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Madrid

Madrid is Spain's capital and largest city. A city that has been marked by Spain's varied and tumultuous history, Madrid has some of Europe's most impressive cultural and architectural heritage, which includes grand avenues, plazas, buildings and monuments, world-class art galleries and museums, highly popular football teams, and cultural events of international fame for everyone. Madrid is also renowned for gastronomic delights and a nightlife lasting up until dawn.

Madrid is more often than not disregarded by tourists who gravitate to other parts of the country. But though it may appear to lack some of the breathtaking architecture of Barcelona, the frenetic energy of London and Berlin, or the flair of Paris and Rome, Madrid is a massive treasure chest that has something for those who are willing to get off the beaten tourist tracks. It might not be the most sought-after city, but those who seek out what Madrid has to offer will discover a city of unexpected beauty. Be aware that the transportation infrastructure is often broken, dysfunctional, or overly complicated. Whether you are traveling in the city or getting a long-distance train, take extra time because it will not be as simple as in other European cities or what your map app is telling you.

Understand
Madrid has over 3.2 million residents within the city limits and 6.8 million people live in the autonomous Community of Madrid region (as of 2018).

Location
Madrid is just northeast of the geographical centre of the Iberian Peninsula, in the middle of the Spanish central Castillian plateau (Meseta central), at an average altitude of. Nearly all of the most famous tourist areas are in the centre of the city including Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Palacio Real, and Plaza de Colón. The major streets in Madrid include the Gran Via, Alcalá Street, and Paseo de la Castellana.

Climate
The climate of Madrid is continental, mainly dry and quite extreme at times. Madrid experiences a characteristically hot and dry summer, along with a fairly cold winter with frequent frosts during the night and occasional snowfalls. Spring and autumn are generally mild with the most rainfall concentrated in these seasons. Spring and autumn are definitely the best times to visit, especially the months of April, May, June, September and October. There is very little rainfall during summer and also less rainfall during winter. During winter, snow occurs sporadically; however, snow usually lasts only for a few days, but there is abundant snowfall in the adjacent mountain ranges nearby.

History
Madrid is a city that goes back to the Spanish Muslims, but virtually nothing of Madrid before the Reconquista is left. A few historic city walls have been archeologically preserved but Madrid was by far overshadowed by Toledo (Roman Toletum) until the early modern era. To give just one example, construction on Madrid Cathedral did not start until the late 19th century, and only finished in the 1990s, as the archbishop of Toledo did not want to relinquish episcopal power, and the monarchs had moved the capital in part precisely to escape the power of Toledo's archbishop.

The culture of Madrid was dominated by its royal history, centre of the Spanish Empire. The Royal Palace, big plazas and buildings used by the Spanish Monarchy, enormous cathedrals and churches are plentiful in Madrid. Madrid is now just as much a cosmopolitan city as Berlin or London: full of modern architecture, lifestyle and culture.

Madrid became capital of Spain under Philip II who had a gargantuan palace built in nearby El Escorial. For a long while, Madrid would be the royal residence first, only becoming a city much later. Madrid architecture often reflects the era in which it was built. The Spanish Habsburgs ("Los Austrias") who reigned until the death of unfortunate Charles II in 1700 predominantly used red brick for facades and black schist for the roofs. The later Bourbon dynasty (ruling today after the two Republican interludes) preferred granite to brick, giving their buildings a greyer tone. The king that had the largest influence on Madrid after Philip II was perhaps Charles III. He was nicknamed "el Rey Alcalde" (the mayor-king) or "Madrid's best mayor" due to his extensive building and modernisation programmes in the city. Other royal projects that left their mark are Isabel II's freshwater canal, and the metro which was started in 1919 with King Alfonso XIII's own money. However, both those monarchs were so unpopular that they were later overthrown by their own people, giving rise to the First and Second Spanish Republics.

Being the capital of Spain, Madrid came to be associated - justly or not, for better and for worse - with the governing trends in Spain by Spaniards in other parts of the country. As the governing trends swung widely from anti-clerical Republic to hyper-catholic fascist Franco dictatorship, this has influenced the perception of Madrid in the rest of Spain. During the 2nd Republic (1931-1936), it was a bustling city of new ideas with many political issues of the day literally fought out on the streets of Madrid. During the Civil War, Madrid endured a three year siege (1936-1939) by the anti-Republican troops and was one of the last places to hold out for the Republic. During the dictatorship of Francisco Franco (1939-1975), the city represented the heart of the repressive hyper-conservative dictatorship to many Spaniards, particularly Basques and Catalans. However, the city is also the epicentre of the famous Movida of the 1980s, a Spanish movement that bred personalities such as the director Pedro Almodóvar. The heritage of this era is indeed still visible in the city centre, where a party can be found at all times and one of the most liberal and colourful environments of Spain can be seen. The city is also known for its acceptance of LGBT people.

Modern politics
Since Franco's death, Madrid's city politics have swung widely from right to left and back, at first having a (socialist) PSOE-led government through the 1980s which was replaced by the centre-right PP which dominated the city through an awkward mix of paternalistic public works, free-for-all housing plans, and other anarchic construction projects in the 1990s. The 2000s saw a more nuanced approach by Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón, also of the PP, who focused on upgrading Madrid's ring road (the M30), expanding the metro system, and liberalising the economy. The 2008 financial crisis hit Madrid hard, which gave rise to ex-communist Manuela Carmena in the 2010s. Despite showing early promises, Carmena's popularity dwindled, and the PP's José Luis Martínez-Almeida ousted her as mayor by winning the 2019 elections forming a governing coalition with two new political parties: the centrist Ciudadanos and the far-right Vox. This rightwards shift reinforced itself with the popularity of Isabel Diaz Ayuso, the PP president of the Community of Madrid.

Madrileño everyday life
The citizens of Madrid refer to themselves as Madrileños or the more traditional and now seldom-used term "gatos" (cats). They live by a daily routine that is heavily influenced by the climate. Due to the typically midday heat during summer, a "siesta" can be still observed during which some citizens take a break to cool off, though Madrileños can usually only afford this 'luxury' during holidays and weekends.

Most stores are open throughout the day; just small stores are often closed during siesta. Workers and those more afflicted by Western lifestyles choose not to observe this long break and work usually between 09:00 and 18:00-19:00. However, during summer, many offices have a summer schedule requiring workers to start at 08:00 and finish at 15:00 (most commonly without the standard 1-2 hour break for lunch).

Offices usually close over the weekend but businesses are often open Saturday morning, or until the afternoon in the city centre. Most grocers are closed on Sundays, but some major chain and department stores linked to "culture" (books, music, etc.) will be open every day. Shops and department stores in Puerta del Sol area are open every day.

Madrid has a very modern and elaborate transportation network of buses and Metro with a few "Light Metro" tram lines in the outskirts. The city contrasts with some large European cities in that it is extremely clean, and city employees in bright yellow vests can almost always be seen cleaning the streets and sidewalks. Like most large cities, however, there is a substantial population of vagrants and beggars lining the streets.

Madrid is one of the biggest and most cosmopolitan cities in Europe. Communities of West Africans, North Africans, other Europeans (especially Romanians), Chinese, Filipinos, Pakistanis, and above all Latin Americans are prominent.

Nightlife
Madrid possibly has the most bars per capita of any European city and a very active nightlife; Madrileños are known to stay up until as late as 05:00-07:00. It is quite common to see a crowded Gran Vía on weekend nights. Due to this lifestyle, lodging near the fun areas may end up a nightmare for light sleepers if your window faces the street.

Tourist information

 * Tourism website of the city of Madrid.

By plane

 * Main article: Madrid–Barajas Airport

Madrid has two smaller airfields, Torrejón and Cuatro Vientos, but they have no commercial flights.

To and from the airport

 * During the day, Metro a popular best way to reach city centre. Line 8 (pink) runs from Nuevos Ministerios to Terminals 123, Barajas town (no airport here, don't get off!) and T4. It runs from 06:00 to 01:30, taking 15 min from city to T123 and another 5 min to T4. The single fare is €5. See "Get around" for other ticket options.
 * The Cercanías (renfe) regional train service C1 line runs between T4 and Puerta de Atocha, without needing to change trains or paying the metro airport suppliment. Tickets are issued on a "+ renfe & tú" reusable card. If not arriving there, you can reach T4 on the free inter-terminal bus. Puerta de Atocha is nearby but separate to Atocha metro station.
 * If taxis are your thing, there is always an armada of them readily available. There is a fixed fare of €30 for trips between the airport and central Madrid (defined as any point in Madrid inside the M-30 expressway).

Buses between city centre and airport are:
 * Exprés Aeropuerto bus 203 runs from Atocha to T12 & T4, 06:00-23:30 every 15-20 min, taking 30 min.
 * Bus 200 runs from Avenida de America transport hub to T12 & T4 (but T3 only city-bound, not outbound), 05:00-23:30 every 10-20 min.
 * At night bus N27 runs every 35 min from Cibeles to T12 & T4 and is the only public transport option.
 * Direct buses elsewhere include:
 * Bus 101 from Canillejas transport hub, east edge of the city, to T12 (T3 only city-bound, not outbound).
 * Bus 822 from Coslada and San Fernando de Henares, just south of the airport, to T1.
 * Bus 824 from Alcalá de Henares and Torrejón to the east, to T12.
 * Bus 827 & 828 from the Autonomous University and Alcobendas, to T4.
 * Avanza buses run to T1 from Avila and Salamanca.
 * Alsa buses run to T4 from Zaragoza, Barcelona, Valladolid, León, Murcia, Alicante, Gijón, Oviedo, Lugo, Coruña, Santiago de Compostela, Burgos, Vitoria, San Sebastián, Santander, Bilbao, Logroño and Pamplona.
 * Socibus run to T1 from Andalusia, e.g. Córdoba, Cádiz, Jerez and Sevilla.

By train
The state-owned rail company renfe and low cost operators ouigo, iryo & avlo (from renfe) operate trains to Madrid. Frequent long-distance trains connect Madrid and Alicante (2 hr 30 min), Barcelona (2 hr 40 min), Bilbao (6 hr), Córdoba (2 hr), Malaga (2 hr 30 min), Salamanca (2 hr 30 min), Santiago de Compostela (6 hr), Seville (2 hr 20 min), Valencia (2 hr) and Zaragoza (1 hr 15 min).

The overnight train from Lisbon was suspended in 2020, perhaps indefinitely. Travel from Portugal now involves changing at Merida and Badajoz.

There is a direct daytime train from Marseille, taking 8 hours. Madrid can be reached from Paris and other cities in France and beyond also by changing in Barcelona. However for the French Atlantic coast (e.g. Bayonne and Bordeaux) it is quicker to travel via Hendaye.

Madrid has two mainline railway stations, Atocha and Chamartín, both with extensive Metro and local Cercanías train connections. To transfer between them, take Metro line (€1.50 or 1 journey, 30–40 min) or Cercanías lines  and (€1.35, 15 min).

All rail stations are operated by the national rail infrastructure company ADIF, you can check train running times & platforms there and on their app. Remember local Cercanías trains are listed separately to longer distance ones.

Most mainline trains run from:

By bus
Madrid has several bus stations, but long-distance routes all use either Estación Sur southside, or Avenida de América northside. These buses may also call at the airport.

International buses, and those headed south of Madrid, run from (C/ de Méndez Álvaro, 3, ) which is 1 km southeast of Atocha. Routes include Lisbon (3 per day, 8 hr, by Avanza), Milan (twice a day, 26 hr, by Alsa) and Paris (daily, 16 hr, by Flixbus). The metro stop is Méndez Álvaro on line. It also has a Cercanias train halt. The building is quite old, but adequate, with several bus company ticket offices, a retail corridor with a couple of cafes, and toilets.

Buses to the north, e.g. Barcelona and Bilbao, run from (Avda de América, 9), 2 km northeast of the centre. It's a big transport hub on metro lines, , , and. It's not on a Cercanias line.

By public transit
Madrid proudly sports one of the best public transportation networks in the world and the second largest metro network in Europe after London's. Buses and subways work with the same tickets, and operate within the integrated transit network of (Plaza del Descubridor Diego de Ordás 3, M-F 08:00-20:00).

A single ticket for Zone A costs €1.50 (max. 5 stations), but the cost goes up to €2 if you go more than 10 stations, and can be purchased from metro ticket vending machines or directly from the bus driver on entry. A ten-trip ticket (10 viajes) costs €12.20 (€6.10 during 2024) for Zone A (no transfers from one mode of transportation to another allowed); these tickets can be shared with other travellers. Children under the age of 4 may travel without a ticket, and children under 11 receive a 50% discount. Tickets can be purchased at metro stations, newsstands, and tobacconists.

If you plan to use public transport a lot you can purchase a Tourist Card, which allows unlimited travel as well as discounted admission for some tourist attractions. The card can be purchased at any metro station, as well as at the CRTM headquarters. For travel within Zone A the following rates apply: 1 day (€10), 2 days (€17.00), 3 days (€22.50), 5 days (€32.50), or 7 days (€41.00). These tickets are personalised so cannot be shared.

If you're planning on staying for a long time, you might consider investing into the Tarjeta Transporte Público. You can load travel plans onto them according to your age – regular (adult), joven (youth) or mayor (senior). Application must be made in advance at any metro station with a completed application and a copy of your passport. The travel plans can be loaded from any metro vending machine.

Metro
The Metro de Madrid (Madrid's subway/underground) is one of the best and least expensive metros in Europe. In 2019 Metro celebrated its 100th anniversary with exhibitions and displays at stations commemorating its century of history. The Metro's underground tunnels can provide relief from the sun on hot days. The metro network had one of the most rapid expansions of any rapid transit networks in a modern western nation in the 1990s only brought to a temporary halt with the late 2000s financial crisis. To give just one example, on April 11 2003 over of new metro tunnel were opened in a single day - more than what New York City and Berlin combined have opened in the 21st century thus far.

Ticket machines are multi-lingual with instructions Spanish; you can change the language to English by pressing the circular button with several flags in it. Swiping the smartcard once allows you to use the metro network as long and far as you like – but make sure you stay inside the Metro zone A, as once you leave it you'll have to swipe your smartcard again. If you are travelling in the city centre, then multiple people can tap in using the same Multi card; they don’t have to buy their own individual card. However, some outlying stations as well as airport stations have another check at the exit where you have to "tap out" because the fare from central Madrid is higher. Should you go there more than once, buy the "ten trip all network" ticket (which is slightly more expensive than the "ten trip central area" ticket) or a day ticket. When you travel to/from airport stations, there is additional supplement of €3, which can be paid at the entrance or exit. The tourist passes do not require this supplement as it is included in the price.

Generally the Metro operates daily from 06:00-01:30, although you can catch some trains as late as 02:00. Frequencies range from 2-4 minutes during rush hour to up to 15 minutes from midnight onwards.

Bicycles are permitted on the Metro during most periods except during rush hour, generally M-F 07:30-09:30, 14:00-16:00, and 18:00-20:00. Pets in carriers and dogs are also permitted.

Pickpockets are rife on the metro, and travellers should take appropriate precautions. Announcements in Metro trains and stations are made mostly in Spanish only, though some signs are bilingual in Spanish and English.

Bus
Whatever the Metro doesn't cover, EMT buses do. Generally buses run 06:00-24:00. Búho (owl) night buses have their main hub at, covering most of the city at roughly 20-minute intervals.

All buses are equipped with free Wi-Fi facility (EMTmadrid), easy to use with any type of laptop or mobile device. For travellers with smartphones, there is a helpful official EMT app for iPhone and Android with a route planner and schedules.

Train
Madrid has a system of local trains called Cercanías that connects outlying suburbs and villages with the city centre. Although most useful for visiting historic or outdoor destinations outside the city core, it is also useful for quickly getting from one end of the city to another, as well as to of Barajas airport. If you are flying from another terminal; there is a free inter terminal bus but you will have to allow extra time to use it.

and are in the north, and  in the centre and  is in the south of the city.

By taxi
Alongside its metro system, Madrid boasts one of Europe's largest taxi fleets. Taxis are usually plentiful and easy to find, but they become harder to find during late hours on weekends, especially if there is some rain. Unlike in other European cities, there are few taxi stands; just stand by the side of a major road or bus stop and wave your hand to signal an available taxi passing by. Available taxis have a green libre sign in the windshield and a green light on top.

Official taxis are white, and have a red stripe and the flag of Madrid on the front door. The tariff is displayed on top of the car – a 1 during daytime and a 2 at night, which become 2 and 3 on public holidays such as Christmas Eve.

Some taxi drivers will do what is called la vuelta al ruedo — they will drive you around or through the crowded avenues to increase the fare.

Most taxi drivers do not speak fluent English, so you should have the names and addresses of your destinations written in Spanish to show your taxi driver. Likewise, get your hotel's business card in case you get lost. When giving an address to a taxi driver, it is useful to say the name of the neighbourhood in addition to the street name and number, for example: Calle de Don Ramón de la Cruz, 74, Lista.

By car
Cars have been one of the most hot button issues in Madrid municipal politics in the twenty first century. Leftist mayor Manuela Carmena introduced a scheme to drastically reduce the number of cars in central Madrid, however she lost reelection in 2019 and the new right-wing Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida reversed course before being forced by European Union legislation they had violated to partially reinstate the ban. In short: driving a car in Madrid can be a nightmare, but not as bad as cities like Paris or Brussels. Parts of the Spanish capital's downtown suffers from the typical problems of most big cities: far too many cars and not enough space to accommodate them. However, you can often see construction works on roads aimed at finding a better balance between cars and buses, and evidence is pointing towards easier coexistence between all modes of transportation. With that said, traffic jams in major arteries like the Paseo de la Castellana can occur deep into the night. The problem is compounded by the narrow streets in the old town, where a lorry delivering beer barrels to a local bar can cause a huge tailback. Finding a parking space can be very time consuming, and difficult if one is not skilled in the art of close proximity parallel parking. Many Spaniards are also lacking in this art, prompting them to simply park in the street, blocking other cars in. If you find yourself blocked in by such a practice, honk your horn until the driver returns. Most Madrileños park by sound alone: they will feel no remorse for repeatedly hitting the car in front and behind them while trying to get into or out of a tight spot. If you value your car's paint job, or you have rented a car, it may be best to park underground. Though this is no guarantee for nobody hitting your car, the chances are somewhat diminished.

For free parking but within walking distance of 20 minutes to Sol, try the street at Principe Pio metro stop. The place to park is the street near to the shopping mall called 'Calle de Mozart'. It is packed with cars on weekday mornings because of people getting to the Metro station. During the evenings and weekends it's easy to get a parking spot.

Renting a car is not recommended for getting around central Madrid, and if you're only staying within this area a car is likely to be more of a liability than an asset. Visitors should make use of Madrid's excellent public transportation instead. Renting a car however makes sense if you are planning to leave central Madrid to venture into the outer districts or to nearby towns. Car rental facilities are available at the airport, train stations, and other main travel sites, and cars from car-sharing services like Free2move, GoTo, Voltio, WiBLE and Zity are widely available on the street to rent on a per-minute basis. Always be sure to have a street map handy! The roads within Madrid are difficult to navigate as there are no places to stop and consult a map or check your route.

There are several consecutive junctions underground near the centre and your GPS may not get a signal underground. Plan your turns before you enter the tunnels.

By bicycle
Madrid does not appear as a bike-friendly city at a first sight. Things were changing slowly to make bike experience more comfortable, but in 2019 the new right-wing mayor planned to make the city the only capital in the world where bicycle lanes are being removed. Several streets in the city centre have been transformed into mixed-traffic spaces where pedestrians and bikes have priority over cars. There are new easy-bike paths all along the river and connecting important parks.

It is also possible to use a lot of narrow easy streets where traffic is slow and calm to travel along the city without depending on exclusive bike paths. There are some official and unofficial publications with these streets along the web.

To avoid some of Madrid inconveniencies, such as hot weather or slopy streets it is also possible to get bikes on Metro and Railways trains with some schedule restrictions, and on every public transport without restrictions when using folding-bikes.

Madrid's public bike rental service, called BiciMAD. It boasts 1560 electric bikes spread over 123 stations. Unfortunately, the site is not yet available in English. However, the information at the bike stations is available in multiple languages. A casual user pays no initial fee, but €2 for every first hour or fraction, and €4 for the second (Oct 2019). A contactless card is issued instantaneously upon signing up at any bike station. The process is relatively quick and requires some basic information such as name, ID, email and credit card number. Swipe the card through the somewhat larger opening on the left of any bike to retrieve it. Use the buttons to the left of the handlebar to toggle electric assistance. Here you'll also find a button to switch on the lights. So watch out, you'll need to do this yourself when it gets dark! Be equally careful when using electric assistance for the first time, as it might require some getting used to.

There are also some rent shops in the historical centre area such as the company Baja Bikes Madrid. This company offers several rental points in Madrid at Retiro, Atocha, Madrid-Río, etc. They offer guided and self-guided bicycle tours, using electric or conventional bicycles.

See
Madrid is one of the top addresses in the world for art, both contemporary and not-so-contemporary, with Goya's most famous works in the Prado, Picasso's Guernica in the Reina Sofía and countless other works in those two museums and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. The Prado goes back to the royal art collection which - for a nation that was the world's leading superpower for two centuries - is of course quite impressive. The Reina Sofía was opened to house what the Prado "had no room for" with a dividing line based on era ultimately being drawn. Besides art, Madrid also boasts some impressive architecture courtesy of kings who had access to the wealth of two continents and no qualms in spending it for extravagant royal residences.

The following is a non-exclusive taste of what Madrid has to offer. Dive into the districts to find more!

 * . This is Madrid's museum district, named for the three major art museums clustered along Paseo del Prado east of the old city: the Museo del Prado, one of the finest art museums in the world, the Thyssen-Bornemisza, a baron's collection of classical art, and the Reina Sofia, Madrid's modern art museum. However, a couple of smaller museums also occupy the neighbourhood which are well worth seeing as well.

 * . An enormous palace, one of the biggest in Europe, with scorching plains of concrete around it. Though it is the official residence of the King of Spain, the royal family does not actually reside here and it is generally used only for state ceremonies. The Royal Palace is considered to be one of the most emblematic and beautiful buildings in Madrid.
 * . Perhaps the best known plaza in Madrid, this impressive square is now one of the main stops on any tourist visit.
 * . This plaza is the heart of Madrid and one of the busiest places in the city – a hub for the local transit system, a favourite meeting spot for locals, a visible area for festivals or political demonstrations, and an opportune location for tour guides, street performers, pickpockets and anyone else looking to take advantage of all the tourists on-hand. Several of Madrid's landmarks are found here: the statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree, the main Post Office with its iconic clock tower and Kilometre Zero of the Spanish road network.
 * . One of the busiest avenues in Madrid, the location of the cinema district and a number of shopping malls and is lined with large billboards and lights.
 * . Large roundabout in the city centre with the neoclassical Cybele Fountain and the imposing eclectic Cybele Palace. Spain's former Palace of Communications is now the seat of the municipal government).
 * . Sets the ambience of a traditional market, with the advantages of the new times. It has an iron and glass structure from the 20th century.

 * . The main church of Spanish Catholicism, in neo-Gothic style. Built from the 19th century to the 1990s.
 * . A prominent square adjacent to two of the tallest buildings in Madrid: the Torre de Madrid and the Edificio España.

 * . The main park of Madrid, the perfect place to take a rest during a sunny day, or take part in the drum circles around the statue of Alphonso XII on summer evenings.
 * . Ancient Egyptian temple that was moved to Madrid's Parque del Oeste after the construction of the Aswan High Dam.

Sports
The most known association football clubs are Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid. Their home stadiums can be found in the Northern Suburbs. They are widely regarded as among the best football teams in the world; catching a game is a must. Other teams include Rayo Vallecano, in the neighbourhood of Vallecas or Getafe in the nearby suburbs, which are served by Madrid Metro.

There are also major basketball teams: Estudiantes, Real Madrid, and Fuenlabrada. The first two play at the Palacio de los Deportes every other weekend during the season. Fuenlabrada, based in the Madrid suburb of the same name, play at Polideportivo Fernando Martín.

Handball is also played in Madrid but the big sports conglomerates of Madrid are no longer involved in the top leagues making BM Alcobendas the highest ranked Handball team from the greater Madrid area.

Cultural venues
Flamenco shows can be seen in numerous venues in Sol-Letras-Lavapiés, Moncloa and La Latina - Austrias.

Opera houses are spread through the city centre. In addition, several orchestras don't have a stable/home venue to play in:

Cinemas offer films in English, along with films in other languages. These original films are denoted in the listings by a designation of "V.O." which stands for versión original. Cinemas in Madrid will sometimes have días del espectador (viewer days) with cheaper ticket prices, usually on Mondays or Wednesdays. It also has the world's largest multiplex cinema, with 25 different screens.

Learn
If you want to go to Madrid to learn Spanish, there are several private language schools that offer Spanish courses for foreigners. These are listed in the district articles. For example:

 * Don Quijote School. You can take 4–6 hours of Spanish courses a day. All courses, including beginner courses, are taught entirely in Spanish. A week costs €230 for 20 hours.
 * Enforex. Spanish courses for all ages, intensive or private. Start any Monday of the year a Spanish course with Enforex. A week costs €130 for 10 hours.

Another option is to take a Spanish course at university, the Complutense University of Madrid offers Spanish courses for foreigners that take place in the faculty of Philology and Letters.

Buy
Major credit cards and foreign bank cards are accepted in most stores, but it is common practice to be asked for photo-ID (DNI). If asked for your DNI present your passport, residency permit or foreign ID card — anything with your photo and name on it will be accepted by most shopkeepers. The signatures on credit cards are usually not checked.

Shopping districts
In addition to the shopping areas below, there are also a lot of H&M, Zara, Mango, and Blanco stores all over Madrid, with high fashion clothes and accessories at a low price.

El Corte Inglés
El Corte Inglés is a Spanish institution, the only remaining department store chain in the country. El Corte Inglés stores are ubiquitous and dominate the retail market, setting the tone and reflecting the preferences of the Spanish customers. While hardly as exciting as visiting the over-the-top luxury department stores in New York or London, they provide a nice shopping environment, and many feature nice (and reasonably priced) food options. So, if the weather is bad, one of their stores may be your last resort.

Some of the more prominent El Corte Inglés locations in Madrid:

You will also find stores in, and , as well as in most shopping centres on the outskirts of Madrid.

Fashion
Loewe is one of the world's oldest luxury brands, founded back in the middle of the 19th century in Madrid. You will find their flagship stores and  around the intersection of Calle Serrano and Calle de Goya,  on Gran Vía, and, if you forgot something, two at the Madrid-Barajas Airport, in T1 and T4. If you are interested in flamenco, you can buy flamenco shoes at the store that makes the Sara Baras shoes

Markets
Interesting markets can be found in the La Latina - Austrias and Retiro - Paseo del Arte districts

Cuisine
Dishes popular throughout Spain are also widely served in Madrid.

In addition, Madrid has a number of typical regional dishes:
 * Gallinejas and entresijos – Lamb chitterlings fried in its fat. Very traditional and typical from Madrid city.
 * Callos a la madrileña – A hot pot of spicy beef tripe similar to those found in Turkey and the Balkans.
 * Cocido madrileño – Chickpea stew with meat and vegetables. The particularity of this stew is the way it is served. The soup, chickpeas and meat are served and eaten separately.
 * Oreja de cerdo – Pigs ears, fried in garlic. This popular dish is widely eaten throughout central Spain.
 * Sopa de ajo – Garlic soup is a rich and oily soup which generally includes paprika, grated Spanish ham, fried bread and a poached egg. A variation of this soup is known as sopa castellana.

It is ironic that Madrid, in the centre of Spain, has higher quality seafood than many coastal regions. This quality comes at a price, and most Spaniards only occasionally shell out for a mariscada or seafood feast. Experiencing Madrid's seafood may be, for the visitor, an experience which will be worth the cost.

Fresh meat and meat products (jamón ibérico, morcilla, chorizo etc.) are of generally a very high quality in Madrid.

Restaurants
Many of the restaurants and cervecerías in the Sol and Plaza Mayor area have generic poster board advertisements on the sidewalks with pictures advertising various paella dishes. These paellas are usually of bad quality and should be avoided. If you are looking for good, authentic Spanish paella, it is usually best to find a more expensive, 'sit-down' type of restaurant that offers a variety of paella dishes.

A much better option is the La Latina neighbourhood just south of Plaza Mayor, especially along Calle Cava Baja. There are also a number of deli-like shops along Calle Arenal that offer food to go (para llevar).

At bars, one generally orders various sized plates, a ración meaning a full dish, a media ración or a half-dish, or a smaller version which would be a tapa, a pinxto or a pincho.

The Spaniards don't eat lunch until 14:00 or 15:00, and dinner doesn't start until 21:00 or 22:00. As a rule of thumb, restaurants serve lunch from 13:00 until 15:30, then close and re-open for dinner at 20:00, serving until 23:00. This schedule is usually for restaurants, since bars and mesones are usually opened all day long offering a wide variety of tapas and sandwiches for a cheap price. If you're really desperate, the standard bunch of fast food chains do stay open throughout the day.

Tapas bars
In the tapas bars, you should get free food with your drinks. The highest concentration of tapas bars is in La Latina and around Plaza Santa Ana in the barrio de las Letras, but you will find them all over the city, including Malasaña and Chueca as well as the western districts, where there are probably less overrun by tourists.

Cafés
Cafés and confectioneries can be found all over the city, but the highest concentration can be found around Puerta del Sol, barrio de las Austrias and Lavapiés, in the Old town and in Malasaña and Chueca. A very popular and typical local sweet that is sold both in cafés and by street vendors is Churros. These fried-dough pastries are distantly related to doughnuts, but have a more elongated shape and are a lot crispier. They are usually drizzled with sugar or chocolate.

Bars
Nightlife starts later in Madrid, with most people heading to the bars at 22:00-23:00. One of the best options to enjoy the nightlife is in the popular quarter Barrio de las Letras, especially on its main street, Calle Huertas, and other nearby streets. A great choice of bars is also available in the more traditional La Latina area as well as in the younger and alternative-flavoured Malasaña and Chueca districts.

Draught beer (cerveza) is usually ordered in cañas (200 ml), but may also come in dobles (400 ml) or jarras (mugs).

Clubs
Clubs generally open at about midnight. If you go in any earlier you may find it quite empty. Many clubs do not close until 06:00, and even then everyone is still full of life.

Nightlife areas

 * Alonso Martínez - Many pubs and small discos. Until about 03:00, a very young crowd, and if you′re around here before midnight, and over the age of 20, prepare to feel positively old. Most places close around 03:00, then people move to clubs in Gran Vía or Tribunal to continue partying.
 * Chueca - Near Malasaña and Gran Vía, it is known as the gay district, but doesn't exclude straight people. Pop and electronic music. By far, the most cosmopolitan place in town. Has become quite chic and expensive.
 * Tribunal/Malasaña - Alternative area. Mainly rock and pop music clubs, some of them still open from "La movida madrileña" (beginning of the 1980s). Calle Manuela Malasaña is a great place to eat, Calle del Pez a great place to have some drinks and Plaza Dos de Mayo is the heart of the district.
 * Gran Vía - "The place that never sleeps". Major street that includes many popular nightclubs, usually open from 01:00 to 06:00-07:00.
 * La Latina - Near Lavapiés, it is the place to go for tapas and full of bohemian young people looking for stylish bars. In the old section are many small bars and pubs catering to people in their late 20s and 30s). Multiple bars serving fantastic tapas in the Cava Baja and Cuchilleros.
 * Lavapiés - Multicultural quarter of the city, with more than 50% foreign residents, mostly from Africa, Asia and Latin America. Plenty of world music bars. Lavapiés is maybe the most cosmopolitan and hippy area at the same time in Madrid.
 * Moncloa/Ciudad Universitaria - Due to its proximity to Universidad Complutense, Moncloa is associated with students and a student lifestyle, with many cheap bars and discos. Some of the places are best avoided. There are a few cheap bars with great nightlife starting from Thursdays directly in the Ciudad Universitaria near the major student dorms.
 * Torre Europa - There used to be several posh pubs and clubs under the tower across from the stadium. There are four or five bars and discos in the avenida de Brazil area catering to a young and student crowd.

Sleep
While of course it is most convenient to have an accommodation close to the sights in the city centre, you should also consider hotels or apartments in the other districts. For example, Malasaña and Chueca are just 1 km north of the city centre, Chamberí 2 km, but the rates may already be noticeably lower. When travelling as a family or small group, you may also think about renting an apartment via AirBnB or similar sharing platforms. They are usually located in residential neighbourhoods and include a kitchen, so you can do your shopping on markets, supermarkets or alimentación stores and prepare some meals yourself. That way you may experience more of the Madrilenians' everyday life and reduce the total cost of your stay significantly. You will also find restaurants in these districts catering to locals rather than tourists.

Hostels
Cheap hostels starting from €8 for a dorm bed can be found near Plaza de España, in Lavapiés or the Sol area. There are also a bit more comfortable hostels offering single rooms for €30–40, doubles for €40–50, e.g. in Malasaña or the barrio de las Austrias.

Budget
Budget hotels and B&Bs charge around €30–60 for single, €55–100 for double rooms. Many of them can be found in the Barrio de las Letras or Chueca district.

Mid-range
A room in a mid-range hotel will cost you around €60–150 per night. Most of them are concentrated in the Barrio de las Letras and Sol area as well as the Paseo del Arte.

Splurge
A stay in a plush hotel will set you back at least €90 per night and there is no upper limit. Most of them are found in the posh Salamanca district, along the Gran Vía, in the historic centre and in the Retiro and Paseo del Arte area. Among the most famous names in the business are the Hotel Villa Magna, the Gran Meliá Palacio de Los Duques and the Madrid Ritz.

Connect
As of Sept 2021, Madrid has 5G from all Spanish carriers.

Locutorios (call shops) are widely spread in Madrid near touristy locations and are very cheap to use. Some shops and kiosks have tourist SIM cards from carriers like Orange and Vodafone with plans that run €10–20 for a month of 50–100 gigabytes of data or more. Employees are willing to install the card and configure the plan.

Prepaid portable Wi-Fi hot spot service is now available in Spain (provided by trip NETer), allowing the connection to any Wi-Fi device.

Newspapers
There are a number of free, English language periodicals that you will find in bars and restaurants that are a great source of event information.

Stay safe
Madrid is a very safe city, with some of the lowest crime rates among Europe's largest cities. The police is highly visible, and the city is equipped with cameras. There are always people in the streets, even at night time, so you can walk across the city generally without fear. Travellers who remain aware of their surroundings, and keep an eye on their belongings, should have little to worry about.

Neighbourhoods and suburbs
As with any place on earth, there are parts of Madrid and its metropolitan area that are less appealing and, consequently, less safe than others.

 * The Malasaña area, located north of Gran Via, is a lively bohemian neighborhood, but it is also known to attract seedy crowds late at night.

 * Some districts in the south (especially Carabanchel and Puente De Vallecas) and east (Ciudad Lineal) are marginally less well-off than the rest of Madrid, and they can give off an uneasy vibe to those unfamiliar with these places. They are safer than many "bad neighbourhoods" in other western European countries, but be on your guards at night. Most places within reach of metro stations are safe.
 * Some of Madrid's suburbs to the south (Móstoles, Alcorcon, Parla) and east (Alcala de Henares) have fairly undeserved reputations to seediness. In reality, they are mostly safe, though it is always wise to stick to well-lit and crowded streets.

Football
Despite the notoriously intense and politically-charged rivalry between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, most people will not care if you wear an FC Barcelona football shirt, and in fact you will often see people (usually tourists) wear that shirt around the city. As Madrid is the capital city of Spain, it attracts people from all over the country, including Catalonia. One notable exception: on match days, do be careful, as violence has been known to occur between supporters of both clubs.

Furthermore, there is a love/hate relationship between the two major football clubs in the city: Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. Both are storied clubs with diverging identities; Real Madrid was always seen as the club of the elite, whereas Atletico Madrid is seen as the "people's club". Many fans and analysts believe that the "Derbi Madrileño" is more entertaining than "El Clasico", partially because of those differences in identity, but also because fans of the clubs have been known to engage in fiery arguments. If you ever see Real and Atletico fans argue, be careful if things start to escalate.

Pickpocketing
Much like other big European cities, Madrid has its fair share of nonviolent pickpocket crime, though it is nowhere near the stratospheric levels of cities like Rome or Barcelona. Always watch out for any belongings (mostly bags and wallets) you have with you, especially on the Metro and in busier public spaces. Some areas with acute pickpocketing problems include Gran Via (especially near Plaza de Callao and Calle de Fuencarral), Puerta del Sol, the Atocha train station, and the AZCA business district (though the latter has seen improvements in that regard). Some major night clubs like Kapital and Mondo Disko also attract pickpockets.

Pickpockets often create a distraction while an accomplice steals from you. Distractions include presenting a map and asking you for directions, or asking you to sign a petition - which is followed by a request for a donation. It is best to ignore any stranger that approaches you in the street asking for help. Be careful when carrying luggage as this can make you a target for pickpockets.

One prevalent and long-lasting issue in Madrid are street vendors, especially around Puerta del Sol. They are usually harmless and will take "no" as a sign that they should not bother you, but do not provoke them. Also, these street vendors react swiftly to police cars, so watch yourself whenever they run from the police.

At bars and restaurants never leave wallets or telephones on the table as possessions on show make for easy targets. Passing thieves create a distraction and steal the items. The area around Calle de las Infantes near Gran Via is particularly renowned for this.

When using ATM machines, be aware of your surroundings, just as you would anywhere. Bring a friend if you need to withdraw cash after dark. If someone approaches you while using an ATM, hit CANCELAR, retrieve your card and move on.

When going out, getting drunk can make you a target for thieves. Also keep an eye on your drink. Don't carry valuables on a night out.

Scams
Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol might be beauties to look at, but they are Meccas for scams.

Avoid people offering massages (masajes); this is often a scam to extort money. Be firm and say "No me toque" ("Don't touch me") or "No tengo dinero" ("I don't have any money")

Go next
While Regional and Cercanías tickets don't have to be pre-bought and don't sell out, tickets for AVE, Avant and other long distance trains sell out once all seats are gone. if you want to take a day trip to Sevilla or want to take one of the faster trains to Segovia, buy your tickets in advance.

Easy day-trips from Madrid include :
 * Alcalá de Henares is a charming old university town, birthplace of Miguel Cervantes the author of Don Quixote. Reach it by local train within 50 min.
 * Aranjuez has the Palacio Real, the Bourbon monarchs' summer home, and the lavish Casa del Labrador near the river. Local trains take 45 min from Atocha, 55 min from Chamartin.
 * Ávila has the most intact walled old town in Spain, spectacular when floodlit at night. Fast trains from Chamartin take 90 min.
 * Chinchon is a hilltop small town that retains its character from the 1700s. No train, drive or take the bus.
 * El Escorial is a huge monastery and palace, the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Reach it within an hour by local train from Atocha or Chamartin. Near El Escorial is Spain's most controversial monument - Valle de los Caìdos. Built by Spanish republicans taken prisoner during and after the civil war, it is a gigantomanic underground church with a huge cross on top of the mountain an edifice very much in the fascist style. It is the burial place of many fallen of the civil war, and it housed the tomb of dictator Francisco Franco until October 2019. There's an infrequent public bus to the entrance, from where it's another 9 km hiking. The nearby mountains, Sierra de Guadarrama, are the setting for Peñalara Nature Park.
 * El Pardo is a village 8 km from Madrid with the Palacio de El Pardo, which in 1739 hosted a peace conference between Spain and England. War broke out. A bus runs from Madrid Moncloa.
 * Segovia is a medieval city perched on a hilltop, with a great Roman aqueduct leaping across the valley to bring in the water supply. It's 30 min by train from Chamartin.
 * Toledo is a medieval walled city and former capital of Spain, with excellent architecture and artwork. It's 30 min by train from Atocha.

Further afield, day-trips at a stretch but deserving at least an overnight stay, are Salamanca, Leon, Valladolid, Zaragoza and Córdoba.

title: Madrid


text:
Madrid (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Madrid:

Spain

 * Community of Madrid - contains the city of Madrid and the region around it with many other places of interest.
 * Madrid - The capital city of Spain.

United States of America

 * Madrid (Alabama) - A town in the state of Alabama.
 * Madrid (Colorado) - A town in the state of Colorado.
 * Madrid (Iowa) - A town in the state of Iowa.
 * Madrid (Kentucky) - A town in the state of Kentucky.
 * Madrid (Maine) - A town in the state of Maine.
 * Madrid (Nebraska) - A town in the state of Nebraska.
 * Madrid (New Mexico) - A town in the state of New Mexico.
 * Madrid (New York) - A town in the state of New York.
 * Madrid (Virginia) - A town in the state of Virginia.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Madrid (disambiguation)


text:
Madrid (New Mexico)

Madrid is a small town in North Central New Mexico, south of Santa Fe.

Understand
The town's name is stressed on the first syllable.

Madrid, New Mexico was founded as a coal-mining community in the 19th century, and was a major supplier of coal for the U.S. Government and for the Santa Fe Railroad. Madrid flourished into the 1930s, with a large Independence Day parade, a Christmas display which attracted visitors from all over the state, and the first lighted stadium in the Southwest. The town declined with the falloff in coal usage until the mines were closed in the 1950s; Madrid never became a true ghost town (it was never completely abandoned), but by 1970 its population had dropped to 30. However, starting in the 1970s, the area became a magnet for creative artists. Madrid is now a small but thriving art colony numbering 200 or more.

Stay safe

 * Do not enter any abandoned mine structures (most have been locked since the town's revival anyway); they have been known to collapse, and also fill up with 'coal damp' (methane) that can exclude breathable air.

Get in

 * State Highway 14, from Santa Fe, passes through downtown Madrid. To reach town from Albuquerque, take I-40 eastbound, get off at the Tijeras exit, and proceed north on SR 14. The closest bus route is several miles farther north.

Get around

 * Parking is scarce and pedestrian areas are not generally grade-separated from vehicles -- stay alert whether traversing the town in a vehicle or under one's own power.

See

 * Every December, Madrid hosts a townwide Christmas celebration with a parade, lighting displays, carolers and costumes.

Hear

 * Freeform commercial-free community radio

Buy
Madrid is a minor Mecca for creative artists, and shops line both sides of Main Street (S.R. 14 as it passes through the town). Contemporary art, jewelry, pottery, and "wearable art".

Go next

 * Santa Fe is a short distance to the north on SR 14, and Albuquerque is slightly farther away via SR 14 to the south. Both contain enough attractions, including superb outdoors activities, to keep you busy for weeks.

title: Madrid (New Mexico)


text:
Mad River

Mad River is a city in Trinity County in the North Coast region of California.

Get in
The best way to get to Mad Hatter is via California Highway 36 which connects US Highway 101 near the coast and I-5 near Red Bluff.

title: Mad River


text:
Madura

Madura is an island off the coast of East Java.

Understand
A byword for crowded poverty even in Indonesia, Madura's infertile soil has led to an estimated 10 million Madurese migrants leaving the island, with only around 4 million left to eke out a living from subsistence agriculture (corn), tobacco and cloves, salt panning, fishing and cattle farming. A larger contrast to the largely lush and fertile Java next door is hard to imagine.

Those geographic and climatic reasons, together with a lack of well known sights, make Madura as off the beaten path for travellers as it gets in this part of Indonesia.

History has not dealt the people of Madura a kind card. The island was in an almost perpetual state of conflict, with different parts of the island siding with different kingdoms in various medieval Javanese conflicts. In the colonial period, the rulers of east and west Madura were often allied with the Dutch and, in return for protection, provided natural resources and troops. In World War II, the Madurese suffered enormously under the Japanese.

The opening of the Suramadu Bridge in mid-2009 might just begin to change the off the beaten path nature of Madura, though. There were large investment plans mooted and many of these focused on developing Madura as a tourist destination from 2010. Only time will tell but the omens look good for an island that has had little go in its favour for so long. But through early 2015, there were no signs of big industrial projects coming to Madura.

Tales and legends have developed around Madurese women who are famous throughout Indonesia for one thing: secretive sex techniques known as goyang Madura. These seem to involve clenching vaginal muscles in a way not unlike Kegel exercises, assisted with herbal preparations like the tongkat Madura (Madura stick) that were a minor hit in Japan a few years back.

Climate
This is a very dry and hot island, similar to arid eastern parts of Indonesia.

Tourism information
Madura Tourist Information Office (Sumenep Regency): Jalan dr Sutomo No 5, Sumenep, Madura. Tel: +62 328 667148, Tu-Sa, 7AM-3PM.

Talk
The local language is Madurese, but standard Bahasa Indonesia is widely spoken. You will find a little bit of English spoken and understood at some of the hotels and amongst well educated younger people, but that's about it.

By ferry
The classic way to get to Madura involves taking a public ferry from Tanjung Perak, north Surabaya, to Kamal which is 10 km south of Bangkalan. Since the opening of the Suramadu Bridge, travellers are perhaps better off avoiding the ferry altogether, except when Suramadu suspension Bridge is closed for hours due to strong wind or person who carry big rugsack sometimes prefer to use ferry.

Privately-operated ferries have been withdrawn, and now only some of the government-subsidised ferries of Angkutan Sungai Dan Penyeberangan (ASDP) are operating. These have a limited timetable, departing daily from about 08:00 to 20:00. On January 1, 2015 ASDP increase the ticket and made more difficult to compete with Suramadu Bridge. The new tariff is: Rp 5,000 for person only, Rp 40,000 for car and Rp 7,000 for motorcycle with the driver, and become Rp 12,000 if there are second person in the back seat. For the adventurous, there is another ferry route into Madura from Jangkar in the Situbondo regency of north eastern Java. The crossing takes about 5 hours and the schedules are weather dependent and by no means certain. This ferry service arrives in Kalianget, about 10 km south east of Sumenep in eastern Madura and it makes sense if you are coming from the Baluran National Park area.

By bus
Buses from Bungurasih terminal in Surabaya and executive buses from Tangerang/Jakarta run frequently to Bangkalan/Sampang/Sumenep over the Suramadu bridge.

Get around
Shuttle buses (locally called colts) ply the main south coast and north coast routes from the port at Kamal and the bridge exit point. They run all day from dawn until about 10PM.

See

 * Bukit Jaddih, in Bangkalan, the place is an open place with some areas acting as an open pool. Originally it is a lime hill excavation, but now a tourist area. Beware that some thugs also operating around this area, hence avoid this place after dark.
 * Bukit Arosbaya, also in Bangkalan, the limestone is redder than Bukit Jaddih, due to iron content and it is more secluded with the high cliff.
 * The hills of Madura and marvel at the skill of local farmers who find a living here. Traditional crops you will see are corn, tobacco and cloves. A good area to head for is the central road which links Pagantenan (about 15 km north of Pamekasan) and Gulukguluk (the centre of tobacco growing).
 * The hills of Madura and marvel at the skill of local farmers who find a living here. Traditional crops you will see are corn, tobacco and cloves. A good area to head for is the central road which links Pagantenan (about 15 km north of Pamekasan) and Gulukguluk (the centre of tobacco growing).

The north coast
The north coast road of Madura is very much worth driving and is quite unlike anywhere else in the region. It almost recalls dry Adriatic islands with shallow, crystal clear waters contrasting with the arid white stoned terrain. You can drive this road in either direction between Bangkalan and Sumenep. Fishing villages are scattered all along the north coast and you will see lots of attractive little outrigger boats called perahu. There are ancient royal tombs just to the north of both cities.

 * Asta Tinggi Tombs is located on a hill 4 km north of Sumenep on the road to the villages of Manding and Dasok. It was built in 1644 as a royal cemetery. Do note that visitors are required to remove their footwear before entering the cemetery complex.
 * Asta Tinggi Tombs is located on a hill 4 km north of Sumenep on the road to the villages of Manding and Dasok. It was built in 1644 as a royal cemetery. Do note that visitors are required to remove their footwear before entering the cemetery complex.

Do

 * Snorkel off the north coast or in glorious isolation on the Kangean Islands.
 * Pick mangoes. During the right season you will find hundreds of mangoes under the trees. They are great. Enjoy them.

Buy

 * Madura is famous for its batik of deep blue, red and gold. You will find outlets in Sumenep (especially) and Bangkalan.
 * Jamu Madura. Traditional herbal aphrodisiacs for men and women. Many streetside outlets, you cannot miss them.

Eat

Simple warungs and street-side vendors are the go in Madura. Whether you are looking for a seated restaurant or happy with street stalls, the key is to follow the local crowds.

The Madura-style satay is probably the most popular satay variant in Indonesia. Madurese dishes are often saltier than other East Javanese foods. Specialities include:

 * Bebek songkem, a Madura deep fried duck.
 * Campur lorjuk, a Pamekasan solen-type bivalve soup.
 * Kaldu kokot, a thick beef soup with beef bones cooked together with green peanuts. It is served with "lontong", white steamed rice wrapped in banana leaf, it is normally quite spicy.
 * Rujak is made by mixing vegetables such as cucumber, and green peanuts with peanut sauces and cassava chips. For people living on Java, it's simply "Indonesian salad".
 * Sate ayam Madura, a chicken satay with peanut sauce.
 * Sate kambing Madura, a spicy goat satay with sweet soy sauce.
 * Soto Madura, a savory coconut milk beef soup with rice.
 * Tajin Sobih, a traditional Bangkalan porridge.

Places to eat
Sumenep probably has the best selection of warungs and simple restaurants on the island.

Drink
Water and plenty of it. This is a harsh, hot, and dry climate.

The Madurese are devout Muslims and while alcohol is not illegal, it is best avoided out of respect.

Sleep
A government survey in October 2009 found just 31 accommodation options (many of them informal) on an island of 4,250 sq km. There are plans to change this though as part of the general development of the island after the opening of the Suramadu Bridge. Firm expressions of interest have come from several star-rated hotel groups to build properties in Bangkalan and Sumenep.

Respect
This is an inherently conservative island and the Madurese are pious Muslims. Many other Indonesians (unfairly) regard the Madurese as kasar (coarse or unrefined) and hot-tempered.

Madura receives relatively few foreign visitors and you are therefore likely to be a source of some curiosity. Behaviour and dress should be appropriately conservative. If you make an effort to understand and respect the Madurese, you will find them welcoming and people with a finely developed sense of humour.

Connect
The island of Madura has four telephone area codes.
 * Bangkalan 031 (same as Surabaya)
 * Pamekasan 0324
 * Sampang 0323
 * Sumenep 0328

The internet has been slow to penetrate and spread in Madura but that is changing and you will find options (often very slow) in Sumenep especially.

Go next

 * Back to Surabaya and access to the main areas of interest in the East Java region.
 * A really adventurous option is to travel 6-10 hours by boat to the Kangean Islands, with the hope of passage from there to North Bali.

title: Madura


text:
Madurai

Madurai (Tamil: மதுரை), formerly Madura, is the third-largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It's on the banks of the river Vaigai and has been a major settlement for two millennia. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The city was the capital of the Pandyan kingdom at Korkai, around 600 BCE, and was moved to Koodal (present-day Madurai) during the reign of Nedunj Cheliyan I.

Madurai is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and Madurai Nayak kings in the ancient traditional Tamilian style of architecture. It is also one of India's most outstanding Hindu pilgrimage centres. Madurai is also called as City of Junction (Koodal nagaram), City of Jasmine (Malligai maanagar), Temple city (Koil maanagar), City that never sleeps (Thoonga nagaram) and City of four junctions (Naanmada koodal).

Understand
Madurai is one of the oldest cities of India and was ruled by Pandya kings over most of its history. The city is famous for is rich heritage and promoting Tamil language through "Sangams". The city has been in existence since about 4th century BC and is mentioned in ancient texts of Greeks, Romans and Arabs. The Meenakshi Amman temple situated in the heart of the city is famous, and there are a number of temples in and around the city. The "Maha Kumbabhishekam" of the temple was performed in April 2009 after the renovation (re-painting) work on the gopurams (towers) of the temple. It is usually performed once every 14 years or more. There are numerous remarkable sculptures on the gopurams and inside the premises of the temple. Look out for the "yaali", a mythical creature similar to a dragon on the pillars in the 'pragaram' of the temple. Also, keep looking at the ceiling to catch a glimpse of the beautiful ancient paintings that adorn them.

Madurai is also an important transit point for travellers bound south and also a local commercial hub.

Festivals
Madurai is famous for the Chithrai Festival which takes place during mid April–May, during the Hindu month of Chithrai, when millions pour into the city for the carnival. The main events are:
 * Day 1: Flag hoisting, official start of festival
 * Day 8: Coronation of Meenakshi Amman
 * Day 9: Procession of the goddess
 * Day 10: Celestial wedding (Thirukalyanam) of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar
 * Day 11: Chariot procession (Ther Thiruvizhah)
 * Day 12: Float procession (Theppa Thiruvizhah)

Madurai is also famous for its yearly bull run "Jallikattu" which coincides with Pongal festival in the month of January.

Get in
Main modes of transport for travelers are by air and by train.

By plane

The flights connect mainly to Mumbai, Hyderabad, Delhi and Chennai, but there are few direct flights to other cities. There are flights to Colombo by SriLankan Airlines and SpiceJet, which also flies daily to Dubai.

The airport is about 15 km from the city center off National Highway 47. It is best to hire a taxi from the airport from the counter in the arrival lounge or arrange for someone to meet you at the airport. For those who prefer to use public transport, you should take bus number 10A, which runs from the airport to the Periyar bus stand.

By train
Trains are the major mode of entry into the city. (Tamil: மதுரை சந்திப்பு தொடருந்து நிலையம்) is centrally located and many facilities are accessible from there. Madurai is well connected by trains to many parts of India like Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai (Bombay), and Delhi. A train journey from Chennai takes 8 to 10 hours and is the preferred railhead. Train tickets can be booked from Indian Railways' reservation centers or online from IRCTC. If you book through a travel agent, book through authorised agents only.

By road
Madurai is served by National Highways NH-7, NH-45B, NH-49. Almost all of them are being upgraded to multi-lane ways as part of a national highway development program. Travel from Chennai and Bangalore will take approximately 8-10 hours.

The city is well connected by buses to all major cities in Tamil Nadu via state government operated and private buses. Buses also ply from important cities in the neighboring states of Kerala (Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram) and Karnataka (Bangalore, Mysore).

By boat
Madurai is inland, and the Vaigai River which used to be overflowing with water is now dry. However, the nearest ports for entry are Chennai (450 km) and Tuticorin (160 km).

Get around
Getting around the city will be mostly by bus. The buses required to get around will all mostly be available in Periyar bus stand and you can also get an auto rickshaw (you should know to negotiate and bargain) or a cab or rent a car.

By bus
Local buses are run by the government and are safe to use. Travelling them is different as you get to see a lot of city while you are in the bus. However, they will be crowded during morning hours and evening hours as they will be crowded by the office-goers. Bus services are available even late at night, though the frequency is less. Carry proper change to buy tickets. The friendly people are often more happy to help a foreigner find his/her way by giving directions. Just thank them and carry on. There are no queues in the bus stop. It is better to be familiar of the bus numbers that go to the place you need to be but if you aren't, there is always enquiries in the bus stand which will help you (they will not be visible unless you look for them). You can ask the conductor of the bus, whether the bus you are boarding goes to where you need to go. If it is not the right one, he will help you. There will be different colors of the buses. Orange buses with yellow seats will be less crowded than the others. If buses are crowded wait for another. Keep a watch on your wallet.

Madurai has 4 main bus-stands.
 * Periyar Bus stand - Exclusive local bus terminal, about 5 minutes walk from railway station. Commonly referred as "Periyar".
 * Shopping Complex bus stand - Right opposite to Periyar bus stand, often referred by the same name. Private inter-city buses depart from here.
 * Arapalayam bus stand - Some local buses and those bound west/northwest towards Theni, Dindigul, Coimbatore, Palani, Kodaikanal, Salem, Erode, Batlagundu or Vaththalakundu, Periyakulam depart from here.
 * Mattuthavani Integrated bus stand (now renamed as M.G.R Bus Stand) - Simply called Mattuthavani, and located in the outskirts about 10 km from Periyar bus stand. This is the location for long distance government buses and other places. Private buses also stop here.

All the bus-stands are interconnected by buses or you can hire an auto. You should find out what the real fare is and be prepared to bargain.

By car
It is as difficult to drive in certain cities of India like any other big city in the world, as traffic can be high and there needs to be improvement in the fineness of the roads too. Please see India article for more. However, taxis are abundant and you can book one from your hotel.

Average car rental rate in Madurai to go to places like Alagar Temple, Thiruparakundram Hill, Naicker Mahal, Palamudurcholai is ₹600-650. Beware of cheats as tourists often are asked to pay more.

One can move around by car in Madurai. There are many car rental companies (like Taxi Taxi, and Fasttrack) and private taxis available. Most hotels also offer cab services.

By auto rickshaws
Auto rickshaws are readily available in the city and they are not equipped with meters. Be prepared to bargain. A 5-km trip should cost about ₹70 by auto.

The rule of thumb rate is ₹10 per km of travel during day time and ₹15 per km during night. There are auto stands alongside the roads. Hire one from them as they possibly are more aware about the locations.

Meenakshi Amman Temple

By far the most common reason for visiting the city is the temple dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi (considered a form of Parvati) with a sanctum for her consort, Sundareshwarar (or Siva). The Sundereshwar shrine is the larger and older of the two temple complexes. The complex is a splendid example of the south Indian Dravida architectural idiom. Four immense gopurams or temple towers crown the gateways at each cardinal direction, easily visible from a distance. Each tower is encrusted with more than a thousand brilliantly painted sculptures depicting an assortment of mythological and auspicious themes. It is traditional to enter through the south gopuram and, unusually, worship the Goddess before her consort. Inside the shelter for shoe-storage, offering baskets of coconuts, bananas and incense are available in addition to images of the Goddess for home altars. Many pilgrims – particularly the men in black or orange sarongs who are devotees of the god Ayyappan – circumambulate the main temple itself in the prakara or space between the outer wall and main temple. In addition, snake shrines and an assortment of offices and classrooms of religious foundations are found here.

Within the temple, devotees line up for darshan or viewing of the deities. Non-Hindus are not permitted into the inner sancta of Meenakshi or Sundareshwarar; anyone who looks suspicious will be pulled out of line by attendants. However, there is an abundance of sculpture and painting accessible to all. In addition, the steps of the Pottramaraikulam or Golden Lotus Pond is open to all and is a common meeting place for inhabitants of the city, in addition to pilgrims and tourists. In ancient times, the sangam or assembly of poets was said to gather at this pool to judge the merits of new compositions, often by throwing the manuscripts into the pool itself. Those that sank were inferior while those that floated were worthy of praise and propagation.

There are many shops within the east gate, selling everything from plastic toys to bronze images of the Goddess. Be sure to bargain hard.

You can buy the special tickets at the counter (each ₹50) to get a special darshan, which is cuts short the line by at least a half. Do buy these tickets if you can see the queue after getting inside. After the first entrance there is another entrance and after that the entrance to the inner sanctum and after that the inner sanctum itself. You will not be able to see it but the line would be 2 hours long if you are in the general queue.

To catch a glimpse of the beautiful night view of the temple and the city, one could try any of the rooftop restaurants at West Perumal Maistry Street, near the Railway Station. Don't miss the traditional snacks served fresh and attractively presented by street vendors around the temple after sunset.

Warning: Many guides, many of whom are or claim to be tailors, will offer to take you to vantage points outside the temple to get a better view. You will be lured into shops that have a very hard sell. Mobile phones and cameras are not allowed inside the temple since February 2018. You can use temple lockers but keeping valuables at your hotel is recommended.

Work
As with any place in India you should have a work permit. Madurai is not yet into IT boom, so the main activities are business, banking, government and religion. Most of the other work is related to textile and other small-scale industries. Honeywell Pvt Ltd has set up its development facility in Madurai, near Thiagarajar College of Engineering, approx 5 km from the city.

Majority of folks work in Government or Government-based sectors (like nationalized banks, insurance firms). Many people work for small and medium business establishments too. Being a commercial center, it is an active place to trade and exchange agricultural products from surrounding towns and villages.

Buy
Madurai is a major commercial center in South India. The main activity is concentrated around the Meenakshi Temple. These are the places to visit for shopping, and actually many have specific markets for groceries (East Masi street), jewelry (South Avani Moola street), and electronics (Town hall Road). Madurai is famous for cotton Sungidi Sarees (Hand Loom), Brass works, Tanjore Paintings, Handicrafts and antiques (check out the Khadi bhavan near Periyar bus stand). Pudumandapam is a small market place (about 500 years old) of sorts, where you can find tailors, books, handicrafts and bronze items in quaint shops. Handloom cotton sarees are available in co-operative stores (often a union of several weavers and/or looms) like Co-optex. When you don't see a price tag on the item, don't give whatever the trader tells you.

ATMs of most nationalized banks are available in the city. There are private bank ATMs too. ATMs accept standard Visa, Mastercard, and Cirrus cards. There are many retail stores in the city and almost all of them accept cards (credit and debit).

Major banks accept foreign exchange, and you can walk into any branch to inquire. You will also find money exchangers in mid and high range hotels. The area around railway station also has commercial money changers available. With all of this, banks are highly advisable.

Eat

The cuisine of Madurai inherits the true taste of Tamils. If you are a lover of non-vegetarian food, restaurants like Kumar Mess and Amma Mess are a must try. A handful of dished are exclusive to Madurai, such as Paruthi Paal, Jigarthanda, Panangkarkandu Paal and chettinadu varieties like Appam (goes well with Mutton Paya), and Kuzhi Paniyaram. Guide:

Atmosphere NNNN = Extremely noisy and crowded; NNN = Noisy and crowded; NN = Moderately noisy and crowded; N = Spacious and reduced noise level

Food type

[S] = Spicy; [H] = Hot (meaning: Garam); [T] = Tasty; [NV] = Non-vegetarian; [V] = Vegetarian; [J] = Jain food; [NVV] = Non-vegetarian and Vegetarian

There are a lot of restaurants but any guy from college knows how to have the best dinner at one of the "evening mutton stalls" for a pittance. The strong aroma of eye watering dishes is not for the faint-hearted. The next morning you will be reminded of your spicy escapades into culinary discovery. If spicy hot is not your cup of tea, your starting point should be with "Kotthu Parotta" without the gravy, chilies, or chili powder or pepper mixed in it. The music of the Kotthu ladles drumming on the flat hot plate of a charcoal-fired barbeque is nirvana to a hungry man's ears. Google maps contains information about popular times and wait time for most of the well-established hotels so be sure to check before you plan your visit. You can't go wrong with the top 3.

 * Kumar Mess $$/[S]/[NVV], branches in Tallakulam [NNN], Townhall road [NN] (best ambience), Bypass Rd and near Mattuthavani [NN] (Opp. to flower market). Well known in the city with authentic chettinad cuisine. Might be crowded at times, but the food is well worth it. Try their Mutton Briyani, Kola Urundai (Mutton meatballs) and Mutton Chukka. Their Parotta (flatbread) is super soft and goes well with Nattukozhi kolumbu (you typically get chalna as the side, but do ask for Nattukozhi kolumbu). They serve an Indianised version of Chilli chicken (super spicy and hot even by Indian standards) which is unlike the ones served elsewhere. If you are on the adventurous side, try Brain roast (roasted lamb's brain - Madurai special), Kadai (Quail - a small bird) Chops, Crab (ask for the meat only version).
 * Murugan Idly Shop $/[V]/[T], branches in West Masi Street [NNN] and Thalavoy Street [NN]. Known all over the state of Tamil Nadu, their super soft Idlis (rice cakes) are not to be missed. Served with an array of sides, these Idlis are heavenly. They are so in demand that Murugan Idly shop has opened branches in the UK and Singapore.
 * Hotel Sree Sabarees $/[NNN]/[V]/[T], Town Hall Road. A very popular dining place for dosas and uthappams. It is very nearby to the Madurai Railway Junction. If you head towards the Town Hall Rd from the Railway station, the hotel is situated nearby the second 4-road intersection. This is one of the best vegetarian restaurants in Madurai. No special dishes as such but a good place for a filling meal.
 * Jaffer's Home Biryani $/NN/[NV]/[T] Popular place for biryanis and side dishes. In the evening, they make parottas as well. Buses to Mattuthavani or Alagarkovil should take you to this place. The nearest bus stop is Evening Madurai Kamaraj Univ stop or Madurai Corporation Eco Park stop. The dining place is located on a small street opposite to the Thyagaraja Petrol Station.
 * Chappati Park $/NN/[V]/[T], nearby the K.K. Nagar Arch. As the name implies, the dining place is known for its variety with chappati (roti like item). They have creative stuffing for chappatis. Popular place for dinner. The nearest bus stop is K.K. Nagar Court (Neetheemandram). Head E if you get down at the above stop. Buses to Mattuthavani would take you to this place.
 * Hotel Amsavalli $$/NNN/[S]/[T]/[NV] In Nellpettai, serves mouth-watering chicken biriyani, and a variety of other delicious biriyanis that are a hit with those looking for good food on a budget. Great taste, very old and an authentic Madurai biriyani.
 * Hotel Meeenakshi Bhavan $$/NN/[V]/[T] Serves very good south Indian food. Also, the north Indian food is pretty good. But all hotels serve north Indian food only during dinnertime.
 * Hotel Harish $/NN/[V] South Masi Road. Pure veg restaurant. Excellent fast food items like pizzas and chat. It houses a bakery too.
 * New Ariya Bhavan, West Masi Street, it serves good Bombay/marwadi thali and south Indian thali. Also, it has some fine Bengali sweets in addition to local south Indian sweets and savories.
 * Hotel Aarthi [V], just behind to Koodal Alagar Temple, near town bus stand. Serves good and safe food of South Indian and Continental dishes.
 * Hotel Amsavalli $$/NNN/[S]/[T]/[NV] In Nellpettai, serves mouth-watering chicken biriyani, and a variety of other delicious biriyanis that are a hit with those looking for good food on a budget. Great taste, very old and an authentic Madurai biriyani.
 * Hotel Meeenakshi Bhavan $$/NN/[V]/[T] Serves very good south Indian food. Also, the north Indian food is pretty good. But all hotels serve north Indian food only during dinnertime.
 * Hotel Harish $/NN/[V] South Masi Road. Pure veg restaurant. Excellent fast food items like pizzas and chat. It houses a bakery too.
 * New Ariya Bhavan, West Masi Street, it serves good Bombay/marwadi thali and south Indian thali. Also, it has some fine Bengali sweets in addition to local south Indian sweets and savories.
 * Hotel Aarthi [V], just behind to Koodal Alagar Temple, near town bus stand. Serves good and safe food of South Indian and Continental dishes.

However, dinner options are limited.

Try the hot "raw banana bhajia' or Kela Bhajia or valakkai bhajji Tamil. Be wary of drinking water, better to buy water bottles with seals.

 * Chetty Nadu mess $$/NN/[S]/[T]/[NV] is the famous mess and serving more than 45 years in Madurai, it is popular for its tasty foods includes Ayirai, Keluthi fishes and prawn fry, and Nandu boneless. It is located in Thiyagi Thayammal Lane, North Avani Moola Street (near Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple North Tower).
 * Chetty Nadu mess $$/NN/[S]/[T]/[NV] is the famous mess and serving more than 45 years in Madurai, it is popular for its tasty foods includes Ayirai, Keluthi fishes and prawn fry, and Nandu boneless. It is located in Thiyagi Thayammal Lane, North Avani Moola Street (near Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple North Tower).
 * Chetty Nadu mess $$/NN/[S]/[T]/[NV] is the famous mess and serving more than 45 years in Madurai, it is popular for its tasty foods includes Ayirai, Keluthi fishes and prawn fry, and Nandu boneless. It is located in Thiyagi Thayammal Lane, North Avani Moola Street (near Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple North Tower).
 * Chetty Nadu mess $$/NN/[S]/[T]/[NV] is the famous mess and serving more than 45 years in Madurai, it is popular for its tasty foods includes Ayirai, Keluthi fishes and prawn fry, and Nandu boneless. It is located in Thiyagi Thayammal Lane, North Avani Moola Street (near Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple North Tower).
 * Chetty Nadu mess $$/NN/[S]/[T]/[NV] is the famous mess and serving more than 45 years in Madurai, it is popular for its tasty foods includes Ayirai, Keluthi fishes and prawn fry, and Nandu boneless. It is located in Thiyagi Thayammal Lane, North Avani Moola Street (near Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple North Tower).
 * Chetty Nadu mess $$/NN/[S]/[T]/[NV] is the famous mess and serving more than 45 years in Madurai, it is popular for its tasty foods includes Ayirai, Keluthi fishes and prawn fry, and Nandu boneless. It is located in Thiyagi Thayammal Lane, North Avani Moola Street (near Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple North Tower).

Drink
Try the tender coconut drink. The tender coconut drink is sold by roadside sellers on their tricycles parked under the shade of a tree. Tea shops are always around the corner. Madurai is famous for its unique drink "Jigarthanda". Try having Jigarthanda from the "Famous Jigarthanda" store in the Vilakkuthoon ( This shop is the on the way from Meenakshi Temple to Thirumalai Nayak Palace, (to be precise, famous jigarthanda, No.94, East Marret Street).

Alcohol is served in up-market hotels and it is advised to avoid other places for a drink.

Sleep
There are many hotels around railway station, particularly on the streets coming off West Tower St as you walk away from the station and towards the temple. The more luxurious ones are situated a little further from the station.

Budget

 * TM House, Perumal veli street. Claims to be cost effective, safe & comfortable.
 * Hotel Aarathi , +91 0452 2331571 / 2336341. Just behind the Koodal Azhakar Temple. Safe & comfortable. You can enjoy good viewing of the pictorial temple towers from the room or roof top of the hotel.
 * TM House, Perumal veli street. Claims to be cost effective, safe & comfortable.
 * Hotel Aarathi , +91 0452 2331571 / 2336341. Just behind the Koodal Azhakar Temple. Safe & comfortable. You can enjoy good viewing of the pictorial temple towers from the room or roof top of the hotel.
 * TM House, Perumal veli street. Claims to be cost effective, safe & comfortable.
 * Hotel Aarathi , +91 0452 2331571 / 2336341. Just behind the Koodal Azhakar Temple. Safe & comfortable. You can enjoy good viewing of the pictorial temple towers from the room or roof top of the hotel.
 * TM House, Perumal veli street. Claims to be cost effective, safe & comfortable.
 * Hotel Aarathi , +91 0452 2331571 / 2336341. Just behind the Koodal Azhakar Temple. Safe & comfortable. You can enjoy good viewing of the pictorial temple towers from the room or roof top of the hotel.

Connect
Landline phones and mobile phones are available throughout the city, and services are like anywhere in India. Broadband is also available from various providers. Internet cafes are dotted all around the city and it will cost from ₹15-30 per hour. Prominent cybercafé chains like i-Way and Reliance Webworld are also available.

Wi-fi access is very limited and is available at the airport, railway station and a few hotels.

There are many post offices and couriers available in the city. The main GPO is located near Meenakshi Bazaar, about 10 minutes walk from railway station.

The international dialing code for Madurai is +91-452

The STD code for dialing within India is 0452

Stay safe
Madurai is a relatively safe place and the city stays awake through night to do business. But, there is no such nightlife in Madurai and it is better not to wander or shop during night time. There have been incidences of violence in the past, though it is extremely rare to affect the common man. Be aware of touts and pick-pockets, and do not hesitate to contact local police in case of trouble. Emergency contact numbers are displayed at many prominent places in the city. Also, Madurai is a politically active area for many parties, so it is not unusual to face traffic diversions, shop shutdowns etc. in case of an occasion.

Women are advised not to wear extreme (provocative) clothes during any time.

Stay healthy
Water is supplied by the Madurai Corporation. But it is advised to drink bottled water, which is available everywhere.

The local food served in restaurants are hygienic however it is best avoided eating at roadside eateries.

The city can get hot and dusty during peak summer, hence drink lot of fluids like coconut water.

There are sufficient medical shops and nearly all major medications are available, but do bring the ones you use regularly.

Petty theft and pick-pocketing occur in crowded locations, so take caution with your belongings. Incidences of mugging though are quite rare. It is safe to hire an auto to get around, but exhibit caution at night. There have been stray occurrences of auto-drivers mugging the passengers, though this is extremely rare. As usual be aware of touts and cheats at places of interest.

Hospitals
Below is a list of major hospitals in Madurai
 * Government Rajaji Hospital
 * Aravind Eye Hospital
 * Apollo Hospitals
 * Bose Hospital
 * Meenakshi Mission Hospital
 * Christian Mission Hospital
 * Jawahar Hospital
 * Vadamalayan Hospital
 * Shenbagam Nursing Home
 * Ram Psychiatry Hospital

Emergency phone numbers
Emergency phone numbers are displayed in various prominent locations is the city. Landlines number in case of emergency:

 * Emergency police: 100
 * Emergency Fire: 101
 * Emergency Traffic: 103
 * Emergency Ambulance: 108 (Government Rajaji Hospital)
 * Railway enquiry: 131
 * Maattuthaavani Bus Stand:
 * Government Rajaji Hospital blood bank: 2532535, 2580680
 * Apollo emergency ambulance services: 1066

Respect
The people of Madurai are proud of their city and heritage, so jokes on it are mostly not tolerated. Refrain from making jokes about a person or his family, as it could be disastrous sometimes. The most accepted way of greeting is "Vanakkam" with hands folded at chest level. The locals are of friendly sort who will help you in times of need, but beware of touts.

Go next
Madurai is an ideal hub for touring the extreme south of India. Most places are accessible within a day's travel by bus or train. Prominent destinations near Madurai include Kodaikanal, Munnar, Rameswaram, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Thekkady and Kuttralam. On the way from Kodaikanal to Madurai, you can visit many important historical places of interest and picnic spots near Vaththalakundu like Manjalar Dam, Siddhar Malai, Peranai dam. There are also many temples like Sendrayaperumal Temple in Old-Batalagundu, Anjaneyar Temple in Anapatti, Kamakshiamman Temple in Devadanapatti, Kasi Visalakshi-Vishwanathar Temple in Kunnuvarankottai or Kannapatti.

 * Palani - Palani Andavar Temple - Famous temple of Lord Murugan or Karthik
 * Also refer Dindigul, Dindigul district and Batlagundu or Vathalagundu on the Madurai-Kodaikanal road

title: Madurai


text:
Madurese phrasebook

Madurese or simply Madura (known natively as Bhasa Madhura) is a language spoken predominantly by the Madurese people, native to the Indonesian island of Madura.

Basics

 * Hello.:.
 * Hello. (informal):.
 * How are you?: Bârâmma kabhârrâ ? [bɐrɐmma kabʰɐrrɐ ?]
 * Fine, thank you.:.
 * What is your name?: Sapa nyamana bâ’na ? [sapa ɲamana bɐʔna ?]
 * My name is ______ .:  Tang nyama _____ [taŋ ɲama ____] :   Nyamana sèngko’ ____ [ɲamana sɛŋkɔʔ ____]
 * Nice to meet you.: Senneng atemmo bân ba’na   [sənnəŋ atəmmɔ bɐn bɐʔna]
 * Please.:.
 * Thank you.: Kalangkong  [kalaŋkɔŋ]
 * You're welcome.:.
 * Yes.:.
 * No.:.
 * Excuse me. (getting attention):.
 * Excuse me. (begging pardon):.
 * I'm sorry.:.
 * Goodbye:.
 * Goodbye (informal):.
 * I can't speak Madurese [well].: Sèngko’ ta’ patè bisa abhâsa Madhurâ. [sɛŋkɔʔ taʔ patɛ bisa abʰɐsa Madʰurɐ]
 * Do you speak English?: Bâ’na abhâsa Inggris? [bɐʔna abʰɐsa iŋrɪs ?]
 * Is there someone here who speaks English?: Apa bâḍâ sè bisa abhâsa Inggris è ḍiyâ? [apa bɐɖɐ sɛ bisa abʰɐsa iŋrɪs ɛ ɖiyɐ ?]
 * Help!: ! ( !)
 * Look out!: ! ( !)
 * Good morning.:.
 * Good evening.:.
 * Good night.:.
 * Good night (to sleep):.
 * I don't understand.: Sèngko’ ta’ ngartè. [sɛŋkɔʔ taʔ ŋartɛ]
 * Where is the toilet?: ? ( ?)

title: Madurese phrasebook


text:
Maebashi

Maebashi (前橋) is the capital city of Gunma prefecture in Japan's Kanto region.

Tourist information site
The city has a Japanese-only guide site with limited English support.

By plane
From Narita Airport, Maebashi is served by Azalea Limousine Buses operated by Chiba Kotsu (3 1/2 hours to/from Maebashi Station, ¥4500). By train, the easiest (and most expensive) way to reach Maebashi is to take the Narita Express to Tokyo Station, the Joetsu Shinkansen to Takasaki, and the Ryomo Line to Maebashi (Approx. 2 1/2 hours, ¥7800, no charge with the Japan Rail Pass or JR East Pass). Reservations for the Narita Express and Shinkansen can all be made from Narita Airport.

From Haneda Airport, Limousine buses operate to/from Maebashi Station (3 1/2 hours, ¥3500). Going by train is much faster, but more expensive and requires more transfers: The Keikyu Line to Shinagawa, the Yamanote Line to Tokyo, the Shinkansen to Takasaki and the Ryomo Line to Maebashi (Approx. 2 hours, ¥5200; cheaper with unreserved shinkansen seat). You can purchase tickets for the JR portion of the journey upon reaching Shinagawa.

By train
Maebashi is located on the JR Ryomo Line, between Takasaki and Isesaki.

From Tokyo, the fastest way to reach Maebashi is to take a Joetsu Shinkansen train to Takasaki and change to the Ryomo Line (75-90 minutes, ¥4800; no charge with the Japan Rail Pass).

Local trains from Tokyo depart from Ueno station. With a transfer at Takasaki, Maebashi can be reached in 2 1/2 hours (¥1890 from Tokyo Station). Some trains continue to Maebashi station.

By bus
Long-distance buses to/from Maebashi stop outside of the Maebashi train station's south exit, as well as the Maebashi Bus Terminal some 15-20 minutes further away.

Nippon Chuo Bus operates several daytime bus services from the Tokyo area to Maebashi. All buses stop at the Hilton Tokyo in Shinjuku, with some buses also stopping in Ikebukuro and Akihabara (3 hours to/from Shinjuku, ¥1500).

Other long-distance buses include the Tokai Liner daytime runs from Shizuoka and Nagoya, Sendai Liner overnight runs from Sendai, and Silk Liner overnight runs from Nara, Kyoto and Osaka. All of these buses are operated by Nippon Chuo Bus.

Eat
Yakimanjyu has been popular since the Edo period, with the cradle being in Maebashi city. Yakimanjyu is a fried manjyu, which is a ball made of flour. It is served on a bamboo skewer with soybean paste and sugar sauce. In Gunma, people have a yakimanjyu festival each summer and New Years. The shop's name is “Saiwaisenbei”(幸煎餅), located in the middle of Chiyoda-cho. It has seven flavors: curry, cheese, beefsteak plant, wasabi, shrimp, laver, and salt. These days, a new flavor is cocoa.
 * The Seven Gods of Good Fortune rice cracker (七福神あられ, Shichifukujin-arare) is a famous rice cracker in Maebashi.

Go next

 * Takasaki
 * Shibukawa
 * Kusatsu
 * Tomioka
 * Isesaki
 * Kiryu
 * Kumagaya
 * Gyoda
 * Ashikaga

title: Maebashi


text:
Mae Hong Son

Mae Hong Son (Thai: แม่ฮ่องสอน) is a city (pop. 7,000) in Mae Hong Son Province, Northern Thailand.

By plane
From Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi Airport) to Mae Hong Son Airport (HGN) by Bangkok Airways (3 hours, including a stopover in Lampang) on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

By road
Mae Hong Son is 924 km from Bangkok. Drive from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and then choose a route to Mae Hong Son. There are two road options from Chiang Mai, each taking 5–6 hours by car:

 * Chiang Mai—Hot—Mae Sariang—Khun Yuam—Mae Hong Son (Rte 108) totals a distance of 349 km. This is the easier drive, especially the Chiang Mai to Mae Sariang part.
 * Chiang Mai—Mae Malai—Pai—Mae Hong Son (Rte 1095), a distance of 236 km but with 1,864 curves. While this is the more scenic route, it is more demanding of the driver.

By bus
Regular bus services connect Mae Hong Son with Chiang Mai (Arcade Bus Terminal). The trip will take at least 7–8 hours. A better option is the minibus, also leaving from Arcade in Chiang Mai, which only takes 5.5 hours but costs 250 baht. If you're going by bus, you can choose the northern (Pai) or southern (Mae Sariang) route. The northern route is a little faster.

If you want to reserve a seat in advance online, you can use the Prempracha website. After payment (credit card/PayPal/7-11), an e-ticket will sent to you via email. You need to come to Arcade bus station 10 minutes before departure time, showing the e-ticket on your mobile phone to the stuff. Alternatively, you can buy the ticket at AVIA booking office in Arcade bus station.

You can also take the minibus from Pai Bus Station. It takes about 3 hours and costs 150 baht. You can buy the ticket at Pai Bus Station (cash only, credit card or Thai bank QR code not supported).

The new bus station in Mae Hong Son is about a 15-minute walk from the centre of town to the southwest. The bus station is set on a seemingly deserted street that runs parallel to the main road in town.

There is also an overnight bus to Bangkok's Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit) which takes about 15 hours.

Sombat Tour, operates an air conditioned bus which runs directly from Bangkok to Mae Hong Son daily. The bus departs from Chatuchak (Mo Chit 2) Bus Terminal at 15:00, 17:00, and 18:00 with a fare of 718 baht.

By train
The nearest train station is at Chiang Mai. One can travel from Bangkok to Chiang Mai by overnight sleeper train and then continue to Mae Hong Son by bus. For more information, call 1699, +66 2 2237010, +66 2 2237020 or visit Thai State Railways.

Get around
This is a small town so walking is the way to get around. There are bicycles for rent from Titan Internet shop (across from the 7-11 and post office). To do anything in the surrounding areas a motorbike, or at least a bicycle, is needed.

The new bus station seems like it is in the middle of nowhere and the tuk-tuk and motorbike taxi guys love that. A ride to the centre (including most guest houses) costs 80 baht, but really it's only a 10-15 minute walk to the centre of town. You should just turn left out of the bus station and walk straight until you hit the golden statue. Walking up next to the statue, the station is just a bit further towards the city center.

See
Walk around the picturesque lake and visit the surrounding wats. Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu (aka Wat Phai Doi) overlooks the town from the west and offers superb views.

Eat

Typical northern food consists of:

 * Nam phrik ong - a type of nam phrik chili paste that is made of minced pork and tomatoes. It is usually eaten with soft-boiled vegetables, pork crackling or deep-fried crunchy rice cakes.
 * Nam phrik num - another kind of paste that is popular in the north and eaten by Thais of all regions. It is often eaten with pork crackling.
 * Sai ua - a local sausage that is very aromatic and spicy, and usually is eaten with sticky rice.
 * Kaeng - a Thai curry
 * Kaeng Hang-Le - a northern-style pork curry.
 * Kaeng Om - a spicy curry made with intestines.
 * Kaeng khae - a spicy vegetable curry.
 * Khanom Chin Nam ngiao - a traditional northern chicken noodle dish.
 * Khao Soi - a noodle dish that can be made from chicken, pork, or beef. It contains coconut milk and is garnished with garlic.
 * Khao Som - cooked rice mixed with turmeric and tomato. Eaten with fried chilies and green peas.
 * Khao Lhueng - cooked rice mixed with turmeric. Made into a small ball and sprinkled with fried onion. It is usually eaten with pork balls.
 * Khaow Kan Chin - cooked rice mixed with the blood of fowls and steamed with fried onion. It is eaten with fried chilies.
 * Tua Pae Yee - dipped fried soybeans
 * Tau Pae Lau - fried soybeans with salt.
 * Souy Tamin - a dessert, made of sticky rice, coconut milk, and cane sugar.

Many restaurants are along the main road and the night market where there are also many food-stalls. There is a nice evening food market by the old jail, nowadays a table tennis club, close to the monument to the Shan king.

Sleep
Mae Hong Son has a broad range of guest houses, mainly clustered around the lake. There are several hotels within the city. If you've got your own transport there are several more resorts farther out of town. Take a look before checking in because there are always changes.

Go next

 * Mae Sariang
 * Pai
 * Pangmapha

title: Mae Hong Son