How is the area around the Atocha station in Madrid?
Mar 6th, 2016, 07:19 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How is the area around the Atocha station in Madrid?
I'll be in Madrid with my wife and my 2 kids (4 and 1 yo) for 5 nights in late May and we're currently looking at apartments. I found one near the Atocha train station and I'm wondering if it's a good area to stay. We're looking for a safe area, not too far from the attractions and ideally not too noisy (although we're not too picky, either; we weren't too bothered by the noise in Havana and that's a noisy city for sure). The thing that attracts my about staying near the station is that we're arriving to the city and leaving it by train (arrival at 6pm on Saturday, departure at 8:20 am on Thursday). We'll also do a day trip to Toledo.
What's your opinion about this neighborhood? Any recommendations?
What's your opinion about this neighborhood? Any recommendations?
Mar 6th, 2016, 07:48 PM
#3
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 300
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I stayed at the Hotel Carlton (owned by Marriott), a five minute walk from the station. I thought the neighbor was fine, at all hours,and visited several shops. It's also an easy and interesting walk to the major museums and the Plaza Mayor.
Mar 6th, 2016, 08:30 PM
#4
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,911
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
<i> How is the area around the Atocha station in Madrid?
Posted by: rimekim on Mar 6, 16 at 11:19pm</i>
I do not remember anything worth remarking on around the station but the interior is a one-of-a-kind beautiful tropical garden.
Posted by: rimekim on Mar 6, 16 at 11:19pm</i>
I do not remember anything worth remarking on around the station but the interior is a one-of-a-kind beautiful tropical garden.
Mar 7th, 2016, 08:38 AM
#5
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We're staying at an AirBnB about 3 blocks from the station when we arrive in May. I chose the area because we are only in Madrid for 3 nights and wanted to be close to the museums which are our main interest there. Second reason was because we can walk to the AVE which we will take for our journey to Sevilla. I Googled the street and the images show a average city street.
Mar 7th, 2016, 08:47 AM
#6
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,534
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It was not my favorite part of Madrid and it reminded of me of train station areas just about everywhere. They attract people at loose ends, and too many fast food restaurants and hotels -- although as mentioned, the station itself is quite wonderful.
It has been a long time since I looked for accommodations in Madrid, so I don't know how much more expensive it is to stay elsewhere. But Madrid has an excellent public transportation system, and in my previous trips to Madrid I was very happy staying in the San Bernardo metro stop area, and wouldn't hesitate to stay in other residential areas of the city and use public transportation when needed. I wouldn't stay close to Atocha for the things you mention if I spotted a nicer neighborhood I could afford with a metro stop nearby that went to Atocha for the day trip to Toledo. With children that small, and luggage, I would recommend using taxis to get from and to the station on your arrival days. In my recollection, taxis in Madrid are not exorbitant.
It has been a long time since I looked for accommodations in Madrid, so I don't know how much more expensive it is to stay elsewhere. But Madrid has an excellent public transportation system, and in my previous trips to Madrid I was very happy staying in the San Bernardo metro stop area, and wouldn't hesitate to stay in other residential areas of the city and use public transportation when needed. I wouldn't stay close to Atocha for the things you mention if I spotted a nicer neighborhood I could afford with a metro stop nearby that went to Atocha for the day trip to Toledo. With children that small, and luggage, I would recommend using taxis to get from and to the station on your arrival days. In my recollection, taxis in Madrid are not exorbitant.
Mar 7th, 2016, 09:02 AM
#7
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,699
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
With only 3 days in Madrid, I think being near Puerto del Sol and museums is fine. As a first timer, I stayed in a hotel near that area and walked to everything. While the Metro is nice and better than it's namesake in DC, a more central location would be my preference.
Mar 7th, 2016, 09:28 AM
#8
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 8,827
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"It has been a long time since I looked for accommodations in Madrid"
Things change. The whole area around the Anton Market is in the process of being gentrified, although it can seem a bit scruffy in places.
Things change. The whole area around the Anton Market is in the process of being gentrified, although it can seem a bit scruffy in places.
Mar 7th, 2016, 10:41 AM
#9
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,311
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I agree with sandralist-areas around train stations are always iffy. I would not like to walk around there alone at night!Try to stay a little away from the station in the Huertas area-still able to walk to the station and close to the musems
Mar 7th, 2016, 11:05 AM
#10
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,534
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
>""It has been a long time since I looked for accommodations in Madrid" <
I often am not the person booking my accommodations when I travel, so I don't have a sense of how prices vary from neighborhood to neighborhood, comparatively. That was the context of my remark if you don't cut the sentence I wrote in half and only quote the first part -- not that I had not recently been around Atocha station. I was indicating to the OP why I was pretty limited in what I could suggest as an alternative.
Were I looking for accommodations in Madrid, I would not stay there based on what I have seen.
I often am not the person booking my accommodations when I travel, so I don't have a sense of how prices vary from neighborhood to neighborhood, comparatively. That was the context of my remark if you don't cut the sentence I wrote in half and only quote the first part -- not that I had not recently been around Atocha station. I was indicating to the OP why I was pretty limited in what I could suggest as an alternative.
Were I looking for accommodations in Madrid, I would not stay there based on what I have seen.
Mar 7th, 2016, 11:46 AM
#13
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,857
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The term "metro" did not originate in Washington DC, it is just short for metropolitan in many languages, that is rather nationalistic to think that the US is the start of everything. In France, it is French for metropolitain, in English it is metropolitan. Many other cities had metros and used the term long before DC did. In Madrid, it started in 1919 and was called that from the start. And DC did not name its system after Madrid's, either, in fact. Personally, I don't think the Madrid metro system is nicer than DC's, although maybe more reliable and extensive
I think the Atocha area would be just as good as Puerta del Sol which is kind of a zoo, although central. It could be even noisier there. If I were going to stay a short distance away on the same line, I'd stay one stop away around Anton Martin stop which is an interesting, diverse area with a good market.
I think the Atocha area would be just as good as Puerta del Sol which is kind of a zoo, although central. It could be even noisier there. If I were going to stay a short distance away on the same line, I'd stay one stop away around Anton Martin stop which is an interesting, diverse area with a good market.
Mar 8th, 2016, 10:36 AM
#16
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,934
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As Chapla says, perhaps stay in the Huertas/Barrio de Las Letras district, close to the Atocha station and in the heart of town and much more going on. Fine restaurants, tapas bars, cafes and terraces and the best flamenco and jazz venues in town:
http://www.spain.info/en/lugares-int...as_letras.html
http://www.barrioletras.com/
http://www.spain.info/en/lugares-int...as_letras.html
http://www.barrioletras.com/
Mar 8th, 2016, 10:43 AM
#17
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,934
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
.. the 1 and 4 year olds are perhaps not looking for flamenco and jazz, but at least the 4 year old might like Plaza Santa Ana and Plaza Mayor very much. And kids are everywhere:
http://www.gomadrid.com/sights/plaza-santa-ana.html
http://www.gomadrid.com/sights/plaza-mayor.html
http://www.gomadrid.com/sights/plaza-santa-ana.html
http://www.gomadrid.com/sights/plaza-mayor.html
Mar 9th, 2016, 08:07 AM
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Another question: If we stay near Plaza de Santa Ana, I know that noise in the night could be a problem. Is it the same all week long? Or mostly Friday and Saturday? We'll be there from Saturday to Thursday, so if it's just one night of noise we could be ok with that.
