Wondering if we will have enough time to find the train to Granada if we only arrive 35 minutes earlier from Madrid. Is the train station hard to navigate?
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16894 posts
Madrid P. Atocha station is large, but 35 minutes is also quite a bit longer than some quick connections that you find in smaller stations. If you're coming from Toledo, your connection should be all on the "AVE" side of the station, without needing to navigate to the Cercanias side. (Same would apply if coming from Barcelona, but there are trains from Barcelona that don't require changing in Madrid.) Toledo-Madrid trains run every half hour, so you could leave earlier to allow yourself more time.
Posted by
OP
Charlotte, NC, USA
51 posts
We're having a hard time getting from Madrid to Granada. The Loco site says we have to take a train, then a bus.
Is the Loco2 site a good one for booking trains. We noticed it's in British lbs. instead of Euros. We had booked a train from Barcelona to Madrid for $264, and checked the Loco site today and it would have been only $200. We are definitely unsure of what to do. Should we wait until we arrive in Spain on the 1rst of September? We will travel to Madrid Sat. the 5th and leave Madrid for Toledo on the 9th, and then Toledo to Madrid to Granada on the 11th.
Posted by
OP
Charlotte, NC, USA
51 posts
I'm going to post this also as a question on the site so more people can answer it.
Posted by
Oak Park, Illinois
4535 posts
There is no great way to get to Granada right now. The train line is under construction and so a train takes you part way and then you transfer to a bus the rest of the way. And that train was never great anyway (old and slow).
The Spanish rail site RENFE will have the best deals and most up to date schedule information (often it is not released more than a few months ahead). It can be tricky to use but you can get very steep discounts for advanced reservations. But those fares are general non-refundable or changeable so only purchase them if you are very certain of your travel plans. Otherwise, buy the full fare. And you need to use the Paypal option to make the purchase, it can be very difficult to get a US credit card to work.
ALSA is the bus company and there are busses from Madrid to Granada. Those don't take that much longer than the train.
Flying is another reasonable option and worth considering from a time standpoint. Get a cheap flight on a discount airline and make sure you are within their carryon luggage limits (strictly enforced or you pay heavy checked luggage fees).