Madrid : Getting Around

Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD) serves Spain's capital city with both international and domestic flights. Madrid is Spain's biggest international transport hub, so it's easy to reach by air from just about anywhere. The ever-expanding and always-busy Barajas Airport is 13 kilometres northeast of the city. There aren't too many great discount ticket centres in the city, but you can occasionally dig up cheap deals to the main European capitals. Numerous car rental companies are represented at the Airport, including Avis and Hertz.

Madrid must have the best airport-city connections in Europe. The metro connection, opened in 2002, is fast and comfortable; take line 8 from the airport to Nuevos Ministerios (12 minutes) and connect to your final destination (another 15 minutes or so). An airport bus runs to Plaza de Colun in the city centre, but traffic can be a problem, making the metro a better bet. Taxi is another option, or you can take the Aero City minibus door-to-door (from the city centre) service; it's cheaper with more people. Atocha, in the south of Madrid, is the city's larger train station, Chamartin in the north is the other, The majority of trains to the rest of Spain deparc from i Atocha; Chamartin has international services. There are a range of train services, domestic and international, and fares to match, although these are often no cheaper than flying.

Madrid is accessible by bus, although this is possibly the most arduous overland option. Madrid has eight bus I stations dotted around, with companies servicing different; I parts of the country, Europe and Morocco.

Driving from Portugal or France is easy, as Spain's major I highways feed into Madrid.

A handy way to get around in Madrid is to purchase a I 10-trip ticket, valid for both tiie Metro and city buses. This is a particularly useful ticket as visitors will undoubtedly find themselves using public transport in order to avoid the city's heavily congested streets. Driving in central Madrid can be slow and somewhat nerve-racking.

By European standards, taxis are inexpensive and well regulated. Walking, on the other hand, is the best way to get around the compact centre of Madrid. The car is king, though, pay attention while crossing roads and even pedestrian crossings.