FESTIVALS, HOLIDAYS AND OTHER ANNUAL EVENTS IN Madrid

There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Madrid each year.
The main ones are listed below.

For this tradition held on the eve of Epiphany, a procession of colourfully decorated floats is accompanied by boisterous music, through the streets of Madrid, distributing sweets to children.

This is an especially important day of the year for Spanish children, since it is on Epiphany (and not Christmas) that they receive their gifts. The holiday is celebrated quietly with family members.

Holy Week, which begins on Palm Sunday and ends with the Easter Vigil, is an important time in Madrid. Numerous celebrations and services include huge processions throughout the most picturesque parts of the city, like Paseo del Prado, Alcalá Street and Plaza Mayor.

On this day in 1808, Napoleon's troops put down an uprising in Madrid. Many concerts and dance parties organised carry on late into the night, especially in the Malasaña district.

This highlight of photography and visual arts features around 60 exhibitions, held in museums, galleries and art centres. The festival also organizes debates and discussions, making Madrid the world capital of photography every summer.

One of the most popular traditions in Madrid: young single women flock to the Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida, to beg Saint Anthony to provide them with a partner by throwing pins into a font and dipping in their hands. Street fairs, including many activities for children, are also held on that day.

On this day, Spaniards commemorate the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus in 1492. The anniversary is celebrated each year with a military parade along the Paseo de la Castellana, attended by the Spanish royal family and drawing thousands of spectators. Festivities also include a number of cultural events (exhibitions and shows) as well as a fireworks display and dance parties.

Thousands of Madrileños pack into the central Plaza de la Puerta del Sol, holding little bags of grapes, to wait for the clock on the Casa de Correos that gives Spain its official time to strike midnight. As the hour arrives, everyone clutches their handful of grapes in readiness and then eats one grape at each of the twelve chimes, to ensure good luck for the twelve months to come. Champagne flows and best wishes are exchanged all round to ring in the new year, with celebrations extending into the early hours.

CLIMATE AND WEATHER IN Madrid

Month	Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Average Rains (MM)	Best Time to Travel
January	3/37	10/50	37/1.5	Not the best period to go
February	4/39	12/54	35/1.4	Not the best period to go
March	6/43	16/61	26/1.0	Not the best period to go
April	7/45	17/63	47/1.9	Good period to go
May	11/52	21/70	52/2.0	Good period to go
June	15/59	27/81	25/1.0	Good period to go
July	18/64	31/88	15/0.6	Good period to go
August	18/64	31/88	10/0.4	Good period to go
September	15/59	26/79	28/1.1	Good period to go
October	10/50	19/66	49/1.9	Good period to go
November	6/43	13/55	56/2.2	Not the best period to go
December	4/39	10/50	56/2.2	Not the best period to go

Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez International Airport

The Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez International Airport is located about 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) from the city centre.

• Four terminals:
  • Terminal 1 (Air France) (subject to change)
  • Terminal 2
  • Terminal 3
  • Terminal 4

• By car
  • Accessible via the M-40 motorway, with a travel time of about 20 minutes.
  • Express parking, for dropping off and picking up passengers, as well as other long-term and motorcycle parking facilities are available at each terminal.
  • Several car rental companies have counters on the arrivals level at Terminal 1 and Terminal 4.
• By commuter rail
  • From Terminal 4, Lines C1 and C10 connect the airport with the city centre. One-way fare is EUR 2.60.
• By underground
  • Line 8 of the Madrid Metro runs from all airport terminals to central Madrid. Travel time is 10-15 minutes and a single ticket costs EUR 6.
• By bus
  • Linea Exprés (line N 203) runs from Terminals 1, 2 and 4 to Atocha train station with a run time of about 40 minutes. A single ticket costs EUR 5. Buses leave every 15 to 20 minutes during the daytime (from 6:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.) and every 40 minutes at night (from 11:30 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.). Note that the night bus is renamed into N27 Airport Express.
• By taxi
  • Taxi ranks are located outside the arrivals area at each terminal. Flat-rate fare of EUR 30 for all journeys between the airport and the city centre.

• Services: shops, bars and restaurants, free Internet access (Wi-Fi) available in the airport.
• Telephone: +34 913 210 000
• Website: www.aena.es/en/madrid-barajas-airport/index.html

GETTING AROUND Madrid

Getting around Madrid using public transport is easy and relatively inexpensive. The Madrid Metro and the city's many bus routes serve the entire metropolitan area non-stop.

By bus

Madrid's bus network offers dense coverage of the city and the routes are efficient, fast and convenient. Buses run every day from 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. 2 lines of night buses, called búhos (owls) start running when regular service ends, from 11:45 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. A single ticket costs EUR 1.50. For further information, please visit https://www.emtmadrid.es/Home?lang=en-GB.

City Pass

The Abono Turístico tourist pass is the most inexpensive and convenient way to get around Madrid. It offers unlimited use of the buses and the Metro during its entire validity period. Passes are available for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7 days, starting from EUR 8.40. For further information, please visit https://www.crtm.es/billetes-y-tarifas.aspx?lang=en.

By rail

The Madrid Metro is particularly efficient and serves the entire metropolitan area. A single journey within the city centre (zone A) costs between EUR 1.50 and EUR 2, depending on the number of stations. For further information, please visit https://www.emtmadrid.es/Home?lang=en-GB.

By taxi

Taxis are plentiful in Madrid. It is always easy to find one, at any time of the day or night. The initial charge is EUR 2.50 for daytime fare from Monday to Friday, and EUR 3.15 at night and on the weekend, plus EUR 1.25 per kilometre.

Visitor information

Upon your arrival in Madrid, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organise your stay.

Offers practical information and useful recommendations (accommodation, restaurants, public transport, festivals, cultural events, etc.).

• Address: Plaza Mayor, 27 (Casa de la Panaderia), 28012 Madrid
• Telephone: +34 91 578 78 10
• Website: https://www.esmadrid.com/en

At various locations throughout the city, Madrid's tourism authority also operates smaller kiosks offering information and recommendations for visiting Madrid and its surrounding area:

• Plaza de Callao: Plaza de Callao, 28012 Madrid
• Paseo del Prado: Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo, 28014 Madrid
• Palais royal : Calle de Bailén s/n, esquina con Calle Requena, 28013 Madrid
• Reine Sofia : Calle de Santa Isabel 52, 28012 Madrid

The website maintained by Instituto de Turismo de España (Turespaña), Spain's official tourism institution, provides a wealth of information on Madrid.

• Website: https://www.spain.info/en/

Medical information

In order to travel in the best conditions and for your health and safety, we invite you to check all information regarding preventive measures and best practices to be respected, available on the official website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files/

Your comfort, well-being and health are at the heart of Air France's concerns, and we want to help you prepare for your trip in the best way possible. Find out more about the measures taken to ensure safe travelling on our website: https://www.airfrance.fr/FR/en/common/page_flottante/information/coronavirus.htm#notre-engagement-sanitaire

See your doctor before you travel. It is also recommended to take out insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation before your trip. Madrid counts several hospitals and medical institutions, as well as quality medical practitioners and health specialists.

There are no vaccination requirements for visitors to Spain. For more information, contact Air France's international vaccination centre:

• Address: 38 quai de Jemmapes, 75010 Paris
• Website: https://www.vaccinations-airfrance.fr
• Telephone: +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00
• To make a vaccination appointment:
  • online (click here)
  • call the centre at +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00

Tap water is safe to drink in Madrid.

Administrative formalities

Entry requirements for Spain

For stays of less than three months, travellers from the Schengen area, as well as those from the countries of the European Union not included in the area, need only be in possession of a national identity card or a passport valid for the duration of their stay.

As a general rule, all other travellers are subject to visa requirements, although citizens of some countries may enter Spain for a short stay of up to 90 days without a visa.

For further information, visit the website of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: www.exteriores.gob.es/Portal/en/ServiciosAlCiudadano/InformacionParaExtranjeros/Paginas/Inicio.aspx

Useful addresses

To enjoy peace of mind during your stay in Madrid, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country.

Essential phrases

Good to know

+34

+ phone number

0 : 00
of time difference with
Brussels

Start of daylight saving time: last Sunday in March
End of daylight saving time: last Sunday in October

BANKS

Usually open Tuesday to Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

GOVERNMENT OFFICES

Usually open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

230 V / 50 Hz

Tipping
As is the case elsewhere in Spain, tipping is not expected in Madrid. In principle, the service charge is included in the bill. But if you are particularly pleased with the service, you may certainly round up the bill or leave a few extra euros on the table.