MADRID HOTEL NEAR ATOCHA TRAIN STATION and WHAT TO DO WITH ONE AFTERNOON

The Park Retiro is an excellent choice at any time..Wonderful walks, nice benches, and some decent food and beverages. Next door, for any time is the Prado Museum. I can spend a full day there and I am not a 'musenum person" The art is fantastic. Adjacent to the Prado is the Botanical Garden. It has a small admission price (unlike the Park Retiro which has no charge) and with an excellent collection of plants with seasonal blooms. As you exit Atocha, directly up the street leading away from the station on the left in a building which looks like Thomas Jefferson may have designed it or been inspired by it is the Museum Anthropological -- Unusual collection, and would be good choice if it looks like rain. Small admission price, and not as big as the Prado by a long shot, but a welcome find. You can exit it and walk up a street to the back side of the Park Retiro. And, depending on the day of the week, there are lots of book stalls, street vendors, and the like in the area of the Atocha-Park Retiro as well. Not exactly near the Atocha, but a short taxi ride would be the Hostal Cervantes. It is in the area of the places mentioned above. Have stayed there a couple of times. Look on www.madridman.com for an extensive listing of lodging.

Carole - I would head to the Prado. If the weather is nice, you could also spend time at Retiro Park. Sorry I can't help you with lodging.

I second Grier's suggestion of the Prado & park. And while at Retiro park, row a boat on the lake for a bit.

Retiro park seems nice and a boat ride. I have been to the Prado - and though I am sure there are some new additions I don't want to spend my one afternoon in a museum, no matter how wonderful. Some market area out of doors, or some chaotic neighborhood or...

Hotel Mediodia is right across dfrom Atocha. It is more than your budget amount but well worth it( We paid about 65€ in 2006). It is next door to Reina Sofia Museum and quite close to Retirto and Prado

PS to my earlier post I stayed last fall at Hotel Agumar, Renia Cristina 7 - about one block from Atocha, I do not recall the rates, but it was a good place to stay.

I concur with those saying the Prado and the Parque de Buen Retiro. Also recommend walking up by Puerta del Sol, the Royal Palace, and the opera. I have stayed at Hostal Martin twice and it's a great value though not as cheap as $50 per night.

The Puerta del Sol area is a short Metro ride from Atocha and is in the heart of the action in Madrid. I stayed at the Hostal Santa Cruz and can recommend it.
http://www.hostalsantacruz.com/IN/index.php

You must to visit El Prado, Reyna Sofia, and I recommend you strongly visit El Museo del Jamon, good Serrano Ham, so close of Atocha Station. I recommend you check www.booking.com. I found a beautiful apartment, but for low budget, could be something. Other choice is Lonely Planet Guides...

I also recommend the Botanic Garden, it is beautiful and well worth the few euros to enter. Parque Retiro is also quite nice but will likely be crowded on a Sunday afternoon. We also stayed at Hostal Santa Cruz which is a few blocks off of Puerta del Sol and even closer to the Plaza Mayor, so lots to see and many dining choices nearby. The hotel was quite reasonable but I don't think the rooms will be under $50 though... On the metro it took just a few minutes to get back to Atocha Renfe station to catch the Aerobus to the airport.

Atocha train station is practically across the street from the Reina Sofia, home to Picasso's Guernica. As the previous post suggested, the Prado is also close. Que tenga un buen viaje!

Thanx for all of the suggestions. Was surprised that the Santa Cruz was already full for the end of September. Agumar Hotel was 57 per person and Hotel Mediodia was about 65 E so I am still looking. Madrid Man seems like a great resource - have emailed a couple of hostals he mentioned and am waiting for a reply.

Will need a taxi (but can take the metro to the Gran Via Station if you know the route Hostal Montecarlo and Hostal Phillippe V, both in the same building on Gran Via...you might check them for their rates as well. I have stayed in both, but a fair distance from Atocha.