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Madrid train station- anything to see nearby it?

Posted by (Utah via SF Bay Area) on

We are heading to Cordoba, via Madrid in May. We fly into Madrid, plan on taking a taxi to the Atocha train station to catch a train to Cordoba. This is where our RS tour begins.

I anticipate getting to Madrid around 11 am ish if flight is on time. I have not made reservations on the AVE yet. I’m thinking of making a 1 pm or 2 pm reservation to take into consideration any issues and I’m not obsessed and stressing across the Atlantic. By the time we get to Cordoba in late afternoon or early evening, we can then check in at the hotel.

Since we are in Madrid for a couple of hours, are there any museums or sights we can see before getting on the train? This is our only shot in Madrid for the foreseeable future. If there is anything close and doable to the train station, we can take advantage of this time. I appreciate any recommendations to take advantage of this time and add a bonus to our journey.

Posted by
1498 posts

That is not a lot of time between landing and getting to the train station.

At least the Atocha train station is quite interesting.

Posted by
412 posts

Thx. We don’t have a schedule. We arrive around 8:30 am,, carryon bags so no waiting for luggage, direct to customs, cab and to the train station. I’m budgeting 2 hours to get to train station which would be around 11 am. A 1 pm train reservation would be appropriate but we don't mind a later train if there is something to see.

Posted by
225 posts

Atocha train station in itself is interesting. The oldest part, with iron roof beams and columns, has been made into a botanical garden, and there used to be a pond full of turtles.

The Reina Sofia museum (Picasso's Guernica) is about a ten minute walk.

Posted by
123 posts

Reina Sofia is close.

The Anthropology Museum is across the street (not worth visiting, in my opinion)

There’s a diner with really fast service and outdoor seating across the street called Bar El Brilliante. The food isn’t the greatest in Spain, but it’s good (squid sandwich is great). I would go there and have a quick lunch if you’re hungry.

Posted by
7618 posts

As already mentioned, with the little time you have the Reina Sofía and a few restaurants are all that are in that area. Any restaurants that I’ve been to in that area were mediocre at best. While the museum is literally across the street from the train station, it can take 10-15 minutes to reach it because of the traffic. That area is extremely congested.

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