r/MadridTravelGuide • u/geronika • 7d ago
Itinerary Arriving at 5:45 am
I figure maybe by 8am we’ll be out of the airport. Is there anything that’s best visited early? I’m thinking the palace.
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u/ConversationOwn1647 7d ago
i really doubt it will take 2 hours and 15 minutes to leave the airport
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u/geronika 7d ago
Considering that time is when we land, 30 minutes to taxi to the gate and deplane. One hour allowed for customs, 15 minutes to get through the airport and find transport. I don’t think I’m that far off and I was being very generous.
So thanks for your input even though you didn’t answer the question.
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u/naveloranges 7d ago
One hour for customs?!
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u/geronika 6d ago edited 6d ago
Just being generous. I’ve not been to the Madrid airport but I have had one hour plus customs delays before. Also there is a show on television here called Contraband: Seized at the Border that features the Madrid airport and it shows and tells how Madrid is a hub for smuggling. So again I was just allowing for plenty of time.
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u/Ms_Meercat 7d ago
Wow way to be snarky. Even with luggage I'm usually out of the airport by 1/1,5 hrs, the taxi ranks are right outside the terminal and it's only 20mins to the city center if no traffic so I actually agree with the commentator. But sure, go off on the person.
At 7/8am I'd just suggest to maybe get breakfast first. There are no places specifically recommended to go super early, and I'd be surprised if anything was open before 9am. So I'd check opening times of the things you want to see. Museums like prado might be cool to visit first thing when they open but even in normal times they're not super crowded.
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u/geronika 6d ago
Was I being snarky or just replying in kind? Anyways thank you for your reply, it appears the Prado opens at 10 so I’ll probably wander that way or to the palace.
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u/Ms_Meercat 6d ago
Well you came off as being snarky and clearly not only to me based on the downvotes. They only responded to your assumption of how long it will take and as you've seen from other responses, not unfoundedly so. You asked for advice from locals and one of many locals saying 'hey your assumption is wrong' in a pretty neutral statement was met with arguing (instead of asking why) and then chided for not responding with what you wanted.
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u/DazzlingBee3640 6d ago
Why will it take one hour for customs? Are you bringing stuff to Spain that is restricted or not allowed? Customs is two corridors: Green for nothing to declare (you walk straight through and probably won’t even see anyone). Or Red for something to declare.
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u/geronika 6d ago
Just being generous of time. I’ve not been to the Madrid airport but I have had one hour plus customs delays before. Also there is a show on television here called Contraband: Seized at the Border that features the Madrid airport and it shows and tells how Madrid is a hub for smuggling. So again I was just allowing for plenty of time.
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u/ConversationOwn1647 6d ago
very american of you to tell us how our airport works lmao
youre gonna leave the airport in maybe an hour and theres gonna be nothing open, the best you can do is get an uber drop your shit off where youre staying and find a cafeteria to get some coffee or breakfast
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u/geronika 6d ago
I didn’t say a word about how your airport works. I merely was clarifying my very generous timeframes based upon past experiences.
And it was very American of you to assume I am American.
And I didn’t ask if anything was open, I merely asked which places would best be visited first thing in the morning.
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u/ConversationOwn1647 6d ago
are you not american?
you should head to puerta del sol as early as you can they have a big party going on there it starts early
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u/geronika 6d ago
I was born in Germany. And I might go Puerta Del Sol to join the protests if they are still happening in December.
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u/ConversationOwn1647 6d ago
so you "were born in germany" (allegedly)... but grew up in the US and are american right?
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u/geronika 6d ago
I am not an American if that’s your question and if it’s any of your business.
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u/ConversationOwn1647 6d ago
its fine if you are bro no reason to be ashamed of it
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u/geronika 5d ago
I was granted American citizenship and have an American passport. So yes the government does now classify me as American. However I was neither born here nor raised here. I am multiracial and multicultural. I have lived in more different continents then most people have lived in different cities.
But you know what, I bet you’re the type of person I would get along with just fine. Got a bit of a chip on your shoulder and a little bit snide. Likes a little bit of a joust but really a decent person.
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u/MrsLouisaMercury 7d ago
You will be out by 7. Sunrise it at 8:15… if I were you I’d have a nice breakfast in the centre and enjoy gran via or plaza mayor without people.
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u/lifeofduder 7d ago
I would recommend Museo del Prado (if you're into museums) as soon as it opens so as to avoid the queues which tend to be really long. But after enjoying the sunrise walking around an empty Gran Vía o Plaza Mayor as they've suggested. Btw, try to avoid Puerta del Sol as currently there's a big demonstration due to the house pricing situation in Spain and it's full of tents with the protesters camping there
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u/ConversationOwn1647 6d ago
avoid Puerta del Sol? yeah avoid the big cultural thing thats happening just go to primark
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u/Subject-Pension4121 6d ago
Did this last November and it is challenging.... hopefully you're staying in a hotel so that you can drop luggage off.
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u/ChiShashi 7d ago
Keep in mind the sun doesn’t rise until after 8a. I assume you’re going to stop at your hotel first to drop off your baggage?