On a Sunday, we need to get from Granada to Madrid. In Madrid, we need to get to the Barrio Salamanca. I have read pasts threads about this particular travel. I know that the high speed train is not done and that you have to get a bus to another place to get to Madrid. We are leaning towards driving or flying. Any advice? Cost for 2 adults and 3 kids? If we drive, we can stop in Toledo and perhaps one other place. There are no 2018 inquiries about this. I have read that the 4 1/2 hr drive is boring. Gracias.

Iberia Airlines - 1 hour flight. Approx. $250 per person

We picked up a car in Toledo and drove to Granada. First part was boring, but after that we had some beautiful scenery through vineyards and such with the sea in view. You could do the reverse. Leave car in Toledo and train to Madrid. Toledo is nice for an overnight even, if you have time.

No, the drive we enjoyed was Granada to Malaga, sorry.

If you leave Granada about 6:45 am it takes just under 4 hours to Madrid by train - later trains take a couple of hours more - www.bahn.de/en - shows no bus involved but that may not be accurate nor the time but if is and OK to leave early you'll have much of day in Madrid. Renfe for booking online tickets - www.seat61.com sage advice o booking your own tickets - general info BETS-European Rail Experts and www.ricksteves.com.

Interior of Spain largely IME boring - semi-arid kind of bleak.

PAL, Renfe should be used for Spanish trains. Bahn doesn't show what is a train and what is a bus, that's the problem. The bus IS run by Renfe and has a route number (13062 for the earliest), but only the Renfe site tells you that is a bus.

I would take the train. It's not a problem. Travel time will be between 3hr 55min and 4hr 12min., depending on which train-bus connection you take. The bus will take you to Antequera where you pick up the train to Atocha station. You can take a taxi from there to the Salamanca district, say abount 10 minutes.

The cost for the 9:40 am train should be 34.55€, or 38€ for the promo + tickets.

Bahn.de does show buses but only when it is a permanent part of route - I suspected they did not show temporary buses so yes renfe.com for those - thanks! If total travel time is as low as 3:55 with a bus that is exactly same as without. Yet hassle transferring luggage and selves from train to bus to train is a hassle. Still beat flying however and all the possible delays, etc possible with that. How long does it take to get to Granada airport - how early before plane departure time must you check-in and go thru security and then in from Madrid Airport? Plus costs of airport transfers - flying seems much more a hassle than anything to do with thebus snafu on trains and yes you do see some of Spain in between Granada and Madrid - first part at least on old route still used if I recall correctly goes thru mountains.

And cost can ber beat if you book early.

Another vote for the train.

Reading it over - why not drive from Granada to Toledo and Madrid? 4.5 hours is quicker than the train. And with 3 kids cars are nice vs bus to train and changing and all.

PalenQ- you are hitting the nail on the head. That is what we are thinking but these comments are very helpful.

And driving is door to door - no rushing around to meet a scheduled train at certain time - like trains and planes too. That can be priceless for family size of yours.

Well, for one thing Toledo can -- depending on your interests -- warrant far more than just a stop en route from Granada to Madrid. Many people visit it as a day trip, but many of us are glad to have 2 nights (or more) in Toledo.

Having a car can offer a freedom not otherwise available and a chance to see places that are not readily visited via public transportation, and certainly, there are times when I choose to rent a car, too! But there are disadvantages to having a car, too. For example:

- For one thing, some of those “oh, doesn’t that look charming!” places aren’t actually that charming, and by the time you get back on the road, you can end up with less time than might be ideal for visiting the places that were your priorities.

- For another thing, driving can be stressful – and I say that as someone who loves driving! But some roads are challenging, unexpected detours or GPS failures can be a bit daunting, and driving into cities (and finding parking) can make the last part of a long trip decidedly unpleasant.

- Driving – or at least responsible driving – can also pose constraints on the driver. For example, the driver may be unable to truly enjoy spectacular scenery, as s/he needs to pay attention to the road -- sometimes, very careful attention! And depending on how much one eats and one’s size and and how long one relaxes over a meal, even a glass of wine with lunch may carry risks.

- Driving is generally not a particularly green choice – and for some of us, that is a worthy consideration.

- and one of the best things about taking public transportation: It can sometimes give you wonderful opportunities to interact with people from the area, or gain insights into local norms and traditions.

Just some things to consider....

Carry spare pair of spectacles if you are required on license to wear them - Spanish law I hear and there are police checks not just for that but to check papers, drunk drivers, etc and they could, reports have it ask for spare glasses.

Driving is fine, and there are two options if you are not going to spend at least one night along the way:

1. The first stop should be Almagro (just under 3 hours on the road), then over to Manzanares to see the 15th-century Castle of Manzanares El Real. From there it's up to Consuegra two see the wind mills and then on to Toledo, finishing in Madrid. Total driving time (behind the wheel) would be around 6 hours. Adding to that all the time needed for sightseeing, fuel, food, will make for a very long day for everyone.

2. Stopping only in Toledo to see the sights. Driving time (behind the wheel) would be just under 5 hours. Still a very long day if you spend any time at all in Toledo.

And don't forget parking a car full of luggage, especially one that says "Hertz, Avis or Europcar" on the back bumper or window.

Then there is driving into Madrid in the late afternoon or early evening hours, during the commute. Traffic will be heavy. Dropping the rental car off can be a challenge when you are not familiar with a city. We normally advise people to drop the rental car off at the airport and take a taxi or bus into the city. Dropping it off at Atocha is a possibility, but you need to study the situation carefully as signage is terrible and the streets around the station busy.

If you're an American or Canadian, you'll also need a IDP, International Driving Permit, which you have to get at your local AAA.