Madrid · Europe » Travel Tips

Children in Madrid

If you have children who can sit still long enough for a performance, Madrid has a few good picks. The Teatro de Títeres en el Retiro (Puppet Theater in the Retiro) plays in the Retiro Park from October to May on weekends and holidays (usually at noon). Teatro Pradillo and Sala Tarambana (two of the city's theaters) stage plays for children. The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía has workshops for children usually related to their temporary or permanent exhibitions. Due to their reduced size, you'll have to book a seat in advance. Fundación Mapfre Vida is another art institution that offers workshops for children.

Information

Fundación Mapfre Vida (General Perón 40, Chamartín, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/581-1596). Julià Tours (Gran Vía 68, Centro, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/559-9605, www.juliatours.es). Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (Santa Isabel 52, Atocha, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/467-5062). Pista de Hielo (Agustín de Foxá s/n, Chamartín, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/315-6308). Sala Tarambana (Dolores Armengot 31, Carabanchel, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/461-8334). Teatro Pradillo (Pradillo, 12, Chamartín, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/416-9011). Teleférico (Paseo Pintor Rosales s/n, Centro, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/541-7450).

Warner Bros. Movie World Park (Carretera de Andalucía,Km 22, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/521-3780, www.warnerbrospark.com). Zoo-Aquarium (Casa de Campo s/n, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/512-3780, www.zoomadrid.com).

English-Language Media

The International Herald Tribune, as well as major British dailies are available at dawn in Madrid. The Broadsheet, a magazine you can find at any newstand, and In Madrid (

Mail & Shipping

Madrid's main post office, the Palacio de Comunicaciones, is at the intersection of Paseo de Recoletos and Calle de Alcalá, just one long block north of the Prado Museum. There are also a variety of Internet cafés and services throughout the city, especially in the Sol neighborhood. Cyber Acceso, BBIGG, Cyberfutura, and La Casa de Internet are four of the largest ones. Shopkeepers and bartenders are good sources for finding the nearest place to get onto the Internet. Work Center, which has several locations around the city, offers high-quality printing, scanning, faxing, digital printing, and other office services on a 24/7 basis. It has several locations around the city.

Post Office

Palacio de Comunicaciones (Plaza de Cibeles s/n, Centro, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 902/197197).

Internet Cafés

Cyber Acceso (Espoz y Mina, 17, Sol, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/532-2622). BBIGG (Mayor 1, Sol, Madrid, Spain.). La Casa de Internet (Luchana 20, Bilbao, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/594-4200). Cyberfutura (Montera 43, Sol, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/521-7119). Work Center (Alberto Aguilera 1, Plaza de San Bernardo, Centro, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/121-7600).

Visitor Information

Madrid has five regional tourist offices. The best is at Duque de Medinaceli 2 (near the Westin Palace), open Monday-Saturday 9-7 and Sunday 9-3. The others are at Barajas Airport, open daily 8-8; the Chamartín train station, open Monday-Saturday 8-8 and Sunday 9-3; the Atocha train station, open Monday-Sunday 9-9; and the remote Mercado de la Puerta de Toledo, open Monday-Saturday 9-7 and Sunday 9-3. The city tourist office on the Plaza Mayor is good for little except for a few pamphlets; it's open Monday-Saturday 10-8, and Sunday 10-3.

City Tourist Office

Plaza Mayor 3 (PHONE: 91/588-1636, www.munimadrid.es).

Regional Tourist Offices

Duque de Medinaceli 2 (PHONE: 91/429-4951, www.madrid.org/turismo). Barajas (PHONE: 91/305-8656). Chamartín (PHONE: 91/315-9976, www.madrid.org/turismo). Atocha (PHONE: 902/100-007, www.madrid.org/turismo). Mercado de la Puerta de Toledo (Glorieta Puerta de Toledo, 3rd fl., Lavapiés, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/364-1876, www.madrid.org/turismo).

Emergencies

In any emergency, call 112; an operator will redirect you to the appropriate number. Emergency pharmacies are required to be open 24 hours a day on a rotating basis; pharmacy windows and the major daily newspapers list pharmacies open round-the-clock that day. If you need to go to the hospital, remember that if you have a British (or EU) passport the public centers will give you free emergency care as they would to any Spanish national. Because there's no bilateral agreement between Spain and the U.S., American citizens would be subject to medical charges. Be sure to inquire with your health insurance company about its policies.

For English-speaking doctor referrals try Unidad Medica Angloamericana, a private medical center.

The Madrid police run a special phone service in several languages for tourists who are the victims of crimes; call 902/102112. Your complaint will be sent to the police station nearest to where the crime took place, and you will have two days to drop by the station and sign the report.

Doctors & Dentists

Unidad Médica Angloamericana (Conde de Aranda 1, Salamanca, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/435-1823).

Emergency Services

Ambulancias Cruz Roja (Red Cross Ambulances, PHONE: 91/522-2222) are on-call 24 hours a day. Ambulancias SAMUR (Red Cross Ambulances, PHONE: 112) are always available.

Public Hospitals

Hospital La Paz (Paseo de la Castellana 261, Chamartín, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/358-2600).Hospital Universitario San Carlos (Profesor Martín Lagos s/n, Moncloa, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/330-3000). Hospital Universitario de la Princesa (Diego de León, 62, Salamanca, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/520-2200). Hospital Universitario Gregorio Marañon (C. Doctor Esquerdo, 46, Moncloa, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/586-8000).

Travel Agencies

Scattered throughout Madrid, travel agencies are generally the best way to get tickets, cheap deals, and information without hassles. The major agents below are in central locations. Madrid & Beyond is a British-run agency that can make all your travel and lodging arrangements for Madrid, other historic cities, and some lovely rural areas.

Contacts

American Express (Plaza de las Cortés 2, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/743-7740, www.americanexpress.es). Carlson Wagons-Lits/Viajes Ecuador (Paseo de la Castellana 96, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/563-1202, www.viajesecuador.net). Madrid & Beyond (Gran Vía 59-8D, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/758-0063, FAX: 91/542-4391). Pullmantur (Plaza de Oriente 8, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/541-1807, FAX: 91/548-2189).

Embassies

Contacts

Australia (Plaza del Descubridor Diego de Ordás 3, Chamberí, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/441-9300). Canada (C. Nuñez de Balboa 35, Salamanca, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/423-3250). New Zealand (Plaza de Lealtad 2, Centro, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/523-0226). United Kingdom (C. Fernando el Santo 19, Chamberí, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/700-8200). United States (C. Serrano 75, Salamanca, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/587-2200).

Discounts & Deals

For EUR28, EUR42, or EUR55 for 1, 2, or 3 days, you get free entry to 40 museums (with no standing in lines to buy tickets) and monuments, all public transport, a tourist bus called Madrid Visión, a thematic tour on Saturday through the Madrid de los Austrias (the area around Plaza Mayor), and admission to Faunia (a thematic zoo located outside the city), as well as discounts in stores, movies, theaters, restaurants, and parks. You can buy the card at the municipal and the regional tourist offices, on Madrid Visión buses and at its kiosk next to the Prado Museum on Felipe IV, at Viajes Brújula at Atocha and Chamartín train stations, and at Sol Pentour on Puerta del Sol, 6. It's also available through the Madrid Card Web site.

Madrid Shopping Tours runs a bus around town for determined shoppers. For EUR25 on Tuesday through Thursday you can see the city's retail districts and nearby factory outlets on a guided tour, and get discounts to boot. You must reserve a spot at least one day in advance. The tour runs from 10 to 6; call for pickup locations.

Contact

Madrid Municipal Tourist Office (Plaza Mayor 3, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/588-1636, www.munimadrid.es). Madrid Regional Tourist Office (Duque de Medinaceli 2, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/429-4951, www.madridcard.com). Madrid Shopping Tour (PHONE: 91/316-0657, FAX: 91/316-0842, www.madridshoppingtour.com).

Sightseeing Tours

Your hotel can arrange standard city tours in either English or Spanish; most offer Madrid Artístico (including the Royal Palace and the Prado), Madrid Panorámico (a basic half-day tour), Madrid de Noche (including a flamenco or nightclub show), and the Sunday-only Panorámico y Toros (a brief city overview followed by a bullfight during the season). The Plaza Mayor tourist office leads tours of Madrid's old quarters in English every Saturday morning, departing from the office at 10. The same office has a leaflet detailing the popular Spanish- and English-language bus, cycling (there's a EUR6 bicycle rental fee) and walking tours run by the ayuntamiento (city hall) under the rubric "Descubre Madrid/Discover Madrid"; you can buy tickets at the Patronato de Turismo or by calling 902/221622 (a phone ticket service). The walking tours depart most mornings; theme options include Literary Madrid, Baroque Madrid, Religious Monuments, and many more. For half- and one-day trips to sites outside Madrid, including Toledo, El Escorial, and Segovia, contact Julià Tours.

The Madrid Visión tourist buses make three different 45-minute to 1½-hour circuits of the city (Historic Madrid, Modern Madrid, and Monumental Madrid) with recorded commentary in English. No reservation is needed; just show up at Puerta del Sol 5, Puerta de Alcalá (Plaza de la Independencia 3), Plaza de Cibeles (Paseo de Recoletos 2) or in front of the Prado Museum. Buses depart every 20 minutes, starting at 10 (9:30 in summer). The one-day and two-day passes, which allow you to get on and off at various attractions, cost EUR13 and EUR17. Contact the Asociación Profesional de Informadores tohire a personal guide.

Contacts

Asociación Profesional de Informadores (C. Ferraz 82, Moncloa, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/542-1214, FAX: 91/541-1221, www.apit.es). Ayuntamiento (City Hall, C. Mayor 69, Centro, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/588-1000). Julià Tours (Gran Vía 68, Centro, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/559-9605, www.juliatours.es). Patronato de Turismo (C. Mayor 69, Centro, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/588-2906). Plaza Mayor tourist office (Plaza Mayor 3, Centro, Madrid, Spain. PHONE: 91/588-1636). Madrid Visión (PHONE: 91/765-1016, www.madridvision.es).