What to do on a 9-hour Layover in the Madrid Airport?
Jun 1st, 2011, 09:16 AM
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What to do on a 9-hour Layover in the Madrid Airport?
I'm a college student on my way to Italy to teach English for the summer. I have a 9-hour layover in the Madrid airport and I'm hoping for suggestions on fun things to do during that time. I get in at 11:35am and my flight to Italy leaves at 8:50pm. Is there anything nearby the airport, or will I have to take a cab or subway? Also, I'm particularly looking for things like museums or other sights that are free or not too expensive. Thank you!
Jun 1st, 2011, 09:30 AM
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There isn't much out by the airport, but the Metro is easy to navigate, so I would just stash my luggage and head into the city center. Check as much of your luggage through as you can so you don't have to worry about it and if you have anything else that would be awkward to carry around, you can put it in a locker at the airport.
I would take the Metro to Puerta del Sol station and walk over to the Plaza Santa Ana for lunch - it is a fun area with restaurants and bars, good outdoor seating. The Prado Museum is not far from there - I don't remember the cost for a ticket, but it wasn't much. I got a combo ticket for the Prado, Thyseen, and Sofia Reigna museums for under 20 euro if memory serves. There is also a nice garden near the Prado that is good for a walk.
An alternative, if you want to get a good overview of the city - you can get a ticket for the hop-on-hop-off tour bus. That might be more pricey, but it is fun and you can see a lot in a short time.
I would take the Metro to Puerta del Sol station and walk over to the Plaza Santa Ana for lunch - it is a fun area with restaurants and bars, good outdoor seating. The Prado Museum is not far from there - I don't remember the cost for a ticket, but it wasn't much. I got a combo ticket for the Prado, Thyseen, and Sofia Reigna museums for under 20 euro if memory serves. There is also a nice garden near the Prado that is good for a walk.
An alternative, if you want to get a good overview of the city - you can get a ticket for the hop-on-hop-off tour bus. That might be more pricey, but it is fun and you can see a lot in a short time.
Sep 22nd, 2011, 09:03 PM
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I potentially have a similar issue -- an arrival in Madrid (from Tel Aviv) on a Monday at 10:50 am and a departure (for Dakar, Senegal) at 5:55 pm. I infer that there are lockers at the airport where carry-on luggage can be checked. Correct? Would I be arriving and departing from the same terminal? It appears that there is now a train into town as well as the metro. Which would be better for getting to the center of Madrid? The Prado is closed on Mondays, so that's not an option. I'd appreciate suggestions of things to see and do. How long before my next flight would I have to be back at the airport?
Sep 23rd, 2011, 12:02 AM
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Best to be sure which terminal your outgoing fight is on or you should check luggage in TOWN for your short stay. There are many options to get into town now.
1) the airporter bus that pulls you into downtown Madrid. Get off at Cibeles, the fountain stop in front of the new city hall and walk left to the Prado, or up hill to plaza del sol.
You have the new C1 cercanías train from T4 that takes you to the Atocha train station as well as other points. The "metro" now is NOT convenient with these new options.
I have checked my carry on luggage at many museums along the museum triangle but only once you have bought a ticket.
I prefer above ground but it is up to you.
There is a tourist kiosk right there at Cibeles in the park promenade between the streets as well as one near the Prado.
I also think the tourist bus is a great idea. It certainly would allow you to get a better overall view.
Be back at terminal 2 hours before international take off. ( Leave Madrid 3 hours before to play it safe)
P.S. One of the few museums open on Mondays is the Lazaro galdiano. http://www.flg.es/
To get HERE, take the 1E city bus outside every terminal that goes to Avenida America INtercambiador. This is an underground bus station just at the beginning of Madrid when you come in from the airport bordering the well known Salamanca shopping district. There are also luggage lockers upstairs here on the main floor.
The museum is DOWN the Maria de Molina street direction ( you will see all the traffic going downhill). Then it will be on your LEFT, along a small side street. It is quite obvious once you are near. it is a beautiful palatial home that has a bit of everything. There are plenty of cafés before you get there.
You can also leave your small bag at the museum . Later take time to stroll the busy calle Serrano and maybe dash into el Corte Inglés. Upon returning to the bus station and retrieving your luggage, the bus BACK to your terminal will board/leave on the opposite side of the depot it left you off/arrived at. The airport buses are the LAST buses at the end of the other side. Check to see if they still have two different ones for the T4 and another one for T1,2,3.
With all this new transport they may have combined them.
1) the airporter bus that pulls you into downtown Madrid. Get off at Cibeles, the fountain stop in front of the new city hall and walk left to the Prado, or up hill to plaza del sol.
You have the new C1 cercanías train from T4 that takes you to the Atocha train station as well as other points. The "metro" now is NOT convenient with these new options.
I have checked my carry on luggage at many museums along the museum triangle but only once you have bought a ticket.
I prefer above ground but it is up to you.
There is a tourist kiosk right there at Cibeles in the park promenade between the streets as well as one near the Prado.
I also think the tourist bus is a great idea. It certainly would allow you to get a better overall view.
Be back at terminal 2 hours before international take off. ( Leave Madrid 3 hours before to play it safe)
P.S. One of the few museums open on Mondays is the Lazaro galdiano. http://www.flg.es/
To get HERE, take the 1E city bus outside every terminal that goes to Avenida America INtercambiador. This is an underground bus station just at the beginning of Madrid when you come in from the airport bordering the well known Salamanca shopping district. There are also luggage lockers upstairs here on the main floor.
The museum is DOWN the Maria de Molina street direction ( you will see all the traffic going downhill). Then it will be on your LEFT, along a small side street. It is quite obvious once you are near. it is a beautiful palatial home that has a bit of everything. There are plenty of cafés before you get there.
You can also leave your small bag at the museum . Later take time to stroll the busy calle Serrano and maybe dash into el Corte Inglés. Upon returning to the bus station and retrieving your luggage, the bus BACK to your terminal will board/leave on the opposite side of the depot it left you off/arrived at. The airport buses are the LAST buses at the end of the other side. Check to see if they still have two different ones for the T4 and another one for T1,2,3.
With all this new transport they may have combined them.
Sep 23rd, 2011, 12:25 AM
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Suggestions for stroll through central Madrid
http://g.co/maps/9wqun
http://g.co/maps/9wqun
Sep 23rd, 2011, 07:56 AM
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Thanks very much, lincasanova and Revulgo. It appears that you think it is worth my trying to go into the city during my layover in Madrid. I have been debating between this set of flights and more expensive ones that go though Brussels with somewhat shorter layovers and not enough time to go into the city. By the way, I would be flying into Madrid on El Al and out on Iberia. It appears that both flights would be to/from Terminal 4. Do you happen to know what the locker situation is there?
Sep 23rd, 2011, 10:03 AM
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You could have lunch at Café del Círculo de Bellas Artes (The Fine Arts Society Café) in down town Calle Alcalá, 42. One of the city's most emblematic cafés. Grab a window table and watch Madrid life on bustling Calle Alcalá. Three course lunch with drinks included for some 13-14€, or you could just have some tapas. Take the lift up to the roof topp terrace (the azotea) for the most spectacular views of the city. http://www.esmadrid.com/en/cargarApl...ntificador=179
Photos and videos: http://11870.com/pro/circulo-bellas-artes
The Reina Sofia contemporary art museum admission is only 6€. The second floor with Picasso, Dalí, lots of other painitings, posters, films, photos etc., dealing with a couple of the greatest civilizational breakdowns of the 20th century, The Spanish Civil War and WWII, completely blew my mind off two years ago. http://www.museoreinasofia.es/index_en.html
Photos and videos: http://11870.com/pro/circulo-bellas-artes
The Reina Sofia contemporary art museum admission is only 6€. The second floor with Picasso, Dalí, lots of other painitings, posters, films, photos etc., dealing with a couple of the greatest civilizational breakdowns of the 20th century, The Spanish Civil War and WWII, completely blew my mind off two years ago. http://www.museoreinasofia.es/index_en.html
Sep 23rd, 2011, 10:29 AM
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... and the traditional Cocido Madrileño (Madrid stew) is served in Café del Círculo de Bellas Artes every Wednesday throughout the year. http://www.spain-recipes.com/cocido-recipe.html
Sep 23rd, 2011, 11:48 AM
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