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IETF 123 - Madrid, Spain, July 19 - 25, 2025

Meeting Venue

The IETF 123 Meeting Venue is the Meliá Castilla Hotel ​https://www.melia.com/en/hotels/spain/madrid/melia-castilla/index.htm.

The Meliá Castilla is very well located next to the Paseo de la Castellana, one of the key arteries of Madrid, walking distance to the Bernabéu Real Madrid football stadium and right in the middle of the culinary Golden Mile of Madrid.

It offers easy access to the airport, train stations, exhibition centers, museums and main touristic attractions.

If you're coming to the IETF with your family, the hotel offers special services for your kids and even allow small dogs (up to 8 Kg.).

Meliá Hotels is one of the top-10 worldwide hotel chains, offering their own Loyalty Program "Meliá Rewards" ​https://www.melia.com/en/meliarewards/elprograma/home.htm.

VISA Information

See your IETF registration page to obtain a Letter of Invitation.

Airport Information

Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) is operated by AENA, being the bigger one in Spain, 2nd in Europe, and 14th in the world. It has 4 main terminals, which distribute the flights among different airline alliances.

The bigger and most modern terminal, the T4, concentrates all the flights from the Oneworld alliance, and has a Satellite terminal (T4S), for all the non-Schengen flights.

The official AENA website with all the airport information is ​http://www.aena.es/en/madrid-barajas-airport/index.html.

AENA is the national operator for Spanish and many international airports. You can register for free in their Club ​https://clubcliente.aena.es/AenaClub/en/ to obtain free services and discounts within the airports network.

An alternative non-official website is available at ​https://www.aeropuertomadrid-barajas.com/eng/.

IBERIA Airlines

Iberia Airlines is the preferred airline for IETF 123, offering discount on flights to Madrid.

Complete information is available at ​https://www.ietf.org/meeting/123/featured-airline/.

Airport and Madrid Transportation

Depending on what terminal you're landing, there are several transport options to reach the venue

There are different bus lines, metro and train. Google Maps offers very good information of all the choices.

Of course, you can take a taxi (35 Euros, fix price), Uber or Cabify. In those cases, it should not take more than 15 minutes.

If you prefer public transport, Cuzco and Plaza de Castilla metro stations are at 5 and 10 minutes walking distance to the hotel, respectively.

The Public Transport Consortium web site offers all the relevant information ​https://www.crtm.es/?lang=en.

It offers maps and real-time apps/alerts at ​https://www.crtm.es/muevete-por-madrid.aspx?lang=en.

You can get the information of different tickets and fares at ​https://www.crtm.es/billetes-y-tarifas.aspx?lang=en.

There is a public bike services BiciMAD ​https://www.bicimad.com/.

Language

The official language of Spain is Spanish, together with other autonomic languages in some specific regions:

  • Catalonian (in Catalonia and Balearic Islands)
  • Aranés (in Arán Valley)
  • Valencian (in Valencia)
  • Galician (Galicia)
  • Basque (Basque Country and Navarra)

Currency and Credit/Debit? Cards

The currency in Spain is the Euro. The older currency (Peseta) is only accepted for exchange in the National Bank and their offices and only until 31/12/2020 ​https://www.bde.es/bde/en/.

Major Credit and Debit cards, such as VISA and MasterCard? are usually accepted everywhere. American Express is often also accepted, but not in smaller shops.

VAT Refund

Most of the airports in Spain have offices and electronic machines for requesting tax refunds for non-EU residents.

AENA, the National Airports Authority, offers the relevant information, in the case of the Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport, the information is located here ​https://www.aena.es/en/adolfo-suarez-madrid-barajas/airport-services/categories-and-terminals/vat-refund.html.

Self-tour - Not to miss while in Madrid

Organize your own walking tour. A very nice one could cover:

  • Almudena Cathedral
  • Major Square
  • Orient Square
  • Royal Palace
  • Spain Square
  • Sun Square
  • Temple of Debod

Plenty of food options in almost every corner of those locations.

If you have spare time, and you want to visit nice places around Madrid, don't miss:

Museums

Madrid offers an spectacular set of museums, being the more famous ones "El Prado", "Reina Sofía" and the "Thyssen Bornemisza", which coincidentally are in walking distance one to each other. However you will need several days to pay a complete visit to them!

The Madrid official tourism guide, offers a specific web page for listing all them ​https://www.esmadrid.com/listado-museos-madrid-pdf.

Getting Around (to and from the Meeting Venue)

Suggested Smart Phone Apps:

Exercise

Running Trails:

Hiking:

Events

ATMs & Money Conversion

Self-Service Laundry

Electrical Plug / Outlet

​https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guidance/advice-for-you/when-travelling/travel-adaptor-for-spain/

Electronics

Cellphones / Data

Miscellaneous Information

Supermarkets

There are several types of supermarkets and convenience stores at walking distance of the venue. You can find them using Google Maps.

  • Cheaper options: Alcampo, Carrefour, Día, Mercadona.
  • More expensive, probably if you want to bring some Spanish food back home: Sanchez Romero.

Wine

Spanish Ham

Spanish Olive Oil

Restaurants at the Meliá Hotel

The Meliá offers an impressive international breakfast buffet "Cervantes" ​https://www.melia.com/es/hoteles/espana/madrid/melia-castilla/restaurantes/desayunador-cervantes.

If you want to enjoy Spanish rice dishes, you should make sure to visit L'Albufera ​https://www.melia.com/es/hoteles/espana/madrid/melia-castilla/restaurantes/lalbufera.

"El Pelícano" offers international cuisine choices, while "Distrito 798" offers a sushi bar and two dining rooms offering carefully prepared and surprising cuisine, a fusion of Chifa, Nikkei and Mediterranean styles ​https://www.melia.com/en/hotels/spain/madrid/melia-castilla/restaurants.htm.

Dining outside the venue

Bars and Tapas

You can also choose popular city areas, plenty of food options, such as:

  • Cava Alta
  • Cava Baja
  • Plaza de Santa Ana

Having a Drink after dinner

Espresso, Coffee, and Tea

For Gourmets

Madrid offers an incredible set of choices for gourmets, with some of the best Michelin Star Restaurants. Some of them are even at walking distance from the venue. Be aware that very advance reservation may be required!

The following web sites collect information about many other options:

Shopping

Soccer Lovers

Tourism in Spain

Links to web sites of Tourism from Spain and around different Spanish autonomies.

Tours in Madrid

Here are some interesting options for tours in Madrid:

Visiting Barcelona?

Weather

Current weather conditions in Madrid ​https://www.wunderground.com/weather/es/madrid.

Last modified 2 months ago Last modified on Mar 23, 2025, 3:20:35 PM