GARE DE MADRID-ATOCHA
Read moreThis station, unfortunately known for the attacks of 2004, is located south-east of Puerta del Sol and welcomes trains to and from the south of Spain and Portugal. From this station, you can go to almost anywhere in Spain, including Catalonia and Andalusia. There are also regional departures and suburban trains. Tickets can be bought at separate ticket offices. For the suburbs, there are machines and points of sale just before the platforms. Be careful, some regional departures are from the suburban train platforms.
ESTACIÓN DE CHAMARTIN
Read moreLocated to the north of the capital, this RENFE station handles all trains to and from northwest Spain and France. Departures include Bilbao, Salamanca, Santiago de Compostela, Segovia, etc. If you have a connection, the capital's two main stations, Chamartín and Atocha, are linked by metro and suburban train(cercanías). For this, you can use a normal metro ticket, as you're staying in the central Madrid area. It's faster than the metro.