Madrid airport accommodations

[SDJames]

I am going to be spending the night near the Madrid airport and I'm wondering if it is possible / reasonable to walk from the airport to my accommodations. It's not far, but I am specifically wondering about the traffic.

 

[Sirage]

It is possible - I have walked from a hotel in Barajas to the nearby terminal across a footbridge. I had time and I was going home and knew the geography.

But it depends on which terminal and which hotel. I suggest if it is your first night, minimise the hassle and just take a taxi although it is possible the driver might be unhappy about a short ride - I don't know the pricing structure.

 

[roving_rufus]

It does depend on which terminal and where your accomodation is. So T1/2/3 to Barajas is walkable using a pedestrian bridge. But T4 seems less pedestrian friendly. If it's in Barajas then the other option is to catch the metro

 

[JustOneGuy]

It is possible - I have walked from a hotel in Barajas to the nearby terminal across a footbridge. I had time and I was going home and knew the geography.

But it depends on which terminal and which hotel. I suggest if it is your first night, minimise the hassle and just take a taxi although it is possible the driver might be unhappy about a short ride - I don't know the pricing structure.

Yes, I did the same thing and stayed in a cheap Ibis in Barajas recently. The only problem was that the Google Maps directions were not easy to follow and I initially missed the footbridge. You have to catch the footbridge walking straight from T2 into the parking lot in front of the terminal. And there is a free shuttle to move from one terminal to another, but it takes time.

 

[Sirage]

And there is a free shuttle to move from one terminal to another, but it takes time

Yes. A very long time if your bus circumnavigates most of the airport. I never did find out if there was a free bus going in both directions.

Hence my suggestion to just get a taxi - this is not the location to be frugal. Any frugal pilgrim behaviour, if that is your thing, is better done at other times.

 

[J Willhaus]

I always stay at a place with a free shuttle near the airport.

 

[pashami]

If arriving at T4, there are a number of hotels that have free shuttles that pick up there. Go up to arrivals, follow the signs for taxis/buses and go out that door, use the crosswalk to go past the taxis and walk left which is the hotel shuttle pick up. There is a column there with a sign posting all hotels that have shuttles and the number to call. Verify with your hotel first before arriving that they have a shuttle service.

 

[Calvin & Hobbes]

It does depend on which terminal and where your accomodation is. So T1/2/3 to Barajas is walkable using a pedestrian bridge. But T4 seems less pedestrian friendly. If it's in Barajas then the other option is to catch the metro

I agree. I stayed at an albergue near the pedestrian bridge. I flew out of T1. It was about a 45 minute walk. I suggest doing a little research as the path is not obvious but is not difficult. I used Google maps "walking" to help.

 

[bubba]

These photos may help. Starting point landmark would be the McDonalds in Barajas.

 

[Vacajoe]

It’s very easy to walk, there is little traffic, and it’s very safe. If you land at T4, there is a FREE shuttle that takes you to T1/2/3, where it’s a short walk to the village. Our hotel had a free shuttle, but it was actually faster to simply walk then to wait until the shuttle was available to pick us up.