Madrid in May
 

Hi all!
I fly into Madrid to begin a 6 month adventure across southern Europe ending with an everest hike in Nepal.
I'm wondering about the hostel situation in madrid and how to get "downtown" from the airport. In my previous backpacking experience, I know I've been able to walk off a plane and find hostel representers competing and eagerly awaiting backpackers to whisk you away to their hostel. I'm wondering if this will be the situation in Madrid? or do I need to make advanced plans and reservations, and organize transportation? How far is the Madrid airport from downtown and hostel central area? My flight gets in around 7:30am, and I'm sure I'll be anxious to shower up and check out my surroundings:)
Any suggestions on a hostel in Madrid, and what type of prices to expect this time of year? And lastly, what direction do you suggest I go from Madrid, as I have 1-2 months to explore spain, portugal, and morocco.
thanks for any and all input!!!

I stayed in a hotel while in Madrid so I can't help you too much there (I have heard good things about Cat's Hostel which is near Atocha on the blue line). From the airport in Madrid to the Puerta De Sol is probably about 30 minutes by subway.

http://www.dq-madrid.com/dq-madrid/i...-madrid_02.gif

You take line 8 (pink) to line 4 (brown) to line 1 (blue) to get to central Madrid. Nice city with lots of day trip opportunities (I think you could spend a week there easy!)

Enjoy it and as you will hear from many others make sure you spend some time in Andalucia (Granada and Sevilla are minimums but since you have 1-2 months I would spend two weeks there)

--Joey

I stayed at Cat's Hostel 5 nights and yep, I can definately recommend it, it was probably my favorite hostel the entire trip. The bar downstairs rocked, they even had live music brought in.

I just did a 2 month trip of Spain, Portugal and Morocco, so I'll tell you how I did it and maybe it makes sense for you too - I started in Barcelona, then after Madrid I headed west to Portugal to see Lisbon, and if you want to see Porto it's near as well. Salamanca is a good stop on the way there. Then I headed south to the Algarve then back east to Andalucia in Spain before heading to Morocco. I flew into Spain through Barcelona and I flew away from Morocco, so different flights dictate a pretty different itinerary. But I agree to spend some good time in Andalucia, Granada especially. Ronda is worth a stop and Cordoba as well, if only to see a cathedral built inside a mosque. And try to get to Barcelona as well if you can. This is awesome section of the world to check out, you're gonna have a great time!

thanks for the info! Can you also give me more info. on Morocco?? I'm doing the same trip as you, basically, but starting in Madrid. I plan on hitting portugal as well, and then down through Morocco and flying out of Casablanca. Any info on traveling in Morocco would be great!!!
thanks again! great info:)

I send back a pm with some info on morocco, any more questions, fire away :cheers:

nice tips joe. :)

i'll be keeping an eye on this thread as well, since i'll be flying into madrid as well in september.