Page 492 says the bus "only goes to Plaza de Cibeles, not all the way to Atocha".
I look at Ricks map and it looks like it could be a long walk to the train station especially dragging luggage after an international flight.
I see other people comment that the bus drops you off at the train station. Anyone have an idea how close the bus drops you off to the station. If it does drop you off at Plaza de Cibeles, how long is the walk to the train station?
Thanks for your help!
The bus drops you off at Atocha station, unless you are traveling late, late at night, in which case it drops you off at Plaza de Cibeles.
If you are not traveling late at night, you will be fine.
I do not take the yellow bus, but instead the metro from terminal 4. If you are coming from terminal 4, that is extremely convenient as well.
Bob,
I'm planning a trip to Spain, and recently learned from Chani about the new 'Cercanias' line C-1 (commuter train), which will take you from Barajas Airport (terminal 4) directly to Atocha station in 25 minutes.
There is a free airport shuttle that will transport you between terminals.
Here is the information regarding transportation to/from Madrid airport:http://www.aeropuertomadrid-barajas.com/transportation/madrid-airport-bytrain.htm
Not sure of the term "yellow bus" but the Airport Express Bus takes you to the Atocha Train station and lets you off at the front door..there is a stop or two on the way, About 25 minutes and five euros. Your luggage goes inside with you and you pay the driver the correct change for transportation. Convenient and direct.'
To get from the Atocha Station to the Airport, go to the round building in front of the entrance, across the driveway, and catch it there. The bus stops at each terminal.
The only stops the Airport Express bus makes are two stops at the airport, Plaza de Cibeles, and Atocha Station (the main train station). Not sure why the book says it only goes to Cibeles, but it absolutely does go to Atocha. I stay at a hotel about midway between Atocha and Cibeles, and when I walked from Atocha to my hotel (with luggage), it took me maybe 15 minutes - but it was over 100 degrees at the time. The bus runs every 30 minutes.
C1 line from the airport terminal directly takes you to Atocha train station- very convenient , I took it 2 weeks ago. The train runs hourly and takes 25 minutes or so.
Nancy and Bob, the shorter route applies between 23:30 and 6:00 a.m., as noted on that quoted page of the Spain book and at http://www.emtmadrid.es/lineaAeropuerto/index.html.
Good to know, but it still remains true that for most of the day, it makes both stops. Bob didn't indicate that he was arriving very late at night.
I also took the Cercanias train from the airport to Atocha and it was very easy and convenient. You can just follow the well-marked signs in the airport for the trains. There is only one train that goes from the airport into downtown, so you can't miss it or get on the wrong one. It was pretty much fool-proof.
