What to due for 6 hour layover in Madrid?
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
What to due for 6 hour layover in Madrid?
My family and I are going to Granada and Andalucia in March. Our plane from the US arrives in Madrid at 9:45am and our connection to Granada is not until 4:10pm. What should we do with this time? We're pretty tough and haven't had major jet lag problems in the past on other trips to Europe. This will be our first trip to Spain. I'm thinking the Prado would be good as we enjoy museums. If so, what is the best (quickest) way to get from the airport to there? Any ideas on where to stow our carry-on luggage.
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
how many people are in your family? this is important because a taxi will only take 3 but the airport shuttle could be set up for six. forget about the subway because it leaves you at Nuevos ministerios which is still a cab ride from the Prado. there are no subway stops near the prado because the train lines run underground thru that area. don't forget that you have to pick up your luggage and clear customs and immigration before checking in for your connection. this can take an hour or more once you get going. (check with your airline on this).
You can just take your carryon with you if it is one bag and check it at the cloakroom at the prado--middle entrance (avoid the north entrance, all the tours have to enter there with the construction taking place.) bear in mind that you have to allow 40 minutes to the airport if the traffic is at all heavy. If I could offer an alternative museum stop--the Reina Sofia has Picasso's Guernica with preliminary studies- it's a long block from the taxi stand at Atocha but you can check luggage at Atocha and be sure of a quick taxi from the rank at Atocha--go to the vecinarios terminal and not the ave terminal. good luck
You can just take your carryon with you if it is one bag and check it at the cloakroom at the prado--middle entrance (avoid the north entrance, all the tours have to enter there with the construction taking place.) bear in mind that you have to allow 40 minutes to the airport if the traffic is at all heavy. If I could offer an alternative museum stop--the Reina Sofia has Picasso's Guernica with preliminary studies- it's a long block from the taxi stand at Atocha but you can check luggage at Atocha and be sure of a quick taxi from the rank at Atocha--go to the vecinarios terminal and not the ave terminal. good luck
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Yes, I think you have to pick up your luggage, clear customs and check in to your next flight. Even if your plane is right on time, this can eat up a couple of hours. Factor in arriving back at the airport wit enough time (alhtough at least you will have already checked in), and your time in Madrid is very limited. The Prado needs a full day to begin to do it justice, although a quick visit to certian key areas could be good, too. Reina Sofia and the Thyssen are smaller and more amangeable museums in the time you have.
The metro is by far the fastest way into the city. While Nuevo Ministerios is not close to the Prado, there you can transfer to another metro (the Prado does have stops *fairly* close by: Anton Martin and Atocha), the bus or a taxi there.
A taxi from Barajas will take 35-90 minutes, depending on traffic and day of the week. Certainly a viable option. Having a taxi give you a driving tour of the city is another (potentially pricy) possibility as is simly walking around this great city for a couple of hours. Have fun.
The metro is by far the fastest way into the city. While Nuevo Ministerios is not close to the Prado, there you can transfer to another metro (the Prado does have stops *fairly* close by: Anton Martin and Atocha), the bus or a taxi there.
A taxi from Barajas will take 35-90 minutes, depending on traffic and day of the week. Certainly a viable option. Having a taxi give you a driving tour of the city is another (potentially pricy) possibility as is simly walking around this great city for a couple of hours. Have fun.
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Thanks for the ideas. Looks like taking the metro into the city and then either zooming through a much of the Prado as we can or seeing one of the other museums is the best plan. If a taxi will only take 3 persons, that won't work as there are 4 of us.
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
Hi Rachel, if I were you I would take 1 or two taxis as needed. No subway.
The Prado is a fantastic museum you could spend many days in there , but it is not advisable to spend more than may be two hours on a row. Limited yourself to what you are more interested in, is it Velazquez?, or Goya? or El Bosco?.
then may be you can have a few tapas someplace and take another taxi back to Barajas Airport. To find out how much time your trips will take at the time you are planing to travel between the airport and Madrid check with the information booth at the Airport, they should know. BUena suerte.
The taxi ride should not be too expensive, at list three times less than same ride in other cities like Paris for instance.
The Prado is a fantastic museum you could spend many days in there , but it is not advisable to spend more than may be two hours on a row. Limited yourself to what you are more interested in, is it Velazquez?, or Goya? or El Bosco?.
then may be you can have a few tapas someplace and take another taxi back to Barajas Airport. To find out how much time your trips will take at the time you are planing to travel between the airport and Madrid check with the information booth at the Airport, they should know. BUena suerte.
The taxi ride should not be too expensive, at list three times less than same ride in other cities like Paris for instance.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Susan56
Europe
2
Feb 22nd, 2006 06:23 PM
mjs
Europe
4
Nov 13th, 2003 10:58 AM