I hear there are some free bus routes like 001. We are looking to stay near Plaza España which allows us to get to the Atocha station and museums. Curious if there are others? We find buses/trams a great way to see cities and get a feel for real life & people.
How does this work? Does one just board them or does one need the multi ticket card with none deducted?
Are these very busy?
And any issues with luggage inside?
Thanks!
Hi GlobeTrotter,
We were told about buses 001 and 002 in Madrid from a receptionist when we were checking into our hotel. They are indeed free and were very useful for us. As I mentioned in an earlier post, 001 runs from Mancloa to Estacion Atocha and bus 002 runs from Puerta de Toledo to Arguelles. While you do not need a ticket to board the bus, once onboard there is a ticket machine (similar to a deli) and you DO need to pull a ticket then present it to the driver. My guess is that it helps track the popularity of the bus and probably monitors how busy the bus is during various times of the day. The bus has very convenient stops for the Prada, Reina Sofia, El Retiro Park and Atocha. Because it stops at Atocha, the bus may be crowded but it runs very frequently so there’s never a long wait. Personally, we were always able to board and get a seat with no wait. It is an excellent resource that we never would have known about had it not been for our hotel staff. We never had the occasion to use 002 but we’re heading back to Madrid in February for a short stay on our way to Sevilla. We plan on jumping aboard just to see where we end up. Always part of the fun!!
Hope you have a wonderful trip!
Peg
Thanks so much, Peg. We do hope to utilize it. Between this and walking we may not need a metro card
