Early landing Madrid, then onto Sevilla. Transport options to Sevilla. Ave or flight?

Flying will be easiest since you'll be at the airport. No point going into Madrid just to get a train to Sevilla. The train from Sevilla back to Madrid is easy and quick.

I stayed at the Hotel Amadeus in Barrio Santa Cruz, very comfortable and well located. It's on the expensive side, you might want to offer a price range to get more useful suggestions.

Easiest would be to change your existing ticket to fly to Sevilla on one ticket. (Delta might reroute you via one of the partner hubs in Amsterdam or Paris, but that would still be the more seamless plan.)

Dick and Scudder I really appreciate the feedback. Flying seems like the best way then. Question, never been to MAD Airport. I looked on Iberian Express (IB) website and they have a 11:40 am departure for Sevilla. Not sure if either of you have experience with IB or would recommend another airline? Do you believe almost 3 hours is enough time between arrival MAD and departure to SVQ? I feel in most cases that is plenty of time. Next flight time for Iberian Express to SVQ is 3:55pm. If you think that is a bad plan or too risky, I will see about changing our direct flight to MAD to AMS/Paris then to SVQ. Thanks again for your help.

Hank- Madrid’s airport is built of two terminal complexes, which are quite far apart. 3 hours might be OK if you’re in the same terminal, but not if you have to change. Delta operates out of Terminal 1 (which is connected to 2 &3), whereas all Iberia flights are out of T4.

Personally, I’d go into own to get a train rather than change terminals for a flight 6 hours later. Booking a train at least three hours after landing time is a safe window.

Again, I’d strongly suggest you call Delta and look in to changing the itinerary to fly into Sevilla on the same ticket. (If you fly into one city and out of another that’s called a “multi-city”, or “open-jaw” ticket.)

I took a look at the MAD airport map and can see what you're saying Scudder. Three hours may not be enough time to get through. Not great options for flying out of CDG and AMS, Ref layover times. Option 1 out of CDG via Delta arrives at 12:30 PM and then departs 2:10PM via air France to SVQ. That leave us with an 1:40 layover. Also has a message on the ticket. Reads - Tickets sold by AF. Often delayed by +30 mins. Hopefully, that mean AF is late. I will have to call and check on that. Also, I'm not sure if I have to grab our checked baggage or if Delta gets it on the AF flight? Option 2 out of AMS via Delta arrives 12:55 PM and then departs 5:20PM via Transavia to SVQ. That ends up being a 4:25 layover and 8:15 PM arrival to SVQ. Not sure if I should roll the dice for the 1:40 lay over or go with the long lay over and play it safe but arrive much later. I will have to thinker over for a minute. Again, I appreciate your feedback.

If you’re on one ticket you wouldn’t have to collect luggage in AMS or CDG. But I agree, those schedules don’t sound great.

If connecting flights don’t work, the a train leaving at or after 12:00 should be OK. (Don’t forget to look at Iryo as well as Renfe/Ave.)

Appreciate all the input Scudder. Looks like the train it is. Never trained before. Is there a train station in the airport to jump on? If not, which station is the most convent? Would like to take that AVE? Will start some research. Thanks for helping this rookie out and saving me from a possible disaster Scudder. I don't want to screw this connection up and hear it from the wife! HA! Dick, Hotel Amadeus looked great but unfortunately its full for our time there. We are going to try another hotel close by in that area.

Update: I have the train travel figure out. Thanks again!

Hi Hank

I stay three months a year in Seville. We generally stay in airbnbs. They are well priced in Seville and some are stunning.

Madrid train station is huge so you definitely need to allow time to find your platform.

Hope you managed to sort your trip.

Rob_Chris,

Thanks for the info and I agree. We ended up booking a wonderful AirBnB off of Calle Garcia de Vinuesa. We also book the AVE out of Madrid. We are giving ourselves about 4 hours from our projected land time until the train departure on the advice from the gentlemen above. We are rookies to Madrid and the train system, so we feel safe with that amount of time. You have any advice for Sevilla, besides the typical tourist sights, restaurants, etc.? Thanks, Hanks

Calle Vinuesa is very central. You are less than 5 minutes from all the main attractions. Also an easy walk to the river and Puente de Isabel II bridge for walk to Triana if this is of interest.

There is a great bakery 2 mins walk on the corner of Calle Vinuesa, Cafetería Pastelería La Canasta, for fresh breads and cakes. Seville is busy all year there are crowds every day.

After three months in Spain we sometimes need a break from Spanish food. One of our favorite restaurants is "Al Wadi" located off Calle Vinuesa, in Calle Jimios, 25-32. The food is always excellent predominantly Middle Eastern, but fresh, tasty and well priced.
Best to book or go early, We have our many favorite tapas bars, I think there are over 3000 to choose from.

As we visit Seville yearly we've already done the obvious touristy things and nowadays just enjoy wandering the streets. I'm not sure of your interests, but we often visit the oldest bar in Seville shown on Rick Steins TV show, El Rinconcillo.

Another suggestion is a horse and carriage ride. This will take you on a half hour tour of Seville and include Parque de María Luisa. Its a gorgeous way to see Seville and you cover a lot ground. The carriages are lined up around the cathedral which creates a spectacular site. We paid approximately EUR40 Per person this year. Its worth it.

Calle Francos, 3 mins from Calle Vinuesa is worth a walk. Seville is an amazing walking city and the food is well priced

I hope you enjoy Seville.

Some of the lesser-visited sites I enjoyed in Sevilla were:
-The top of Las Setas at night—find the spot where you can control the lights!
-Church of San Salvador. Admission is included with a cathedral ticket. A Baroque change of pace from the Gothic and Morrish themes in the city.
-Casa de Pilatos
-Palacio de los Dueños (I went on a free day—not sure I'd pay to see the house of a living aristocrat with a multi-billion fortune)
-Palacio de la Condesa de Lebrija (also has free access: see above)

Rob_Chris and Scudder,

I really appreciate the additional input. I will put all of these in my Sevilla notebook. We can't wait to get there and experience the Spanish culture and these beautiful cities.

Thanks, Hank

Hi Hank,
I just went through this same travel dilemma about flying vs train from MAD to Granada. I made our reservations LAX-MAD and when I went back to change it to include the leg to Granada, it was a fortune. Iberia Express has great airfare but my husband and I decided to opt for the less stressful path of making our way to the Atocha train station and enjoying the ride to Andalusia. We are taking the bus from Granada to Sevilla, and then a train from Sevilla back to Madrid.

We will be in the area for the month of December. I look forward to any tips or a trip report!

Oh no-- so we land in Barca at 8:30a and are then taking something called Vueling Airlines to Seville at 11:55am. Surely that is enough time? Didn't think to check terminals but even in wacky Newark that is usually enough time to go international to domestic. Did I make a boo-boo?