Madrid City Town Guide The secret to understanding Madrid is to look beyond the deceptive appearances of the austere façades and broad avenues: behind this formality hides the true face of the Spanish capital. The city thrives on its sparkling street life and restaurants - it's a town where nightlife entertainment goes on into the morning! For history lovers exploring Madrid on foot, the city of the Habsburgs and the Bourbons is above all a town filled with museums dedicated to the grandeur of Spanish art. Five ideas for discovering another side to the city -  Wander at your leisure past the 800 paintings on display at the Thyssen-Bornemisza museum. From early works to the present day, this is one of the world's greatest private collections. -  Between the Puerta de Moros and the Puerta de Sol, indulge in some typical Madrid shopping, buying a cape at Sesena, perhaps, or a hand-embroidered shawl at the Casa Jimenez. -  Visit the Descalzas Reales monastery, one of the most dramatic complexes of Baroque buildings in Spain. -  Dine out in a tasca ilustrada (a traditional tavern) and sample the region's typical cuisine; El Schotis, San Mamès or Casa Lucio are the most popular in Madrid. -  Take a steam train to Aranjuez, where you can visit the palace of the kings of Spain (a one-hour train ride from Atocha station). Time difference Madrid is one hour ahead of GMT during autumn and winter and two hours ahead in spring and summer. To call Madrid Dial the international code followed by 34 for Spain, then 91 for Madrid and the 7 digits of the person you are calling. Climate Average temperatures by season: - Spring: 10° C - Summer: 20.° C - Autumn: 19° C - Winter: 6° C Holidays These holidays apply to the whole of Spain: - 1 January: New Year - Epiphany (date varies) - Good Friday and Easter Monday (dates vary) - 1 May: Labour Day - 15 August: Assumption - 12 October: National Day - 1 November: All Saints Day - 6 December: Constitution Day - 8 December: Immaculate Conception - 25 December: Christmas Specific Madrid holidays: - 2 May: Comunidad Day - 15 May: Feast of San Isidro - 9 November: Feast of the Virgin of Almunda Getting around Madrid's downtown area is visited on foot. The 115 stations of its subway system are the best transport option in the city. Users can purchase cards good for ten trips. Buses are not recommended because of Madrid's traffic jams. Taxis are hard to find at night. Madrid Tourism Office Madrid Tourism Office: Calle José Lazaro Galdeano 4 28036 Madrid, Spain Tel: (international n° +34) 91 343 35 00 Madrid on the Web http://www.comadrid.es http://www.munimadrid.es See our Cultural calendar Back