Madrid Hotels

Madrid's Barajas airport is often the best option for getting in and out of the city; the trains can be just as expensive as flights, and buses are a bit of an endurance test. Driving is quite a good option, as Spain's main highways feed into Madrid, but they can be a little terrifying for the inexperienced.

Madrid's metro is the quickest and easiest way to get around the city, with cercanías (regional trains) and buses close runners up. With such good public transport and a compact, walkable city centre, you don't need a car, although getting hold of one and negotiating traffic in Madrid is comparatively simple. Then again, taxis are cheap and (usually) stress-free.

Madrid is Spain's biggest international transport hub, so it's easy to reach by air from just about anywhere. The ever-expanding and always-busy Barajas Airport is 13km (8mi) northeast of the city. There aren't too many great discount ticket centres in the city, but you can occasionally dig up cheap deals to the main European capitals. Departure tax varies depending on the destination and is factored into ticket prices. Madrid must have the best airport-city connections of any European capital. The metro connection opened in 2002 is fast and comfortable; take line 8 from the airport to Nuevos Ministerios (12 minutes) and connect to your final destination (another 15 minutes or so). An airport bus runs to Plaza de Colón in the city centre, but traffic can be a problem, making the metro a better bet. Taxi is another option, or you can take the AeroCITY minibus door-to-door (from the city centre) service; it's cheaper with more people. Terminal 4 is connected to the rest of the airport (and the metro) by a shuttle bus service.

Atocha, in the south of Madrid, is the city's larger train station, Chamartín in the north is the other. The majority of trains to the rest of Spain depart from Atocha; Chamartín has international services. There are a range of train services, domestic and international, and fares to match, although these are often no cheaper than flying.

Madrid is accessible by bus, although this is possibly the most arduous overland option. Madrid has eight bus stations dotted around, with companies servicing different parts of the country, Europe and Morocco.

Driving from Portugal or France is easy, as Spain's major highways feed into Madrid. Standard European road rules apply.

Madrid's fast and efficient metro is the best way to get around the city. There are some gaps, but they are largely filled by cercanías (regional trains).

By European standards, taxis are inexpensive and well regulated.

Walking, on the other hand, is the best way to get around the compact centre of Madrid. The car is king though, so pay attention when crossing roads and even pedestrian crossings.

If you really want to rent a car, driving is comparatively less hair-raising than in other Latin cities, and the rental options range from big-name agencies to smaller, local operators. Lots of people zip around town on mopeds - watch out for them.