I have 12 hours in madrid spain. What do i do?

Question

i arrive to barajas airport in madrid spain this wednesday. i have all day to spend in spain. what do i do? whats the best way to get from the airport to downtown madrid? what are the local "hot spots"? any bull fights or cool adventures to do in madrid?

Answer 1

I would reserve an hour to visit the Reina Sofia Museum - Dali, Picasso, Miro, Gris & others all under one roof. Afterwards grab a coffee in Plaza de Santa Ana, which is in between Puerta Del Sol and Reina Sofia.

http://www.museoreinasofia.es/portada/po...

Answer 2

Are these 12 hours of layover in Madrid part of a national or international flight? It matters. I'll guess international.

12 Hours of international flight "layover time" is probably equal to about 8 or 9 hours of usable time in Madrid. After you land you'll have to wait to get off the plane, get to customs, wait in customs, and actually exit the airport might take as little as 45 minutes or as much as 1.5 hours. Getting to the center of Madrid by taxi (the fastest way, 24-28 Euros with airport surcharge) will take about 25 minutes. If you go by metro, just getting to the metro station (cheap!) at the airport could take 25 minute plus another 45 minutes in transit.

Upon returning to the airport you'll have to arrive at least 2 hours before your flight leaves to get through security and be at your gate with plenty of time for an international flight.

So let's say you'll have 8 hours of Madrid time to work with...

There are no bullfights on Wednesday (tomorrow Wednesday??) but you can visit the bullfight museum in Las Ventas. I understand it's interesting but have never been there myself. Last I heard, though, it was under renovation.

Also, will you be in Madrid during the daylight hours or is this an overnight?

If during daylight hours, you'd do well to spend 2 hours or so on the hop-on-hop-off double-decker MadridVision touristic bus (web: http://www.MadridVision.es ). And the rest of the time, just walk! Stop at a terraza for a snack or drink or lunch/dinner when you get tired. I wouldn't try going to the Prado Museum with the time you have available - this takes too long to enter and to see it). Walk around the Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Plaza Santa Ana, and even the Huertas neighborhoods for a good Old downtown overview.

Going to the Retiro Park would be nice but would take too long getting there - although it'd very very nice to walk around if you want to slow down a bit.

Be sure to give yourself PLENTY of time to get back to the airport and to re-check-in. Security lines can be very very long.

Hopefully this short-stop will incite your interest enough to want to return to Madrid for a longer visit later.

Have fun! Saludos, MadridMan ... err... BarcelonaMan(.com)

Answer 3

k I completely agree with what the guy who posted above me with all that you should see BUT getting from the airport to sol (city center) is easy and i wouldn't take a cab! (too expensive)... just walk to the metro and take the metro down! (Line 8 to Nuevos ministerios... Line 10 to tribunal... Line 1 to sol)... then you can go from there! And the retiro isn't that far away either... but ya go wander around, go to the retiro, go see plaza de cibeles... maybe a museum... but with the metro you need to give yourself 30-40 minutes to get from sol to the airport

Answer 4

no bullfights on a Wednesday.  That's a Sunday thing...unless there's a legal holiday.  Then there might be...

Take a cab or the metro to get to town...go to Sol, then go hang out in the Plaza Mayor.  Maybe walk up the Gran Vía, and window shop.  (lots of touristy shops in the Plaza).

Or you could go to the Prado, and take in some of the best classical art in the world (second only to the Louvre).   You would want Atocha metro station, I think, unless there's one up the Paseo del Prado.  There might be...It isn't a long walk from Atocha.  

I don't know how much you want to pack in in such a schedule.  You have to be back at the airport 2 or 3 hours before your flight if it's international, so take that into account.  You'll have to go through passport checkpoints and all that, as well.  (well, that's included in that time).  

If you have the time, the Palacio Real is really neat, too, but I don't know how much you want to try to pack in.

If you get to Sol, there's a plaque in the middle of the sidewalk, in front of the Guardia Civil offices, marking the middle of Spain.  Point Zero of all roads.  Also, look at the Tío Pepe sign.  then turn around.  La Mallorquina - really good pastelería.  Have a coffee and some sweets there.

Answer 5

Go into Madrid. Very easy to take the metro into town and enjoy the Tour bus..  There are two, the modern and the historical. I would take the historical and get off and see the  Palacio real, and the puerta del sol neighboor hood. and if u have time and want to take the blue bus ( it takes u past a few other sights like the christopher columbus monument and Real Madrid stadium)..

Take care..

Bcn_mimosa from Barcelona