ENGLISH
Español
A 1 Day Movie Adventure
Enjoy the Seventh Art in Madrid
Good morning, I'm your host Marco, welcome to Madrid!
Today to get off to a good start I suggest Garden Brunch Café this place looks like something out of the movie BARBIE and whether you like sweet breakfasts or salty ones, you will have no excuse there because they have everything. Open from 9:30 a.m.
Then, if you are a Harry Potter fan, you cannot miss a store of more than 200m2, with clothing, books or collectibles, dedicated exclusively to the magical world of JK Rowling, Callejón Madriagon.
Another cinematic experience, if your tastes are more Italian classics, is Bel Mondo an Italian restaurant with a total "dolce vita" atmosphere that will make you feel like you are on the Amalfi Coast with Tom Ripley or in a Fellini film. Try their cheesecake, one of the best you've ever had.
Being in Madrid and being a cinema lover, you cannot miss the Cine Doré, a beautiful modernist building where films from the National Film Library are projected and you can eat right next door at the Antón Martín Market, with a wide variety of food stalls and international food. Next to it is the Cine Ideal, the oldest cinema in Madrid.
In the afternoon, visit the Sala Equis, the last X cinema in Madrid converted into a place to watch movies, eat something or have a drink, in an urban and cosmopolitan atmosphere. You can stay there for an after-dinner meal or take the tour to see scenes from series and movies.
And if we talk about places with history that are the most emblematic of the capital, which have been settings for movies, series and visited by national and international stars, we are undoubtedly talking about Chicote Museum, where you can dine, have a cocktail before or after going to see a musical of all the offerings that Madrid's Gran Vía has to offer, since it is open until 3:00.
The center of Madrid is very walkable and is the best way to explore its streets. To move from one neighborhood to another I recommend the subway but if you walk you can enjoy the monuments of the city. The whole area of Madrid de los Austrias is almost pedestrian.
Madrid is a very bicycle-friendly city. BiciMAD is a public service of electric bicycles, offering a service with electric bicycles, practical, simple. It can be used as an annual subscriber or as an occasional user, through the totem at the station, where you will be provided on site with a card for 1, 3 or 5 days and billed at the end of the selected period depending on the use of the service.
All areas of the city are served by bus, the “Airport Express” line (with a fixed fare of 5€).
The fleet is modern, with comfortable vehicles and has built-in free wifi.
The usual schedule covers the whole day from 6:00 to 23:30, while on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays the service is extended from 7:00 to 23:00.
The average frequency ranges from 4 minutes to a quarter of an hour, although it depends on the day of the week, the schedule and certain urban traffic conditions.
In any case, you can find out the frequencies of each line, itineraries and other information on the EMT website, https://www.emtmadrid.es/EMTBUS/Mibus or, even more conveniently, using the official app “EMT Madrid”.
The night buses are called “búhos”, and on weekdays, Sundays and holidays, they leave from Cibeles with an interval of 30-35 minutes between 12:00 midnight and 4:00 am.
As for fares, a single ticket, which can be purchased on board the vehicle, costs 1.50€. Payment can be made by contactless bank card or cell phone. If paying in cash, only 5€ bills are accepted for exchange.
There is a fare called “Metrobús”, valid for all EMT buses and metro zone A and priced at 12.20€ or “Bus+Bus”, which allows travel on all buses with one line transfer per trip included and costs 18.30€.
Cabs are available throughout the city and are a convenient way to get around, especially if you have luggage or are tired.
From the airport there is a flat fare of 30 ? to the city center. There are also for-hire vehicle for hire (VTC) services such as Uber and Cabify.
Renting a car just to get around Madrid makes no sense at all. Like any big city, it has its traffic problems, and there is also the cost of parking.
Add to this the fact that the city has excellent public transportation and reasonably priced cabs, and I would strongly advise against renting a car.
Another thing is that you plan to make excursions outside Madrid and want to go on your own.
Another option is “Carsharing”: Madrid is one of the European cities with the largest offer of carsharing companies, a perfect option for tourists who do not travel to Madrid by car and at a certain moment of their visit need one.
You can rent a car with carsharing companies operating in Madrid (Wible, free2move, sharenow).
Motorcycle enthusiasts are in luck because Madrid is one of the European cities with the largest number of motorbike-sharing vehicles. Besides being very easy to use, “motosharing” services are super practical and you can do it with apps like (Cooltra or Acciona Motosharing).
The Madrid Cercanías network has 9 lines, and a timetable that goes from 05:30 to 23:30 hours. Commuter trains are great to cross the city quickly or to travel to towns around Madrid, such as Alcalá de Henares, El Escorial and even Guadalajara.
Madrid’s metro is fast and inexpensive, with an extensive network covering the city and some nearby municipalities. With 12 lines and a schedule from 6:00 to 1:30, it is advisable to arrive on time. Frequency varies from 3 to 7 minutes, being higher in the late hours and on holidays.
Children under four years of age travel free of charge. Tickets can be purchased from automatic machines at stations, tobacconists and authorized points. The card costs 2.50€ and lasts 10 years, but is included in the tourist season ticket.
The 10-trip ticket, called “Metrobús”, costs 12.20€ and is valid on all Zone A lines, including light rail and EMT buses. In addition, there is no charge for the number of stations.
To access the airport, there is a supplement of 3.00€ at some stations.
For more detailed information on schedules and intervals, please visit: https://www.metromadrid.es/en/linea.
Always remember to check schedules and routes, especially if there are events or holidays that may affect the transportation service. Check also the prices, sometimes they can change, enjoy your stay in Madrid!
Themed guides to travel like a true local
