Hi. Please help. I am flying into Madrid, and trying to decide best way to get to Seville. Stay overnight in Madrid and take AVE train to Seville (It looks cheaper and I think I might enjoy the scenery). If so, should I stay near airport, then take taxi to train station, or stay near train station. I am trying to balance cost of hotel/train/taxis vs a flight. Is it a major issue to get to the train station from the airport. Are there alternatives to get around Madrid. And if I stay in Madrid, I would have a few hours and was wondering if there was a city bus tour that was worth taking for an afternoon.

What is your entire trip itinerary?

If you want to go to Seville, why not book a flight that flies into Seville (connect in madrid)?

It is somewhat of a hassle to get from Madrid Airport to Atocha station, unless you take a taxi.

Hi. I'm spending 3 days in Seville, 3 in Cordoba and 3 in Granada. That's already set with a small group of friends. Then I have to get back to Madrid from Granada - frankly I haven't worked that out yet either. This is a bit last minute. But I booked the flights into Madrid to have them done. So as you can see I am wresting with easiest and most cost effective way to get from Madrid to Seville, and was wondering about hassle of getting to train station from airport versus just getting another flight. I will already have taken 2 flights (thru London) and thought I might break the trip. Sounds like maybe, for the hassle, I should stick with flights?

The only airline that flies nonstop between Madrid and Seville is Iberia, so you need to go on their website and price out the ticket.

Then go to renfe.es to price out the AVE ticket.

If the difference is not much, I'd vote for flying. If the difference is big enough for you, then you can investigate the various methods and costs of getting from Barajas to Atocha.

There are more airline choices for Granada to Madrid, I think. Go to whichbudget.com and see.

Whether it is pre-paid flights or pre-paid train tickets, you may be taking a gamble, since if you miss either one you will need to re-purchase your transportation.

If you would like to stay in Madrid, simply take the 1 euro blue bus from outside the terminal to Av America Intercambiador, and a taxi from there to your hotel, wherever it may be.

Cheap and hassle-free.

I would stay fairly close to the train station area or where I got a good rate between Gran Via and Museum triangle.

Then you can confidently have pre-booked a train to Sevilla the next day, plus have had a lovely afternoon and evening in Madrid.

The tourist hop on/off bus is excellent, and would give you a good overview of the city.

Enjoy your planning and do not forget to download all www.maribelsguides.com for each city you will visit. They are wonderfully informative.

Check the pricing between Madrid and Seville for air vs. AVE. We did this in March and decided to take the train and spend the first day and night in Madrid in case of an airline foul-up so as not to risk our AVE tickets. You can take a shuttle bus from Barajas airport into central Madrid or take the Metro for 1 euro plus a 1 euro airport supplemental ticket. A taxi would be expensive because the airport is way out there. You can go to www.metromadrid.es and enter your route (origen to destino) for a detailed color-coded map of how to get anywhere by metro. It took about a hour from the airport to Gran Via station.

Atocha Renfe Station is on the #1 blue line a little south of the center of the city, so if you book a hotel for the first night close to a blue line station, it's very quick and easy to get there the next morning. The AVE from Madrid to Seville cost 77 euro, about $98 US and the trip takes 2 1/2 hours. You can book and print your e-ticket before you go at www.renfe.es. You'll need a taxi from Santa Justa station in Seville into town because they don't have a metro system. Cost varies by day and time. I think the airport there is pretty far out, so the taxi expense will add to the cost of flying.

Enjoy your trip.

Just the info I needed. I have a bit of homework to do now re which to do, but now I am informed. Thank you all very much for your help!

Taxis to the airport are a fixed price in Sevilla. You can find all airport info, includng how to get there, for all of Spain at www.aena.es

Sevilla:

Taxi Stops:
opposite the terminal, both arrivals and departures.
Journey duration:
approximately 15 minutes.
Price:
For journeys between the airport and anywhere within the standard fare limits of the city of Seville, Fare 1 is applied (a single, fixed fare), 19.73 Euro (from Monday to Friday, 7:00 to 21:00).

Where Fare 2 is applied (from 21:00 to 07:00; Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays and December 24th and 31st from 00:00 to 24:00; and public holidays in April and Holy Week, (which also carry a surcharge of 25 percent between 21:00 and 07:00), the fare will be 22 Euro.

We took the AVE to Seville from Madrid after an overseas flight the following day. Stayed close to the Grand Via and then hopped on the subway to Atocha station - a breeze. We had our train locator number and printed our tickets at the station. The train ride was wonderful - very relaxing - then we took a cab from the station to our hotel in Seville - not quite 15 minutes.

A spanish suggestion: I use to travel a lot between Madrid and Seville due to work reasons.And I always use AVE train Like me, a lot of people do the same. The reasons are:
1- It's almost the same time: Train is 2:45 minutes from the center of Madrid to the center of Seville You can arrive 10 minutes before the train leaves. Plane is 30 minutes to arrive to the airport, plus about 1 hour checking,arriving to the gate (Barajas airport is HUGE) and waiting for the plane to leave plus 1 hour flight time plus 20 minutes fron the plane to the terminal plus 20 minutes from Seville airport to the center. That makes more than 3 hours total time by plane.
2-AVE is very comfortable and relaxing and , yes you see the landscape.
3-Ave is cheaper.
4-Your lugagge travels with YOU in AVE. If you go by plane it can end up in Cairo.
5-You don't have to almost undress for the security controls if you go by train.
6-When you arrive to Seville you're in the center of Seville, not 20 kms away.
Hope that helps

Couple of additions to the good comments above. Depending upon traffic, its a 30 minute, 30 Euro cab ride to the train station. The AVE ride is great and you can see much of the Spanish countryside at 300 kph. Its sometimes scenic, but its no Switzerland. I would say its good to do one time. If you've driven through central California (arid, rolling hills), you've seen this part of Spain. I do prefer the location of the Sevilla train station to the airport, but its not a huge deal unless your hotel is walking distance from the train station (it may be).
Enjoy your trip.

Thanks everyone. This is what I am going to do. Land at Madrid, take a bus shuttle into central Madrid (?) then taxi to hotel(Hotel Mora which is walking distance to train station). Stay over and walk over to train station in morning. I have been trying to work the renfe website to buy ticket ahead of time, with no luck, but based on above, looks like I can buy ticket at Madrid airport after I land, so I don't have to go to train station early. ?? If anyone sees any flaws in above, would appreciate your comments. You've all been big help.

The bus goes to the Intercambiador Avenida América, not CENTRAL Madrid, but still a good place to get a taxi to your hotel.

If you do not have heavy luggage, and do not wish to pay a station surcharge, walk away from the station so as not to get into a cab that is considered a station taxi.

hi there, i just booked tickets yesterday for train from madrid to seville. i followed the tripadvisor site and clicked on buy tickets on the top right corner of the website and was able to purchase discounted fares. you might want to try this if you know you are going for sure on that day.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g1...s.Online..html