On Monday, September 16, at the end of our trip to Asturias and La Rioja, we will arrive by car mid-day to Madrid. The car will be returned to Atocha Station and we will be staying near Puerto del Sol. We want to visit the Museo Sofia Reina. So, we are wondering if it is possible to store bags at the Atocha Station or at the museum while touring the museum? And then, would it be best to take the Metro, or a taxi, or walk to our hotel from there? If you have been there/done that, please advise. Thanks so much!
Posted by
Northwest Arkansas
676 posts
Are you comfortable driving direclty to your hotel before going to Atocha? If so, drop your bags there. I prefer to drop my bags at the hotel. That way, no matter how late I may be out, I know my bags are waiting for me.
According to the man in seat61 (often quoted and trustworty) there is no longer a left lugage facility inside of Atocha https://www.seat61.com/stations/madrid-atocha.htm#Left_luggage
Posted by
OP
NC
396 posts
Good idea, thank you!
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7157 posts
Walking from Atocha station to the Puerta Del Sol will take about 20 minutes and is slightly uphill much of the way.
Depending on where you hotel is at the Puerta del Sol, e.g., Hotel Europa, it isn’t possible to drive to it since that plaza is pedestrian only. That area is extremely hectic and congested, full of pedestrian only areas, and few places to pull off the street to drop a bag at a hotel. I would not recommend trying to drive and find your hotel then drive and find the car drop off at Atocha if you’ve never driven in Madrid previously.
We always drop of our rental at the airport then take the metro to the Sol stop to avoid the traffic. Coming from La Rioja you have to pass by the airport anyway.
Posted by
OP
NC
396 posts
Thank you for those tips @jaimeelsabio! We will be staying at Catalonia Puerto del Sol at Calle Atocha 23. Photos do not appear to show a pedestrianized zone there. Will check with the hotel but your suggestion of the airport may be the best option.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7157 posts
Your hotel is not right at the Puerta Del Sol but is straight up calle Atocha 1.4km/.8 miles from the train station. It’s still about a 20 minutes walk (depending on how fast you walk), but closer to the train station than the actual Puerta Del Sol. The closest metro stops are Tirso de Molina (200m) and Antón Martín (350m) from the hotel.
Hope you have a great trip. The Asturias and La Rioja areas are very nice to visit.
Posted by
Chicago
647 posts
Also, don't forget that Reina Sofia (and the Prado) are open until 9pm, and
free from 7pm onwards. There is usually a line to get into the museum at
the main entry plaza, which actually doesn't take that long anyways, but,
there is another entrance to the museum around the corner (to the left
as you are looking at the museum from Atocha), which is likely to be less
crowded.
A quick search shows that there are left luggage facilities around Atocha,
just not in Atocha. But I agree with the strategy of getting the bags to the
hotel whether you drop off the car at the airport or at Atocha.
Note that Atocha (at least earlier this year) had a lot of construction going
on. The main entrance plaza is completely inaccessible.