Hello everyone, my family and I will be arriving in Madrid via rental car on the day of the Pride parade, July 6th. We will drop off the car at the airport at about 5 pm., and then need to get to our AirBnB, which is located near Plaza del Sol. I am worried about taking the metro because we are traveling with my parents, who are in their 80s. I am also not sure if the line running from the Airport to Plaza del Sol will be crowded because it is within several blocks of the parade route. (We are from San Francisco and during our Pride parade public transit is jam packed.) I am leaning toward taking a Bolt/Uber/taxi but I recall that the last time we were here I had some difficulty getting an XL vehicle--there are 5 of us and we will have luggage. I would really appreciate advice about how we should get into the City. We planned our arrival day and time in order to see the parade later that evening, but we neglected to think about crowd logistics once we got to Madrid! Gah!! Thank you in advance for your help!!
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7157 posts
The parade route goes from Atocha train station to Plaza de Colón along Paseo Del Prado, so not near the Puerta Del Sol. Festivities after the parade will take place at Plaza de Colón. It doesn’t mean the Puerta Del Sol won’t be crowded because that plaza is a major gathering point. Depending on where your lodging is, it may be easier to take the metro to different less crowded nearby station.
With 5 people and luggage, a taxi or two may be a better option.
Posted by
Barcelona (Catalonia)
3071 posts
I don't know really what to say, sorry, while indeed the parade takes place elsewhere (Paseo del Prado to Plaza de la Cibeles), that's not "that far" from Plaza del Sol. In fact, I suspect many people coming by metro AND by commuting train will stop there and walk the distance (~600 metres) to the parade—either there or Recoletos, which is the same distance from the parade as Sol. See here.
For details about the parade: https://www.gomadridpride.com/orgullo-gay-madrid/ I would check there these next weeks to see what's up this year and if there's any special advice regarding mobility. Also, the Madrid City Hall website keeps updated info on mobility for these events. Check here when the date gets closer.
Enjoy!