It comprises 11 lines and covers practically the entire city including the municipalities of Rivas Urbanizaciones, Rivas Vaciamadrid, La Poveda and Arganda del Rey. In addition the new line 8, from Nuevos Ministerios station, serves Barajas Airport.

Hours of service are from 6.00am until 2.00am

Some stations can be rather crowded (especially Sol station), and although the new security plan, introduced in March 1997 by the city's transpart authority, has improved security, we must warn you to be on the look out for pick-pockets especially during peak hours.

There are public information desks at Atocha-Renfe, Chamartín and Avenida de América stations. Throughout the network there is staff in attendance. All stations have a public address system to advise of problems in the service, and one can contact staff using the yellow interfones.

Single fare: 1.00€ for a journey of upto 3 hours. Sold at the ticket office or automatic machines.

Metrobús: 6.40 euros for 10 journeys. Sold at the ticket office or automatic machines in Metro stations, in the stalls of the E.M.T. and in tobacconists and newsstands throughout the city. Valid for use on the Metro and buses. Children over 4 years must also have a ticket.

Official website: www.metromadrid.es

Urban buses, operated by the EMT (Empresa Municipal de Transporte) are a good alternative to the Metro, and provide free sightseeing! They cover many suburban areas and other zones not served by the Metro. The buses can be subject to traffic delays although special bus lanes alleviate the problem. City maps at all bus stops show the bus routes.
Single fare: 1.00 Euro

Metrobús: 6.40 Euros for 10 journeys. Sold at the ticket office or automatic machines in Metro stations, in the stalls of the E.M.T. and in tobacconists and newsstands throughout the city. Valid for use on the Metro and buses.

To see bus routes between Madrid and other town: www.ctm-madrid.es In the west zone for Parque Empresarial, Las Rozas, Brunete, Las Matas and Villanueva de la Cañada among others: www.autoperiferia.com/presen.htm

The night buses, known as 'buhos' por funcionar de madrugada, operate over special routes throughout the city. Frequency is less than for the day buses, but the fare is the same. There are 20 routes and all leave from Plaza de la Cibeles.

Long distance buses are the most economicial way of travel from Madrid to other parts of Spain. There are many companies operating routes to different destinations. Not all depart from the same bus station, but the most important terminal is the Estación Sur Méndez Alvaro: www.estaciondeautobuses.com/

We suggest you visit the website of the city transport authority if you you need more information: www.ctm-madrid.es

Estación Sur Méndez Alvaro
Tel: 91 468 42 00 (attended from 6.30am. to midnight)
Metro: Méndez Álvaro (circular line 6)

Madrid taxis are white with a maroon diagonal stripe, and the arms of the city on the side. A green light shows when they are free and they can be hailed from the street. The base fare is Euro 1.75 , and increases for each kilometre and for extras such as journeys to the airport, bus terminals, luggage, night time and holidays.

Telephone numbers of radio-taxis: 91 588 96 31 / 91 588 96 32

Examples of extra fares:
Taxis taken from train or bus station: 2.40 Euro
Airport extracharge (departures and arrivals): 4.50 Euro
Journeys starting or ending at the Juan Carlos I Trade Fair Ground (IFEMA): 2.40 Euro
Per piece of luggage: 0
Dogs (free for guide dogs): 0

The two main train stations are Chamartín and Atocha, both have long-distance and local services. Three further stations provide local services only: Príncipe Pío (known as Estación del Norte), Recoletos and Nuevos Ministerios.

Tickets for long distance journeys may be bought in Chamartín or Atocha stations.RENFE also has offices in calle Alcalá, 44 which are open from 9.30 am until 8.00pm. RENFE telephone information: 902 24 0202

Website: http://www.renfe.es

Explorerail:
For those younger than 26 with a Euro<26 card or GO25, or students younger than 30 with an ISIC card. The Explorerail ticket allows unlimited train journeys within Spain on long-distance and local trains but excluding the AVE and EUROMED trains.

Estación Atocha
Glorieta del Emperador Carlos V.
Tel: 91 506 68 46
Metro: Atocha Renfe
Situated in the southern part of the city centre and serving the south of Spain. Some trains continue to Chamartín and then to destinations in the north. Within the station is another called 'Puerta de Atocha' from where the high-speed train (AVE) leaves for Andalucia

Estación de Chamartín
Agustín de Foxá (final).
Tel: 91 315 99 76
Metro: Chamartín
Located in the North of the city and serving the North of Spain. In some cases trains stop at Atocha station.

Príncipe Pío
Paseo de la Florida, corner with Cuesta de San Vicente.
Metro: Norte
This station, which has just been restored and modernised, used to be only for long distance trains. It now also provides local train services. It is located in Paseo de la Florida, close to Plaza de España.

Recoletos
Paseo de Recoletos, next to Plaza de Colón.
Metro: Colón Estación de cercanías between Plaza Cibeles and Plaza Colón.

Nuevos Ministerios
Castellana corner with Raimundo Fernández Villaverde.
Metro: Nuevos Ministerios
Located close to the Azca financial centre.

Parking on the street in the centre is very difficult. There is a restriction for parking a car on the street during some hours in the city centre and it's necessary to pay.

However there are many public carparks which are charging the time the car is parked there, however it is best not to leave any luggage in the car.

If you are unlucky enough to be towed away the number to ring is: 91 345 0666

Sadly, Madrid is not the best place to cycle. The traffic is bad enough in a car without risking life and limb on a bike! It may seem overly cautious but the only advisable time is on a Sunday or during holidays when the city is almost deserted.