Toledo Forum: Madrid Airport (MAD) to Toledo

Thank you for your help! Good to know about the train tickets. We arrive in Madrid Wed, April 25th at 9:15am--is this considered peak season?

We will be arriving on a Delta international flight which I believe will be in Terminal 1. We are two adults and will have two medium suitcases and a small backpack (that can go on my lap). Do you think the bus is a better option than a taxi? What are the cost/time savings between the two?

Thank you!!

If you're coming into T1 (which is where Delta arrives) I'd save some euro and take the airport bus. It runs very frequently and is 2 euro each - versus probably 25-30 euro for a taxi. There are luggage rack on the bus for your stuff.

madrid-guide-spain.com/madrid-airport-bus.ht…

There are trains on that day at 10:20, 12:20 and and 13:50. with a 9:15 arrival I'd feel pretty comfortable with the 12;20. Perhaps another poster will chime in about the possibility these trains could be sold out on a weekday. Since it's mid-day you probably won't have to worry about commuters. If you don't purchase your ticket in advance then I'd definately purchase at the Renfe office in T1 - there shouldn't be any line.

Thank you so much Cathy, really appreciate it!

We did the same thing last October. We flew into Madrid and went straight to Toledo by train. We spent one night in Toledo and went back to Madrid the next day. What we did between the airport and Atocha train station was we went to our hotel in Madrid and dropped off our big luggage. I'd advise the same if you have planned your trip similarly. We took the metro into town. Buying your train ticket in advance is fine but consider your flight might arrive late and you would either have to rush or miss the train.

If you plan to buy a sword or any kind of weaponry from Toledo and carry it with you onto the RENFE train, make sure you have it boxed and wrapped up real good otherwise they would either confiscate it or deny you boarding the train.

Though the difficulties for parking in Toledo, renting a car and go straight from Brarajas to Toledo is an option that could be considered, as it would save a lot of time.

You can reach Toledo in about 1h.

If the hotel is in the center of Toledo I'd be cautious about trying to navigate the narrow, hilly streets after approx 16 hours flying and a 9 hour time change. Especially if the next leg of the trip is to return to Madrid or visit somewhere else that a car will be a burden.

So, Cathy...

And what about parking in Toledo?

Is there a good place to park close to the old town?

Thank you for the tips everyone...all very helpful.

GUSDALI - there are hotels in Toledo that are outside of the center either overlooking the old town (ie. The Parador) or on the outskirts but within walking distance. However may of the hotels in the center have very limited parking and/or you have to navigate narrow, hilly and sometimes one way streets to reach them. Our drive (luckily I wasn't driving) was akin to Mr Toads Wild Ride - learned the hard way the first trip :). The next time it was much easier taking the train to Toledo and a taxi to the hotel instead of driving after traveling from the West Coast of the US and through 9 time zones. .