🇪🇸 TRAIN STATION ~ Madrid Atocha Station – “Puerta de Atocha” : MADRID

Hugeeeeee station with trains taking off from ground level and level 1

There is a beautiful garden inside on the top level! So relaxing and makes me imagine how the train stations used to be in the old world… Welcoming in people while waiting for the trains with rich green areas to walk around in and sit in… Now it’s blocked and you can’t go inside the garden, I remember being here in 2005 and the garden was open and we went and sat inside while waiting for our train, such a nice feel and experience

…. not like today where I’ve been standing for 40mins with my backpack with nowhere to sit along with 100s of others waiting for their train

Atocha is the main train station in Madrid, and it’s managed by the public company Renfe Operadora

This train station is also a public transportation hub – it services the Metro / City Buses / Cercanias trains / AVE high speed trains and other long distance trains

Also goes to aeroport T4 from here

The front of the beautiful station Atocha

Entering in from the side entrance where taxi rank is

There are a few different areas to this station so you need to know which entry to go in from so always give yourself an extra 10-15mins to find where your departure point is

And also take the time to appreciate this station – it really has a nice feel with plenty cafes and shops

The botanical garden area in the centre of the station

You wouldn’t think it but it gives such a relaxed feeling to a bustling bustling place like a train station – all stations should create something like this to relax and calm people, people were stopping and taking photos and taking in be greenery

Circled in red is the Atocha Cercanias departure gates – circled in green is the area with the botanical gardens and shops and is the old station

Renfe ticketing area right next to the exotic gardens inside

INFO

Open times : Monday – Sunday / 5am to 1am

Baggage lockers : 5:30 – 10:30pm – located on right side of main concourse looking from the train platforms

I used the lockers my first time here so we didnt have to carry our bags around, automatic and easy to use system

Tourist info : There is also a tourist office located at the station

The station is so big that it has two names:

1 -> Madrid-Puerta de Atocha : high speed AVE trains and Media Distancia (MD)

2 -> Madrid-Atocha Cercanías : Cercanias local commuter lines

The 2 areas in Atocha – circled in red is the main building where the garden is with the shops and waiting area

METRO – “ATOCHA RENFE“

There is a metro station inside – with access to line 1, the light blue line

BUS

Madrid Buses 10, 14, 24, 26, 32, 37, 54, 57, 59, 85, 86, 102, 121, 203 and C2 can reach Atocha station

CERCANIAS

Almost all lines depart from or stop at Atocha
C-1 (light blue), C-2 (dark green), C-3 (purple), C-4a (dark blue), C-4b (dark blue), C-5 (yellow), C-7 (red), C-8 (grey), and C-10 (light green) – except line C-9 (orange)

TAXIS

Not recommended to take from Atocha – many of the taxi drivers charge extra and also there is a surcharge for traveling from the train station

DRIVING

There is a parking lot with plenty of spaces – entrance is on Paseo Santa Isabel

AIRPORT TRANSFER
From Barajas Airport there are a few options:

BUS – AirPort Express bus – runs from 6am – 23:30 – (between 23:30 and 6:00 terminus is at Plaza de Cibeles) all year round – only two stops on the route – The bus stops at Terminals 1, 2 and 4 (T1, T2 and T4)
CERCANIAS TRAIN – C-1 Light blue – from T4 Airport terminal (free shuttle bus from T1 & T2 to get to T4)
METRO – but have to change so is not handy if you have a lot of luggage

HOW TO PURCHASE TRAIN TICKETS

RENFE TICKET OFFICE : Open Monday – Friday / 10am – 8pm
LOCATION : Main hall in front of shops

NOTE : You will be charged a booking fee per transaction if you buy at the train station
Think about buying online instead

I use the TRAINLINE app (a 3rd party UK app) to purchase tickets in UK & Europe and Im really happy with their service and their fees are not steep – Also, you can see which trains are going to your location on the app itself and choose the train according to time and cost – to give you an idea, check out their prices on their website (below) or their app on your phone

EXPLORE TICKETS -> HERE

INFO : Trains in Spain – https://trainline.tp.st/JsB7bc4Z

TRAINLINE is the best way to book – here’s a few reasons why! :

LANGUAGE – Its in English!
SEATS – You can select your seat preference when you book – window / isle / solo seats
SEATS – You can choose to face the direction of travel
PRICES – You get the same prices as when buying from Renfe / Ouigo / Iryo / AVE / AVLO
CUSTOMER SERVICE – You can utilise their customer service to assist
You can deal with refunds with Trainline support rather than the train carrier themselves
OPTIONS – trainline also shows bus options (cheaper?)

LOCATION

https://maps.app.goo.gl/k7kvCRhbd2GYchu28

The Atocha metro with the different coloured lines passing through

In terms of location to the city centre :

Atocha is on the south east outskirts of the city centre

I remember the first time I walked into Madrid Atocha in 2004 on my backpacking trip around Spain, I saw this tropical garden and I was shocked! Its so not what I expected! and was sooo lovely especially when you have to wait for a train its magical being surrounded by nature indoors

CERCANIAS LINE MAP – (Madrid Suburban local commuter lines)

This is the local Madrid suburban train system – goes across the city and connects main stations with surrounding towns – Great for planning day trips from Madrid

You can’t use a metro or bus ticket on the Cercanias – must book a Cercanias train ticket at the ticket machine at the station – the suburban / Cercanias trains take you to the outer Madrid areas that don’t have metro connections

FARES – based on zone system, the further you travel the more you pay

TICKETS – Buy tickets from the Machines at one of the main stations

Select language
Select ticket type – Single (billets sencillo) or 10 trips (Bonotren – this can be shared with others)
Choose origin & destination
Pay – (cash or travel debit card)

Keep ticket to exit the arrival station

VALIDATE YOUR TICKET :
Scan your ticket through the turnstiles or card reader

These trains have no aligned seats

AIRPORT LINE : (Barajas Airport)