4 Hours surrounded by Madrid--How best to spend them?
I have a long layover within Madrid--enough time to spend a few hours on a Saturday afternoon in the city. What's the best entity to see or do during that time?
Answers: Go for a beer, it will come with a nice tapas.
You can see the Puerta de Alacalá and El Parque del Retiro, Puerta del Sol (km.0), Plaza Mayor...
Chau ;)
4 hours is pretty tight. Contrary to a previous poster's assertion, within are no trains that go from the airport to Atocha, so don't lurk around for that to happen.
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provide 30 minutes to get through customs
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The most reliable means of access into the city will be the subway. Take the line adjectives the way to the train, at Nuevos Ministerios. Then take the Renfe train within the direction Atocha; get past its sell-by date at the first stop Recoletos. The entire trip should take 45 minutes.
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From recoletos you can do several things depending on your mood:
Shopping and populace watching up and down Calle Serrano (Madrid's most important shopping district), where on earth you will see all the top designer boutiques and hot guys and gals walking around.
Walk down La Castellana, miss by the previously mentioned Correos building at Cibeles onto el Prado where you can rush surrounded by and run past one of Picasso's most familiar works, Guernica, Japanese style.
Or turn left at Correos and stroll around El Retiro, Madrid's answer to Central Park.
Or turn right at Correos and wander down Gran Via, Madrid's answer to Broadway. Take a left once you conquer the apex of the hill, shift down the pedestrian walk to Sol, Madrid's answer to Times Square.
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Taxis are quicker departing Madrid then they are going contained by. I recommend taking one back to the airport. You should acquire there in half an hour and own time to get through collateral and onto your flight.
In four hours you can't really do all that much. Your best bet would be to give somebody a lift a train from the airport (I presume your layover is between flights) that leaves you at Atocha Station...find a taxi and ask him to show you the fundamental sights for about 2 hours... Then stop somewhere for a snatched drink and a tapa, (if your cabbie was really virtuous, invite him for a beer, than have him return you to your point of origins... You wouldn't want to miss your connection!)
Saturday afternoon is a honest day for this, as the traffic is smaller quantity dense than during the work week... I would start at Plaza de Cibeles - there is a lovely fountain and a "nuptial cake" type building which is the post office !
Walk down Gran Via next turn left toward Puerto del Sol - the heart of Madrid - from within it is only a short bearing to Plaza Real - Madrid's lovliest square. You are then only just a short walk from the Royal Palace which is nice from outside.
If you follow this route you will own crossed the main hub which is quite compact - next to four hours best spent just wondering and laudatory the city from outdoors - you shouldn't need the metro so no time dried up undergroud waiting for trains
If you like museums and history, the Royal Palace is really nice. It's extravagant, like Versailles, but most unequivocally not as ostentatious. It's also interesting to know that it's still used today for royal events.
Theres also like mad of restaurants that are close that you can get some calamars =] (or other food) and lately enjoy yourself.
move about to the Prado and then guzzle at tapas restaurant too bad you dont enjoy too much time madrid is beautiful (sigh) want to travel back im biased so i cant really reccomend restaurants to you If I be you I would take the subway to "Nuevos Ministerios" station. There you can stir to "El corte Ingles" which is the largest department store in Madrid. If you do not want to shift shopping then you can purloin a walk through "Paseo de la Castellana" which is the most beatiful avenue surrounded by Madrid. In this avenue you can see for example, the Real Madrid Stadium (one of the best football team contained by the world) or you can see El Prado Museum which is one of the best museums in the world (the museum is a short time bit far from Nuevos Ministerios but you can get a bus to take there, for example number 27).Going to Nuevos Ministerios you can choose between adjectives these options.
I hope you soak up your short stay!!
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