Madrid airport

peregrina2000 said:

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.

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alexwalker said:

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.

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alexwalker said:

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.

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