Madrid
Madrid, Spain's central capital, is a city of elegant boulevards and expansive, manicured parks such as the Buen Retiro. It’s renowned for its rich repositories of European art, including the Prado Museum’s works by Goya, Velázquez and other Spanish masters. It's also famous for its distinctive restaurants and cafe culture often housed in beautiful historic buildings. So in a city that is as vibrant as Madrid there is so much to take in, just where to start?
Tipping.
Restaurants and bars- Tipping is entirely optional and it's not very common. You may see people leaving small change at cafés and bars.
Taxi- A tip isn't expected, but is appreciated. A good rule of thumb is to round up to the nearest euro or up to 10 percent of the final fare for exceptional service
Hotels - A 5 to 10% of the total bill is ideal and it's better pay in cash.
Lingo in Madrid.
Many locals in Madrid are fluent in both Spanish and English, so getting around may not be too bad without knowing the language. However one can only truly enjoy their holiday when they feel apart of the city. So lucky for you, we got you covered. Here’s a couple phrases to help you get by.
General lingo.
Buenos días = Good morning
Buenas tardes = Good afternoon
Buenas noches = Good evening
Gracias = Thank you
Que te vaya bien = Have a good day
Hola = Hello
Eating out/ shopping lingo.
¿Habla inglés? = Do you speak English?
¿Cuánto cuesta? = How much does this cost?
Un menú = a menu
¿A qué hora sale el próximo tren? = What time does the next train leave?
Yo quiero una cerveza= I want a beer
Get your flirt on!
¿De dónde eres? = Where are you from?
Tomemos una copa y ya veremos. = Let’s get a drink and we’ll see
Tienes ojos muy bonitos = You have a beautiful eyes
No te preocupes. Yo invito. = Don’t worry. It’s on me.
¿Cuándo te puedo ver otra vez? = When can I see you again?
¿Quieres bailar? =Would you like to dance?
Transport from Madrid Airport.
There are 5 ways to get from Barajas Airport to city center - by train, bus, taxi, car rental
Metro.
If you're thinking about how to get by metro from Madrid Airport to the city centre and vice versa, then you should choose red line №8. The travel time is about 20 minutes. You will need a map of the Madrid metro from there on. The fares will depend on the destination, you can purchase them from the machines available at all the metro stations at each terminals.
Airport taxi.
The most comfortable way to reach your hotel is to book a taxi from Madrid Airport to the city centre or a private transfer. It fare depends on the time of the day and destination.
Airport shuttle.
A good way to get to the city is to catch the Madrid Airport train – line C1 RENFE. To Atocha station, the train will get in 25 minutes. The train ticket can be bought for EUR 2.6. Barajas Airport trains are quite comfortable but they do not have a night train.
Car rental.
To rent a car without a driver to get from Madrid Airport to the city center, you’ll need a standard set of documents: an IDL, a passport and a credit card. You’ll also have to provide your national driving license. Drivers under the age of 25 will pay €8-20 per day for the lack of experience.
Insurance, taxes and fees are included in the price of car rental per day.
Airport Bus.
There are several municipal buses running from the airport to Madrid city centre. Most of them depart from the first floor of Terminal 1. Each of Madrid Airport to Madrid buses follows its own route, so you can get almost to any corner of the city it costs about 5 euros and takes between 30-40 mins.
Best time to travel.
The best time to visit Madrid is in the fall (September to November) or spring (March to May), when balmy temps blow through the city, making it come alive.
