I had not anticipated this possibility and have no knowledge about Madrid, but I have the potential to a flight with a layover in Madrid from 12:45pm one day until 11:45am the next day. Is it worthwhile to take the long layover, or said differently, for this amount of time is it reasonably possible to get into and around Madrid for a bit of sightseeing and back to the airport for the next flight? Thank you so much!!
Posted by
Austin, Texas, USA
573 posts
We just returned from Madrid. We loved it. If you can see it for free (relatively speaking) you should do it. We did the same thing with Amsterdam and a 12 hour layover. Getting into town was easy from the airport and from there, you can go see the top sights. I would say do it. We spent two days there, but if 12 hours is all you have, it is worth it.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9371 posts
It's only a 30 minute ride into the city and there is a lot you can see in that short time! Take a hop-on, hop-off bus tour, walk around the Puerto del Sol and the Plaza Mayor, see Retiro Park and the Prado museum (or the Thyssen, or the Reina Sofia). I love Madrid, and I would strongly suggest you grab this opportunity!
Posted by
LaGrange, Ga, USA
1178 posts
Yes! I would suggest you take the Airport Express Bus, get off at the first stop (Plaza Cibelies) and go from there...Short walk to the Prado, the Park Retrio, and in the other direction walk up Gran Via and enjoy the architecture. From there to Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace...will not be able to do all of this, but many opportunities for exploration. If you wish to spend the night, check out Phillip IV or Montecarlo Hostals, both in the same building on Grand Via.. So much to see and do in this great city!
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17429 posts
That is alsmost 24 hours. Even if you use 8 of them for sleeping, you still have quite a bit of time to sample Madrid. We had a similar amount of time (arrived 11:00 am on the train, departed next day at 1:00 by plane). That was ample time for a walk to Puerta del Sol, lunch at Plaza Santa Ana, a stroll past the Prado (we could have gone in but had been there before), stop in a sports bar to watch a tennis match (Nadal was playing in the finals of a Madrid tournament), return to the hotel to freshen up, and another walk up to P. Santa Ana for dinner. Next morning we went for a run in Retiro Park, had breakfast, and walked to Plaza Mayor and the church of San Isidro before catching th ebus from Atocha station to the airport.