For a day trip from Madrid to Segovia later this month, we're trying to decide between bus and train.

The train itself is faster, but if you add the time to get to Chamartin (we're staying near the Prado) and from the Segovia train station to the center of town, the bus isn't much slower. Also, trains are either at 8:45 (arrive 9:12), which seems early, or 11:15 (arrive 11:43) which seems late, while buses are every 30 minutes, leaving on the hour or half hour.

Am I missing something?

If we take the bus, are these directions correct: take the metro to Principe Pio, leave the station by the main escalator, walk across the hall to the bus terminal escalator and take that down to the Sepulvedana ticket office?

You are correct about the train.. we took a taxi from the train station to the center of Segovia and back to avoid waiting .
Also, there are many tunels on the way.
Sorry, don't know about the bus, but might be a better option.

We were staying near Plaza Mayor and took metro to chamartin to catch Segovia fast train. I believe we were on that earlier train you refer to. like Danon, we took a cab to town. I liked arriving early, we sat at a cafe for coffee and a pastry before starting our sightseeing. With the bus you always run the risk of running into traffic. the idea of being in a bus for an an hour and a half is not too appealing to me.

Well ... from the place you are staying, you will need around 20-25 minutes to get to Principe Pio, so the time to get to the bus station or to the train station is similar.

I would take either the metro ( L1 ) or the local train ( Cercanias ) in Sol to Chamartín, around 5-10 minutes, and then the train to Segovia. The bus in Segovia waits for the people arriving from Madrid, and it takes no more than 15 minutes to get to the Acueducto. The 8:45 train is not so bad, especially if the weather is fine and you can get your breakfast in Segovia while sitting in the sun.

Rgds, Cova

@danon & cruiselov - was the taxi much faster than 15 minutes?

@cruiseluv - how long did it take from your hotel to Segovia town?

@cova - according to google maps, from our hotel it's about 40 minutes to Chamartin and about 16 minutes to Intercambiador Principe Pio. Add in some time to get from the train station to town, and the train seems to lose much of its advantage.

we just did not wish to wait for the bus since we planed to stay in Segovia only the afternoon. Taxi is faster, but I don't know by how much.
We took 11:15 train.

Fusion,

I think the taxi was about 10 mins. I don't recall seeing the bus waiting but maybe I missed seeing it.

Sorry, but what do you mean by "from hotel to town"? You mean door to door ? If so, sorry but I dont exactly remember. I think the metro to Chamartin was around 20 mins and we got to train station about 20-30 mins early since we needed to buy ticket and wanted to have something to eat.

We are planning a day trip to Segovia from Madrid in June. Do we need to buy our train tickets ahead of time or can we wait until we get to Madrid?
Thanks.

You can wait but there are substantial discounts available if you purchase in advance but tickets are nonrefundable.

Rent a car! The driving is easy. We didn't even use a map. Only road signs and neither 1 of us know spanish. It was a lovely ride thru hilly country. We went out of our way a few times and stopped at El Escorial for a few hours and Avila for coffee and a snack. We made it to our hotel in the center of Segovia in plenty of time to stroll around the town, have a great meal and enjoy the vews. Of course we spent the nite, but if you don't make the side trips we did, you could do it in 1 day.

fusion, can you tell us the name of your hotel? You said near the Prado, so I guessed Calle del Prado (where there are a few hotels favourite of the Fodorites), and I checked that on :
www.ctm-madrid.es
That´s the website of Madrid Transport. Check on "recommended path", and you can find out the best and quickest way.
I feel that there isn´t a big difference between train or bus, but as cruiseluv mentioned, the bus can run into traffic jams. The road it takes is one of the worst here in Madrid, so the likelihood of getting stuck in traffic is quite high.

Bye, Cova

cova - we're staying at the Westin Palace. Google maps is now showing about 20 minutes to Intercambiador de Príncipe Pío by 46 bus and 40 minutes to Chamartin by 1 metro. I'll check http://www.ctm-madrid.es/

Madrid Transport is showing the same routes, but 2 minutes longer for Principe Pio and 2 minutes shorter for Chamartin.

Any need to buy tickets in advance? Can we just decide at the last minute and buy tickets when we get to the relevant station?

i always take the bus-very comfortable coach w/assigned searts.Take a cab to Pricipe Pio-less than 5€.I would suggest you walk down to the Paseo de Prado, cross the street and then you will be able to get the cab going in the right direction!
The bus is delightful, cheap and really gives you a view of Madrid.Going to Segovia you will be able to see the huge croos on top of the Valley of the Fallen.On the way back you'll see Madrid University, 4 towers and the Kio towers.you miss all that on the train.
The ride is just under an hour! They drive really fast....
The best part of the bus ride is when you get to Segovia,just walk down to the aquaduc-with the train you need to take a bus or cab into town!
If you have a chance,don't miss a visit to La Granja.It's a 15 minute bus ride from the same bus station.A magical place!
One more thing, whenyou get to Principe Pio-which is now a wonderful shoping mall-go down the escalator and find the window for the Segovia bus well marked and buy a roundtrip ticket-de ida y vuelta.If you should wan to change your time earlier/later,just change it in Segovia at the bus station.