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MADRID

Return to Madrid Guide Overview

Sheila Umolu
Sr. Programming Director
SoulOfAmerica.com

Sheila's interest in Spain has

spanned decades. She has fond

memories of the monuments,

museums, and

beautiful landscapes.

Jardines de Sabatini sculpture, Madrid
credit: Mazel Pernell

MADRID FACTS & TRAVEL TIPS

FACTS

Official Language: Spanish
Currency: Euro
Time Zone: Central European Time (6 Hours ahead of EST)
Population: 5,100,000 metro area

TRAVEL TIPS

Madrid is a wonderful capital and city of the arts. Its age and status as a capital have made it a bastion of cultural landmarks that include the Royal Palace of Madrid; the Teatro Real (Royal Theatre), Buen Retiro Park, founded in 1631 and National Library building (founded in 1712) containing Spain's historical archives and many other art and archaeological museums. Although you'll also fall in love with the many eclectic smaller museums of Madrid, three major museums are a must visit:

• Prado Museum, hosts one of the finest art collections in the world
• Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, a museum of modern art

• Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum housed in the renovated Villahermosa Palace

Currency is the Euro with major credit cards accepted by most establishments. Time in Marid is six hours ahead of New York City. Spanish is the official language and some English is spoken by locals. Hotels have the most expensive rates on phone calls, so purchase a phone card for your international calls. Post office hours are 8:15am-7pm (Monday-Saturday).

Banks are open from 8:30am-2:00pm Monday-Friday and 8:30am-1pm Saturday. ATMs are plentiful and the most convenient way to get Euros. Passports are necessary for U.S. citizens. Most large stores are open 4pm-7:30pm (Monday), 10am-1pm and 4pm-7:30pm (Tuesday-Saturday).

Most museums open 9:30am-2:00pm and 4pm-7pm and are closed one day a week, usually Monday, but opening hours vary widely. So check before you go. A few big museums, including the Prado and the Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, do not close at midday.

Store hours are from 10am-1:30pm and 5pm-8pm. Most shops close at midday, except for the big department store chain, El Corte Inglés. Most shops are closed Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday, except for El Corte Inglés.

Electricity is different than the U.S., so bring an adapter to re-charge your digital camera.

The major holidays in Madrid are Dos de Mayo (2nd of May), San Isidro (15th of May), Fiesta of the Virgin of La Paloma (15th of August), the female Patron Saint of Madrid - the Virgin of La Almudena (9th of November), and Christmas. For specific dates, go to the Espana Tourism website.

Madrid is a major tourist destination, so visitors should use common sense when out and about.