My wife and I will land at the Madrid airport on May 6th at 7:30 in the morning but won't depart until 6:45 in the evening. We hope to visit the Prado and perhaps the Royal Palace if time allows. QUESTION-What is the most affordable but quickest way to get to the Prado? We would prefer using the metro subway or bus if either works well for transportation between the airport and the Prado. How many connections are there if using the metro? How many connections if using the bus? Your help will be greatly appreciated!

I know it is not the most affordable, but it is the best and safer. I mean if you are for a day probably you will have some valuables with you, why risk that a bunch of guys block you and steal everything from you before you
say one word?. This sad situation is not a Madrid 's monopoly in Europe.
I took ONLY once a Subway in Madrid and lived to regret it.....!!!
Madrid has an advantage the airport Barajas is not far from the excellent Prado Museum, the taxi should be aprox 18-20 euros, in my opinion.

from the Prado site

Madrid-Barajas. From the airport:

* Underground: Line 8, change at Mar de Cristal station to line 4, change at Goya station to line 2, get off at the Banco de España station.
* Bus: Lines 101, 200

sorry, don't know how long it takes.
if you take a cab, the rush hour may slow it down ( higher cost).

Thanks for the info! Does anyone else have any thoughts?

Leave the luggage and the bling at the airport and take the metro

heartfortheharvest,
The quickest and easiest way, as Graziella very wisely says, is by taxi. I personally feel that it's money well spent particularly if arriving after a long transatlantic flight (which may or may not be your case).

A taxi will get you to the Prado from T4 or T1 (at what terminal will your flight land?) in about 20-30 minutes in normal traffic.
But the estimated '08 cost will be around 25 euros (T 1) or even 30 (T 4) including the obligatory 5 euro airport supplement.

If you feel you must take the metro, please leaave your luggage at the luggage storage in T1, T2 or T4 at the airport.

Metromadrid.es indicates that the *speediest* metro route from the airport to the Prado is the following:

Line 8 to Colombia; at Colombia switch to line 9 to Príncipe de Vergara; at P de V switch to line 2 to Banco de España. You'll have 10 or so intermediate stops.

Then you must walk 4 blocks to the Prado. The entire trip from walking to the metro station at T4 or T1-2-3 to the doors of the Prado can take 45 min. to an hour.

Just some thoughts.

Thanks everyone for your advice. We will only have two small backpacks (no check-in luggage). Does anyone have any thoughts about the bus system from the airport to the Prado?

A new bus service, No. 200, leaves from terminal 2 every 10-20 minutes, between 6am and 11pm. It stops at terminal 1, before heading to the Avenida de America interchange, where you can connect with the Metro in the centre. A one-way trip costs about 1 Euro, or you can buy a 10 journey pass from a ticket machine before boarding.

heartfortheharvest,
The bus trip to Avenida de Américas and transfer to the metro will most likely take longer than the Barajas to Banco de España metro ride.

Hi you already have the relevant answers, but I'll just offer my personal experience anyway. I had about 4 hours in between flights in August and I took a taxi both ways.

With no traffic this took about 20 minutes each way. Fare was 20-25 euros. I don't know if fares in 2008 will be higher -- but most likely Maribel's upper bound of 30 euros is still a good one.

You've enough time to take the Metro. You can buy a 10-ride ticket and split between the two of you. I forget the cost of the ticket, but it was less than 1 euro per ride. If you only have a bag pack Prado has a coat check (and I think lockers). I had a small bag with me and there was no problem.

The problem I see with the metro is that there are too many changes of lines.

One option could be to get the metro up to Nuevos Ministerios (end of the line), and then go outside and catch the 27 that runs all along the Castellana (careful with pickpockets on that line, but they work more often in the evening). You could also get the 14, but there are more 27 buses. Get out in Neptuno (just after the Thyssen). I think it would the simplest way, and after checking in the Madrid transport website, they recommend it.

I haven´t check the lockers at the new extension, but I think that they are bigger that before, so you could leave the backpacks there.

It´s a pity that the XIX century spanish painting exhibition will be over, I have really enjoyed it.

Kind regards, Cova

Hi cova,
Should have mentioned to heartfortheharvest to check
www.ctm-madrid.es for the best/quickest metro/bus route.

We just bought online tickets for the Veláquez Fables show, scheduled to close last week of Feb. The web page doesn't list yet what's coming up in May? Do you know, cova?

heartfortheharvest,
Before your assault on the expanded Prado, I recommend that you take a look at their new, improved web site:
www.museodelprado.es

Thanks a million!
I deeply appreciate everyone's thoughts and advice. I'm checking out the recommended websites and looking forward to a great day in Madrid! Have a wonderful 2008 everyone and happy travels!
J. Michael

Hola Maribel,

I have had a longish Christmas holidays, so I have been coming and going to Bilbao during the last couple of weeks.

Nothing has been announced for May in the Prado, but checking some old magazines from November regarding the new Prado, they spoke of a Goya exhibition for May.

It makes sense, given that we are celebrating 200 years from the 1808 Raising against the french and the beginning of the Independence War.

And talking about this, I haven´t found yet an official website for the celebrations. The first weekend in May will be mad, for certain.

Bye, Cova

Thanks everyone for the info and tips! Happy travels to all!