Madrid practical information
Useful numbers, health, taxis, driving and parking, opening hours and customs for your visit.
The essentials
- Emergencies: 112, free, from any phone and in several languages.
- City information: 010 (Línea Madrid), and the official tourism website esmadrid.com.
- The whole city is a Low Emission Zone: to visit the centre, the metro, buses or walking are best.
- Late hours: lunch is from 2 to 4 pm and dinner from 9 pm.
Madrid facts at a glance
| Country | Spain (Madrid is its capital and that of the Community of Madrid) |
|---|---|
| Population | About 3.5 million in the city |
| Language | Spanish; English is widely used in museums, transport and hotels |
| Currency | Euro (€); card and mobile payments are very common |
| Time zone | Central European Time (CET, UTC+1; UTC+2 in summer) |
| Electricity | 230 V, type C and F plugs |
| Layout | 21 districts and 131 neighbourhoods: see the district map |
Tourist offices
The Plaza Mayor Tourist Centre, in the Casa de la Panadería, is the City Council's main office; there are also tourist information points in busy areas and at the airport. Maps, events and guided tours at esmadrid.com. For municipal matters (fines, towing, lost property…) call 010 from within the city or visit madrid.es.
Health and emergencies
- 112Medical emergencies, police and fire brigade, with service in several languages.
- Public hospitalsThe Madrid Health Service (SERMAS) network includes large hospitals such as La Paz, Gregorio Marañón, 12 de Octubre or Rey Juan Carlos in Móstoles, with 24-hour emergency departments.
- PharmaciesLook for the green cross; every district has pharmacies on duty at night.
- EU travellersBring your European Health Insurance Card; others, travel insurance.
Safety
Madrid is a safe city, but pickpockets work crowded areas: Puerta del Sol, Gran Vía, El Rastro and metro carriages at rush hour. Keep your bag closed and in front of you, and do not leave your phone on terrace tables.
Taxis and ride-hailing
Madrid taxis are white with a red stripe on the door; a green light means they are free. Between the airport and the centre (inside the M-30) a fixed fare applies. Taxi and ride-hailing apps also operate. More in Getting there.
Driving, the Low Emission Zone and parking
The whole municipality is a Low Emission Zone (ZBE), with special protection zones in the centre (Centro district and Plaza Elíptica). Vehicles without a DGT environmental label face traffic restrictions, with exceptions and timetables that the City Council reviews; check the current rules on madrid.es before driving into the city.
Parking: blue and green zones (SER)
In central districts on-street parking is regulated by the SER: blue bays for visitors, with a time limit, and green bays intended for residents. You pay at the meter or with mobile apps, and the rate depends on the environmental label. Motorcycles have reserved bays on the road and their own rules; as a rule they do not pay the SER when parked where allowed, but check the current by-law. For a visit, the easiest option is a public car park or a park-and-ride car park next to the metro.
Accessibility
EMT buses are low-floor with ramps, many metro stations have lifts (see the accessibility map from Metro de Madrid) and the major museums offer accessible routes and resources. The historic districts have cobbled and sloping streets.
Opening hours and customs
- MealsLunch from 2 to 4 pm and dinner from 9 pm; aperitifs and tapas at any time.
- ShopsUsually open from 10 am to 9 pm; in the centre many also open on Sundays.
- TippingNot compulsory: rounding up or leaving a little for good service is usual.
- Tap waterMadrid's water is of very high quality and safe to drink; ask for «una jarra de agua».
Madrid weather
Very hot, dry summers and cold, sunny winters. Spring and autumn are the best seasons for walking.
Annual mean of daily highs: 20.1 °C. Source: AEMET Climate Atlas (Madrid municipality, 1971-2000). Summers are very hot and winters cold and dry: spring and autumn are the most pleasant months.
Getting around: metro and bus. What to see: highlights.