33401SPA
Transportation
Metro The metro runs from 06.00 – 01.30 daily
Type of Metro/Bus Tickets Cost
Single ticket €1.50- 2€
Metrobus (10 trip ticket valid for
both metro and bus travel) €8.50 + €2.50 rechargeable card
Airport Supplement €3.00
There is a new ticket system in Madrid with a plastic ‘Multi’ card replacing all kinds of paper tickets. The new card costs €2.50 and is valid for 10 years. It can be loaded with up to 3 non-personal tickets (so for example 3 passes of 10 journeys). For more information: http://www.crtm.es/billetes-y-tarifas/tarjeta-multi.aspx
Public transportation is now included on all tours. If you are planning to use the metro with your group it is advisable to purchase or preload existing cards before you accompany the group down to the metro.
Give the group the preloaded cards to access the turnstiles. Card must be tapped on the scanner in order to open the gate. When the card has been used ten times they should return it to you to be reloaded or for future use.
For navigating public transport, there is nice free app, called Citymapper, available for many major cities around Europe, including Madrid. It has very thorough searches and tends to be more accurate than Google Maps.
Tourist Information
Main Tourist Office
Plaza Mayor, 27 (Casa de la Panaderia). Telephone 91 5787810 Open 9.30am to 8.30pm 365 days of the year.
Magazines/Newspapers for Events
Guia de Ocio for listings of what’s on in Madrid is published weekly on Thursdays.
In Madrid is an English newspaper with listings of concerts and other cultural events, free copies can be picked up in the tourist office in the Plaza Mayor, many cafés and restaurants.
What’s On is another other publication available from the tourist office with all the usual listings and a map.
Church Services
Almudena Cathedral. Sundays and weekdays: 12.00. 18.00 and 19.00
If your group wishes to go to church check in advance as the mass times do change – www.misas.org
There are many local churches that might be closer to your hotel, always check with reception for details.
Major Sights
Almudena Cathedral: Just next to The Royal Palace. 19th Century outside, 20th Century inside. Statue of Pope John Paul II beside entrance on C/Bailen / Metro: Opera
Royal Palace: The inside visit is worthwhile: ornately decorated rooms containing beautiful chandeliers, tapestries, silk wallpaper, clocks and paintings. The throne room and the dining room are impressively large and lavish. Make sure your group visit the armory (also included in the ticket) it is a highlight. Palace also houses musical instrument collection. Guided visits in English throughout the day – availability depending on demand – lasts around an hour. Metro: Opera
Students will need STUDENT ID for discount entry.
Monument to Discovery: Monument consisting of 4 monoliths of Americas carved with texts commemorating occasion. Plaza Colon, Metro: Colón
Plaza Mayor: Arcaded square built between 1617 and 1619. Scene of many public events – bullfighting to markets – in Madrid and location of several restaurants and Tapas bars and a modern-day concert venue. Summer evenings street entertainers and portrait artists. Metro: Sol/Opera
Temple of Debod: 4th Century BC temple presented to Spain by Egypt as a thank you for their help in building the Aswan Dam. Metro: Plaza España
Plaza de España: small, downtown park often housing craft fairs
Moncloa Light Tower: Splendid panoramic view of Madrid. Closed Mondays. Metro: Moncloa
Museums
Most museums close on Mondays. Official ID with birth date should be carried – driver’s license or photocopies of passports will suffice.
Reina Sofia Museum: 20th Century art museum that houses Picasso’s Guernica along with many of his Guernica sketches and other important paintings. There are also many works by Dalí, Miró and Solana to name but a few / temporary exhibitions of a high standard and the glass lifts are fun too, good gift shop. Metro: Atocha. Group reservation available, call in advance. Under-18s go in for free, teachers can go in for free if they have their teacher ID.
Thyssen Bornemisza Museum: Former private art collection with a broad range from mid 12th century to modern day works. Highlights include Titian’s St Jerome in the Wilderness, their collection of French Impressionists and paintings by Georgia O’Keefe and Edward Hopper. Metro: Banco de España
Sorolla Museum: The turn of the century painter’s house, studio and Moorish garden. Metro: Iglesia
San Antonio de la Florida Church: Tomb of Goya, frescoes. Metro: Principe Pío Casa Mingo – just next door is a great place for roast chicken at good prices. Lots of atmosphere.
Bullfighting Museum: in the bullring. Metro: Ventas. Free entrance, however guided tours are now available. From Tuesday to Saturday 10.30am is the first one and 13.30 is the last one. Tour takes about 45 minutes. Cost €7. Call ahead for group reservations 91 556 9237.
Teleférico de Madrid- cable car (“Teleférico de Madrid”) dates back to 1969.The journey starts on the Paseo del Pintor Rosales street, near the Argüelles Metro station, and takes you over the River Manzanares and into the Casa de Campo park. The cable car carries you above the city’s parks and the Manzanares River in the distance, as a recorded commentary
describes what you are looking at.You’ll be seeing attractions such as the Plaza de España and the Egyptian temple of Debod from a completely different perspective, as well as taking photos from several other angles.Many of the city’s famous sights may be seen, such as the Parque del Oeste Park with La Rosaleda, the Principe Pio Metro Station, the Torrespaña communication tower, the Royal Palace, Almudena Cathedral and the Chapel of San Antonio de la Florida. To the other hand, you will see the part of the modern Madrid with the famous 4 Towers buildings. The cabins reach a maximum height of 40 meters above the ground, and the entire 2.5-kilometer ride takes just over ten minutes from its starting point at the Paseo Rosales all the way to the Casa de Campo Park. Metro: Argüelles (Lines 3, 4 and 6).
Círculo de Bellas Artes (Terrace and rooftop view) Calle Alcalá 42. private, non-profit, cultural organization that was founded in 1880 where exhibitions, theatre and other cultural events are being held. For a small fee of 4 EUR students can take the lift, its rooftop café and enjoy great views of the city. Metro: Sevilla/Banco de España
Estadio Santiago Bernabéu: Real Madrid’s football stadium.
Parks and Gardens
Retiro Park
Royal Botanical Gardens
West Park and Rosales Rose Garden
Casa de Campo cafes around the lake and boating. Metro Lago.
Markets
Rastro Flea Market, Ribera de Curtidores. (Metro La Latina/Tirso de Molina.)
Open on Sunday morning – earlier the better!
Stamp & Coin Market, Plaza Mayor.
Open on Sunday morning.
Shopping
Puerto del Sol Calles Carmen, Preciados and Arenal.
Calle Fuencarral from Gran Via to Biblao.
The lower end of Calle Arenal & Mayor is good for guitar and musical instruments
Corte Ingles: Branches in Calle Preciados, Goya and Princesa.
FNAC: 5 floors of books, CDs, and electrical goods based in Calle Preciados
Calle Princesa from near Arguelles
Principe Pio shopping centre: Undercover mall with all the high street shops, restaurants and cinemas and open every day of the year.
Plaza mayor: Here and in the streets behind you can find all sorts of tourist shops
Typical Events
Bullfight – Every Sunday during the season – from 19 March to October. Everyday during festivals. Novillos every Friday night in July at 8pm. Call the tourist office or the bullring for information on times and prices.
Flamenco – Torres Bermejas is one of the longest standing. Correl de Moreria is also a very good place, but more expensive. Call the area office for group reservations.
Free Time Group Activities
Hard Rock Café – call the area office for group reservations – accept ‘Ticket Restaurant’.
Bike Tours of Madrid’s Old Town (i.e. no streets with traffic). Trixi bikes near Metro Sevilla, just off Gran Via (very close to Petite Palace Tres Cruces) offers 1.5-hour tours. Don’t forget the helmet! Contact them on 915 231 547.
Theatre/Concerts – Check with Ocio In the summer, don’t forget Veranos de la Villa concert series with stages all around downtown Madrid for outdoor concerts.
Cinemas – There are several cinemas showing original version films in the downtown area. Check the newspaper, online or Guia del Ocio.
Churros y Chocolate – Chocolateria San Gines open ALL night, Calle Arenal (up the alleyway to the right of the main entrance to Joy Eslava), Pasadizo de San Gines. They normally sit groups in a basement room, so it’s nicer to ask for churros and chocolate to take away and go eat them in a park, e.g. next to Opera. Call in advance as space is limited
Valor (Callao) also good churros y chocolate, but closes at 10pm.