Madrid

Visiting the city and surroundings

For those who might be interested in guided tours, Madritur offers a 5% discount to AIED conference attendants. Selected tours are compiled in this brochure (English & Spanish content). For information and bookings: info@madritur.com.

About Madrid

Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be around 6.5 million. Wikipedia

As the capital city, a cosmopolitan city, a business center, seat of government, Spanish Parliament, and residence of the Spanish monarch, Madrid is also the political centre of Spain. Madrid is characterized by intense cultural and artistic activity and a very lively nightlife.

Being a cosmopolitan and lively city, you will always find something interesting to see and do in Madrid. You can found more information about Madrid in the official tourist information website

Some data of interest

Climate

In June the average high is 26.9º C (80.4º F), the daily mean is 21.0º C (69.8º F), and the average low is 15.1º C (59.2º F).

Timetables

The Community of Madrid has wide opening hours. On the one hand, the shopping centers y las franquicias de moda open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (this can change from one establishment to others). On the other hand, the small shops use to open their doors at 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. After a break to have lunch, they restart their activity at 5 p.m. until 8.30 p.m.

To have lunch in Madrid, you should go to the restaurants between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. and to have dinner between 8.30 p.m. and midnight or, sometimes, until 1 a.m. The cafés and bars open their doors between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. until 11 p.m. or, in some cases, 1 a.m. It depends on the establishment.

To go out in Madrid is very easy. You have a lot of possibilities. On the one hand, you can visit the nightclubs open until 3 a.m. or 3.30 a.m. On the other hand, you find the discotheques open during the whole night until 6.30 a.m. or 7 a.m.

Madrid can be proud of its public transport. The buses, the underground and the trains cover Madrid. The buses work between 6 a.m. and midnight, while the underground continue half and hour more, until 1.30 a.m. The trains start at 5 a.m. and keep working until midnight. Moreover, during the night there is a bus service which covers the same routes as the underground from midnight until 6 a.m.

Voltage and plugs

If you are bringing any electrical appliances to Madrid (e.g. mobile, laptop computers, travel irons, etc.) you should bear in mind the voltage and type of plug used here. Spain uses the 220V voltage level and a frequency of 50Hz. Check that your electrical appliances will work with this voltage. You may also need a plug adapter. Spain uses plugs with 2 round pins. Plug adapters are available at stores selling electrical goods and at most international airports.

Power plug types in Spain are either the Europlug (type C) or the Schuko plug (type F) with 220-240V/50Hz:

C-type Europlug

F-type Schuko plug

Safety and security

Most visits to Spain are trouble-free, but you should be alert to the existence of street crime, especially thieves using distraction techniques. Pickpockets often work in teams of two or more people and tend to target money, passports, cameras and cell phones. Don’t carry all your valuables in one place, and remember to keep a photocopy or scanned copy of your passport somewhere safe. Take extra care to guard passports, money and personal belongings when collecting or checking in luggage at the airport.Only use officially registered or licensed taxis.

In any emergency, call 112. To report a crime, including stolen property and lost or stolen passports, visit the nearest Policia Nacional Station to make a police report (denuncia). If you have had belongings stolen, you will need to keep the report for insurance purposes. If your passport is lost or stolen, you will also need the report to apply for an emergency travel document from your nearest  Consulate. Make sure you get a ‘police report’ (una denuncia) and not a ‘sworn declaration’ (una declaración judicial), as the latter may not be accepted as evidence of the crime for insurance purposes, or when applying for your new passport.

Telephone numbers of interest