Madrid to Lisboa - April 2003
01-21-03 | 02:49 PM
#1
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From: Miami Beach, FL
Madrid to Lisboa - April 2003
I'm planning a tour from Madrid, Spain to Lisboa, Portugal next April 2003. If any of you have any tips regarding this trip, it would be very much appreciated. Specially regarding arriving in Madrid's International Airport with the bikes, and departing Lisboa by train back to Madrid. Also if you know of any "must not miss" spots or trails along the way, I'd like to know.
Thanks all.
Thanks all.
Last edited by taobiker; 01-21-03 at 04:21 PM.
01-21-03 | 04:43 PM
#2
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Spain eh! I was/am planning a cycling trip to this region for this spring so I will pass on some information that I have gathered. I have backpacked Iberia many times and I love it especially in winter/spring.
This was found on www.bikeaccess.net
Madrid, Spain16 Feb 2001 Chris Craig (ccraig@zzapp.org)
KeyWords: Europe, Iberia, Airport
Found on: touring@phred.org I found the ride from the airport to downtown Madrid pretty easy; only had to stop and ask directions once. The trick is getting to the access road. If I'm remembering well from last summer, I headed right from the airport entrance, running on foot across the merging lanes. Then it was a very short ride on the right side of the expressway to where I could hop over a barrier curb to a gas station and the slow access road. (I'm sure there's a safer and more graceful way, but I couldn't figure it out. Once you're on the access road, you ride it until it splits into a sharp right or a left over the expressway. You take the left over the expressway, soon afterward turning right onto Alcala. From there it's a straight shot except that the major circles get a little confusing. Traffic was heavy when I did it, but the cars were no problem. The scary part were the little motor scooters that would pass on either side and seem to come out of nowhere.
And
Madrid, Spain6 Jun 2000 Corinne (corinne@iwon.com)
KeyWords: Europe, airports, iberia
I have twice flown into Madrid with my bicycle and each time cycled away. Though it CAN be a bit scary at times, one can cycle to a nearbycamping--only 20 minutes from the airport. I was in contact with a Spanishcyclist who kindly sent me the route and faxed a map to the camping.....Ifanyone wants further information I can be reached at my email address.
Madrid is one of my favourite cities to visit and many weeks could be spent just hanging out or visiting art galleries. Not too many people cycle in Madrid or in Spain/Portugal for that matter and I met one English cyclist that said that she would never cycle in Spain again. Spain has introduced new legislation in regards to cycling and you should look this up and from what I remember, the laws are harsh. Toledo may make a good base in order to get acclimatized and to get over your jetlag. It is easy to make day trips into Madrid from there. Toledo is worth two days or more to visit to suss out El Greco and to check out the Cathedral. Badajoz, on the Portuguese border, has an interesting gallery dedicated to Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American contemporary art. This town also has some interesting fortifications, but is really off the beaten path.
You may consider going from Madrid to Porto, Portugal and then down to Lisbon. This route has more to offer in the way of towns and cities. Segovia, Avila, Salamanca, and El Escorial are on this route and worth visiting. Porto and the its’ region are less traveled and more scenic. It has a very relaxed feel to it and the Port wine is superb. The countryside between Madrid and the Portugal frontier I find is wide open and rather bleak and not much between towns except for olive groves and cork oak trees and empty fields. Lisbon is interesting as well and I spent a week there once, but I did pass on it last year when I was in Portugul. Oh the ruins of Sintra, just outside of Lisbon is amazing.
Hope this helps and inspires!
Gordon P.
This was found on www.bikeaccess.net
Madrid, Spain16 Feb 2001 Chris Craig (ccraig@zzapp.org)
KeyWords: Europe, Iberia, Airport
Found on: touring@phred.org I found the ride from the airport to downtown Madrid pretty easy; only had to stop and ask directions once. The trick is getting to the access road. If I'm remembering well from last summer, I headed right from the airport entrance, running on foot across the merging lanes. Then it was a very short ride on the right side of the expressway to where I could hop over a barrier curb to a gas station and the slow access road. (I'm sure there's a safer and more graceful way, but I couldn't figure it out. Once you're on the access road, you ride it until it splits into a sharp right or a left over the expressway. You take the left over the expressway, soon afterward turning right onto Alcala. From there it's a straight shot except that the major circles get a little confusing. Traffic was heavy when I did it, but the cars were no problem. The scary part were the little motor scooters that would pass on either side and seem to come out of nowhere.
And
Madrid, Spain6 Jun 2000 Corinne (corinne@iwon.com)
KeyWords: Europe, airports, iberia
I have twice flown into Madrid with my bicycle and each time cycled away. Though it CAN be a bit scary at times, one can cycle to a nearbycamping--only 20 minutes from the airport. I was in contact with a Spanishcyclist who kindly sent me the route and faxed a map to the camping.....Ifanyone wants further information I can be reached at my email address.
Madrid is one of my favourite cities to visit and many weeks could be spent just hanging out or visiting art galleries. Not too many people cycle in Madrid or in Spain/Portugal for that matter and I met one English cyclist that said that she would never cycle in Spain again. Spain has introduced new legislation in regards to cycling and you should look this up and from what I remember, the laws are harsh. Toledo may make a good base in order to get acclimatized and to get over your jetlag. It is easy to make day trips into Madrid from there. Toledo is worth two days or more to visit to suss out El Greco and to check out the Cathedral. Badajoz, on the Portuguese border, has an interesting gallery dedicated to Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American contemporary art. This town also has some interesting fortifications, but is really off the beaten path.
You may consider going from Madrid to Porto, Portugal and then down to Lisbon. This route has more to offer in the way of towns and cities. Segovia, Avila, Salamanca, and El Escorial are on this route and worth visiting. Porto and the its’ region are less traveled and more scenic. It has a very relaxed feel to it and the Port wine is superb. The countryside between Madrid and the Portugal frontier I find is wide open and rather bleak and not much between towns except for olive groves and cork oak trees and empty fields. Lisbon is interesting as well and I spent a week there once, but I did pass on it last year when I was in Portugul. Oh the ruins of Sintra, just outside of Lisbon is amazing.
Hope this helps and inspires!
Gordon P.
