Madrid airport

[Elizabeth C.]

Hi--It's been a few years since I was last in the Madrid airport, and want to check the vibe there! My flight arrives from the U.S. at 7:40 a.m. on a weekday. I'm looking to book a train to Seville. Is two hours enough time to clear Customs, etc.? I don't have to be in Seville at any set time, and don't mind waiting for a train if I'm overly generous with the time I allot. Thanks!

 

[Tincatinker]

2 hours? Nope. Look for a later train. Give yourself time for lunch

 

[peregrina2000]

There’s lots of recent info on the forum about the Madrid airport, but everyone’s question is a little different. So please excuse all the repetition!

Which airline will you fly? If it’s Iberia or a partner, you will arrive in T4. That makes it quick and easy for you to get on the Cercanías (commuter line) train and get down to Atocha for your train. I think the possibility is fair to good that you would make it, but that will depend on having a quick clearance through immigration. The Cercanías train runs every 15 minutes and takes about a half hour to get to Atocha. And there is some security clearance at Atocha, too but that doesn’t take too long.

If you’re coming into Madrid on another airline, you will have to choose from three options: the airport bus to Atocha (I have never taken it, but @J Willhaus will hopefully comment here because she knows it well); the metro from T1-3 (NOT recommended, imho - too many changes, too many pickpockets); or the intra-airport bus to T4 (free and frequent, about 10-15 minutes) and then getting onto the Cercanías.

I would book a later train, especially if you aren’t landing in T4. If you have a lot of time at Atocha, you could always pop into the Retiro park to shake off some jet lag with a walk. If you have several hours, the Reina Sofia museum is about a 15 minute walk, where Picasso’s Guernica is the big attraction.

 

[Elizabeth C.]

There’s lots of recent info on the forum about the Madrid airport, but everyone’s question is a little different. So please excuse all the repetition!

Which airline will you fly? If it’s Iberia or a partner, you will arrive in T4. That makes it quick and easy for you to get on the Cercanías (commuter line) train and get down to Atocha for your train. I think the possibility is fair to good that you would make it, but that will depend on having a quick clearance through immigration. The Cercanías train runs every 15 minutes and takes about a half hour to get to Atocha. And there is some security clearance at Atocha, too but that doesn’t take too long.

If you’re coming into Madrid on another airline, you will have to choose from three options: the airport bus to Atocha (I have never taken it, but @J Wilhaus will hopefully comment here because she knows it well); the metro from T1-3 (NOT recommended, imho - too many changes, too many pickpockets); or the intra-airport bus to T4 (free and frequent, about 10-15 minutes) and then getting onto the Cercanías.

I would book a later train, especially if you aren’t landing in T4. If you have a lot of time at Atocha, you could always pop into the Retiro park to shake off some jet lag with a walk. If you have several hours, the Reina Sofia museum is about a 15 minute walk, where Picasso’s Guernica is the big attraction.

Great info; thanks!!

 

[alexwalker]

Hi--It's been a few years since I was last in the Madrid airport, and want to check the vibe there! My flight arrives from the U.S. at 7:40 a.m. on a weekday. I'm looking to book a train to Seville. Is two hours enough time to clear Customs, etc.? I don't have to be in Seville at any set time, and don't mind waiting for a train if I'm overly generous with the time I allot. Thanks!

If I were you (which I'm not... ), and coming from US to Europe with jetlag, I would simply get a hotel room and have a rest day in central Madrid (Atosha is just a 15 mins easy walk from Plaza Mayor).

This way, you will have no rush getting into central Madrid to your hotel for check-in.

Then walk to Atosha and buy a morning ticket for next day to Sevilla, then relax in/sight-see Madrid, have some tapas and a glass or two of red Rioja, get a good night's sleep, and then get on with the nice train ride to Sevilla the next morning.

But of course, if you have time constraints (which I don't have, as a retired), then it may not suit you. But doing all in one day will be a bit stressful/tiresome, and all depends on no delays/unforeseen events on your journey.

Anyway: Buen Camino! The VdlP is a great Camino.

 

[Elizabeth C.]

If I were you (which I'm not... ), and coming from US to Europe with jetlag, I would simply get a hotel room and have a rest day in central Madrid (Atosha is just a 15 mins easy walk from Plaza Mayor).

This way, you will have no rush getting into central Madrid to your hotel for check-in.

Then walk to Atosha and buy a morning ticket for next day to Sevilla, then relax in/sight-see Madrid, have some tapas and a glass or two of red Rioja, get a good night's sleep, and then get on with the nice train ride to Sevilla the next morning.

But of course, if you have time constraints (which I don't have, as a retired), then it may not suit you. But doing all in one day will be a bit stressful/tiresome, and all depends on no delays/unforeseen events on your journey.

Anyway: Buen Camino! The VdlP is a great Camino.

Ya know, I hadn't considered that option, but why not?? Thanks!

 

[alexwalker]

Ya know, I hadn't considered that option, but why not?? Thanks!

A laidback, slow and relaxed day in Madrid, before your adventure starts? Tempting?

Edit: I do not know your age, but if you are 60+, you are entitled to buy a Tarjeta Dorada (Gold card), which will give you a min. 25% discount on all train travels in Spain for a whole year. It costs only 6€. You have to buy it at the station prior to buying your train ticket. Easy.

 

[henrythedog]

I’m a great fan of the airport bus but at about 0900 on a weekday I’d get on the train to Atocha. The roads will be jammed..

 

[Elizabeth C.]

A laidback, slow and relaxed day in Madrid, before your adventure starts? Tempting?

Edit: I do not know your age, but if you are 60+, you are entitled to buy a Tarjeta Dorada (Gold card), which will give you a min. 25% discount on all train travels in Spain for a whole year. It costs only 6€. You have to buy it at the station prior to buying your train ticket. Easy.

Relevant, thanks!! But if I buy my ticket online now for January, it's pretty cheap. I'm researching Tarjeta Dorada...muchas gracias!

 

[alexwalker]

Relevant, thanks!! But if I buy my ticket online now for January, it's pretty cheap. I'm researching Tarjeta Dorada...muchas gracias!

This Forum is indispensable, isn't it? Remember, when you arrive in Sdc (or another place) you will once again, most likely, use the train to get to your departure place for home. And then the Gold card could come in handy again.

 

[J Willhaus]

I agree with @peregrina2000 about taking the Cercanías line from T4 if that is where you land. If you arrive at Terminals 1, 2, or 3 just go out and get on the airport express bus (it will say Expres and may be yellow or green). It is 5 euros and it will go directly to Atocha (one stop in between, I think). It runs 24 hours a day. Here is the link. I have taken it several times.

EMT Madrid. Empresa Municipal de Transportes de Madrid, S. A. - Airport

www.emtmadrid.es

 

[J Willhaus]

Relevant, thanks!! But if I buy my ticket online now for January, it's pretty cheap. I'm researching Tarjeta Dorada...muchas gracias!

Unless you already have one that you can renew, you have to buy the Tarjeta Dorada in person at a station. It might be cheaper to buy the ticket early than to wait in line at Atocha and then buy a ticket right away for Seville with the TD discount. I think you can renew the TD online, but I have always bought mine in person. Be aware that you may have to show your passport when you go through the train line or to the conductor if you buy a ticket online with your Tarjeta Dorada. We've been checked a couple of times. I renewed mine for three years last time I was in Spain so will just need to watch the dates and renew accordingly.

 

[alexwalker]

Relevant, thanks!! But if I buy my ticket online now for January, it's pretty cheap

Much could change up to January. I am always making decisions on the ground. Your inflight and homebound flight dates are what matters most. Act according to those. Make flexibility to those in both ends.