Transportation is definitely an issue in this extradynamic city, so be attentive picking your way to move around.
By Car
Driving automobiles in Madrid is best avoided by all but the most adventurous. Parking is nightmarish, traffic extremely heavy almost all the time, and the city's drivers can be frightening. An exception may be August, when the streets are largely emptied by the mass exodus of Madrilenos on vacation.
If you are a member of an automobile club (AAA, CAA, or AA), you can get help from the Spanish auto club RACE (Jose Abascal 10, Madrid, tel. 91/447-3200; emergency assistance, 91/593-3333).
Madrid has notoriously long morning and evening rush hours that can try any driver's patience. Traffic jams (atascos) are especially bad in and surrounding the city, where the morning rush hour can last until noon. Evening rush hour runs from 7 PM to 9 PM.
Driving is on the right, and horns are banned in cities, but that doesn't keep Spaniards from blasting away. Children under 10 may not ride in the front seats, and seat belts are compulsory everywhere. Speed limits are 60 km per hour (37 mph) in cities, 100 km per hour (62 mph) on N roads, 120 km per hour (74 mph) on the autopista, and 90 km per hour (56 mph) unless otherwise signposted on other roads.
Car Rentals
Rates begin at the equivalents of U.S.$55 a day and $240 a week for an economy car with air-conditioning, manual transmission, and unlimited mileage. This does not include the 16% tax on car rentals.
ATESA (General information: PHONE: 902/100101; Infante Mercedes 90, Madrid, PHONE: 91/585-1244) has offices all over Spain.
Requirements
Your own driver's license is valid in Spain, but you may want to get an International Driver's Permit for extra assurance. It's available from the American or Canadian automobile association, or, in the United Kingdom, from the Automobile Association or Royal Automobile Club.
By Mass Transit
Bus
Red city buses run between 6 AM and midnight and cost EUR.90 per ride. After midnight, buses called buyos (night owls) run out to the suburbs from Plaza de Cibeles for the same price. Signs at every stop list all other stops by street name, but they're hard to comprehend if you don't know the city well. Pick up a free route map from EMT kiosks on the Plaza de Cibeles or the Puerta del Sol, where you can also buy a 10-ride Metrobus ticket (EUR5.10) that's valid for both the bus and the metro. If you speak Spanish, call for information (tel. 91/406-8810).
Drivers will generally make change for anything up to a EUR10 note. If you've bought a 10-ride ticket, step just behind the driver and insert it in the ticket-punching machine until the mechanism rings.
Metro
Madrid's Metro system is cheap, extensive and efficient. Metro stations are indicated by the red, blue and white icon shown here. The metro is made up of ten lines and covers most of the city.
Single ticket: 1,10 Eur. 1 trip.
Metrobus: 10 trips: 5,20 Eur. Also valid in buses in Madrid.
10 trips ticket (Metrosur): 5,20 Eur. Fro the new line MetroSur.
The official website for the Madrid metro is http://www.metromadrid.es
Information Telephone Number for the Users: 91 552 59 09
Metro Information Center:
C/ Cavanilles, 58
28007 - Madrid
Schedule: Monday to Friday, from 8,30 a.m. to 14,30 p.m.
The metro runs from 6AM to 1:30 AM, after which travellers have to rely on night-buses (called 'buhos', meaning owl) or taxis. The ten journey tickets can be shared for travel by more than one person on a journey.
Be warned - busy stations (especially Sol) are popular spots for pick-pockets. The metro gets very crowded during hours and UNBEARABLY hot in the mid-summer months.
All stations are equipped with a loudspeaker system, which will report on any circumstances or abnormalitie which might affect the service. Prompt information can also be requested through the yellow interphones available at all Stations.
By Motorbike
Motorbykes, scooters, and motorcycles can be rented by the day or week at Moto Alquiler (Conde Duque 13, tel. 91/542-0657). If driving in a strange city doesn't bother you, this is a fast and pleasant way to see the city. You'll need your passport, your driver's license, and either a cash deposit or a credit card.
By Taxi
Taxis are plentiful and reasonably priced and drivers are on the whole fairly honest. On busy streets they can be found and flagged down at virtually any time of the day or night. All official taxis are painted white with a red diagonal stripe across the front doors.
The meter starts at 1.05 and there are surcharges for things such as extra passengers, pick-up from a phone call, pick-up at the airport, loading of luggage etc. Make sure the meter is running, otherwise you risk being being overcharged. When taking taxis from the airport, train and bus stations, it is advisable to use the official taxi ramps as roaming touts who offer lifts are often on the look out for an easy rip-off.
Taxi telephone numbers: 91 405 55 00 / 91 447 51 80 / 91 445 90 08
Tariffs:
Base fee: 1,45 eur
Price per hour: 12,65 eur /h
Price per kilometre:
- Tariff 1: 0,67 eur /km
- Tariff 2: 0,85 eur /km
- Tariff 3: 0,95 eur /km
http://www.taxidemadrid.es.vg
