15th Annual Conference of the International Association for Mathematical Geosciences

MADRID

Situated in the geographical centre of the country, Madrid is the capital of Spain and of the Community of Madrid. With a population of over five and a half million it is considered to be Spain’s largest city and the third largest urban area in the European Union.

As the capital of the country, Madrid is the location for the central offices of the Government and Parliament and the main centres of the central public administration. It is also the official place of residence of the Spanish royal family.

In terms of the economy, Madrid is noted for being a major financial and industrial centre, home to the head offices of numerous Spanish companies and several of the world’s largest corporations.

Madrid is known for its major cultural and artistic attractions and its internationally renowned museums include the Prado Art Museum, the Thyssen Bornemisza Art Musem and the Queen Sofia National Art Museum.

Madrid has become a multicultural city welcoming tourists, students and people of a variety of nationalities who are interested in learning about the history, customs and traditions of the Spanish capital.

GETTING TO MADRID

The high quality of Madrid’s airport, train stations and its all embracing public transportation system places it among the best in the world, due to the ease and freedom of movement throughout the city resulting from excellent connections between the airport, the Metro, bus and regional train networks.

By plane:

Madrid has three airports, the main one being Madrid-Barajas Airport. In terms of infrastructure, equipment, resources and air traffic, it is the most important air hub in Spain and the fourth in Europe.

In 2007, the airport handled 52,143,275 passengers, 483,284 operations and 322,244 tonnes of cargo. Madrid-Barajas International Airport receives flights from over 166 destinations, including several low cost airlines, and is the main European air hub for Latin America. There are daily flights between Madrid-Barajas Airport and the main capital cities in Europe and capitals in other parts of the world. There are also several daily flights to the other principal Spanish airports.

It consists of 4 terminals: T1, T2, T3 and T4. The inauguration of the new terminal T4 that has set its capacity in 70 million passengers a year took place on 5th of February 2006. The building was designed by Richard Rodgers and Lamela and it has received the Stirling Architecture Award.

The Madrid-Barajas airport is just 13 km away from the city, and access to it by public transportation is one of the quickest and easiest to use in the world: besides bus (every ten minutes) or taxi, travellers may take the Metro (line 8), where every five minutes a train to Madrid-Barajas Airport leaves from Nuevos Ministerios Station in the City Centre.

Barajas Airport Information:
0034 - 913 058 343
0034 - 913 058 344
0034 - 913 058 345

General Information AENA (Spanish Airports Authority):
902 404 704

 

Aeropuerto Madrid

Bus aeropuerto Madrid

By train:
Chamartín Located in the north of the city, this station connects with the cities of Albacete, Alicante, Avila, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cadiz, Cartagena, Ciudad Real, Cordoba, Irún, León, Málaga, Palencia, Salamanca, Santander, Segovia, Sevilla, Soria, Valladolid, Vitoria, Zaragoza and stations in the region of Galicia, and is also the station for trains to and from France.

Address: Calle Agustín de Foxá
Metro station: Chamartín

Atocha Located in the south of the city, this station connects with Andalucia, Extremadura and Portugal. It is the point of arrival and departure for the high-speed train (AVE) and also the station for local trains in and around the capital. There is an underground train connection to the Chamartín Station.

Address: Glorieta Emperador Carlos V
Metro station: Atocha-Renfe

Further information:
http://www.renfe.es

Information and bookings:
902 240 202

International information:
902 243 402

Internet sales information:
902 157 507

 

Chamartin

Atocha

TRANSPORT IN MADRID

Metro:

The underground (Metro) is the fastest, most efficient and most affordable way to move around Madrid. The city has a vast metropolitan network, one of the most comprehensive in Europe, and covers almost all the points in the capital and many of the neighboring areas.

Currently, there are twelve metro lines and three Metro Ligero (tramway) lines. Out of all these, Line 8 (Nuevos Ministerios – Airport T4) is particularly noteworthy. This modern line connects the capital to Barajas international airport, arriving in only 12 minutes to the rest of terminals. The underground system covers a total of 283.3 km.

It has regular services running at very frequent intervals from 6.00 am to 1.30 am every day of the week. You can see a map of the metro and check the prices on the web page.

http://www.metromadrid.es

Information:
902 444 403

Metro Madrid

Metro Madrid

 

Urban buses (EMT):

There are more than 193 regular bus routes in Madrid, run by the Municipal Transport Company (EMT - Empresa Municipal de Transportes), which go to all parts of the city, running from 6:00 am to midnight. There are single tickets and 10-trip tickets, which are valid for both the metro and buses. Madrid’s buses have special facilities for disabled access.

Buses are usually red or blue. There are also night buses which run from midnight to 6.00 am.

Information on bus routes and fares:
http://www.emtmadrid.es

Customer services office:
902 507 850

Bus madrid

Bus Madrid

Local trains (Cercanías):

The local train network of the Spanish train company (RENFE) runs between most of the towns around Madrid and the city centre. Local train fares vary depending on the zone.

Further information:
http://www.ctm-madrid.es

Trains run from 5.00 am or 6.00 am (depending on the line) until midnight or 1.00 am.

There are several types of tickets and fares.

Information:
http://www.renfe.es/cercanias/madrid/index.html

Information and bookings:
902 240 202

Cercanias Madrid

Cercanias Madrid

Taxis:

Madrid taxis are white with a diagonal maroon-coloured stripe and the city shield on the side. A green light or a sign saying libre (available) shows when taxis are not carrying passengers. The fare consists of an initial fixed rate, known as the flag fall (bajada de bandera), which increases in accordance with the number of kilometres covered. There are additional charges for fares to the airport or train stations, for the carriage of suitcases and for night rates and public holidays. All taxis must display information on the rate for the flag fall and additional charges. There are more than 15,600 taxis in Madrid, so it is not usually difficult to find one available in the city’s main thoroughfares. Just make a sign and they will be keen to stop!

Radio-taxi phone numbers:

915 478 200 914 051 213 902 478 200
914 055 500 913 712 131 902 501 130
914 473 232 915 390 400  

http://www.taxiflot.com/
http://www.radiotelefono-taxi.com/
http://www.tele-taxi.es/

Information on taxi fares is also available
on the web page of the Madrid City Hall
http://www.munimadrid.es

Taxi Madrid
Tourist travel pass

The Tourist Travel Pass is the most affordable and practical way to get to know Madrid. It can be used on all public transport in the Region as many times as necessary within the valid dates. There are five passes valid for 1, 2, 3, 5 or 7 days.

The Organizing Committee will look into the possibility of facilitating a 5 day tourist travel pass with the registration fee. Relevant details will be posted on the IAMG 2013 website closer to the date of the Meeting.

Tourist tickets can be purchased at all stations in the Metro network, at the Centro de Atención al Viajero (Passenger Assistance Centre) at both airport stations (Line 8), at Tourist Offices, Offices of the Regional Transport Consortium, tourist attractions and internet; it’s also on sale at some tobacconists and newspaper stands. Children under 11 years old get a 50 per cent discount.

CLIMATE

Winter in Madrid is not very cold, with minimum temperatures of around 2ºC and maximums of around 15ºC. Spring and autumn are very pleasant, with maximum temperatures of around 20.5ºC and minimums of 7.5ºC. Summer in Madrid is normally hot, with maximum temperatures ranging from 30ºC to 40ºC. Madrid is fortunate to have a majority of sunny days throughout the year.

CULTURAL TOURISM

The city of Madrid has an extensive range of cultural attractions which visitors should take the time to discover.

The large number of museums include the History Museum, Museum of Archaeology, Museum of Natural Sciences, the Army Museum and the Museum of America, although the most important ones are:

Planetario Arganzuela
Museo del Prado (El Prado Art Museum):

This is one of the world’s major art museums. It is located in Paseo del Prado and is open from Tuesday to Sunday and on public holidays from 9.00 am to 8.00 pm.
Closed on Mondays.
Metro stations: Banco de España and Atocha

Centro de Atención al Visitante (Visitors’ Information Centre):
902 107 077
http://museoprado.mcu.es/home.html

Museo del Prado
Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza:

Exhibition of paintings covering a wide range of masters and schools, from early Netherlandish painting to the contemporary avant-garde.
Located in the Palacio de Villahermosa, Paseo del Prado number 8.
Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10.00 am to 7.00 pm.
Closed on Mondays.
Metro station: Banco de España

Information:
913 690 151
http://www.museothyssen.org

Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (Queen Sofia National Art Museum):

Modern and contemporary paintings and sculptures. Located in Calle Santa Isabel, number 52. Open on Mondays and from Wednesday to Saturday from 10.00 am to 9.00 pm and on Sundays from 10.00 am to 2.30 pm.
Closed on Tuesdays.
Metro station: Atocha

Information:
917 741 000
http://www.museoreinasofia.es

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía
El Palacio Real (Royal Palace):

The Spanish royal palace is one of the best in Europe.
It opens from Monday to Saturday from 9.30 am to 5.00 pm and on Sundays and public holidays from 9.00 am to 2.00 pm.
Closed on the occasion of official events.
Metro station: Ópera

Information:
914 548 800
http://www.patrimonionacional.es

El Palacio Real
Plaza Mayor:

This is a large square surrounded by balconied buildings constructed between 1617 and 1619.
The most emblematic buildings are the Casa de la Panadería and the Casa de la Carnicería.
Metro station: Sol

Plaza Mayor Madrid
El Rastro de Madrid:

The Rastro is a street market covering several streets of Madrid, around Plaza de Cascorro, La Latina, Calle Embajadores and the surrounding area.
It is held on Sundays from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm.
Metro station: La Latina

El Rastro de Madrid
Parque de Atracciones de Madrid (Fun Park):

Located in the natural setting of La Casa de Campo.
It can also be reached by bus, numbers 33 or 65
Metro station: Batán

Information:
914 632 900
http://www.parquedeatracciones.es

Parque de Atracciones de Madrid (Fun Park):

Other places to visit: Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Almudena (Cathedral of Our Lady of Almudena), Iglesia San Francisco El Grande (Church of Saint Francis the Great), Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida (Saint Anthony’s Chapel), Faro de Moncloa (viewing tower), Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales (Convent of the Royal Barefoot Nuns), Monasterio de la Encarnación, Real Fábrica de Tapices (Royal Tapestry Factory), Museo Sorolla (Sorolla Art Museum), other art galleries and so on.

Nearby tourist attractions: Alcalá de Henares (30 km from Madrid); Aranjuez (47 km from Madrid); Chinchón (45 km from Madrid); El Escorial (50 km from Madrid); Toledo (71 km from Madrid); Segovia (91 km from Madrid); Ávila (113 km from Madrid); and Cuenca (167 km from Madrid).

Información Madrid