Transportation

1. Air

It takes about 15 to 20 minutes to travel from madrid to The Barajas International Airport. All flights land at this airport, which at present has 4 terminals. It is linked to the city by the Metro line eight. The cost for traveling from the airport to the city centre is around US $25.53. All One World alliance flights take off from Terminal 4 (T4).

2. Bus

Madrid has a widespread bus service that consists of more than 150 lines, which travel to nearly every spot in the city and its outskirts as well. Most bus stops have comprehensive city maps posted on them, which comprise of the various bus routes. City buses function from 6am to midnight. After midnight, night buses called ‘buhos' operate in Madrid, which go to and fro from the suburbs and Plaza de Cibeles. There are in all 20 ‘buhos' bus lines.

3. Car

If you are a part of an auto club (AAA, CAA, or AA), you can get assistance from the Spanish auto club Race (Jose Abascal 10, Madrid, Tel: 91/447-3200; emergency help line - 91/593-3333). Madrid has a right hand drive system and horns are banned in the city areas. Seat belts are a compulsion on all streets of the city.

As regards car rentals, the rates start at approximately U.S.$55 per day and $240 a week for an economically rented car with air-conditioning, manual transmission, and unlimited mileage. This is not inclusive of the 16% tax on car rentals.

4. Taxi

Taxis in Madrid are inexpensive in comaprison to other European cities but much more expensive than the buses or the Metro.They are extensively available at all hours except for Friday and Saturday nights, owing to the parties happening all around the city. Free taxis are marked ‘libre' on their windshield, and have a green light on top. Official Madrid taxis are white in color with a red stripe and have the flag of Madrid. You can ask the driver to give you a receipt (referred to as 'recibo' in Spanish) if you think the tariff is too high. Taxi drivers are obligated to issue one for you.

5. Metro

The Metro system in Madrid is reasonably priced and well organized. The metro operates from 6am to 1:30am, after which you will have to make use of night-buses ('buhos') or taxis for traveling. Single trip tickets with unlimited changes in Madrid city (zone A) cost around US $1.28. If you plan to make at least six metro tours, you can purchase the Metrobús tickets, which provide a better value of 10 rides for about US $7.84. You can purchase these tickets at Metro stations, newsstands, or estancos (tobacconists').