are improving. The metro map is available from metro stations and tourist information offices and shows which stations have lifts and disabled access. Eurotaxi is a specialist taxi company that caters for disabled access in Madrid. Tel: (0034) 91 547 8500 / (0034) 91 547 8200 / (0034) 91 547 8600.

Madrid Embassies
• British Embassy: C/ Fernando el Santo, 16, 28010 Madrid, Spain. 
  Tel: 91 700 82 00 / 91 319 02 00, fax: 91 700 82 72
• Spanish Embassy: 39 Chesham Place, London SW1X 8SB. 
  Tel. +44 (0) 20 7235 5555; fax: 020 7259 5392
• Lost property office: 91 480 46 13. Open Monday to Friday from 9am to 2pm.

Madrid City Breaks  Getting Around Madrid

Things To Do In Madrid  Madrid Weather