Madrid city and football guide
Madrid city and football guide
Madrid: the city
There are two giant Spanish sides – Real and Barca. It’s a rivalry that is probably the fiercest in football – and it’s a rivalry the cities continue off the football pitch too between Madrid and Barcelona.
Whereas Barcelona clearly has no time for Madrid, the Spanish capital gives the distinct impression of looking down its nose at its Catalan neighbour. Madrid is a wealthy, sophisticated city. It oozes style and class through its buildings and its people.
Classic buildings line the wide tree lined avenues as you head into the city. It sees itself as more sophisticated than the rest of Spain, a city of finance, business, the classics and money.
At its heart is the Plaza Mayor. In years gone by the courtyard hosted bullfighting. Now its grand setting has made way to continental street cafes. It’s the ultimate meeting point with street entertainers and artists ready to draw your portrait - if it takes your fancy.
Have a painting or have a beer: Plaza Mayor.
The grandest building in town is the Palacio Real, a magnificent palace home to hundreds of rooms which you can pay a visit to.
It's an official residence of the King of Spain who doesn't live there but is a frequent host for ceremonial events.
There's been a royal home on the site for more than a thousand years but the modern palace dates a more modest 250 years.
It may look grand from the outside but it's even more oppulent seen from the inside. Tour through rooms of stunning paintings and visit the Royal Armoury, with the highlight perhaps the Throne Room, decked out in the style of King Charles III.
Opening times: October to March, Monday to Saturday 9.30am-5pm, Sunday 9am-2pm. April to September Monday to Saturday 9am-6pm, Sunday 9am-3pm. Admission: 10 euros (6 concessions). Metro: Opera
If you know your art then the chances are you will have hard of Madrid's world famous art gallery, the Prado - part of the city's golden triangle of museums also including Reina Sofía and Thyssen-Bornomisza.
It houses thousands of art treasures including masterpieces of European art such as The Annunciation by Fra Angelico, Christ washing the Disciples’ Feet by Tintoretto, The Descent from the Cross by Rogier van der Weyden, and The Three Graces by Rubens.
Where to go first is daunting so there are three routes which can show you the highlights - of 15, 30 and 50 works.
That could be an ideal option, particularly if you opt to go along after 6pm from Tuesday to Saturday and from 5pm on Sunday - that's when entry is free.
Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday and bank holidays 9am-8pm. Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve and January 6 9am-2pm. Entry fee: 6 euros although there is free entry for over 65s, EU students under 25, unemployed, disabled, teachers and official guides. Metro: Banco de España or Atocha
Madrid doesn’t have the number of attractions you may find in Barcelona and you could probably cover most of interest to you in a two or three day visit.
Making money: Modern Madrid
But scratch the surface and you will be charmed by its friendliness, laid back feel – and of course, its football.
Then make the choice - Barcelona or Madrid?
Getting to Madrid
Madrid Barajas Airport
It'll come as no surprise that Spain's poshest city has an airport to match. Clean, efficient and just what you'd expect of any major capital city (apart from London, obviously) Madrid Barajas handles 40 million passengers a year by all accounts.
It has four terminals, the most recent being terminal four opened in 2006 which has eased capacity at the other three, and shopping plazas to separate money from your wallet all too easily.
Happy landing: Madrid Airport.
Easyjet flies from Bristol, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Gatwick and Luton to Madrid and the big orange planes will land you at terminal one, which has good connection to the metro at neighbouring terminal two. Also flying into terminal one twice daily are spanish outfits Air Europa and Air Comet from Gatwick, and BMI from Birmingham. Ryanair checks in to the same terminal from London Stansted, Liverpool, East Midlands and Dublin.
Meanwhile British Airways and Spanish carrier Iberia run a regular service, delivering you to the plush new terminal four from the London airports.
Getting into town
The airport is eight miles from the centre of Madrid, just a 20 minute journey – on a quiet day. Do allow more time if you are leaving the city in rush hour.
You take a taxi for around 25-30 Euros. Make sure you take a cab from the official stand and not from someone offering taxis inside the terminal – we did and it cost us 15 Euros more. Rogues.
Madrid by train
Yep, it really is not that tricky to reach Madrid by rail, particularly from South East England.
Leave London St Pancras on Eurostar 2.14, change in paris to Gare d'Austerlitz, catch the 7.45pm Trenhotel Francisco de Goya and sleep the night away until it rolls into Madrid Chamartin station at a very sociable 9.13am. The return route leaves Madrid at 7pm and you could be back in London by 11.28am.
Facilities on these trains are very passable and it's a great experience. The return fares begin at £180 but bearing in mind you get two nights of accommodation thrown in that's not bad. You could fly one way and train it back.
The site that tells you all you need to know on this one is Seat 61.
Getting around Madrid
The Madrid metro is on a par with any you'll find in a modern capital city and is probably your best way of getting around. Clean and efficient, you'll rarely have to wait longer than five minutes during the day or 15 minutes in the evening, trains running until 1.30am.
Click here to download a map of the metro
Single tickets within Zone A - where all the major attractions can be found - is a very reasonably one euro.
One along in a minute: Madrid Metro. Author: Dustpuppy from flickr.com
However, you can get a Metrobus ten journey ticket and share with your mates for 6 euros 70 - the sharp among you will spot the 3.30 euros saving.
The tickets can be bought at machines at the stations, at the ticket offices and also nearby newspaper kiosks.
Buses are also an option to consider - remember to stamp your ticket when you board your bus.
Sightseeing tours
Hop on a hop on hop off Madrid Vision bus and this'll give you a flavour of the city in two distinct doses.
Route 1 is historical and takes you past the Palacio Real and Prado plus gives you a chance to admire the stunning architecture of Gran Via.
The second route, which interlinks at Prado and neighbouring stops, brings you into modern Madrid, focussing on 19th century and beyond with everything from the swish homes of upmarket Salamanca to the skyscrapers in the north of the city - including the Bernabau.
Click here to download a map of these routes
Both round trips on the open top buses take 75 minutes and a one day ticket costs 16 euros, two days 20.50. The Madrid Card gets you on these buses for free, plus gives free entry to a wealth of museums including the royal palace and the Prado, for 42 euros for a day or 55 euros for two.
Madrid: the city
There are two giant Spanish sides – Real and Barca. It’s a rivalry that is probably the fiercest in football – and it’s a rivalry the cities continue off the football pitch too between Madrid and Barcelona.
Whereas Barcelona clearly has no time for Madrid, the Spanish capital gives the distinct impression of looking down its nose at its Catalan neighbour. Madrid is a wealthy, sophisticated city. It oozes style and class through its buildings and its people.
Classic buildings line the wide tree lined avenues as you head into the city. It sees itself as more sophisticated than the rest of Spain, a city of finance, business, the classics and money.
At its heart is the Plaza Mayor. In years gone by the courtyard hosted bullfighting. Now its grand setting has made way to continental street cafes. It’s the ultimate meeting point with street entertainers and artists ready to draw your portrait - if it takes your fancy.
Have a painting or have a beer: Plaza Mayor.
The grandest building in town is the Palacio Real, a magnificent palace home to hundreds of rooms which you can pay a visit to.
It's an official residence of the King of Spain who doesn't live there but is a frequent host for ceremonial events.
There's been a royal home on the site for more than a thousand years but the modern palace dates a more modest 250 years.
It may look grand from the outside but it's even more oppulent seen from the inside. Tour through rooms of stunning paintings and visit the Royal Armoury, with the highlight perhaps the Throne Room, decked out in the style of King Charles III.
Opening times: October to March, Monday to Saturday 9.30am-5pm, Sunday 9am-2pm. April to September Monday to Saturday 9am-6pm, Sunday 9am-3pm. Admission: 10 euros (6 concessions). Metro: Opera
If you know your art then the chances are you will have hard of Madrid's world famous art gallery, the Prado - part of the city's golden triangle of museums also including Reina Sofía and Thyssen-Bornomisza.
It houses thousands of art treasures including masterpieces of European art such as The Annunciation by Fra Angelico, Christ washing the Disciples’ Feet by Tintoretto, The Descent from the Cross by Rogier van der Weyden, and The Three Graces by Rubens.
Where to go first is daunting so there are three routes which can show you the highlights - of 15, 30 and 50 works.
That could be an ideal option, particularly if you opt to go along after 6pm from Tuesday to Saturday and from 5pm on Sunday - that's when entry is free.
Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday and bank holidays 9am-8pm. Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve and January 6 9am-2pm. Entry fee: 6 euros although there is free entry for over 65s, EU students under 25, unemployed, disabled, teachers and official guides. Metro: Banco de España or Atocha
Madrid doesn’t have the number of attractions you may find in Barcelona and you could probably cover most of interest to you in a two or three day visit.
Making money: Modern Madrid
But scratch the surface and you will be charmed by its friendliness, laid back feel – and of course, its football.
Then make the choice - Barcelona or Madrid?
Getting to Madrid
Madrid Barajas Airport
It'll come as no surprise that Spain's poshest city has an airport to match. Clean, efficient and just what you'd expect of any major capital city (apart from London, obviously) Madrid Barajas handles 40 million passengers a year by all accounts.
It has four terminals, the most recent being terminal four opened in 2006 which has eased capacity at the other three, and shopping plazas to separate money from your wallet all too easily.
Happy landing: Madrid Airport.
Easyjet flies from Bristol, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Gatwick and Luton to Madrid and the big orange planes will land you at terminal one, which has good connection to the metro at neighbouring terminal two. Also flying into terminal one twice daily are spanish outfits Air Europa and Air Comet from Gatwick, and BMI from Birmingham. Ryanair checks in to the same terminal from London Stansted, Liverpool, East Midlands and Dublin.
Meanwhile British Airways and Spanish carrier Iberia run a regular service, delivering you to the plush new terminal four from the London airports.
Getting into town
The airport is eight miles from the centre of Madrid, just a 20 minute journey – on a quiet day. Do allow more time if you are leaving the city in rush hour.
Via metro, trains run between 6am and 1.45am daily from the airport. The stop is at the lower floor of terminal 2, close to terminal 1 but there's no link at present to terminal 4, it's currently under construction. To reach the metro from terminal 4 catch the bus Line 200 which will connect you.
Metro Line 8 runs towards the centre - look out for the direction Nuevos Ministerios - but change at Mar de Cristal for Line 4 to get to the most central destinations.
Buses link the airport with the city every ten minutes right through to the early hours. From terminal 4 arrivals catch Line 204 for the city centre, it runs to Avenida de América. For passengers landing at terminal 1, hop on Line 200 bus which services the city centre, once again terminating at the Avenida de América.You take a taxi for around 25-30 Euros. Make sure you take a cab from the official stand and not from someone offering taxis inside the terminal – we did and it cost us 15 Euros more. Rogues.
Madrid by train
Yep, it really is not that tricky to reach Madrid by rail, particularly from South East England.
Leave London St Pancras on Eurostar 2.14, change in paris to Gare d'Austerlitz, catch the 7.45pm Trenhotel Francisco de Goya and sleep the night away until it rolls into Madrid Chamartin station at a very sociable 9.13am. The return route leaves Madrid at 7pm and you could be back in London by 11.28am.
Facilities on these trains are very passable and it's a great experience. The return fares begin at £180 but bearing in mind you get two nights of accommodation thrown in that's not bad. You could fly one way and train it back.
The site that tells you all you need to know on this one is Seat 61.
Getting around Madrid
The Madrid metro is on a par with any you'll find in a modern capital city and is probably your best way of getting around. Clean and efficient, you'll rarely have to wait longer than five minutes during the day or 15 minutes in the evening, trains running until 1.30am.
Click here to download a map of the metro
Single tickets within Zone A - where all the major attractions can be found - is a very reasonably one euro.
One along in a minute: Madrid Metro. Author: Dustpuppy from flickr.com
However, you can get a Metrobus ten journey ticket and share with your mates for 6 euros 70 - the sharp among you will spot the 3.30 euros saving.
The tickets can be bought at machines at the stations, at the ticket offices and also nearby newspaper kiosks.
Buses are also an option to consider - remember to stamp your ticket when you board your bus.
Sightseeing tours
Hop on a hop on hop off Madrid Vision bus and this'll give you a flavour of the city in two distinct doses.
Route 1 is historical and takes you past the Palacio Real and Prado plus gives you a chance to admire the stunning architecture of Gran Via.
The second route, which interlinks at Prado and neighbouring stops, brings you into modern Madrid, focussing on 19th century and beyond with everything from the swish homes of upmarket Salamanca to the skyscrapers in the north of the city - including the Bernabau.
Click here to download a map of these routes
Both round trips on the open top buses take 75 minutes and a one day ticket costs 16 euros, two days 20.50. The Madrid Card gets you on these buses for free, plus gives free entry to a wealth of museums including the royal palace and the Prado, for 42 euros for a day or 55 euros for two.