Madrid Barajas Airport (Tel: 90 235 3570) is 16kms north-east of the city centre and has three terminals.

Taxis There are taxi ranks outside each of the terminals. Getting to the city should cost around €20, depending on traffic and there is an additional airport charge of €4.

Car To reach central Madrid, follow the signs to the city centre until you reach the M30. The M30 is circular so find out whether you need to go north or south before you reach it.

Bus For €2.50 the airport bus takes you to the central Plaza Colón. Buses leave every 15 minutes between 5.40am and 2am, and are often faster than taxis because of the designated bus lanes.

Metro The quickest way into town is to take the metro from Terminal 2 to Nuevos Ministerios, on line 8, which takes 12 minutes. Pick up a map to work out how to continue your journey from there. The metro runs from 6am to 1.30am. A Metrobús ticket valid for 10 journeys on metro and buses (excluding the airport bus) costs €5.35.

Madrid’s metro system is cheap, extensive and efficient. A single ticket costs €1.15, a Metrobús for 10 trips costs €5.35. The ticket is also valid on buses in Madrid.

The bus network also reaches virtually every corner of the city and outskirts. Madrid’s reasonably priced taxishave the green light on the roof illuminated when they are free. Taxis can be booked through Radio Taxi, Tel: 91 447 32 32 or TeleTaxi, Tel: 91 371 21 31.