Madrid: By Bus

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By Bus

Madrid has no central bus station; buses are generally less popular than trains (though they can be faster). Most of southern and eastern Spain (including Toledo) is served by the Estación del Sur. From the Estación de Avenida de América two companies, Continental Auto and Alsa (which also has buses departing from the south station), serve mostly the north and the east, respectively. Alsa, for instance, runs two buses to Barcelona daily from Estación del Sur, and almost 20 from Avenida de América. Buses for much of the rest of the peninsula, including Cuenca, Extremadura, Salamanca, and Valencia, depart from the Auto Res station.

Estación de Avenida de América and Estación del Sur have subway stops (Avenida de América and Méndez Álvaro) that leave you right at the station. The Auto Res station is within a two-minute walk of the closer subway stop. If you intend to go to Segovia, take the subway to the Príncipe Pío stop, get the Paseo de la Florida exit and walk on the left-hand side of the street until you get to La Sepulvedana. There are several smaller stations, however, so inquire at travel agencies for the one serving your destination.

The La Sepulvedana bus company serves Segovia, Ávila (the Larrea bus company, with buses that depart from the Estación del Sur, also serves this destination), and La Granja. Herranz goes to El Escorial (it leaves from the Intercambiador de Moncloa; that is, the Moncloa bus station) and from there to the Valle de los Caídos. La Veloz has service to Chinchón, and Aisa goes to Aranjuez and from there to Chinchón.

Bus Companies

Aisa (Estación Sur. 902/198788. Metro: Méndez Álvaro). Alsa (Av. de América 9, Salamanca. 902/422242. www.alsa.es. Metro: Avenida de América). Continental Auto (Av. de América 9, Salamanca. 91/745-6300. www.continental-auto.es. Metro: Avenida de América). Herranz (Intercambiador de Moncloa, Moncloa. 91/896-9028. Metro: Moncloa). La Sepulvedana (Paseo de la Florida 11, near Estación del Norte, Moncloa. 91/559-8955. www.lasepulvedana.es. Metro: Príncipe Pío). La Veloz (Mediterraneo 49, Atocha. 91/409-7602. Metro: Conde de Casal).

Bus Stations

Auto Res (Fernández Shaw 1, Atocha. 902/020999. www.auto-res.net. Metro: Conde de Casal). Estación del Sur (Méndez Álvaro s/n, Atocha. 91/468-4200. www.estaciondeautobuses.com. Metro: Méndez Álvaro).