Barcelona to Madrid day trip. Flight or Train?

1,334 Views | 17 Replies | Last: 12 mo ago by moo
jorgerr96
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Going to Barcelona for F1 but thinking of going on a day trip to madrid to see the F1 Exhibition and maybe even an additional museum.

Two options are a flight via Vueling, or the train. I would really like the train but it's a 2.5 hr ride and the flight is actually cheaper, but I am not familiar with that airline at all and would hate to be dealing with the Spirit of Europe.

Anyone got any tips or recs?
AustinScubaAg
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AG
Don't fly Vueling think Spirt but worse.
Spore Ag
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Vote for very early train, sleep with most train stations centrally located negating excessive airport transfers and security.
schmendeler
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AG
Granted, it was in 2009, but flying Vueling BCN to MAD wasn't bad.
jarz94
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AG
I would recommend the train. I did this train ride a few months ago. It was very easy to get through the train stations and the trip was about 2 hours.
jorgerr96
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Do you remember which train? I see there's one from a French company (Avlo) and one from the main company in Spain (Renfe).
barbacoa taco
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AG
Train. Get on and off in the middle of each city and don't deal with big airports. Spain's high speed train network (Renfe) is great.

Also Madrid really should not be a day trip. It's a huge city and there's tons to do. Spend a couple nights there at least.
StinkyPinky
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AG
High speed train
eiggA2002
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AG
Train as well. When it comes down to it, it will almost certainly be quicker. Plus you are very unlikely to have significant delays on the train and you'll be at Atocha (center of town) versus Barajas or whatever airport domestic flights go into.
jarz94
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I rode with Renfe.
jorgerr96
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Think I will do the train. Planning on hitting F1 Exhibition first thing in the morning, any other reccs welcome. Museums, arts, music priority.
jorgerr96
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Can't do more than 1 day I think. Monday arrival and just going to roam around Barcelona that day. Wednesday I plan to go to Ferrari Land for their roller coaster (4th fastest in the world) and probably roam more at night. Thursday I have an event at the race track. And then Friday-Sunday whole day at the races.
Apache
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Quote:

Museums, arts, music priority.

Museums:
Prado, the Reina Sofia and the Thyssen-Bornemisza are the big 3.
The Prado is the most famous & one of the top museums in the world. I also enjoyed the Reina Sofia, it has Picasso's "Guernica" which is damned impressive (it's huge & the backstory makes it more interesting)
You used to be able to buy a pass for all three museums.... you wouldn't have time for that though.

For me, I enjoyed going to the Bullfights (not on acid) and Flamenco (would qualify for your music priority) shows more than the museums.
True Spanish experiences IMO.
eiggA2002
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AG
Mercado San Miguel
Ag CPA
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The train trip is cool, a good part of the terrain looks like you are flying through South Texas.
AgEng98
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Eat suckling pig at Los Galayos.
Joseydog
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Train. Station is in the middle of Madrid and you only have to be at the station around 20 minutes prior.
moo
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Vote for train as well. Stress free and enjoyable. If doing arts, I also liked the Picasso museum while in Barcelona. The Prado in Madrid is expansive and has a ton to go through.
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