On our way to Andalucia and the only airfare that we could afford required landing in Madrid and then making it down there by train.
I've seen enough of Madrid before (including daytrips to Toledo and Segovia) and was looking at a possible daytrip to Cuenca.
I see how long it takes to get from Madrid to Cuenca and just want to know if anyone has gone there on a daytrip.
Thanks
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I spent a couple of nights in Cuenca. If you're prepared to spring for the AVE fare, I think a day-trip will be fine if you don't intend to spend a really long time in the two modern-art museums. If you intend to take the slow train, I don't believe it will work because the trip is so long and the trains so infrequent. In that case, I'd suggest you go to Alcala de Henares instead.
Thanks acraven. Spain is not easy to get around on public trans and like you say the earlier you book the lower the costs.
I am flying back from Malaga (Seville and Granada expensive to fly from the first week of january 2019) to Brussels and then to Chicago
I had the same experience when I priced my flight into Spain and back from London for next year. Anything into Andalucía was hundreds of dollars more expensive than Madrid, so I'm flying to Madrid, spending my jetlag day there, and then taking a train to Seville the next day. That will allow me to buy a promo-fare ticket without any concern about missing the train. I'll probably book a late-afternoon train so I can see one or two neighborhoods in Madrid before departing. I did the Madrid museums in 2016.
Well I just got a deal on Renfe Madrid to Cordoba 2 tickets for 66 euros for a December 29 morning departure.
We are staying one night in Cordoba and then taking the bus to Seville.
That sounds like a very good deal on short notice.
I was in Cuenca this past June, and personally found it very nice, but not really special. I went by AVE train from Valencia, spent one night at the Parador across a pedestrian bridge from the old town, and the next day picked up a rental car in the new town, and went off in different directions. The AVE train station is very modern and nice but a few miles from town. When I arrived, after a pit stop in the station, there were no taxis there, and only one person around. Fortunately he had a cell and helped me call a taxi. The problem with a day trip is often that you have to add up the transit time and the costs of transit for your group, and then decide if the benefit of the visit outweighs the costs, compared to what you might do right where you are based.
The problem with a day trip is often that you have to add up the transit time and the costs of transit for your group...
You got that right Larry. 50 minutes to get there is ideal and from what I see there is a bus that goes to the old town, But the AVE train if I booked today two round trip tickets would cost 78 euros Madrid to Cuenca for two people.
To cut costs I might take the bus there and the AVE train back
So I may or may not go and just consider a daytrip somewhere else other than Toledo, El Escorial, Segovia. I think a had enough of Madrid on a previous trip but I'm digging to see what I'm missing.
I bet that bus trip from Madrid to Cuenca is a long one. I'm even surprised that there is a bus.
Really, check into Alcala de Henares. You could also consider Chinchon. Both much closer to Madrid and very reasonable transportation cost.
That bus says 2 hours 10 minutes https://www.avanzabus.com/
https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Madrid/Cuenca-Spain
I would take the 6 am one
That's not bad at all. But I am not a 6 AM-bus kind of gal.
