Hi,
I am arriving in Madrid Barajas (Terminal 4) and am staying in a hotel on Gran Via. From the airport website and other guides I know that the metro is the cheapest way to get to the city. But I was wondering if anyone had any opinions on how convenient this is compared to a taxi. For example, I find that being in crowded carriages with luggage can be a problem, such as bumping into people and security. Also, the effort of clambering up and down several stairs to change lines (like in the London Underground) sometimes seems more effort than paying a little more for a taxi. (One or two is fine, but some of the London Tube stations, like Embankment or Waterloo, are a nightmare if you have bags.)
From the metro map, it looks like it would need two station changes to get to Gran Via. I have not been able to find any information on the Madrid metro stations themselves, so any advice on whether you think these stations will be hard to navigate would be much appreciated!
Thanks!
I've been to Madrid several times and always arrive with the best of intentions of getting the metro. These best of intentions, however, have never lasted beyond the exit of the arrivals terminal and I've always got a taxi.
Its more expensive - count on around €25 to Gran Via - but if you've never been to Madrid before it is a good introduction to the city as the route the taxi (should) takes passes the leaning Europa Towers, down Passeo Castellano with the Bernabeu Stadium on the left, on down the Paseo de Recoletos before turning right at the Plaza de Cibeles towards Gran Via.
Just make sure the driver switches on the meter in your taxi.
As you probably know, there is now a direct metro link from T4 into Madrid. The metro line starts at T4 so at least it shouldn't be crowded when you board. If you're daunted by the prospect of changing trains in central Madrid, you can always get off at Nuevos Ministerios and take a taxi from there; it will be much cheaper than a taxi all the way from T4.
Madrid metro is much more modern and easier to negotiate than the London one. I always use it.
Be certain to check out the Madrid Metro website @ http://www.metromadrid.com</a>. But as tony_b states above, now T4 has a metro . But getting to it, getting your metro ticket (1 for 1€ or the cheaper 10-trip MetroBus for 6.40€), pulling your luggage through the turnstiles, finding a place to put your luggage and standing next to it until you change metro trains a number of times, up/down stairs and/or escalators, all the while vigilant of those around you. (travelers are often distracted by tickets, itineraries, maps, or looking at signs) You'll potentially be on your feet for an hour or more (probably more) from the time you claim your luggage to the time you arrive at the door of your hotel. While I LOVE taking the metro to go TO the airport to meet people I ALWAYS take a taxi to/from the airport when I'm traveling myself (or when I'm taking friends to their hotel). 25-33 Euros for the taxi is an excellent investment unless you're long on patience and fortitude and/or short on money.
When I take the metro to/from the airport, the people I see traveling are those with only one piece of rolling luggage and maybe one carry-on. If you're in good shape and you're not traveling with more than this then try it. But I think for my piece of mind you might strongly consider taking the taxi and you won't have to worry "am I on the right metro train?", "am I going the correct direction?" (I've done this many times), or "is this my stop?" Plus, you'll likely be arriving quite tired from a long plane trip and the last thing you want to do is stand over your luggage and test what's left of your strength on the metro. Take the metro returning TO the airport and give yourself plenty of time.
Best of luck.
Saludos, MadridMan/BarcelonaMan
Forgive the posting: CORRECTION: The Madrid Metro website is http://www.metromadrid.es/</a> (not DOT COM - I knew that - ugh).
Oh gawd. Don't even joke about that, tony_b. In fact, I'm even nervous about commenting on your above statement for actual FEAR that the moderator might think that I'm replying to you JUST to have my signature viewable once again. We've all seen these people before.
I do wish there were two options on the text editors here:
1) an EDIT button
2) an option to post WITHOUT the signature line
But to add a little more to this thread, hopefully making my posting now more on-topic (I hope. I hope. I hope), there's a shuttle company called AeroCity (web: http://www.aerocity.com</a>) which takes multiple travelers to hotels around Madrid from the airport. The more people you have in the group with whom you're traveling the cheaper it is per person. But since it's a shared shuttle service you may have to stop at others' hotels before yours. The price comes out to be cheaper than a taxi and there can be some waiting time for the next shuttle. The drivers never speak English so you'd just have to shout out your hotel name and maybe give the address if needed. I used this service roughly 5 years ago and thought it worked well but I don't hear them mentioned much anymore on message boards.
Saludos, MadridMan
MMC, I used Aerocity in March this year and have recommended it on here two or three times since. It's really excellent. Door-to-door and we paid €21 for three of us (not EACH) from T4 to Central Madrid. You can book online and you know in advance how much it's going to cost and can print it off. No haggling with the driver and our driver knew our address in advance . It worked out cheaper than a taxi for the same distance.
The only thing is that I couldn't see how you could just walk up to an Aerocity minibus at the airport and ask the driver to take you without advance booking.
A good recommendation on your part. You're reinstated.
Well the metro is a lot cheaper, so I always use, even with bags. (you pay the one euro transferfee + the 0,64 fee (in you use the 10 viajas ticket), for a ride, for me saving 20 euro is worth the hassle.
For Gran Via, you will have two changes, one at Nuevos Ministerios, and one at Tribunal. (don't be tempted to go Nuevos Ministerios - Cuatro Caminos, in Cuarto Caminos you will only find stairs, and no escalator). For me it usualy takes about an hour to get to Tirso de Molina. (a little further south on the same line as Gran Via)
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