Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Dangers & Annoyances
Madrid is a generally safe city although you should, as in most European cities, be
wary of pickpockets in the city centre, on the metro and around major tourist sights.
You need to be especially careful in the most heavily touristed parts of town, not-
ably the Plaza Mayor and surrounding streets, the Puerta del Sol, El Rastro and the
Museo del Prado. Tricks abound and they usually involve a team of two or more
(sometimes one of them is an attractive woman to distract male victims). While one
diverts your attention, the other empties your pockets. But don't be paranoid: re-
member that the overwhelming majority of travellers to Madrid rarely encounter any
problems.
Tourist Information
Mayor 27; 9.30am-8.30pm; Sol)
Excellent city tourist office with a smaller office under-
neath Plaza de Colón and information points at information points at Plaza de la Cibeles,
Plaza de Callao, outside the Centro de Arte Reina Sofía and at the T4 terminal at Barajas
airport.
Comunidad de Madrid Regional Information Line
( 012, Spanish only)
entry to more than 40 museums in and around Madrid and free Descubre Madrid
walking tours, as well as discounts on public transport, on the Madrid Visión tourist
bus and in certain shops and restaurants. The ticket is available for one/two/three
days (€47/60/74). There's also a cheaper version (€31/35/39), which just covers
cultural sights.
www.turismomadrid.es
;
Calle del Duque de Medinaceli 2; 8am-8pm Mon-Sat, 9am-2pm Sun;
Banco de España)
Further offices at Barajas airport (T1 and T4), and Chamartín and
Atocha train stations.
Getting There & Away
Air
Madrid's
Barajas airport
(Aeropuerto de Barajas;
902 40 47 04;
www.aena.es
)
lies 15km northeast of the city.
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