How to travel by Air

It is well worth mentioning that European citizens travelling to any country within the European Union may use standard identity cards or passports. Children under age travelling alone must show their passport or parents consent.

All flights bound for Madrid arrive at the Madrid Barajas International Airport, where three different terminals can be found: Terminal 1 for International non-Schengen Flights, Terminal 2 for flights from countries that entered into the Shcengen treaty and Terminal 3 for national flights.

The airport is opened 24 hours and passengers can leave their luggage here up to fifteen days.

How to travel by Air Madrid Spain

• Madrid Barajas International Airport

How to travel by Land

By car

The city of Madrid has several access routes that go from National Route I to National Route VI (N-I; N-II; N-III; N-IV; N-V and N-VI).

In addition to these 6 highways, there are also two major ring roads, the inner one is known as the M-30, the outer one known as the M-40.

N-I Carretera de Burgos (Burgos Highway)

Also known by the name Autovía del Norte (North State Highway), this route connects Madrid to Burgos and then to Cantabria or the Basque Country. Also, this route must be followed in order to arrive at the port from where transhipment vessels leave for the British Islands.

N- II La Carretera de Barcelona (Barcelona Highway)

How to travel by Land Madrid Spain

This route is a direct highway to Barcelona and the Costa Brava, via Guadalajara, Zaragoza, through Lerida crossing the Monegros desert. Also connects to southern France via La Jonquiere.

N-III La Carretera de Valencia (Valencia Highway)

This route must be followed in order to travel to coastal cities located along the Mediterranean sea such as Alicante, Castellón and Valencia and to travel to Murcia, Cuenca and Albacete.

N-IV La Carretera de Andalucía (Andalucía Highway)

This route connects Madrid to a variety of cities and tourist destinations such as the resorts on the Costal del Sol and the Costa Calida, and other destinations such as Gibraltar, Almeria, Seville, Jaen, Ciudad Real, Granada, Malaga, Cadiz, Córdoba and Jerez de la Frontera.

N-V Carretera de Extremadura (Extremadura Highway)

This route can be used alternatively to travel to western Andalucía. Also, to travel to cities such as Badajoz, Caceres, Talavera, Mérida, Trujillo and even to Lisbon and Algarve in the south area of Portugal.

N-VI Carretera de la Coruña (Coruña Highway)

This highway is a route to wonderful places such as Segovia, Avila and El Escorial: to areas such as Galicia and Asturias, and northern Portugal and to Salamanca, Zamora, Valladolid and León.

Metro

The Madrid Metro is a cheap and efficient way of travelling around the city and the network is large and extensive. Metro stations are indicated by the red, blue and white icons and the metro lines reach almost any part of the city.

This means of transport works from half past six in the morning until half past one in the morning. After one o'clock in the morning only taxis and the "búhos" are available (night buses).

• Information about the Metro for users: www.metroMadrid.es

Train

It is possible to access Madrid by train as well. While trains coming from the south, east or west areas of the country and even AVE speeding trains arrive at Atocha train station, trains from the north area arrive at Chamartín station.

• Atocha

• Chamartín

Buses

There is a wide range of bus services available in Madrid, including 150 bus lines that reach every corner of the city and its surroundings. This is the cheapest means of transport in Madrid.

Despite being slower than the underground, buses still offer significant advantages: they cover larger areas of the city, passengers can get to see where they are going and they are equipped with air conditioning, which is vitally important during the summer.

Madrid's most important bus station is known as Estación Sur (South Station) and it is located very near to Atocha train station. Moreover, there are other terminals available, mainly from companies of which buses run in the north area of the country.

• Estación Sur (South Station)

• Terminales Zona Norte (Terminals in the North Area)

Taxis

Taxis are readily available here as well at reasonable fares. It is possible to catch one in the city's main streets at any time of the day. All official taxis are white and have a red stripe painted across the front doors.

Make sure that the taximeter is working, or you run the risk of being overcharged. If you decide to catch a taxi at the airport or at any bus or train station it is advisable to use the official taxi ramps.

A green light on the roof means the taxi is available. Telephone numbers:

• 91 404 12 13

• 91 547 82 00

• 91 405 55 00

• 91 447 51 80

• 91 445 90 08