Madrid Cheap and Free
See also:Madrid for families
Shopping in Madrid
Madrid's culture & nightlife
back to Madrid highlights
A bono
A bono, or 10-ride ticket for any-distance city journeys on bus or metro, gives bargain cheap travel - and it even covers the metro journey to and from the airport. For metro information, tel: 91-552 5909. www.metromadrid.es
Cinema
Madrid is a film-lover's paradise: two dozen cinemas show subtitled original language films - and there are bargain seats once a week, usually on Monday or Wednesday. Don't miss the Cine Doré, the National Film Centre, which featured as a location in Pedro Almodóvar's film Talk to Her.
There are various ways to get discounts. First is to go on the día del espectador, usually Monday or Wednesday. Also, the first showing of the day is cheaper in some cinemas. Students can get reductions if they show their student ID, and over-65s also get a discount. Details of where to see films in their original language (VO or Version Original) are published in the weekly Guía del Ocio and also in daily newspapers such as El Pais and in El Mundo's Friday magazine Metropoli.
Menu of the Day
The city's restaurants all offer one or more special set menus (Menu del día) at lunchtime. These change daily and the dishes are freshly prepared. This is one of the best ways of dining out inexpensively. In general, Madrid's restaurants offer better value for money than those of other European capitals.
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Freesheets
To find out what is going on during your stay, pick up the free Spanish-language daily paper Metro, the English-language monthly magazine In Madrid, or the tourist office's bilingual monthly En Madrid, which give listings of events, including free ones.
Free entry to Madrid museums
Entrance to most museums and art galleries is free on Sunday mornings and, sometimes, on Saturday afternoons. Other museums allow free access to EU citizens. A special-price one-day ticket gives access to the Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums.
San Isidro fiestas
During the annual May fiestas, dedicated to San Isidro, the city's patron saint, the city stages dozens of free events, including concerts in the Plaza Mayor, fireworks and open-air dances. May 15th is a public holiday marking the start of a month-long of bullfights in the Plaza de Toros.