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Madrid - Travel
Information
Getting around (and to) Madrid |
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The city is connected well by various mode
of transportation like bus service, train and metro services.
By Car Hire
You can hire a car on presentation of a passport and valid
driving license held for at least one year. A valid international
insurance policy is also necessary and full insurance is advised.
There is wide range of car rental companies running at the
airport or around the city. Rates start at approximately €65
for one day of car hire.
By Metro
Madrid Metro is easier to use and a good deal cheaper too.
The Metro system has 11 lines, all color-coded, and numbered.
You will have to pay 1.15€ for a single ride, even if
you change lines. Buying a “METROBUS 10 viajes”
ticket from the kiosk in any Metro station can get you 10
rides for 5.35€ and valid for the bus too. Traveling
by metro is surely a considerable saving.
By Bus
You can catch most buses from Puerta Del Sol, a single costing
you 1.15€ and buses normally run from 06:00 until 24:00.
You can also use the “METROBUS 10 viajes” ticket
that you bought for the metro. Night buses run between 24:00
and 06:00 running every 30 minutes until 03:00 and every hour
thereafter. The night buses have “N” in front
of the displayed route number. N1, 19, & 20 run along
Paseo de la Castellana and will drop you off outside our Columbus
apartments.
By Taxi
Taxis are white with a diagonal red stripe in Madrid, and
have a green light or numbers 1/2/3 on the roof depending
on which zone they are going to. If the green light is on,
or there is a "libre" sign in the passenger side
windscreen, the taxi is free so flag it down.
Charges are complicated, and go on 1.50 € minimum fare
for the weekends, with the meter ticking over at 0.85 €
per kilometer. Ensure the taxi driver has the meter on at
the start of the journey to avoid any surprise fares.
By Bicycle & Scooter Hire
If you wish to avoid parking problems then there is no better
way for one to get around Madrid than by bombing along on
a moped. Motoalquiler, Calle Conde Duque 13 (tel: (91) 542
0657), offers a choice of vehicles, with prices ranging from
approximately €30 to €120 per day. Bicycles are
best reserved for trips out of town. Karacol Sport, Calle
Tortosa 8 (tel: (91) 539 9633), hires out mountain bikes at
€12 per bike – a €40 returnable deposit is
required – and organises excursions into the surrounding
countryside
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