Madrid Travel Answers

I can't comment about Segovia, but for Toledo there is a fast train from Atocha station that will get you there in about 35 minutes. Consider staying maybe a couple of nights there and really enjoy the UNESCO world heritage listed city.

Oh! my books both said at least 1h30min! We have allready rented anapartment from Madrid for 8 nights at Calle san Jose.

And book your tickets at least the day before.

No, Toledo is indeed 35 mins...and a very easy run. Train times, details and fares in English on www.renfe.es (for Segovia too). The fast trains leave from Madrid Atocha station. You don't absolutely need to buy your tickets the night before, but it makes sense to do so. As far as I could see no ticket machines existed (except for getting rickets already purchased online) so you have to go to the ticket office. There is, however, a separate queue for Toledo tickets (with a big sign!) which makes things easier. Allow ample time to go through the airport-style security to the platform/train. There may be a queue for this (same type of security at Toledo station). You'll need to take the bus from outside the station up to the historic city, unless you fancy a steep walk (which you might :-) ). I visited in February, so my tips etc may help. I'd intended to go to Segovia as well but found Madrid had enough to 'hold' me for that extra day.

Thank you! and that timetable answered my wondering how late does the last train go. It seems that it is about 900m from our apartment, but there is a traffic circle on the way. Butif we go buying the tickets day before, we can see the best way to go by walking.

Yes, there is a very big roundabout by Atocha but it's dead easy to cross. There are traffic lights and they 'beep' at you so you know how long you have to get across. And drivers were, I found, very sensible. So no problem at all (my hotel was just across and up from Atocha).

Seems two things have changed since we were there last year! 1) Separate queue and sign for Toledo ticket purchase at Atocha 2) Airport type security at Toledo

Really? Crikey! The separate queue was really useful (as Santi/Redang will confirm....he was with me when we bought the tickets). Both sets of scanners are for bags, rather than for you personally (though there are guards and presumably they can search you if they so wish).

There is an alternative way from Madrid to Toledo and that is to use the regular bus service however the bus starts and finishes in Madrid at the Plaza Eliptica interchange which is not as convenient for getting to as Atocha. The bus also takes about one hour (direct bus) and costs €9 return. You can see timetable using : www.alsa.es For going to Segovia whilst you can use a train from Chamartin station which is about 15 minutes from Atocha station using the local trains (CERCANIAS) I somehow feel that if you can start from Principe Pio interchange address in west side Madrid ( behind the Royal Palace and gardens) you can use the regular bus service run by LA SEPULVADENA. This is because the Segovia bus station is very close to the heart of the town - maybe 5 to 10 minutes walk of the famous Roman aqueduct and the return bus fare is about €14. Seems that last bus is leaving Segovia at 21.30 so may still be light at this time. http://www.lasepulvedana.es/

Thanks for all of you! Very strange that sounds, to have this kind ofsecurity sytem at railwaystaion! But no matter, now I know, and wont come too late. Many things have changed I think. I just noticed, that CityMap Guide I bought from London some yaers ago, is from 2001 (That´s why it was 2,99£ I guess..) so I must forget the opening times of museums etc it´s that kind of info. And maybe some of the restaurants might have been closed and new opened. But I just bought brand new Berliz guide (in Finnish, witch is nice when there is so much text!) from 2011 and the timetables I can check with my mini laptop. Try to take the charger with me this time.. At Sorrento, I notice I had left it at home, and had to save the battery by using laptop very quickly! By the way: This book seems to talk about tecno music quite in many places, bars and even shops! I first thought that locals are crazy about tecno, but maybe it was (hopefully) only because the book is 11 years old ;)

I think the security is related to the 2004 train bombings in Madrid, when almost 200 people were killed.

That must be the reason.. It´s a crazy world.. :(

Sadly it was close to the Atocha railway station where that terrible bombing occurred. The interior of the old station has been made into a very attractive indoor garden and is worth spending a bit of time seeing it. Also the railway station at Toledo is very attractive and could almost qualify for a world heritage listing of its own.

I agree - Atocha Railway Station and its indoor garden is lovely to wander around. Same with Toledo which is obviously much smaller but also beautiful to look at. I will say try and get the train tickets the day before. We waited for absolutely ages in that queue and ended up missing one of the trains because of it which meant we had less time in Toledo. The security check is also quite time-consuming.

I´ve red about those staions. But I would have never thought about those security checkings. Never heard about those anywhere in Europe before. It´s really good to know.

They also have them for the under-Channel Eurostar train.

If we go to Toledo´s own queue, can´t we buy tickets to Segovia from that desk? So do we need to stand in two different lines, if we want to buy tickets to another for monday and another for tuesday??

Of course it was different queue, because it was different railwaystation, silly me :D No we have the both tickets, to Segovia tomorrow and Toledo on tuesday. And paid over 80e for all the tickets. Must find cheap food today ;)

Must admit I was a bit confused, but I didn't like to say anything! :-)

Actually they had sold tickets from Atocha too. One woman at trainstation in Segovia told she had bought the tickets from atocha and missed the train, because she thought it would leave from there. We had way too much time in Segovia, espesially when it was freezing cold and we had a heacy rain also. Too bad you have to know whitch time you will return, if you buy return tickets. We should have bought only one way, we had seen everything in 4 hours, and had still 3 hours left and tried to find places to warm up. I needed to buy a big scarf to warm me. now I was more clever, and checked Toledo weather for tomorrow, and don´t just trust it is as warm as i here Madrid, like we did for Segovia. Happy to be back in warm Madrid! :)

I know you don't want me to tell you this...but I will..... You can change your return ticket for an earlier departure. I know, because I did it at Toledo. Sorry. And sorry about the rain too. :-(

Actually we did it at Toledo today also. Too bad we didn´t know that yesterday, but now we did ask, and "saved" over an hour of only waiting the train. It has been wonderful warm today and should be also tomorrow. Whole day to stay here tomorrow also!! Love it! Hate to leave at thursday!

Glad the weather's better now. :-)

Yes, onlu one day from all 8 was cold. Now´we are back in Finland, and try to be happy it is +20c.. It could be worse at June.. We just got used to something better ;)