SPAIN - Europe by Eurail 2015: Touring Europe by Train - page 492

Base City: MADRID
www.esmadrid.com
City Dialing Code: 91
Madrid's central location in the very heart of Spain makes it a convenient base city
and a major point of entry for Spain. Madrid, the capital of Spain, at first glance ap-
pears typical of any other modern capital that serves as a center for government
and finance. But it is atypical of a busy metropolis in that the Spanish seem to move
at a slower pace. They make time for friends and conversation, and as one Spanish
writer noted, “Madrid is a city where no one is a stranger.”
The Madrilenos are apparently connoisseurs of a variety of nightlife activities and
have a flair for flamenco—the sensual, Gypsy-influenced form of singing and dan-
cing. There are numerous specialized flamenco clubs in Madrid, including the Cor-
ral de la Moreria, Los Canasteros, and Torres Bermejas. It would appear that the
Madrilenos never sleep!
According to the Spanish National Tourist Office, “Madrid has turned into the fable
of Europe. It is called the capital of joy and of contentment. Describing our city in
such terms means that it is welcoming, cordial, free, peaceful and universal.”
Arriving by Air
Madrid's Barajas International Airport, about 9 miles (12 kilometers) northeast of
the city.
• Airport Information: Tel: [phone]; www.aena.es
• INFORIBERIA: Tel: [phone]
• Tourist Information: Terminals 2 and 4, open daily 0900-2000. Tel: 913 058
656.
• Airport-City Links: Airport Bus ( Tel: [phone]), a yellow bus service, runs
from Barajas Airport to the Plaça de Colón (Columbus Square) about every 10
minutes 0600 to 0130. Journey time: about 30 to 60 minutes, depending on
traffic; fare: €5. Take a taxi from Plaça de Colón to your hotel.
• Metro, Line 8, Aeropuerto Stop, goes to Nuevos Ministerios Station (city center
financial district), where you transfer to other subway or commuter train lines to
your final destination. Single-journey fare: €4.50. Tip: Purchase the 10-trip ticket,