Getting from Madrid Airport to Leon

[jennysa]

Has anyone had any experience of getting to Leon from the airport? Rome2Rio seems to make it very complicated - either the train, which means we have a 5 hour wait to catch it or a weird combination of train and bus, which is 2 hours longer. Is it too early to get accurate information - the date is 16 April?

 

[Glenshiro]

ALSA is currently showing 8 buses on 16 April from T4 at Madrid Barajas airport to Leon, journey time approx 4h 30m. I recommend the Supra bus if it suits your timetable - extremely comfortable.

 

[MikeJS]

Via Camino Madrid…. about 12 days!

 

[peregrina2000]

I agree with the suggestion of the bus. For anyone who has taken an Alsa bus from the airport in the past, you should know that there is a new departure station. In years past, the buses just left from some bus bays right outside the terminal. Now you have about a 7 minute walk.

Here is a video showing the walk from the bus station to the airport (the reverse of what people arriving in the airport and looking for the bus will walk, but you get the idea).

 

[Turga]

Renfe has several train departures almost every day from e.g. Madrid-Chamartín, around 2H 15M travel time.

 

[J Willhaus]

Just looking for times the in the next few weeks, I see at least 5 direct trains per day just over 2 hours ride from Chamartin station to Leon. You are possibly looking too early if you plan to take the train. Try about a month or 3 weeks before you plan to travel. It is showing a fare of about 20 euros for me with my Sr card (tarjeta dorada).

If you take a train you can leave from T4 station in the bottom level on the Cercanias line (either train 1 or 10) and it will take you to the Chamartin station where you board your train for Leon. Depending on your ticket the cost of this transfer may also be covered under the Cercanias Combinado for the faster trains which is a nice extra.

There are also several Alsa buses per dayfrom T4 taking between 4.5 and 5.5 hours. Again, you may be looking too early. Try about one month or a couple of weeks before you arrive.

 

[hokiebobwise]

Last July I took the train. Walked through airport to metro and then caught train out of Chatamorin (speel check me). I booked "first class" so that I had a big comfy seat. We arrived around 9am and the train left a few hours later. Very easy and low stress.

Bob

Note from the Mod: Since you asked, the station is Chamartín. It’s only 12 minutes from T4 on the Cercanías commuter rail system, which is great!

 

[Wippe]

Has anyone had any experience of getting to Leon from the airport? Rome2Rio seems to make it very complicated - either the train, which means we have a 5 hour wait to catch it or a weird combination of train and bus, which is 2 hours longer. Is it too early to get accurate information - the date is 16 April?

I took the train from Madrid airport las April. Had to wait sometime and was late in Leon. It was the only way. Buon Camino

 

[Hans-Georg Goebel]

Has anyone had any experience of getting to Leon from the airport? Rome2Rio seems to make it very complicated - either the train, which means we have a 5 hour wait to catch it or a weird combination of train and bus, which is 2 hours longer. Is it too early to get accurate information - the date is 16 April?

go ro alsa.es and check a possible connection, direct from Airport Terminal 4

 

[jennysa]

Last July I took the train. Walked through airport to metro and then caught train out of Chatamorin (speel check me). I booked "first class" so that I had a big comfy seat. We arrived around 9am and the train left a few hours later. Very easy and low stress.

Bob

Note from the Mod: Since you asked, the station is Chamartín. It’s only 12 minutes from T4 on the Cercanías commuter rail system, which is great!

Thank you for all that information. Does the Cercanias rail take you directly to Charmartin or do you need to change lines at any stage?

 

[jennysa]

Just looking for times the in the next few weeks, I see at least 5 direct trains per day just over 2 hours ride from Chamartin station to Leon. You are possibly looking too early if you plan to take the train. Try about a month or 3 weeks before you plan to travel. It is showing a fare of about 20 euros for me with my Sr card (tarjeta dorada).

If you take a train you can leave from T4 station in the bottom level on the Cercanias line (either train 1 or 10) and it will take you to the Chamartin station where you board your train for Leon. Depending on your ticket the cost of this transfer may also be covered under the Cercanias Combinado for the faster trains which is a nice extra.

There are also several Alsa buses per dayfrom T4 taking between 4.5 and 5.5 hours. Again, you may be looking too early. Try about one month or a couple of weeks before you arrive.

I am getting a bit lost with Cercanias Combinado. Can it be booked on line or do I get it at Madrid airport T4? I lam not familiar with the Cercanias. Also, can one apply for the Tarjeta Dorada on line?

 

[J Willhaus]

Cercanias is the commuter train system. If your train ticket from Chamartin to Leon is on a high speed train your connecting Cercanias ticket is included in the price.

There is a QR code in the corner of your ticket or if using the tickets on your phone there will be a similar code. At the T4 stationbottom level there will be a number of C train turnstiles and one will have an electronic code reader. At T4 there are usually attendants in yellow/orange vests who can help you. Show them your ticket and they can point it out. Once you have done it, it will be clear on the future. You scan the code and the turnstile will open for you.

If you don't have a high speed train ticket. There is a machine to buy a Cercanias ticket from the airport directly to Chamartin. Take train C1 or C10 they are the only ones that come to the airport and both stop at Chamartin and also Atocha stations.

You must buy the tarjeta dorada on person. There is a train ticket window on the same level in T4. You can buy one there or any train station, but I would not wait to buy a train ticket until you have one. Tickets can sell out and the further in advance you buy the cheaper they are.

I bought my first tarjeta when I turned 60 and then renewed it for 3 years when I was 61 since we return to Spain every year. My trainline App saves the data and I can buy my tickets online with the discount in advance now. I use the Trainline app to look up schedules and buy tickets. It is in English and accepts my US credit card.

 

[jennysa]

Cercanias is the commuter train system. If your train ticket from Chamartin to Leon is on a high speed train your connecting Cercanias ticket is included in the price.

There is a QR code in the corner of your ticket or if using the tickets on your phone there will be a similar code. At the T4 stationbottom level there will be a number of C train turnstiles and one will have an electronic code reader. At T4 there are usually attendants in yellow/orange vests who can help you. Show them your ticket and they can point it out. Once you have done it, it will be clear on the future. You scan the code and the turnstile will open for you.

If you don't have a high speed train ticket. There is a machine to buy a Cercanias ticket from the airport directly to Chamartin. Take train C1 or C10 they are the only ones that come to the airport and both stop at Chamartin and also Atocha stations.

You must buy the tarjeta dorada on person. There is a train ticket window on the same level in T4. You can buy one there or any train station, but I would not wait to buy a train ticket until you have one. Tickets can sell out and the further in advance you buy the cheaper they are.

I bought my first tarjeta when I turned 60 and then renewed it for 3 years when I was 61 since we return to Spain every year. My trainline App saves the data and I can buy my tickets online with the discount in advance now. I use the Trainline app to look up schedules and buy tickets. It is in English and accepts my US credit card.

thank you so much for your detailed and extremely helpful response. I do appreciate. Sadly, this is my last Camino as it is just too expensive from South Africa with our poor exchange rate.