Telephone numbers of interest
Tourist Offices
Plaza Mayor, 27
Tel.: 91 588 16 36 / 91 366 54 77
Fax: 91 366 54 77
mailto:turismo@munimadrid.es
Barajas Airport
Barajas Airport, s/n
International Arrivals (T1)
Tel.: 91 305 86 56
Fax: 91 301 00 33
Barajas Airport
Barajas Airport, s/n
Terminal (T4)
Tel.: 902 100 007
Duque Medinaceli Street, 2
Tel.: 91 429 49 51 / 902 100 007
Fax: 91 429 37 05
Puerta de Atocha Station
Atocha Station (Terminal de Cercanías)
Tel.: 902 100 007
Chamartín Station
Main Hall
Agustín de Foxá Street, s/n
Tel.: 91 315 99 76
Fax: 91 323 79 51
Other telephone numbers of interest
Airport
Tel.: 902 35 35 70 / 91 305 83 43/
91 305 83 45
Madrid City Hall
Tel.: 010
Fire Dpt
Tel.: 080
Community of Madrid
Tel.: 012
Road Conditions
Tel.: 900 12 35 05
Emergencies
Tel.: 112
All-day Pharmacies
Tel.: 098
Local Police
Tel.: 092
National Police
Tel.: 091
Radio taxi
Tel.: 91 447 51 80 / 91 405 55 00
Independent Radio taxi
Tel.: 91 405 12 13
RENFE (trains)
Tel.: 902 24 02 02
Taxi for people with reduced mobility
Tel.: 91 547 86 00
Tele taxi
Tel.: 91 445 90 08
Public transportation
Tel.: 91 580 42 60 / 012
Serious Medical Emergencies
Tel.: 061
Police: Foreign Tourist Assistance Service (SATE)
- Address: Comisaría de Centro. C/ Leganitos,19 (next to Plaza de España).
- Metro: Santo Domingo (Line 2), Plaza de España (Line 3 and Line 10) and Callao (Line 3 and Line 5)
- Bus lines: 1, 2, 44, 46, 74, 75, 133, 148 and C
- E-mail: satemadrid@munimadrid.es
- Phone numbers: (+34) 91 548 85 37 / (+34) 91 548 80 08
- 24/7 phone number: 902 102 112
- Opening hours: 09:30-22:00 h (every day)
* Assistance is given by specially trained officers and personnel from the Madrid Tourist Board and the National Police
Safety
Madrid has a fair amount of non-violent pickpocket crime so always watch any bags (purses, luggage, shopping bags, etc) you may have with you especially in the underground and in the Puerta del Sol/ Gran Via areas /Rastro. Men should carry their wallets in their front pocket and women should carry purses that zip and should always wear their purse with the head of the zipper facing forward. Be extra careful with your luggage and if you are carrying numerous bags beware of anyone approaching you with an outspread map in hand asking for directions (this is very possibly a bid to distract you while an accomplice steals your luggage). . Be very careful not to leave bags next to you on the floor in bars or restaurants – keep them on your lap. Pickpockets and bag snatchers tend to work in pairs or small groups in Madrid and often one or two members of a gang will distract you (by shoving you, asking an innocent question, showing you a map) while another robs you – be particularly aware in the Metro and around major tourist attractions such as museums. Busy tourist areas are obvious prime targets, but pubs and clubs are not uncommon target zones. However, don’t worry, pickpocket crime in Madrid is very rarely confrontational and the city is equipped with cameras and there are always a lot of people in the streets, even at night time, so you can walk across the city without fear. Madrid is as safe as or safer than most mainstream tourist cities but. A little precaution and common sense can save you some nasty surprises.
Money
In 2002, the EURO became Spain’s currency unit, joining most of western Europe. Bills are 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, & 500 Euro notes while coins are 1 & 2 Euros as well as 1, 2, 5, 10, & 50-cent pieces. Please visit http://www.xe.com/ucc/es/ for your exchange rate.
The Peseta, Spain’s long-time currency, is no longer legal tender and is not accepted (or found) anywhere in Spain except among collectors.
Passport- Visas
We recommend that you ensure you remain legal while resident in Spain and do not try to enter the country without the required paperwork. There is a large population of illegal immigrants and this is a politically sensitive issue so there are efforts being made to prevent entry and to find and deport people living illegally in the country.
Citizens of the European Union are not required to get a visa for Spain since they already have the right to residency. In order to officially remain resident in Spain you are meant to apply for a NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) and a residency card ( Tarjeta de Residente Comunitario). In practice this is not an urgent thing to get done, but you will need it eventually for some things.
Non-EU citizens visiting Spain need a visa ( visado) in order to enter and visit Spain, unless there exists a special agreement between Spain and your home country; these countries are those of North & South America in addition to:
Andorra, Australia, Brunei, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Gibraltar, Grenada, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia and Switzerland.
If you are one of these nationalities, you can enter Spain without a visa and stay for up to 90 days in any 6-month period.
Non-EU citizens coming to work, study or live in Spain are required to obtain a visa – note that this also includes non-EU spouses and dependents. Even if you are not required to have get a visa, in order to officially stay resident in Spain everyone needs to apply for a NIE ( Número de Identidad de Extranjero) and a residency card ( Tarjeta de Residente Comunitario).
Visas are managed by the Spanish Ministerio de Asuntos Extranjeros (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) through its consulates and embassies around the world. You apply for and obtain a visa through the Spanish consulate nearest to your residence before you travel. Honorary consuls generally cannot issue visas but may provide application forms.
Since visas are never issued in Spain, you must apply for them before you leave your country of residency. Do not attempt to enter Spain without a visa if you need one. There is no emergency procedure, you can’t bribe the police, your embassy in Spain can’t help and you will probably be refused entry. Spain is a signatory to the Schengen Agreement, which enables free circulation of residents within countries in the Schengen Area. A visa granted by one of these countries (for example, Spain) is valid in the whole Schengen Area. Travelling within the Schengen Area is legally the same as travelling within Spain. If you enter Spain with a tourist visa, you will be able to stay in Spain and/or any other country in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days during any 6-month period.
Visit the site http://www.mae.es/en/MenuPpal/Consulares/Servicios+Consulares/Informacion+a+Extranjeros/Visados/ for see visas for entry and http://www.mir.es/SGACAVT/extranje/regimen_general/ (only in Spanish) for more information.
Tipping
Pride keeps Spaniards from acknowledging tips, but while waiters and other service people are generally paid a “living wage” you can be sure your contribution will be appreciated. On the other hand, if you run into some bad or surly service, don’t feel obligated to leave a tip. Restaurant checks may or may not include service, but no more than 10% of the bill is necessary for a tip.
Taxi drivers get about 10% of the total fare, but more for long rides or extra help with luggage, although there is an official surcharge for airport runs and baggage. Paying the exact amount of the fare will not likely bring an unfriendly reaction from the taxi driver. Oftentimes, if the fare is not large, just round UP to the nearest Euro.
Bussiness Hours and Holidays
Banks are generally open weekdays 8:30-14, Saturdays 8:30-13. Banks and money exchanges at airports and train stations stay open later. Traveler’s checks can also be cashed at the El Corte Inglés department stores until 9 PM.
Holidays
National holidays include January 1; January 6 (Epiphany); March 19 (St. Joseph); March 21 (Good Friday);; May 1 (May Day); August 15 (Assumption); October 12 (National Day); November 1 (All Saints Day); December 6 (Constitution); December 8 (Immaculate Conception); December 25; and December 26 (Boxing Day).
In addition, each city and town has its own holidays honoring political events and patron saints. Madrid holidays include March 20 (Good Thursday), May 2 (Madrid Day), May 15 (San Isidro), and November 9 (Almudena).
