There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Madrid each year.
The main ones are listed below.
On this day in 1808, Napoleon's troops put down an uprising in Madrid. Many concerts and dance parties organised carry on late into the night, especially in the Malasaña district.
June 3–August 30: PhotoEspaña (local event)This highlight of photography and visual arts features around 60 exhibitions, held in museums, galleries and art centres. The festival also organizes debates and discussions, making Madrid the world capital of photography every summer.
June 12: Fiesta de San Antonio (local event)One of the most popular traditions in Madrid: young single women flock to the Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida, to beg Saint Anthony to provide them with a partner by throwing pins into a font and dipping in their hands. Street fairs, including many activities for children, are also held on that day.
October 12: Spanish National Day (Día de la Hispanidad, national holiday)On this day, Spaniards commemorate the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus in 1492. The anniversary is celebrated each year with a military parade along the Paseo de la Castellana, attended by the Spanish royal family and drawing thousands of spectators. Festivities also include a number of cultural events (exhibitions and shows) as well as a fireworks display and dance parties.
December 25: Christmas (national holiday) December 31: New Year's Eve (national holiday)Thousands of Madrileños pack into the central Plaza de la Puerta del Sol, holding little bags of grapes, to wait for the clock on the Casa de Correos that gives Spain its official time to strike midnight. As the hour arrives, everyone clutches their handful of grapes in readiness and then eats one grape at each of the twelve chimes, to ensure good luck for the twelve months to come. Champagne flows and best wishes are exchanged all round to ring in the new year, with celebrations extending into the early hours.
Month | Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°) | Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°) | Average Rains (MM) | Best Time to Travel |
---|---|---|---|---|
January | 3/37 | 10/50 | 37/1.5 | Not the best period to go |
February | 4/39 | 12/54 | 35/1.4 | Not the best period to go |
March | 6/43 | 16/61 | 26/1.0 | Not the best period to go |
April | 7/45 | 17/63 | 47/1.9 | Not the best period to go |
May | 11/52 | 21/70 | 52/2.0 | Good period to go
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June | 15/59 | 27/81 | 25/1.0 | Good period to go
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July | 18/64 | 31/88 | 15/0.6 | Good period to go
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August | 18/64 | 31/88 | 10/0.4 | Good period to go
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September | 15/59 | 26/79 | 28/1.1 | Good period to go
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October | 10/50 | 19/66 | 49/1.9 | Not the best period to go |
November | 6/43 | 13/55 | 56/2.2 | Not the best period to go |
December | 4/39 | 10/50 | 56/2.2 | Not the best period to go |
Madrid's Barajas International Airport is located about 15 kilometres (9 miles) from the city centre.
Getting around Madrid using public transport is easy and relatively inexpensive. The Madrid Metro and the city's many bus routes serve the entire metropolitan area non-stop.
Madrid's bus network offers dense coverage of the city and the routes are efficient, fast and convenient. Buses run every day from 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. 2 lines of night buses, called búhos (owls) start running when regular service ends, from 11:45 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. A single ticket costs EUR 1.50.
Madrid City Tour operates around the city on bright red double-decker buses, with two different sightseeing routes. Buses on the daytime routes run between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. in Summer and between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. the remainder of the year.
The Abono Turístico tourist pass is the most inexpensive and convenient way to get around Madrid. It offers unlimited use of the buses and the Metro during its entire validity period. Passes are available for 1, 2, 3, 5 or 7 days, starting from EUR 8.40.
The Madrid Metro is particularly efficient and serves the entire metropolitan area. A single journey within the city centre (zone A) costs EUR 1.50.
Taxis are plentiful in Madrid. It is always easy to find one, at any time of the day or night. The initial charge is EUR 2.40, then EUR 1.25 per kilometre.
Upon your arrival in Madrid, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organise your stay.
Plaza Mayor Tourist CenterOffers practical information and useful recommendations (accommodation, restaurants, public transport, festivals, cultural events, etc.).
AAt various locations throughout the city, Madrid's tourism authority also operates smaller kiosks offering information and recommendations for visiting Madrid and its surrounding area:
The website maintained by Instituto de Turismo de España (Turespaña), Spain's official tourism institution, provides a wealth of information on Madrid.
The official currency in Spain is the Euro (EUR).
THB 1 = EUR 0.03
EUR 1 = THB 33.33
The above exchange rate is given for information because is variable.
There are no vaccination requirements for visitors to Spain. For more information, contact Air France's international vaccination centre:
There are no specific food safety risks.
WaterTap water is safe to drink in Madrid.
For stays of less than three months, travellers from the Schengen area, as well as those from the countries of the European Union not included in the area, need only be in possession of a national identity card or a passport valid for the duration of their stay.
As a general rule, all other travellers are subject to visa requirements, although citizens of some countries may enter Spain for a short stay of up to 90 days without a visa.
For further information, visit the website of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Portal/en/ServiciosAlCiudadano/InformacionParaExtranjeros/Paginas/Inicio.aspx
To enjoy peace of mind during your stay in Madrid, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country.
Here are a few basic Spanish phrases that will make your stay in Madrid a little easier:
Good day / Good morning: ¡Buenos días!
Good afternoon / Good evening: ¡Buenas tardes!
Good evening / Good night: Buenas noches
Good-bye: Adiós
See you (later): ¡Hasta luego!
Yes: Sí
No: No
No, thank you: No, gracias
Thank you very much: Muchas gracias
I don't understand: No entiendo
Could you repeat that,: ¿Puede repetir?
Please: Por favor
What time is it,: ¿Que hora es?
Excuse me: Disculpe (to say sorry) / Con permiso (to get past) / ¡Por favor! (to get attention).
Airport: Aeropuerto
Train station: Estación de trenes
Taxi: Taxi
Hotel: Hotel
Hospital: Hospital
Bank: Banco
Telephone: Teléfono
I'm (…): Yo soy (…).
I'm looking for (…): Estoy buscando (…).
How much is it,: ¿Cuánto es?
Do you have (…)?: ¿Tiene (…)
Where can I find (…)?: ¿Dónde puedo encontrar (…)?
Where can I buy (…)?: ¿Dónde puedo comprar (…)?
I'd like (…): Quisiera (…).
Tipping
As is the case elsewhere in Spain, tipping is not expected in Madrid. In principle, the service charge is included in the bill. But if you are particularly pleased with the service, you may certainly round up the bill or leave a few extra euros on the table.