Getting to Leon from Madrid airport

03:10 hours should be sufficient to get from the plane to Chamartin by either Cercanias or Metro.

02:15 hours should be sufficient time to get from the plane at T1 to T4 bus station.

Not checking your luggage does not significantly alter the time appreciation. Usually luggage is rolling off the carosel just a few minutes after you stroll off the plane.

The Cercanias ticket is included in the Renfe fare from Madrid to Leon.

The Metro to Chamartin takes about 40 minutes and departs every 6 - 8 minutes.

The Cercanias to Chamartin takes about 20 minutes and departs every 30 minutes.

The most time efficient transport depends on shuttle and Cercanias timings. If you wait the full period for the airport shuttle and then end up at T4 just after the Cercanias departs you add 45 minutes wait time to the travel time.

I would take the Metro from T1-T2-T3 as it involves the least transfers and waits.

I understand the Parador in Leon is not as expensive as you might expect.

Take the bus from T-4! It is easy to find, and you can purchase your ticket from the bus driver.

Centrally located:

http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/hos...8972724829041f4d076;dcid=1;dist=0&type=total&

Hi, I'm struggling to find metro timetable as I am arriving in Madrid in a few weeks in the evening and was thinking of staying over at the airport and getting 07.45 train to Leon but can't find what time the trains start to chamartin. Does anyone know? Also, do I need to buy train ticket in advance? Thanks

They start shortly after 0600.

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

Madrid Renfe Cercanias
http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/cercanias/madrid/

Trillian said:

Would it be feasible to get the train to Leon from Chamartin that leaves at 2:40pm?

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If your plane arrives on time, yes, it should be feasible.

Trillian said:

If yes, what is the easiest way to get there within my time constraint?

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Transit bus from T1 to T4 and Cercanías train from T4 to Chamartín station.

Trillian said:

If I book my Renfe ticket ahead of time, is the Cercanias free (I read this in another thread but not sure if it's still valid)?

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As you plan to take an Alvia train, it should be free.

Trillian said:

If it is the case, do I just show the printout of my e-ticket?

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If you use a self-service machine to get your cercanías ticket, you have to look for the "combinado cercanías" number on your ticket and type it on the machine when requested. If you are attended by and human being on a sales desk, just ask about it.

Trillian said:

Another option would be to take the bus from T4 to Leon...do you think I can make the 1:45pm one?

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If your plane arrives on time, you should be able to make it.

whariwharangi said:

The Cercanias ticket is included in the Renfe fare from Madrid to Leon.

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That's true for the specific train the OP plans to take but not for every train from Madrid to León (e.g.: it wouldn't be included on a MD train).

whariwharangi said:

The Metro to Chamartin takes about 40 minutes

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Just a warning: The quickest route by metro -the one that usually recommends the metromadrid web if you don't change settings- involves 2 changes of lines along the route. It might be easier to take the Metro to Nuevos Ministerios and change there to Chamartín (choose "fewer train changes" when looking for schedules).

whariwharangi said:

The Cercanias to Chamartin takes about 20 minutes and departs every 30 minutes.

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According to the RENFE web it's just 12 minutes. Although, of course, that's the time it takes from train station to train station. You have to add the time it takes to get to the train station in T4 from terminal one, the time it takes to get the cercanías ticket, the time it takes to change trains in Chamartín...

Julienh said:

Hi, I'm struggling to find metro timetable as I am arriving in Madrid in a few weeks in the evening and was thinking of staying over at the airport and getting 07.45 train to Leon but can't find what time the trains start to chamartin. Does anyone know?

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The first one out of the airport departs at 06:05 a.m.

Julienh said:

Also, do I need to buy train ticket in advance?

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That would be a good idea because that way you might get one of the discounted fares available on the Alvia train you plan to take (and you wouldn't worry about whether the train gets full or not).