I have been looking into the best, most direct way to take public transport from the airport to the sol metro stop. We are staying on Calle Mayor and arrive at T1. I see that some people recommend taking the metro to Nuevos Ministerios (sp) and from there take the RENFE Cerancias commuter train to sol. This sounds fairly direct and avoids the ups and downs of the metro stairs and one less change.

Has anyone done this and if so what is the cost for the RENFE train? Also, if you have done it where is the RENFE train at the metro station?

Stick w/metro t get to Sol!
The cercanias leaves from terminal 4 but there is a free shuttle you could take to get there from T1
Cercanias will take you to Atocha-quite atrek w/luggage to Calle Mayor and uphill! You could walk over to the metro at Atocha and take it to Sol.
There are elevators at Nuevos Ministerios and Sol metro stations.

or hop on the airport bus outside and forget about walking to the metro. go above ground , get off at cibeles fountain and then short taxi up the hill to Sol.

If taking the new C1 train, get off at Recoletos ( the stop befroe Atocha and easier to manage IMO) and take a taxi up the long trek to Sol if you have luggage Otherwise, stop along the way, enjoy a terrace and a drink before you walk your way to your hotel.

I would take the bus from T1.Why bother going to T4 ( a long way from T1) to take Renfe.
Taxi from Cibeles as Lin said.

If you go to Atocha by bus, you can take metro from Atocha to Sol, but you still have to walk to your hotel.

If I am not wrong, the OP plan was to get the metro ( L8 ) from the T1 terminal to Nuevos Ministerios and then one of the Cercanias trains to Sol. I don´t think he was thinking of getting the new C1 line.
I think that any of the two options, L8 to Nuevos Ministerios and train (the train station is right there and well signaled) or the one Lin mentioned ( Airport Express Bus up to Cibeles and then a taxi ) are quite OK.

Bye, Cova

Yes Cova you are correct I was thinking of the metro (L8) to Nuevos Ministerios and then Ceranias to Sol. I read a post on Virtual Tourist where a person recommended that. Is this a good option? I think I would forego the taxi to keep down the cost.

Thanks,
Cindy

Hi Opaldog,

I think it really depends on how much luggage you have.

If I remember right ( I have a monthly pass, so I don´t have to pay for the metro and the cercanias ), it will be 2,5 euros for the metro and 1,35 for the cercanias ticket, total : 3,85 (unless you get a 10 trip ticket, just 9,30 euros and valid for all the people in your party. Don´t forget to add the airport supplement). This could be a good option if you don´t carry lots of luggage. The lines from Nuevos Ministerios to Sol are C3, C4A and C4B, just 4 minutes.

If you opt for the bus and taxi from Cibeles (maybe better if you have lots of luggage) is 2 euros plus the taxi, it could be around 6, 7 euros depending exactly where are you going.
You could also get the bus to Cibeles and then the metro, L2 (the red one), just a couple of stops to Sol.

I am afraid that I have given you way too much information ...

Bye, Cova

I just remember the LOOOOONG walk to the metro at Barajas then another LOOOOOONG walk to make connectionsto metro or cercanias at Nuevos Ministerios.
By the time you add up the fares & time spent you'd be better off taking the bus and then a short taxi ride to you apt!!!!

I agree, chapla. Besides, the airport bus is MUCH safer for tourists than the metro, although I have never been robbed on either.. but my friend was totally accosted on the metro (downtown) right next to me.

The bus is just soooo easy.

I will have to look into these options. I had thought about the airport bus to Cibeles. I could take the metro or the taxi from there. Thanks for all of the advice. Here's another question. We want to go to the horse races at Hipodromo de Zarzuela. The sunday we are there is the closing day of the racing season. Could anyone give any thoughts on the best way to get there on public transport from Calle Mayor. They do have a dedicated bus for the track but it only goes once and returns once. We don't want to stay at the track all day, just a few races.

Hi ! just called them and the tour company JULIÁ will have buses on Paseo Moret, at the taxt stand area, It's sign will say "Hippodromo".

Startign at 9:30 a.m. that day and every 20 minutes they go back and forth until 4:00 pm. This is a free service. Enjoy!

That's paseo Moret n front of the "intercambiador de Moncloa" stated on the website.

Thanks so much. I thought the bus would only go once and return once. That is great information. I try to get to a racecourse in every country that we visit. We will be there for the closing day.