Hello,

I'm going to be picking up a rental car at MAD immediately on arrival to first spend a few days in Toledo and out exploring. Back in MAD, I'll be staying at the Westin. I'm looking for some advice on whether I should return the car back at the airport and take a cab or the Aerocity shuttle back into town; or if I would save some time and money by dropping the car at a downtown location. I've never been to Madrid so don't know if it would be absolutely crazy to attempt driving downtown even if it is just straight to the rental car location. I have driven in London, Paris and several other European cities and regularly drive in San Francisco so I'm not completely inexperienced at city driving, however I would never drive in Rome or Athens.

What would your advice be? Will it cost me much extra in time to take it back to the airport?

Thank you!

Madrid is really easy to drive in compared to Paris. So, if you can handle driving in Paris, (?!), Madrid will seem like a small town.

Coming through the N-401 (the road to Toledo) will take you easily to Atocha. If your rental company let you drop the car at Atocha railway station, then it will be easier than getting to the airport with the car.

Thanks very much. I will make arrangements to drop the car at Atocha station. I appreciate the suggestion.

There is also a rental drop-off location for Avis (we rented with them through AutoEurope) on the Gran Via. I don't know where the Westin is, but that may be another option if you rent with them. When we picked up at the airport and dropped off at the Gran Via location, there was no extra charge.

You'll be fine driving in the city (and the Gran Via, like Atocha, is easy to find). It's easier than Rome by far (don't know Athens)--but still crowded, of course! Try not to arrive at traditional rush hour times (which, like in most cities, are LONG!).