Getting Around

By Car

Exploring the city center by car is certainly not a good idea unless you want to get stuck in one of the semi-permanent traffic jams. Parking in town is another big problem. Best to forget it.

On the other hand, a car can be very useful for touring Madrid province, particularly if you want to really get off the beaten track -- although bus and train transport to all the main places of interest (such as Chinchón, Alcalá de Henares, Aranjuez, El Escorial) is extremely efficient and economical.

If you do decide to rent a car, driving is on the right, and the speed limit on minor road varies between 40km and 70km per hour and on motorways is 110km (68 miles) per hour. Toll roads exist between major cities, and charges vary according to the distance covered.

Most cars run on unleaded gas, and there's no shortage of gas stations. Automatic transmission cars are rare -- most have the manual four-gear system-though air-conditioning is now a standard on most cars. Breathalyzers are now being used with more frequency. The limit amounts to two standard glasses of beer or wine, so take care when washing down those tapas and hitting the road.

By Train

Cercanías (suburban line trains) provide excellent low-cost transport to major towns in Madrid province such as Alcalá de Henares, Aranjuez, and San Lorenzo de El Escorial.

If you want to go farther afield, high-speed trains operate to a variety of major cities such as Seville, Valencia, and Barcelona from Atocha. Northern cities such as Bilbao are reached from Chamartín.

By Bus

Buses run from several bus stations to towns of interest in Madrid province such as Chinchón and Torrelaguna.

Outside of the Community of Madrid, two main bus stations, Méndez Alvaro and Avenida de America, operate economical but rapid coach services to most Spanish cities.