Getting from Madrid to León

[Uracca]

If my work approves I will be travelling on May 29th 2010 to Madrid for my camino. From there I want to travel to León to start walking. I've been searching the internet for hours and did get some information about how to get to León by bus, but the timetables are mostly for mondays-fridays and aren't very accurate for the weekends. If I can book my cheap flight then I will be arriving at 12.30 (that the only flight that leaves from Amsterdam to Madrid with Easyjet) at Madrid airport T1. If I am right the ALSA bus leaves from T4 at 13.45. Considering that I have to wait at least 30 minutes for my backpack, do you think I have enough time to get from T1 to T4, I read that those 2 terminals aren't close to each other. And since I have to book the bus ticket in advance, I find it a unpleasant idea if I see the bus leaving before my eyes and say adios to my money.
Flying from Madrid to León is not an option. Those flights are way too expensive. It will cost me three times more than my return ticket Amsterdam-Madrid. But if someone knows a company that flies to León under 50 euros, please let me know.
I've also been thinking about the train, but the bus is cheaper and faster.
Thanks for your help!

 

[Deleted member 3000]

There are several buses from downtown Madrid to Leon if you miss the airport bus at 1345 (there is a 2300 airport bus to Leon). Getting to downtown Madrid on the metro is fast, easy, and cheap:

http://www.metromadrid.es/en/index.html

 

[johnsondav]

I'm arriving in Madrid on Saturday May 24th @ 10:00. Are there trains running to Leon on Saturdays? Is there a Saturday bus that still leaves from the airport?

 

[whariwharangi]

The airport in Madrid is called Barajas (MAD). There are 4 terminals. T1, T2, and T3 are connected while T4 is reached via shuttle.

Madrid Airport (MAD)
http://www.aena-aeropuertos.es/csee/Satellite/Aeropuerto-Madrid-Barajas/en/

Information about the shuttle to T4 is located here
http://www.aena-aeropuertos.es/csee...554331229//Connections-between-terminals.html

Connections to Madrid include subway (Metro) and light rail transit (Cercanius). The Metro has stations at T2 and T4. The trains run every 6 - 12 minutes. Cercanius has a station at T4 and runs every 30 minutes.

Madrid Metro
http://www.metromadrid.es/en/index.html

Madrid Metro Map
http://www.metromadrid.es/export/sites/metro/comun/documentos/planos/Planomayo2013.pdf

Madrid Cercanius (operated by Renfe)
http://www.renfe.com/viajeros/cercanias/madrid/index.html

There are several bus stations in Madrid. ALSA is a major association of bus companies and provides service from Madrid (T4 Barajas Airport, Estacion Sur, and Moncloa) to Leon.

Using ALSA I find several buses afternoon 29 Jan from T4 to Leon. Journey time is 4.5 - 5 hours. The buses go from T4 Barajas to Estacion Sur and Moncloa stations in Madrid before going on to Leon. There are other buses leaving from Estacion Sur and Moncloa (both accessible by Metro) that don't go to the airport.

If you have been using ALSA site be aware that it usually doesn't post a reliable schedule until a month in advance. It also will post multiple buses where there is but one that stops at all the Madrid stations.

ALSA
http://www.alsa.es/en/buy-and-schedules/national/?searchType=common

There are several Renfe trains that take about 2.5 hours. There are several that run on weekends too ... just not as often.
http://www.renfe.com/index.html

Estacion Sur
http://www.estacionautobusesmadrid.com/frameset.html

Some info on Moncloa
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estación_de_Moncloa

12:30 arrival at T1 and 13:45 bus from T4 ... its doable if everything works ... I've flown with Easy Jet 4 times on three different trips and have missed connections where I left a lot of margin .... So have a plan B. I would in any event not buy tickets for the bus in advance unless its a holiday.

 

[Alphonso Josemaría Soh]

Would like to ask though I'm not sure whether is it true or not. Is there a train station in T4? Does it goes straight to Santiago?

Buen camino

 

[whariwharangi]

Would like to ask though I'm not sure whether is it true or not. Is there a train station in T4? Does it goes straight to Santiago?

Buen camino

There is a Renfe Cercanius station T4 ... Cercanius is light rail transit train. Madrid area only.

There is a Metro Subway train station at T4. Madrid only.

Trains to Santiago do not depart from T4. You can use the Cercanius or the Metro to get to either Chamartin or Puerta de Atocha train stations. You have to check the itenerary to determine which station a particular train to Santiago leaves from ... most of them go from Chamartin.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

I always take the trains.
The cercanias train goes right to Chamartin station, (a quick ride) where you can connect to all the Leon trains. If you have a long wait you can put your bag in the luggage storage and take a walk around the neighborhood.

 

[johnsondav]

I always take the trains.
The cercanias train goes right to Chamartin station, (a quick ride) where you can connect to all the Leon trains. If you have a long wait you can put your bag in the luggage storage and take a walk around the neighborhood.

Do you know if the trains run on Saturday to Leon? In looking at the Renfe schedule it appeared that they were only Monday- Friday. Thanks.

 

[whariwharangi]

Do you know if the trains run on Saturday to Leon? In looking at the Renfe schedule it appeared that they were only Monday- Friday. Thanks.

Yes. 9 departures on 2 February 2014.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Do you know if the trains run on Saturday to Leon? In looking at the Renfe schedule it appeared that they were only Monday- Friday. Thanks.

there are weekend trains. Just not so many. Check Chamartin - Leon, and include the "transbordo" (changing trains) option.

 

[johnsondav]

Thanks

 

[Perambulating Griffin]

I have an ALSA bus ticket from Moncloa to Leon for this Sunday at 4:15 pm. I land in Madrid at 11:10 am.

Trying to determine my best means of getting to the bus station. Thoughts?

 

[henrythedog]

Taxi.

Somewhat surprisingly there’s neither a direct bus or metro linking the two. It’s two busses or two changes of metro.

You’ve plenty of time though.

 

[Perambulating Griffin]

Taxi.

Somewhat surprisingly there’s neither a direct bus or metro linking the two. It’s two busses or two changes of metro.

You’ve plenty of time though.

Cheers -- as it turns out, I'd forgotten that bus corresponded with my earlier booking that was re-routed by my airline... So.... I'm on the train... still loads of time to get me to the Chamartin station.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

I have an ALSA bus ticket from Moncloa to Leon for this Sunday at 4:15 pm. I land in Madrid at 11:10 am.

Trying to determine my best means of getting to the bus station. Thoughts?

I walked, it isn't very far.

 

[Perambulating Griffin]

I walked, it isn't very far.

Oh, good show! I had a hotel in Barajas last time I was in Madrid and plenty of time to get there... but took a taxi because crossing the major roads around the airport seemed far too dangerous!!