Teleférico de Madrid

One of the things that I like the most about Madrid is the fact that you can enjoy seeing almost all of the city on foot. One of recommended neighbourhoods is Argüelles, which is located just a few minutes walking distance away from the very centre of the city, close to the Cervantes Monument, the Templo de Debod, and, of course, the Teleférico de Madrid, one of the cheapest attractions that the city has on offer.

How do you get there?

The most recommendable way to get there is to alight from the metro at Argüelles station and carry straight on along Calle Alberto Aguilera. There, you are going to find a sign for the entrance to the Teleférico. If you want to travel there by bus (a single journey will cost 1. 50€), you can take the 21 or the 74.

How much does it cost?

If you are coming to Madrid for just a few days, the most recommendable thing would be for you to buy one of the ticket combinations that they have, where entrance to either both the Teleférico and the zoo (costing 24. 45€ for adults and 20. 75€ for children) or the Teleférico and the amusement park (33€ for adults, 26. 50€ for children). A single journey costs 4. 20€, whereas the cost of a round-trip journey costs 5. 90€. So, for obvious reasons, it's more convenient to buy a round-trip ticket, as there is no public transport, like buses or the metro, available for you to take to get back. I guess that they give the option of a one-way ticket because the amusement park is located just 2 kilometres away, and the zoo less than one. The amazing thing about the Teleférico is that you can buy some of the tickets in advance through its website. The bad thing, though, is that the aforementioned ticket combinations must be used on the same day.

And what can you tell me about it?

The Teleférico is very well cared for. If you go in a group, bear in mind that they try to have two to three people riding in each pod, despite the maximum weight limit permitted allowing for around six people. Before boarding, they will take a photograph of your group, which you will be able to buy once you have arrived back at the terminal, if you so wish. The journey usually takes approximately 11 minutes.

The view on the outbound journey is beautiful, but you get distracted more by taking photos. You could say that the return journey is much better, as you are more relaxed and willing to see everything better.

Some of the things that you are going to be able to see include:

• Madrid Río
• Royal Palace of Madrid
• Parque de Atracciones de Madrid
• Templo de Debod
• Rosaleda Gardens
• Almudena Cathedral
• Casa de Campo Park
• Príncipe Pío Station
• Vicente Calderón Stadium (Atlético de Madrid's ground)

It sounds like a lot, right? And the best thing about it all is that, during the journey, you will be able to listen to some cultural and historical facts about the things that you are seeing. The experience includes an audio guide so you are able to stay a bit more informed about the places that you are seeing.

We have already arrived back at the passenger terminal, now what?

When you get back to the passenger terminal, you can walk through the gift shop, where you will able to buy keyrings, mugs, teddy bears with adornments of Madrid... but, there is also another type of gift. Towards the back of the shop, you will find your souvenir photos printed and ready for you to take home, so if you like them, you can buy a copy. On the ground floor, there is an area with grabber machines for children, as well as an exit to Casa de Campo, a park that passes underneath the Teleférico, which you can walk around. On the upper floor, there is a canteen where they sell beer, soft drinks, food, and desserts, amongst other things. You can eat your purchases on the terrace, which is also an amazing lookout point; not taking a photo here would be criminal.

There is also a children's soft play area, situated right next to the canteen. So, it's for this reason that the Teleférico and its facilities within the terminal are also available to hire for birthday parties and christenings.

Recommendations:

• Take a decent quality camera because the views are simply beautiful.
• Arrive early because the queues can get fairly long.