A friend has a four-hour layover at Madrid Airport. Can anyone recommend a neighborhood nearby the airport which might be good for lunch or sights?
I do know about the yellow Expres Aeropuerto which runs to Atocha Station. This bus takes 40 minutes each direction which would burn up considerable time.
I'm hoping the always wise RS travelers may know of options closer to Madrid Airport. THANKS!
I don't know of a neighborhood near the airport, but the airport is HUGE!
If your friend has a 4 hour layover, he/she will need to return to the airport at least 2 hours before his/her connecting flight departs, (will need to go through security again), so IMO, this does not leave much time to leave the airport.
There are many shops & places to eat at the airport & he/she won't have to go through security again, unless he leaves the secured area(s).
I also would suggest meeting your friend at the airport. The airport express bus only takes 25 minutes each way, but that pretty much uses up all of your friend's time, since they would have to be back two hours before flight time. When I was there in May, I took the 8:00 a.m. shuttle from my airport-area hotel for my 11:00 flight (the shuttle only left hourly). It took me just over 90 minutes to get through bag drop, security, immigration, and a final passport/boarding pass check before getting to my gate. If I had taken the next shuttle I would have been rushing to get there by boarding.
No matter what, though, your friend will have to go back through security, since you cannot go to a secured area to meet them, so they will have to leave the secured area to meet you. There are plenty of places to have a nice meal at the airport, though, without having to rush back.
EDIT: I assumed you were meeting, though I realize now that you didn't actually say that. There are lots of places to eat within the secured area, as well.
