I am going to the Tomatina this year. Originally, I had two friends going, are no longer able to go. I've always wanted to go, I am still going. Here is my current itinerary, it's still a little up in the air:

Sat, August 23: Madrid - Arrive in Madrid, Stay the Night
Sun, August 24: Barcelona - Travel to Barcelona, Explore the City
Mon, August 25: Barcelona - Explore the City
Tue, August 26: Valencia - Travel to Valencia, Explore the City
Wed, August 27: Valencia - Take bus to La Tomatina, Come back to Valencia
Thr, August 28: Madrid - Travel to Madrid, Explore the City
Fri, August 29: Madrid - Explore the City
Sat, August 30: Madrid - Explore the City
Sun, August 31: Madrid - Fly Home

So here is the part where I ask for help. I'm wondering what the best way is to move between cities. Are trains the way to go? I was looking at the renfe.es web site, and there are several departures from different areas of Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia. For example Madrid has:
Madrid(*)
Madrid Atocha Cercanias
Madrid-Chamartin
Madrid-Nuevos Ministerios
Madrid-Puerta De Atocha
Madrid-Recoletos (apd)

I tried typing in few of the names from the list into google to see where they are, and google often times pulls up multiple results. Searching for train stations in Madrid gives me two of the stations on the list. Is there a train station map somewhere that would show where the train stations (at least the ones that renfe.es lists) are located in the cities I am visiting?

Next question: I am definitely interested in catching a bullfight and some flamenco dancing. Which cities in my itinerary would be best for that. The Fodor's travel book says southern Spain is the place for flamenco, but I won't be down there on this trip.

Does anyone know if it will be difficult to get from Valencia to Buñol (where the Tomatina is)? I have heard there is a bus you can take, but I don't know that for sure. Is there anyway to check that out?

And lastly, what is the easiest way to get from the airport in Madrid to downtown: train, bus, taxi, or other?

I'm hoping this is going to be an exciting and memorable trip. Thanks in advance for all your help.

Both the train to Barcelona and the train from Valencia will depart and arrive from Atocha, in the south. Most of the train stations you ask about are local train stations (no good to you).

Bye, Cova

I usually check train connections on renfe.es by choosing e.g. Madrid(*) to Valencia(*). When the different train connections pop up, choose the one you want to take, and click on "Route" logo in the lower right hand corner of the screen. A seperate window will pop up and show you which stations that train serves.
You can find the location of Atocha station with viamichelin.com
Use "estación de Atocha" in the field for "street/station". The exact location of the station is bit SE of where viamichelin puts the target icon, but you can already see the train icon for the correct location of the station nearby.

Thanks for the replies. Interesting that the michelin website has such a map on it.

Does anyone know how I can find out about a bus from Valencia to Buñol?

Sorry, no personal knowledge.. just something I found on the web and which might be useful:

http://gospain.about.com/od/tomatina...ses_trains.htm

Sorry, wrong link. This should be the right one:

http://gospain.about.com/od/tomatina...ncia_bunol.htm