Can you transfer between buses and metro or for that matter bus to bus? Coming from the airport, taking a bus would get me to the plaza colon. to get to the hostal I need to take another bus.
thanks


[ 01-10-2002: Message edited by: MadridMan ]

If you take a bus to Plaza de Colón it will cost 2 € (more or less), then if you have to take another one, you must take your luggage and take the other bus (normally not prepared to transport suitcases) and pay another euro (more or less).

There is a ticket called metrobus with which you can travel indistinctly by bus or metro 10 times (each time you enter metro is consider one of these times, no matter how many transfers you do) at a reduced price. However, the line to the airport doesn't accept this kind of ticket.

Fernando

You can also take the metro directly from the Airport to downtown Madrid. The ride is approximately 45 minutes. If you are operating on a tight budget it´s well worth the cost.

The metrobus ticket (worth 10 trips) is good for the metro line from the airport. I met some friends flying in from Philadelphia, picked them up at the airport via the metro and went back to Puerto de Sol on the metro. Relatively seamless and very easy (as long as you aren´t traveling with tons of suitcases)

If you have a PDA (Palm, Handspring, etc) you can download FREE metro software from the internet that has the entire metro, cercanías and train system maps for Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia as well as many of other cities around the world!

Fernando writes:

This needs a little clarification: You say the line to the airport doesn't accept this kind of ticket. That's the YellowBus line, right? I don't think you were referring to the Metro line - I have transferred at Mar de Crystal from linea-4 to linea-8 (?? the airport line) several times on an ordinary Metro ticket.

Chica:
You make it sound so easy! For me, it has always been difficult (even with a rolling suitcase) making 3 or 4 transfers to get to Chamartin station by Metro from aeropuerto de Barajas - even getting to the Metro from the International arrivals hall is a hike.

Yes, I meant the bus line to the airport Sorry, I realize I didn't express myself enough good.

Regards.

Fernando

Chica, Eddie, Fernando

So ..... when one comes out of International arrivals, can you give me a step by step guide to getting the Metro from the airport to city centre? Not too worried about the last bit, just the first bit.

The extent of my knowledge of the outside of the airport was gained from getting into an Aerocity minibus, and getting out of one on the way back.

Next time, we want to take the Metro because we will have little luggage and there will be just the two of us.

So, just a guide as to where to actually go (and distances etc) when leaving the airport to catch the Metro would be great.

Thanks.

Jo

Jo-Anne (and others), as was discussed in another thread recently, the metro line (#8) from the airport has been closed for renovations or other "works". Not sure WHY it's closed seeing as how it's only about 1 year old, but it is closed for the time being. I couldn't find any news/info about expected opening dates on their www.MetroMadrid.es website either.

The #8 line has been closed due to a grievance filed by the Unión de Taxistas Madrileños, claiming the lower-cost alternative to the city center is gouging their profits and forcing many taxistas to take pay cuts. You can read the whole story at www.utm.es/huelga .

Line 8 was close in order to put and test the new trains that will operate in this line when the big station of Nuevos Ministerios open before this summer.

The line will re-open next 14 of january. Meanwhile there are bus services for free.
check the metro de madrid web for detailed info.

Jo-Anne:
Coming from the UK you may not arrive at Terminal#1 (old international arrivals hall)-I think we arrived at Terminal#2 when I came on EasyJet from London (Luton) last June. MetroMadrid airport Metro station is between Terminals 2 & 3. When you get to that area, look for the Metro signs.

I don't know anything about when linea-8 will be back in service to Barajas airport or why it has been shut down.

Eddie

I hadn't realised it was so easy and obvious, It sounded from above that it was a bit of a hassle. Shouldn't be a problem then?

(If it's open of course! )

Jo

[ 01-11-2002: Message edited by: Jo-Anne ]

V_diaz is right. They closed it to test the new trains "serie 8000" for the line 8. If you are interested in the new trains, have a look at this link .

Eddie, Terminal 2 is for domestic flights and Iberia flights to the Schengen countries. Since the UK is not part of the Schengen treaty, all flights are operated from Terminal 1.

There is also a new bus service connecting all the terminals.

Hey Gang --

Thanks for the update on metro line 8
(I´m a poet, and didn´t know it, my feet show it, they´re Longfellows -- groan, sorry had to throw that in)

I didn´t know it was closed and I live right here duh! (MM do you have a Homer Simpson duh .wav?)

Jo-Anne, the metro from the airport (if you arrive when it is open) is easy to use, but like Eddie says, it´s a bit of a hike. But don´t fear, there are moving sidewalks in the airport and the signs to the metro are clearly marked with the word METRO in a horizontal diamond shape.

For Americans wanting to use the metro, it is a drag to use if you are coming in on an overnight flight.!!

I will probably be using it soon as I found a roundtrip flight to New York from Madrid for about $250 USD ... 50,000 ptas!! Whooo hooo! Is that a Pat´s Steak that I smell???

This afternoon when I was traveling on the metro they made an anouncement saying that linea 8 from/to airport will re-open next monday (14/01).

[ 01-11-2002: Message edited by: Antonio ]

Just kidding

Man, not only was I exposed as a total fraud, but totally ignored, too! I must explore more sneaky ways to be an annoyance!

Calibasco, I actually did believe you (at first), just didn´t take the time to look at the (your) "website" !!!! Ha ha ha!!

This is just a general observation, and - to all on the board familiar with Mardrid - will be an obvious comment... :o

The METRO system is excellent. Familiar to less "dense" systems in the United States (except for New York), I easily say Madrid's system is on par with Paris, NY, Mexico City, and London. Clean, efficient, and everywhere you'd want to go (except for Barajas at the moment).

As many have mentioned, the 10-ride ticket is a great value and very flexible.
Just be warned if you travel in July and August - I've been told there's no air conditioning and the heat can get quite intense. Maybe those are good months to take the bus!

Chica writes:

Your reference to Pat's cheesesteaks may not be understood by most of the people on this board since 'It's a Philly thing!' Most of us probably couldn't even find the Melrose Diner. The Mayfair Diner in my neighborhood is where Bruce Willis breakfasts when he is doing a movie in Phila.

Have a safe trip back! Go Eagles! (In case you've lost touch: Eagles play Tampa Bay at 4:30 PM today 'at the Vet' in the 1st round of the playoffs).

JJP, the new Metro trains do have air conditioned (e.g. those in the line #8). In the rest of the lines, the newest trains also have it and I think there are plans to equip the rest of them in the near future.