Madrid: capital and transportation hub of Spain

Atocha railway station (esp. Estación de Atocha) is the largest railway station in Madrid, the capital city of Spain. It sits in the Atocha neighborhood of Arganzuela, right by Plaza de Emperador Carlos V.

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Pictures of Madrid: A beautiful park, Atocha Cercanías is part of Madrid’s commuter train service and street view

[:en]A large park in Madrid. Pathway, green space, and statues.[:]

[:en]Atocha Cercanías text inside the station building. People at the station.[:]

Consorcio Regional de Transportes de Madrid (CRTM: the regional transport consortium of Madrid) is an independent entity whose mission is to coordinate public transportation provided by multiple operators in the autonomous community of Madrid. CRTM oversees all public transportation in the Madrid area, including the metro and buses. EMT (Municipal de Transportes de Madrid) is responsible for the internal bus transportation within Madrid city.

These sites and apps will help you navigate Madrid and find the best routes and places.

RENFE is derived from the name of Spain’s former national railway network, RENFE (Red Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Españoles).

Key rail connections:

Madrid – Barcelona: This is one of the busiest and most significant routes, served by the AVE high-speed train, reaching speeds of up to 350 km/h.

Madrid – Sevilla: This was the first route for the AVE high-speed train, inaugurated in 1992, linking Madrid to the Andalusian capital.

Madrid – Valencia: This route is also crucial, served by the AVE train for swift and comfortable travel.

Madrid – Lisbon: This line connects the capitals of Spain and Portugal, forming an essential international linkage.

The commuter train system in Madrid is known as Cercanías Madrid. It is a vast and efficient suburban train network operated by RENFE, connecting the downtown area of Madrid to its suburbs and surrounding cities. Cercanías trains are a quick and convenient way to travel to different parts of the city, and they complement the Madrid Metro system well.

Madrid Metro (Métro de Madrid). With a total length of nearly 300 km, it is the eighth-largest metro system in the world.

Madrid is a large city

The population of Madrid is approximately 3.4 million people in the city limits. Roughly 6.8 million people reside in the Madrid metropolitan area, making it one of the largest cities in Europe.

The climate is variable

Madrid experiences a subtropical climate characterized by hot summers and cool winters that are relatively dry. Spring and autumn are enjoyable, featuring milder temperatures.

Madrid grows

Population growth has been particularly rapid since the late 1990s and the early 2000s. In 1950, the population of the Madrid metropolitan area was around 1.7 million, and today it has quadrupled.

International City

Madrid is an international city with people from all over the world. You can also often hear other languages in the city, such as English, French, German, Chinese and Arabic.

Culture

Madrid has several world-famous museums, such as the Prado Museum, the Reina Sofía Museum, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. The city also boasts a vibrant theater and music scene.

Football

Madrid is home to two of the world's most famous football clubs, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid. The Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and Wanda Metropolitano Stadium are popular destinations for football fans.

Parks and green areas

Madrid has several beautiful parks and green areas, such as Retiro Park, Casa de Campo, and Madrid Río Park. These offer peaceful spots for relaxation and outdoor activities.