Madrid: travel

Madrid Barajas Airport

It'll come as no surprise that Spain's poshest city has an airport to match. Clean, efficient and just what you'd expect of any major capital city (apart from London, obviously) Madrid Barajas handles 40 million passengers a year by all accounts.

It has four terminals, the most recent being terminal four opened in 2006 which has eased capacity at the other three, and shopping plazas to separate money from your wallet all too easily.

Easyjet flies from Bristol, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Gatwick and Luton to Madrid and the big orange planes will land you at terminal one, which has good connection to the metro at neighbouring terminal two. Also flying into terminal one twice daily are spanish outfits Air Europa and Air Comet from Gatwick, and BMI from Birmingham. Ryanair checks in to the same terminal from London Stansted, Liverpool, East Midlands and Dublin.

Meanwhile British Airways and Spanish carrier Iberia run a regular service, delivering you to the plush new terminal four from the London airports.

Getting into town

The airport is eight miles from the centre of Madrid, just a 20 minute journey by car - on a quiet day. Do allow more time if you are leaving the city in rush hour.

Via metro, trains run between 6am and 1.45am daily from the airport. The main stop is at the lower floor of terminal 2, note it's a good ten to 15 minute walk along endless walkways from Terminal 1. There's also now a separate stop for the new Terminal 4.

Metro Line 8 runs from both airport stops towards the centre - look out for the direction Nuevos Ministerios, where it terminates after a 20 minute ride - but you can change at Mar de Cristal for Line 4 which takes in other central destinations.

Buses link the airport with the city every ten minutes right through to the early hours. From terminal 4 arrivals catch Line 204 for the city centre, it runs to Avenida de América. For passengers landing at terminal 1, hop on Line 200 bus which services the city centre, once again terminating at the Avenida de América.

Suburban trains also link Terminal 4 with Atocha main station in the centre, running half hourly and taking just under half an hour.

You take a taxi for around 25-30 Euros. Make sure you take a cab from the official stand and not from someone offering taxis inside the terminal - we did and it cost us 15 Euros more. Rogues.

Madrid by train

Yep, it really is not that tricky to reach Madrid by rail, particularly from South East England.

Leave London St Pancras on Eurostar 2.14pm, change in paris to Gare d'Austerlitz, catch the 7.45pm Trenhotel Francisco de Goya and sleep the night away until it rolls into Madrid Chamartin station at a very sociable 9.13am. The return route leaves Madrid at 7pm and you could be back in London by 11.28am.

madrid-atocha-station

Busy, smart, sleek: Madrid Atocha station.

Facilities on these trains are very passable and it's a great experience. The return fares begin at £180 but bearing in mind you get two nights of accommodation thrown in that's not bad. You could fly one way and train it back.

The site that tells you all you need to know on this one is Seat 61.

Getting around Madrid

The Madrid metro is on a par with any you'll find in a modern capital city and is probably your best way of getting around. Clean and efficient, you'll rarely have to wait longer than five minutes during the day or 15 minutes in the evening, trains running until 1.30am. Even Sunday services arent too spartan.

Single tickets within Zone A - where all the major attractions can be found - is a very reasonable one euro.

However, you can get a Metrobus ten journey ticket. Alternative bag a 24 hour, 48 hour or 72 ticket which covers you for all metro and bus services in Madrid. Note that these don't cover you for the Getafe area, an additional ticket needs to be bought if you're heading down there. The daily tickets are good value as Madrid does sprawl quite a bit and the metros are very useful for covering the ground.

The tickets can be bought at machines with some english at the stations, at the ticket offices and also nearby newspaper kiosks.

Buses are also an option to consider - remember to stamp your ticket when you board your bus.

Sightseeing tours

Hop on a hop on hop off Madrid Vision bus and this'll give you a flavour of the city in two distinct doses.

Route 1 is historical and takes you past the Palacio Real and Prado plus gives you a chance to admire the stunning architecture of Gran Via.

The second route, which interlinks at Prado and neighbouring stops, brings you into modern Madrid, focussing on 19th century and beyond with everything from the swish homes of upmarket Salamanca to the skyscrapers in the north of the city - including the Bernabau.

Both round trips on the open top buses take 75 minutes and a one day ticket costs 16 euros, two days 20.50. The Madrid Card gets you on these buses for free, plus gives free entry to a wealth of museums including the royal palace and the Prado, for 42 euros for a day or 55 euros for two.