TIPS
Weather
July is a hot month to visit Madrid. The average temperature is between 25ºC and 34ºC on these dates.
For a forecast of temperatures and rainfall consult the AEMET (Spanish State Meteorological Agency): www.aemet.es/es/eltiempo/prediccion/municipios/madrid
Electricity
In Spain the voltage is 220-250 V. Plugs used have two round rods.
Phones
The international dial code for Spain is + 34.
Languages
The official language is Spanish, but it is usual to speak languages such as English, German or French in spaces related to tourism.
Bank Cards
Debit or credit cards of Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, Cirrus and Amex are accepted in most places. They can be used in hotels, restaurants and shops. American Express cards are accepted only in some establishments. They can also be used at ATMs which indicate so.
Currency
The currency used in Spain is the Euro (€). To check the exchange rate with any foreign currency, you can use this converter: http://www.xe.com/es/. Foreign currency can be exchanged at banks or exchange houses at the airport or the city. Exchange houses usually open longer than banks but offer different rates and often charge commissions.
Car rental
Several car rental companies will be available, both at Barajas Airport, as well as at the train and long-distance bus stations, and others throughout the city. Please note that traffic in the city of Madrid is often not very fluid.
For more information on the main roads in Madrid, please visit this web page: https://www.esmadrid.com/coche-madrid
Local transportation
You can get around Madrid by public transportation (city bus, subway, Renfe suburban train) or on foot. See the sections Getting there and Venue for more information.
Parking
Free parking spaces will be available in the immediate vicinity of the Congress venue.
Usual schedules
Breakfast is usually served from 08:00 to 10:00 in the morning. Lunch, in the restaurants, is offered from 13:00 to 15:30 hours. Dinner is served from 21:30 to 23:00 hours. Some establishments have continuous service throughout the day. It is very common, especially in summer, to find people in the street or on the terraces until late at night.
Business opening hour
Business hours in the city usually range from 09:00 or 10:00 hours to 20:00 or 22:00 hours, although there is some flexibility. The most usual business hours are from Monday to Saturday from 09:30 to 13:30 hours and from 16:30 to 20:00 hours. It is usual for stores to close on Sundays, although in Madrid there are certain exceptions in supermarkets and shopping centers. Large shopping centers usually have a continuous schedule from 10:00 h. to 21:00 or 22:00 hours. Banks usually close at 14:00 or 15:00 hours and do not open in the afternoon (nor on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays).
Tipping
There is no tradition that requires leaving a percentage tip when paying the bill in bars or restaurants; tipping is optional and it is up to the customer to decide how much he/she wishes to contribute.
Other Details
You may also find it useful to know that in Madrid you can drink water directly from the tap.