Time to leave the airport?
 

Hey there fellow travelers! We have a 5 hour layover in Madrid (coming from Tel Aviv). Logic tells me this probably isn't long enough to head into the city... Anyone have thoughts on if we could swing a trip into the city in this amount of time? If so, any suggestions on where to go? Thank you in advance!

Halley travels,
Ashley

Don't bother.

A 5 hour layover is 4-4.5 at best after deplaning and clearing immigration and customs.

Your 5 hour layover is now actually 4-4.5.

It's 20-35 min to get into the city. Let's split the difference and say 30 min. That's an hour round trip.

You now have 3-3.5 hours free.

But wait; you'll want to be at the airport 2 hours before your plane leaves. OK, you already have your ticket and your bags are already checked so all you need to do is walk through security and head to your gate. Let's give that task 60 min.

You now have, at best, 2-2.5 hours to spend in the city. In reality it will probably be much less.

Personally, I would not chance it. Some might but I wouldn't.

Many of the times listed above are best case. Deplaning and getting through immigration are liely to take longer. And arriving back an hour before flight time may not be long enough, depending on your destination and how long security lines are,

No - you don't really have time to leave the airport.

Many international airlines, especially those based in the United States, are now closing the cabin door 30 minutes and sometimes 45 minutes before the departure time. That means you need to be checked in at the gate holding area nearly an hour early, chipping away another chunk of your free time.

Thank you guys! I figured there wasn't time... But just wanted to throw it out there. Appreciate your replies :)