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Guide to Madrid<br />
Use one of the official underground car parks, for<br />
example at Plaza Santa Ana, Plaza Mayor or Plaza de<br />
Oriente, or you can park on the street in designated areas<br />
using the pay-and-display parking system – green lines<br />
indicate a limit of one hour, blue lines no more than two<br />
hours. Illegally parked cars may be impounded and should<br />
be recovered as soon as possible as the fines rise every<br />
hour.<br />
6<br />
Rental Cars<br />
Anyone over the age of 21 can hire a car on<br />
presentation of a passport and valid driving licence (held<br />
for at least one year). You will also need an international<br />
insurance policy. All major companies are represented<br />
in Madrid and cars can be hired from the airport, main<br />
railway stations and large hotels.<br />
7<br />
Road Rules<br />
Traffic drives on the right. Seat belts are compulsory<br />
for front-seat passengers. It’s illegal to drive while<br />
wearing headphones or using a hand-held mobile phone.<br />
Drivers must carry two red hazard triangles, spare bulbs<br />
and a spare wheel. The speed limit on motorways is 120<br />
kmph (75 mph), on main roads 90 kmph (55 mph), and<br />
50 kmph (30mph) within towns. Driving under the<br />
influence of alcohol or drugs is a serious offence incurring<br />
on the spot fines.<br />
8<br />
Tour Buses<br />
The main tour bus company, Madrid Vision, offers<br />
several routes around the city including Historic Madrid<br />
and Modern Madrid. Buses depart daily from Gran Vía<br />
32 and Sol every 10 to 25 minutes from 9:30am to<br />
midnight in summer and 10am to 7pm in winter. You<br />
can get on or off at any stop along the route. Cassettes<br />
with English commentary are provided.<br />
➤ Madrid Vision: • 91 779 1888 • www.madridvision.es<br />
9<br />
Bikes and Scooters<br />
Driving a motorcycle or moped is one way of<br />
avoiding traffic congestion and parking problems. Crash<br />
helmets must be worn, though many locals flout this<br />
law. Cycling in Madrid is dangerous.<br />
10<br />
Suburban Trains<br />
The suburban train network, the Cercanías , is<br />
connected at various points to the metro. It is useful for<br />
reaching towns such as Alcalá de Henares and El<br />
Escorial.<br />
Banking and Communications<br />
1 Currency<br />
In January 2002 Spain joined 11 other European<br />
countries in converting its currency to the euro. The<br />
peseta ceased to be legal tender at the end of February<br />
2002, after a stint of more than 140 years as the national<br />
currency. The euro is subdivided into 100 céntimos. Euro<br />
bank-notes have the following denominations: 5, 10, 20,<br />
50, 100, 200 and 500. Euro coins come in eight<br />
denominations: 1 euro, 2 euros, and 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and<br />
50 céntimos. Visitors from outside the euro zone should<br />
check the exchange rates at the time of travel.<br />
2<br />
Changing Money and Bank Hours<br />
traveldk.com<br />
Bureaux de change are found throughout the city,<br />
especially around Puerta del Sol. There are also 24-hour<br />
counters at Barajas airport (see Barajas International<br />
Airport), the two mainline stations, El Corte Inglés and<br />
other central department stores and major hotels. Many<br />
banks also have a currency exchange desk and will<br />
accept travellers’ cheques as well as cash. Banking hours<br />
are Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 2pm. Some branches<br />
also open, September to June only, on Saturdays from<br />
9am to 1pm. During the San Isidro festival all banks close<br />
at midday.<br />
3<br />
Cash Dispensers<br />
ATMs abound in Madrid and are the easiest way of<br />
getting hold of cash. Those accepting internationally<br />
recognized cards will give you a choice of several<br />
languages, including English.<br />
4<br />
Credit Cards<br />
Spain is more of a cash society than some other<br />
European countries. In Madrid, most hotels and<br />
restaurants will take credit cards, but some pensions ,<br />
tabernas and tapas bars will only accept cash. Shops<br />
take cards but may ask to see some identification.<br />
5 Post<br />
The Main Post Office (Palacio de Communicaciones)<br />
in Plaza de Cibeles is a tourist sight in its own right.<br />
Opening hours are Monday to Friday 8:30am to 9pm,<br />
Saturday 8:30am to 2pm. For other post offices (correos<br />
), look for the yellow sign and the crown and post-horn<br />
logo. These open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 2:30pm,<br />
Saturday 9am to 1pm. Postboxes are yellow.<br />
6 Estancos<br />
Another useful place to buy stamps is a tobacconist<br />
(estanco ) as queues are shorter than in post offices.<br />
These small shops also sell metrobus tickets and are<br />
designated with a brown-and-yellow sign.<br />
7 Telephones<br />
All Madrid phone numbers are prefixed with 91,<br />
followed by seven digits. To phone Spain from overseas,<br />
dial the code 00 34. Some public telephones take coins,<br />
others accept phonecards which are on sale at post<br />
offices, tobacconists and newspaper kiosks. Only a few<br />
take credit cards. Local calls are inexpensive and all calls<br />
are cheaper between 8pm and 8am, and at weekends<br />
and public holidays.<br />
8<br />
Internet Cafés<br />
These have been mushrooming all over Madrid in<br />
recent years. One of the best is Zahara, which is open<br />
daily. It combines a cybercafé and restaurant, offering a<br />
good fixed-price menu.<br />
➤ Zahara: Gran Vía 31 • 91 523 8455<br />
9<br />
Newspapers and Magazines<br />
A wide range of foreign daily newspapers is sold at<br />
kiosks around Plaza de Cibeles and Puerta de Sol.<br />
10 Television<br />
Most large hotels subscribe to satellite and cable<br />
TV, but if you’re staying in lower priced accommodation<br />
you’ll probably only have access to the five free Spanish<br />
43<br />
Practical Information
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