I would like to know how difficult it might be to use the Madrid metro pulling a wheeled suitcase.
My wife and I are looking at accommodation in the area near the Anton Martin and Tirso de Molina metro stations on metro line 1 (blue). We need to get from the airport to our accommodation. We will then leave Madrid by train from the Atocha station.
If we take the airport bus to Atocha I believe we can use a lift to get down to the Atocha Renfe metro station. There do not appear to be lifts at Anton Martin or Tirso de Molina. We can reverse the metro trip when we leave.
So the question is will we have any great difficulty getting onto and off the metro carriage with suitcases, and up and down stairs at stations without a lift ? We are fit and reasonably agile 64 year old experienced travellers and can manage our suitcases quite well on level ground.
Of course we could spend our money on taxis, but would rather enjoy spending the money in a good restaurant !
Cheers
Peter
Do be careful of pick pockets on the metro and in markets and crowds in Spain.
Consider buying tickets online beforehand for the Prado, etc rather than wait in long queues.
My recollection is that many metro stations have elevators, and I think nearly all have moving stairs (escalators), so getting to and from street level should not usually be a concern.
As for whether the trains will be too crowded for you AND your suitcases -- it's hard to say. As you might have guessed, there are crowded times of day, which Americans (and probably others) call "rush hour," when you may have a hard time heaving a big suitcase, then yourself, inside. (And remember the principle of "first do no harm" -- you probably don't want to break someone's foot as you hurriedly swing your suitcase inside.) But I suspect that on most metro lines, most of the time, you'll be able to manage to ride with your suitcases.
Take note that unless things have changed in the three years since I was last there, you will be wise to have a few extra Euros in your pocket wen you take the metro to the airport on your way home -- you have to buy one last ticket at the airport metro stop, in order to pass through the turnstile and enter the airport itself.
And try to make life easier for yourselves by taking the smallest bags you can. You know the trick: pack everything you think you will need, then take out half. Repeat if necessary.
Thankyou everyone for your suggestions and advice.
For anyone with questions about elevators etc at Madrid metro stations use the following website. I had to try a few options: if you enter the station under "Query Station", then click "Information", look at "Services". Anton Martin has only mobile phone signal, but no lifts or elevators listed.
https://www.metromadrid.es/en/viaja_en_metro/instalaciones_y_tiempos/indexAccesible.html
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