5hr Layover in Madrid, what to do???
 

I'm flying to Milan via Madrid Barajas and will have 5 hours to spare in Madrid. Is there anything around the airport area that is doable during those 5 hours???
trying to get the most out of this trip!!!
Thanks.

I've been looking at the metro map and it seems to take you everywhere.
So give me one spot that you would visit in 5hrs and what Metro station....
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE.

Does the 5 hours include your time in security, immigration, checking in etc or will you have 5 hours plus that time? If you only have 5 hours from landing until takeoff, you really only have about 2 hours. I don't think I'd want to risk leaving the airport in that case.

the MOST i would do would be to take the sofitel free bus to their hotel, walk around that area where there is a shopping complex 10 minutes away.

this parque ferial juan carlos is about 5 minutes from airport or so, and has corte ingles(hipercor) shopping, and tons of sidewalk cafés and restaurants. i would NOT venture into madrid.

i would also get a bite to eat or drink at sofitel before wandering about.

taxi back to airport would be about 10 euros. I would leave from wherever i am around 2.5 hours before scheduled take off since although you will have a boarding pass you will need to go through security.

but there is plenty to shop at T4 now, so you could just take the inter terminal bus and go there.. (you may be leaving from there anyway! you hsven´t told us which terminals you are using!)

leaving the airport is always an iffy thing.. you will need to decide when you see actual arrival time, etc. do not leave any airport without a boarding pass..unless you have a lot more time than you do.

my flight arrives @ 7:30am and departs at 2:30pm which means that i would have 7 hours, but then i eliminated 2hrs.
As far as terminal, i think it's 4 since i will be travelling to a schengen country-italy.
after further info, would you still not go to madrid??? :-)

With this info..I would stick to the T4 and go shopping there. 7:30 AM to 9 AM is Madrid rush hour..lots of traffic..kind of a nightmare. And then you'll have to be at the airport at 12:30 so you won't have time to have lunch if you go to Madrid (no lunch served till 1 PM more or less) so you'd better have something to eat at one of the airport restaurants that probably have earlier lunches :)

Sorry phototraveler but I concur with the prior recommendations. I wouldn't go all the way to Madrid.

Thanks for everybody's input.....
I guess :-( I will stick with the airport/terminal....
Plus, If Viktor Novorski spent quite some time at an airport terminal, I think I can handle 5 hrs easily :-)

there is a red bus from terminal 1 for 1-2 euros that leaves you at the beginning of madrid.. i think with all this time now ( more than i thought before) if you hightail it into the city, just leave around 11.30 or noon to get to your flight with boarding pass in hand, unless you have to check in luggage, etc.. you could see SOMETHING although you are fighting traffic all the way until around 10 am.

i, personally would probably do itif we landed on time, but i know my way around (know wher the bus is.. etc.etc.etc.)and would not let myself get too far from my return transportation.( the metro is very slow, i hear, due to the transfers you have to make.)

willing to pay for a cab once you are in the city? after strolling around and trying some coffee or chocolate and churros or whatever, have him give you a tour and then back to the airport. probably less than 40 euros.

there are lots of cafés that serve food all day so you won´t starve, but no tableclothed "restaurants" will open til later.

Question: I'll be flying into the Madrid airport around 3:30 am with a 7-hour layover before departing at 11:00 am for Atlanta. (Luckily I sleep well sitting up!) Are restaurants open during the night at this airport? Any interesting spots near the airport early morning?
Thanks!
Terri

if you wanted to splurge on a taxi ride into and around the madrid sights, you would be back in an hour or so at that time of day.

palacio real
castellana (prado/thyssen/atocha).

i do not know for sure what time the airport cafes open but i imagine by 6 a.m. or 6.30 they should be. i have taken really early flighs from there and not had a problem.

i think you leave from terminal one. so downstairs (public area) there is a big café which should be open early.

inside security i have no idea.

That sounds good - maybe just snooze for a 3 hours or so, then grab a bite for breakfast followed by taxi for an hour or so. Should leave plenty of time to get back through security on onto the next flight.

Thanks!