My wife and I will be making connections at the Madrid, Spain airport. We arrive at 7:30 in the morning but don't depart on our connecting flight until 6:45 in the evening. We hope to visit the Prado and perhaps the Royal Palace if time allows. QUESTION-What is the most affordable and quickest way to get to the Prado from the airport? Can one take the metro subway or is a bus the way to go? We will use a taxi only if required. We would prefer metro or bus. How long does it take and how many connectiions are there if we use the metro? Your help will be greatly appreciated!
James
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
You can take the metro to the Prado....probably about 40-45 minutes from the airport, with two transfers. At one Euro each, it's certainly cheaper than a taxi, which would be about 30 Euro. I would suggest the #8 line from the airport (the only one there) to Colombia station, then the #9 line (direction Arganda) to Principe de Vergara station, then the #2 line (direction Cuatro Caminos) to the Banco de Espana stop. There's no stop right at the Prado, so you'll have to walk about 600 or 700 yards south from the Banco De Espana stop along Paseo del Prado. The Thyssen Museum is almost right across the street (you'll see it on the right as you walk towards the Prado) and the Reina Sofia museum is about 500 yards past the Prado on the right, near Atocha station. The Prado doesn't open until 9..the other two at 10, so there's not much advantage to cabbing it in. For the Palace, walk back to the same metro stop, continue along line #2 to Opera, and you're a 10 minute walk.
Posted by
OP
Piggott
31 posts
Thanks Norm!
I appreciate the information. I was a little confused because one guidebook suggests using the bus and Rick doesn't. Thanks again!
James Michael