Madrid is the capital city of the Kingdom of Spain and the largest municipality in both the Community of Madrid and Spain as a whole. The city has a population of almost 3.2 million with a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.5 million. It is the third-largest city in the European Union (EU) after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan area is the third-largest in the EU after those of London and Paris.
Magerit, ‘land rich in water’. This is how the Arabs called this area on the central plain of the Iberian Peninsula, close to Sierra de Guadarrama, where King Phillip II of Spain later established the royal court. Later on, it grew into the big city that’s come down to us.
The first historical record of Madrid dates back to the year 865, when Emir Muhammad I commissioned the construction of a fortress in the village of Mayrit, on the banks of the river Manzanares. ‘Mayrit’ means ‘plenty of waterways’, which is why the city’s first recorded coat of arms read, ‘I was built on water / My walls are made of fire / This is my flag and my coat of arms’. Madrid belonged to the Islamic world until 1083, when Alfonso VI of Castile took over the city.
Few vestiges have remained from this era. On Calle Mayor, next to the Institute of Italian Culture, there used to stand the Grand Mosque and, most probably, as in every Muslim city, the souk. On the site of the former mosque rose the Church of Santa María, of which some remains can still be seen. Close by, on Cuesta de la Vega, there’re parts of the old town walls that enclosed the medina or citadel. It was inside these walls that the Christians found a statuette of Virgin Mary with a candle that had been burning for over four hundred years at the time they seized the area. Almudena, derived from the Arabic al-mudayna that translates as ‘the little city’ or ‘citadel’, has been, since then, the name mostly used by Madrileños to refer to the Virgin.
In the Medieval district of Madrid you can go to the National Archaeological Museum, with a really interesting collection of decorative objects from the Visigoth Kingdom of Toledo to the Late Middle Ages. The rooms dedicated to Medieval and Renaissance art in the Lázaro Galdiano Museum and the Prado Museum are well worth a visit too.
View PRATICAL INFORMATION
What’s the pace of the city? What are the opening hours of museums and monuments? Will my phone work in Madrid? Is it safe to drink tap water? Find the answers to these questions before your visit to Madrid.
• Opening hours:
Shops in Madrid open at 9 or 10am and close between 8 and 10pm, and most of them don’t close over lunch. Some – especially those far from the city centre – close from 2 to 4 or 5pm.
In Madrid, shops have not restricted opening hours, as local regulations governing shopping days and times grant retailers freedom to close or remain open. The shops and businesses in the districts on the tourist map, mostly Puerta del Sol and Gran Vía, will be open even on Sunday and bank holidays.
To have lunch at a restaurant table, it’s advisable to arrive before 3.30pm, or before 11pm for dinner. However, you can still find kitchens open later than this. Otherwise, you can always go tapas, as tapas bars and restaurants have more flexible hours.
• Mobile phone coverage:
Spain uses the GSM international coverage standard. American frequency ranges (850 and 1900MHz) are different from those in Europe (900 and 1800MHz), but the widespread use of 3G and 4G devices provides support for the entire range of bands in both continents. In addition, 3G terminals include a third band that supports the band of a region other than that of purchase. For instance, European tri-band phones typically cover 900, 1800 and 1900MHz, while American tri-band mobiles cover 850, 1900 and 1800MHz.
If you have another type of mobile phone, ask your service provider to check for coverage.
• Electrical adaptors:
Electricity supply in Spain is 220V. Plugs have two round pins and an additional ground pin.
A standard travel adaptor plug will enable you to use appliances from abroad. Most hotels will supply you with one.
• Water:
In Madrid, you’ll find one of the safest tap waters in Spain. The capital’s excellent drinking water comes directly from Sierra Norte to the points of consumption.
• VAT & tipping:
In all establishments, service is included in the price. This is not the case in hotels and restaurants, where the legend ‘IVA NO INCLUIDO’ (VAT NOT INCLUDED) usually comes next to the price. This means you should add 10%. It’s up to you whether you want to tip or not, but if you’re happy with the service, you may want to leave a gratuity.
• Usual weather in December:
Madrid will surprise you with its intense, enveloping blue sky. You will see with your own eyes the deep blue sky Velázquez loved to paint.
The last two months of the year are generally the wettest. The average temperature is 7ºC (45ºF) in December.
Winters in Madrid are cold and dry, and snow does fall now and then, especially in late December and in January. However, Madrid isn’t known to be a particularly snowy city.
• Visa:
Spain was one of the first parties to join the Schengen Agreement, which abolished internal borders, enabling passport-free movement between a large number of European countries. If you’re a citizen of a non-Schengen country, check with the Spanish Embassy in your home country whether you need a visa.
• The Schengen Agreement applies to residents in:
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland.
In addition, under further agreements between Spain and individual countries, no visa is required if you’re coming from Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City or Venezuela.
In all these cases, you only need a valid passport.
As a rule, you’ll be granted a visa if you can provide evidence of sufficient funds to cover your travel expenses, return flight ticket and hotel reservation for your stay. However, requirements for obtaining your visa may vary between countries. For full details on how to apply for a visa, you should contact the Spanish Embassy in your country. Visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for a list of Spanish embassies around the world.
If you need an invitation letter for VISA applies, please contact the Organizing Secretariat at the address ifmad@publicreations.com providing with full passport details.
View WHAT TO DO IN MADRID
• San Ginés
Founded in 1894, San Ginés chocolaterie is the perfect place to go in Madrid to enjoy the local’s favourite breakfast: chocolate and churros. Open 24 hours every day, it’s definitely worth a visit even if it’s almost always full. If you can grab one, sit on the green couches, sipping rich hot chocolate and watching people come and go. If you haven’t overdosed on sugar in your first day, stop by the bustling La Mallorquina patisserie, just a few blocks away, to get some napolitanas – a kind of gooey sweet pastry similar to the French pain au chocolat.
• Museo del Prado
Renowned as the world’s largest art gallery, Prado Museum was opened in 1819 and contains over 9,000 artworks. If you can, drop in on weekday afternoons before 5pm, when it is less crowded. You can sign up for free educational talks and activities at Jerónimos building 15 minutes in advance, but they are only conducted in Spanish. The Museum also holds temporary exhibitions of artworks by prestigious artists and the permanent collection boasts pieces by early Renaissance painters like Fra Angelico as well as native masters like Goya and Ribera. If you have the time, make sure to visit the nearby Thyssen, Reina Sofía and Archaeological Museums as well.
• Tapas in La Latina
In Spain, you ask for a drink, you get a tapa. Don’t worry, it’s usually free! La Latina is a great area to find some of the best tapas in Madrid. If you’re on a budget break, you can hop from bar to bar and have lunch, paying for just two or three drinks, or linger on a terrace with friends, enjoying delicious food and good conversation for hours. Try the characterful and tiny Al Vicente Copas, tucked away off Plaza de Puerta Cerrada on Calle Segovia (hint: look for the sign that says San Román).
• El Retiro
When you need a mental break from relentless Madrid sightseeing, a walk through El Retiro transports you to the loveliness of eighteenth century palace gardens. Head for the Crystal Palace and its surroundings, where you can sit by the pond and watch the play of light, shadow and colour, as well as the resident ducks, turtles and birds. If you’re looking for a more lively atmosphere, there are always activities, exhibitions, concerts, puppet shows, street performers and fortune tellers in other areas of the park, besides an annual Book Fair. in October. The main entrance to the park is on Plaza de la Independencia.
• Teatro de la Zarzuela
Practically unknown to the rest of the world, zarzuela is a Spanish musical theatre genre, combining operetta and spoken parts, and undoubtedly one of the most interesting things to see in Madrid. This is quintessential Spanish classical music, and Teatro de la Zarzuela is the place to enjoy it: a beautiful nineteenth century theatre, live instrumentalists, dozens and dozens of performers, first-rate singers, superb staging and reasonable prices. Even non-Spanish speakers will be mesmerised by the music, costumes, scenery and dancing. The fact that the sound is all acoustic, with no body microphones used, adds charm to this not-to-be-missed experience: Spain as it used to be.
• Mercado de San Miguel
An old traditional market converted into a modern gastronomic experience, the mercado’s greatest asset is you can taste samples of food from as little as €1, sometimes even for free, before deciding whether to buy. There’s a huge variety of food: cold meat, cheese, fruit, vegetables, sushi, seafood, chocolates, frozen yogurt, juices, sangria, wine…all deliciously tasty and fresh. It’s entertainment enough just to walk around enjoying mouth-watering smells and flavours, while natural light floods the building, emphasizing the beauty of its iron and glass structure. Always full, it is nevertheless another great place for tapas, very lively and really close to Plaza Mayor.
• Microteatro por Dinero
Created in 2009 as a theatrical experiment, Microteatro was a total success from the beginning, and it’s indisputably one of the hottest places to go in Madrid nowadays. Five plays take place simultaneously within the small rooms which used to be part of a brothel. Actors and the public interact in a limited space in a totally innovative way and plays are 15 minutes long from €4 each, with several performances per day. Crowded on weekends, you must come early as tickets sell out very quickly.
• Templo de Debod
A gift to Spain in 1968, this 2200-year-old Egyptian temple dedicated to Amon and Isis is located on a hill over Casa de Campo and is, without a doubt, one of the top Madrid tourist attractions, not least for the sprawling view. Stunningly beautiful sunsets behind an illuminated temple that is reflected in the water makes this the perfect spot for pictures. By day the views to the Royal Palace and cathedral on one side and Casa de Campo and the mountains on the other are also worth enjoying. Pack a picnic and spend a few hours in the surrounding park.
• Lavapiés
Arguably the most genuine neighbourhood in Madrid, Lavapiés is the place to go for dinner. With over 50% of its population being non-Spanish, here you can find any kind of food: Chinese, Moroccan, Thai, Indian, Senegalese, Greek or a Cuban delicatessen, all serving great food for little money. By day, you can spot some pretty amazing examples of Madrid street art, but come here at night and there’s a great atmosphere around the bars and outdoor terraces. Enjoy steaming bowls of couscous or noodles, or lounge in an Arabian tearoom.
During your stay in Madrid, you’ll need euros, the single European currency of the euro area whose notes and coins were introduced in 2002. The euro has eight coin denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, and 1 and 2 euros, while bank notes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros.
Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, Atocha and Chamartín train stations, and the main transport hubs – Avenida de América, Méndez Álvaro and Moncloa – are dotted with foreign currency exchange offices. There are several bureaux de change in central Madrid, especially in Puerta del Sol. Most banks and some hotels offer currency exchange services as well.
Market conditions usually cause price fluctuations, so you should check the euro’s exchange rates beforehand on the day of the transaction.
Running out of cash isn’t a problem in Madrid, since chances are you’ll find an ATM within walking distance wherever you are. Also, most establishments accept credit cards, which you can even use to purchase your tickets to get around Madrid on the underground.
Visa and MasterCard are the most widely accepted cards, American Express and Diners are less common. You should contact your bank if you wish to find out what commission they’ll charge you for using your card in Spain.
HOW TO GET TO MADRID
Getting to Madrid by Plane:
Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport is located just 30 minutes from the city centre by public transport. https://www.esmadrid.com/en/madrid-by-plane
Getting to Madrid by Train:
Madrid is connected by rail to Spain’s major towns and cities, as well as to Portugal and France. https://www.esmadrid.com/en/madrid-by-train
Getting to Madrid by Coach:
Coach companies run daily bus services to Madrid from cities and towns across Spain, most European countries and from north Africa. https://www.esmadrid.com/en/madrid-by-coach
Getting to Madrid by Car:
Boasting one of the largest road networks in the world, driving to Madrid is a great option if you prefer travelling at your own pace. https://www.esmadrid.com/en/madrid-by-car