Madrid

Travel to Madrid

To get to Madrid you're probably best to fly. It's a popular destination and there are cheap flights to Madrid easily available from most airlines. If you'd like to take the train, you can take the Eurostar from London to Paris then jump on the Elipsos train hotel. It travels overnight from Paris, arriving in Madrid or Barcelona the next morning.

On arrival in Madrid

Madrid's Barajas Airport is situated approximately seven miles from the city centre and has four terminals. You should be able to grab a taxi outside the airport easily. Madrid metro line 8 has stations at Terminals 2 and 4. RENFE (the national rail company in Spain) trains do not run directly from the airport, so if you need to take an overland train to reach your Madrid hotel you will first need to take the metro to a RENFE train station.

Getting around Madrid

Madrid is known as a 'walkers city'. Partly because of its size, but also because of its extra wide pavements! The ever expanding Madrid Metro is a cheap and flexible way to move effectively between the many different city attractions. Open 365 days a year from 0600 to 0200 you can go out for the evening and then return on the Metro, which will surprise natives of certain other major cities! The cheapest option is to buy a 10 journey 'metrobus' ticket that you can also use on the bus. Official Madrid Spain transport taxis are white with a red stripe, and can be either stopped in the street, or you can wait at a taxi rank for one. The taxi ranks are indicated by a blue sign that contains a white letter 'T'.

Travelling further afield

Most of Spain is well covered by both bus and rail networks. On the other hand, if your trip to Spain is part of a wider European tour, then it may be in your interests to invest in a rail pass like the Inter-Rail ticket. Buses tend to be quicker than trains and will also normally take you closer to your destination. Driving yourself is another option, as the roads in Spain are good. Collect your car hire in Madrid and get going.