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    HYROX MADRID TRAVEL GUIDE 2027

    IFEMA MADRID (Recinto Ferial / Feria de Madrid), Av. del Partenón 5, Barajas, 28042 Madrid, Spain

    TL;DR — RACE WEEKEND GAME PLAN

    1. 1.Stay at Campo de las Naciones for the shortest possible race morning, or Hortaleza for the same convenience for less money.
    2. 2.Buy a Tarjeta Multi on landing and use Metro Line 8 — the airport is 6 minutes from the venue with no changes.
    3. 3.Do not take an airport taxi to IFEMA expecting the €33 flat fare. It only applies inside the M-30, and IFEMA is outside it.
    4. 4.Shop for breakfast and race fuel the day before. Nothing near the venue opens before 07:00 and the supermarket opens at 10:00.
    5. 5.Book dinner or arrive early — Madrid kitchens largely close between 16:30 and 20:00.
    6. 6.Shakeout on the 5 km perimeter loop of Parque Juan Carlos I, open from 07:00 and flat the whole way.
    7. 7.Book any gym drop-in for Wednesday to Saturday. Almost every box near IFEMA closes on Sunday except Anytime Fitness Hortaleza.
    8. 8.Book physio before the weekend, or plan for BioSpa, which opens on Sundays.
    9. 9.Enter via Puerta Sur from the metro, allow 5 to 10 minutes to walk inside the complex, and remember check-in closes 1 hour before your start.
    10. 10.Your athlete ticket does not get you in on a second day. Save 112, the 24-hour pharmacy on Av. de Machupichu, and your gate in your phone.

    QUICK TAKE — IS THIS A GOOD DESTINATION?

    VERDICT: YES

    Anyone who hates race-week logistics. This is one of the easiest venues on the HYROX calendar to reach: the airport is two metro stops away and Feria de Madrid station is effectively at the door. Racing runs Wednesday 17 to Sunday 21 March 2027. Cost level is moderate — Madrid is cheaper than most Western European capitals for food and transport.

    ⚠️ Caveat: HYROX has not published the Madrid schedule, hall assignment, lap count or check-in location — individual start times go live roughly 3 days out. Hotel prices near IFEMA swing hard depending on what else is on at the fairground, and almost nothing near the venue opens before 07:00.

    Stress Factor2/10

    The venue-to-transport link is about as short as it gets: one metro line, no interchange, no shuttle bus. The main stressor is the size of IFEMA itself, not getting to it.

    PB Likelihood7/10

    Cool March air, near-zero travel fatigue and an indoor hall are all in your favour. Madrid sits at roughly 667 m altitude — not enough to wreck a race, but enough that a sea-level athlete may notice the last 1 km run.

    FAST COURSE?

    Depends. The 2027 layout, lap count and hall assignment are unpublished. IFEMA halls are large, flat and high-ceilinged, which usually means longer, less-congested run laps. Treat that as likely, not confirmed.

    CITY VIBE — WHAT ATHLETES NEED TO KNOW

    IFEMA is a 13-hall exhibition complex in the Barajas district, north-east Madrid, sitting between the airport and the M-40 ring road with around 200,000 m² of indoor space. Getting to IFEMA is easy; getting to your hall is not — expect 5 to 10 minutes of walking inside the complex after you pass the gate. What surrounds it is Campo de las Naciones: office blocks, a handful of hotels and Parque Juan Carlos I to the east. Quiet, safe and functional, but not a neighbourhood with life on the street at 06:30.

    TYPICAL WEEKEND COSTS

    Breakfast€4–10
    Lunch€12–20
    Dinner€18–40
    Metro from the airport (inc. supplement)€4.50–5.00
    Taxi from the airport to IFEMA€25–32
    Taxi starting at IFEMA€8 minimum

    Language: Spanish. Currency: Euro (€). Madrid is close to cashless — cards and phone wallets work almost everywhere including taxis and metro machines. Carry €20–30 in coins and notes for small bars. Paper metro tickets no longer exist: buy a Tarjeta Multi (€2.50) on landing.

    BEST BASE NEIGHBOURHOODS

    Campo de las Naciones / Barajas

    Best for: Pure race logistics. Walk to the venue, walk to the metro, sleep. Dead quiet at night.

    Hortaleza

    Best for: Value. Residential, real supermarkets, cheaper hotels, still a short hop to IFEMA.

    Chamartín / Nuevos Ministerios

    Best for: Combining the race with the city. Line 8 runs direct to the venue in about 11 minutes.

    Salamanca / Centro

    Best for: Spectators and non-racing partners. Add 40 to 55 minutes each way to the venue.

    VENUE & LOCATION ANALYSIS

    IFEMA MADRID (Recinto Ferial / Feria de Madrid)

    Av. del Partenón 5, Barajas, 28042 Madrid

    A 13-hall exhibition complex of roughly 200,000 m², flat and fully step-free, sitting between Barajas airport and the M-40. HYROX has not published the hall, schedule or check-in location for 2027. At the last Madrid edition IFEMA directed metro arrivals on foot via Puerta Sur (South Gate) and drivers to the Verde-Naranja car park with pedestrian access via Puerta Norte — re-check for 2027, as IFEMA rotates halls and gates by event.

    NEAREST STATIONS

    • Feria de MadridMetro Line 8 — at the fairground, under 5 min on foot to the South Gate
    • Aeropuerto T1-T2-T3Metro Line 8 — 6 min to Feria de Madrid, no changes
    • Aeropuerto T4Metro Line 8 — about 10 min, no changes
    • Nuevos MinisteriosMetro Line 8 — about 11 min from the venue, city-centre interchange

    WALKABILITY

    6/10

    Metro and hotels are within a few minutes, but this is a business district. Food, supermarkets and recovery are a 12 to 15 minute walk or a metro ride away, and the complex itself is big.

    Bar La Antigua 1913 on Avenida de los Andes opens 07:00 daily, about 15 minutes' walk south — the only reliably early option nearby. The bar inside the Novotel opens at 08:00. El Corte Inglés Campo de las Naciones (Av. de los Andes 50, ~12 min) does not open until 10:00, so buy breakfast and race food the day before. Bay Center Mall in Barajas opens from 06:00 if you need a longer-hours alternative.

    🏃 RACE MORNING PLAN

    Staying at Campo de las Naciones: leave 45 minutes before your check-in window closes — it is a 5 to 15 minute walk. Staying central: allow 60 minutes door to door from anywhere inside the M-30. Metro opens at 06:00 every day; if check-in is earlier, you need a taxi. HYROX opens on-site registration 90 minutes before the first wave of each division and closes check-in 1 hour before your start. Bring photo ID — nobody checks in on your behalf, and you get one bag at bag drop.

    TRANSPORT LINKS

    BEST AIRPORT: ADOLFO SUÁREZ MADRID-BARAJAS (MAD)

    There is no second option and you do not need one. IFEMA is about 10 minutes from the airport by road and 12 km from the city centre, with a direct metro link on Line 8.

    Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas (MAD)

    Metro Line 8 from Aeropuerto T1-T2-T3 (6 min) or T4 (10 min) direct to Feria de Madrid. Zone A single €1.50–2.00 plus the compulsory €3.00 airport supplement, so €4.50–5.00, plus €2.50 once for the Tarjeta Multi card.

    Time to venue: ~10-15 min door-to-door

    Getting to IFEMA MADRID

    Metro from MADLine 8 from Aeropuerto T1-T2-T3 or T4 direct to Feria de Madrid6–10 min| €4.50–5.00
    Metro from townLine 8 from Nuevos Ministerios to Feria de Madrid~11 min| €1.50–2.00
    Taxi from MADMetered Tarifa 3 plus €3.00 IFEMA supplement — the €33 flat fare does not apply10–15 min| €25–32
    Taxi from IFEMARanks at the South, North and East gatesOn demand| €8 minimum
    Drive & parkM-11 exits 5/7, M-40 exits 5/6/7, A-2 exit 7 — around 14,000 spaces| 2027 prices unpublished

    PUBLIC TRANSPORT TIPS

    • Buy a Tarjeta Multi (€2.50) at any metro machine — English interface — the moment you land. Paper tickets no longer exist.
    • If you are doing airport-in, airport-out plus daily travel, price up the Tourist Travel Pass Zone T, which waives the €3 airport supplement each way.
    • Metro opens at 06:00 daily. Metro de Madrid has historically increased Line 8 frequency for major IFEMA events — helpful, but do not count on it.
    • Buses 112 (Mar de Cristal to Barrio del Aeropuerto), 122 (Avenida de América to IFEMA) and interurban 828 stop at the fairground. Slower than the metro.
    • Feria de Madrid station is accessible with lifts and escalators, and IFEMA is fully step-free.

    🚕 Taxi / Uber / Ola

    Madrid taxis are metered, plentiful and take cards; Uber, Bolt and Cabify all operate. Going the other way is cheaper than you expect — journeys starting at IFEMA have an €8 minimum fare, with ranks inside the grounds at the South, North and East gates. That is a good post-race option when you are wrecked. Surge is real when a few thousand people leave at once.

    🚗 Driving

    IFEMA has around 14,000 spaces with road access from the M-11 (exits 5, 7), M-40 (exits 5, 6, 7) and A-2 (exit 7). Drivers were directed to the Verde-Naranja car park with pedestrian access via Puerta Norte at the last edition. Visitor parking prices for HYROX 2027 are not published — check the IFEMA event page nearer the time.

    WHERE TO STAY

    €110–190

    Best for: Cutting race-morning travel to a five-minute walk

    Campo de las Naciones, C. de Ámsterdam 3. Feria de Madrid metro is roughly 3 minutes away. On-site bar and restaurant 08:00 to midnight, well-reviewed buffet breakfast, renovated rooms, A/C, El Corte Inglés about 10 minutes away. Tradeoff: it is a conference hotel and prices like one during trade fairs, guests report intermittent hot water and ongoing works, and you are 45–60 minutes from central Madrid.

    ~250 m, 5-min walk
    Check availability

    €55–95

    Best for: Keeping the cost down without adding a commute

    C. del Conde de las Posadas 13, Hortaleza. Quiet residential street, gardens, luggage storage after checkout, good value, and past guests have used it specifically for HYROX at IFEMA. Tradeoff: hostal standard, not a hotel — basic rooms, no gym, and no big buffet breakfast at 06:00.

    ~1.2 km, ~15-min walk
    Check availability

    €100–170

    Best for: A predictable chain standard with a proper breakfast

    Vía de los Poblados 3, Hortaleza. Strong, varied breakfast, comfortable beds, bus stop outside and a restaurant on site for a late dinner. Tradeoff: guests report thin window glazing on a busy street and rooms needing refurbishment — request a room away from the road. Not walkable to the venue in the rain.

    ~1.9 km, ~25-min walk
    Check availability

    €160–280

    Best for: A 24-hour gym and a free airport shuttle

    Av. de la Hispanidad 2-4, Barajas. The gym is open 24 hours, which is genuinely useful for a 05:30 activation session. Free shuttle to the terminals, spacious rooms, good breakfast. Tradeoff: it is an airport hotel in a business park, the shuttle does not run early enough for pre-06:00 flights, and you cannot walk to IFEMA.

    ~2.9 km, ~10 min by taxi
    Check availability

    🏨 Looking to book? Compare prices on your preferred booking platform.

    WHERE TO EAT

    💡 Smart move: Madrid eats late — lunch 14:00–16:00, dinner rarely before 21:00, and many kitchens shut between 16:30 and 20:00. Lamucca de Andes and La Canica both run continuous service from 13:00, which is why they beat anywhere fancier the night before.

    Lamucca de Andes

    Athlete Pick
    Pre-race carb dinner

    Avenida de los Andes 25, ~12 min walk. Opens from 13:00 and runs late, so it covers the awkward early-evening gap better than most. Grill, pasta, rice and salads, moderate prices.

    La Canica

    Athlete Pick
    Pre-race carb dinner

    Avenida de los Andes, same strip as Lamucca. Reliable second option, open daily from 13:00. Useful when everywhere else is shut between 16:30 and 20:00.

    Orgaz Mediterranean Cuisine

    Athlete Pick
    Post-race recovery meal

    Corner of Avenida de los Andes and Avenida del Arroyo del Santo, ~13 min. Strong on grilled fish and protein, open to 23:30 Mon–Sat. Closes 17:00 on Sundays — which matters if you race on the 21st.

    Bar La Antigua 1913

    Athlete Pick
    Coffee & breakfast

    Avenida de los Andes 22. Open 07:00 to midnight, seven days — the only reliably early option within walking distance. Coffee, tortilla, croquetas. The Novotel's Gourmet Bar opens at 08:00.

    El Corte Inglés Campo de las Naciones

    Athlete Pick
    Supermarket

    Av. de los Andes 50, ~12 min. 10:00–22:00 Mon–Fri, 11:00–21:00 weekends. It does not open early enough for race morning — buy breakfast and race food the day before.

    Bay Center Mall, Barajas

    Athlete Pick
    Supermarket / early opening

    C. Bahía de Pollensa 5, about 2 km east. Two supermarkets and opens from 06:00 — the longer-hours alternative if you need something on race morning.

    THINGS TO DO

    Parque Juan Carlos I

    Pre-Race

    Directly east of the fairground, 10–15 minutes from the South Gate. Flat tarmac paths and outdoor sculptures. Twenty minutes of walking, no hills, no queues. Open 07:00–01:00.

    Museo del Prado / Reina Sofía

    Pre-Race

    Central, near Retiro, and sit-down friendly. Avoid full walking tours the day before — Madrid's centre is more uphill than it looks.

    Avenida de los Andes strip

    Post-Race

    The bars and restaurants near the venue handle a big group without a reservation. For a proper night, Line 8 to Nuevos Ministerios and into Chamberí or Salamanca. Dinner service rarely starts before 21:00.

    Retiro, Royal Palace, Mercado de San Miguel

    Any Time

    For spectators with a spare day — all central and a straight run from Nuevos Ministerios. Plenilunio shopping centre, 3 km from IFEMA, opens 10:00–22:00 daily if you need somewhere warm to park non-racers.

    RACE STRATEGY

    VENUE

    HYROX has not published the hall, lap count, start times or course configuration for Madrid 2027. Anything specific you read elsewhere about the 2027 course is guesswork — check the official event page in the fortnight before you travel.

    COURSE FLOW

    IFEMA's pavilions are among the largest in Europe. Bigger halls generally mean wider run lanes and fewer pinch points at the turns, which is where congested races lose time. With a five-day event and thousands of athletes, expect station congestion in the middle waves — build a buffer into your target time rather than assuming a clean run.

    RUN SURFACE

    Flat concrete with high ceilings, typically covered with temporary event flooring for HYROX. Flat is the operative word: no ramps or elevation changes inside a single hall.

    HEAT

    March outside is cold, but a packed indoor hall with several thousand athletes is not. Expect the hall to run warm regardless of the weather. Dress for the hall, not the walk in.

    ELEVATION

    Madrid sits at roughly 667 m. The effect is small, but sea-level athletes may find heart rate a few beats higher than expected for the same pace. Do not chase your usual splits on run 1.

    ⚠️ WHERE PEOPLE BLOW UP

    The first run and the sled push. On a big flat floor with room to move, the temptation is to go out hard on a fast opening kilometre. Bank nothing — get to the sled with something left.

    HISTORICAL DATA

    0

    Finishers (HYROX Madrid 2027 (IFEMA))

    N/A

    Avg Finish Time (Madrid-specific)

    TBC

    Time Cutoff

    Depends. Cool March air and huge, flat, high-ceilinged halls point towards fast, uncongested run laps, but the 2027 hall and lap count are unpublished and altitude may cost sea-level athletes a little on the later runs.

    Source: HYROX does not publish comprehensive official average finish times per event, and the Madrid 2027 schedule, hall and lap count were still unpublished at the time of writing.

    RECOVERY SPOTS

    ICE BATHS / COLD PLUNGE

    BIOSPA

    C. de Velázquez 138, Chamartín. Infrared sauna and ice bath, and crucially open Sundays 09:00–15:00.

    📍 ~6 km from the venue

    Best use: Post-race flush if you race on the final day — almost nothing else near IFEMA opens on a Sunday.

    RIELA BATHHOUSE

    C. de Apodaca 20, Centro. Cold plunges, dry sauna and steam room, open 11:00–21:00 daily. Phones not allowed. The best contrast facility in the city.

    📍 ~8 km, 35–40 min by metro

    Best use: The day after, if you are staying on. Book ahead.

    REVIVE WELLNESS HUB JUSTICIA

    C. de Bárbara de Braganza 10, Centro. Sauna, cold plunge and infrared. Closed Sunday with limited Saturday hours.

    📍 ~8 km, central

    Best use: A midweek session before you race, not a race-day plan.

    SAUNAS & SPAS

    HILTON MADRID AIRPORT GYM

    Av. de la Hispanidad 2-4 — open 24 hours, rare among nearby hotels.

    Best use: An early activation session without leaving your base.

    NOVOTEL MADRID FERIA

    Closest hotel to IFEMA, with a bar and restaurant open 08:00 to midnight.

    Best use: Recovery food and a short walk back when you cannot face the metro.

    PHYSIOS NEAR VENUE

    Fisioterapia Novofisio, Av. de los Arces 24, Hortaleza

    About 1.1 km from IFEMA, roughly 14 minutes' walk. Sports-injury focused with online booking, listed as available seven days but appointment-only — confirm directly. Best use: a same-day niggle before you race.

    Ansón Fisioterapia, C. de Alcorisa 53, Hortaleza

    About 1.7 km. Monday to Friday 09:00–21:00, Saturday to 14:00, closed Sunday. Osteopathy training and a strong sports-massage reputation. Best use: a booked Friday session.

    WEATHER STRATEGY

    MID-MARCH CONDITIONS

    Mid-March: daytime highs around 15–18°C and overnight lows around 2–5°C, with modest rainfall and a decent chance of sun. Madrid's altitude means the morning-to-afternoon swing is large.

    • A warm layer and long trousers you can strip for the walk to the venue — at 07:00 in March it will be genuinely cold
    • Standard singlet and shorts for racing: dress for a warm indoor hall, not the walk in
    • Gloves and a beanie if it is 3°C at dawn
    • A change of dry top for after
    • Nothing heavy — you are walking minutes, not standing outside for hours

    💧 Hydration

    Dry continental air at altitude dehydrates you faster than the temperature suggests. Drink more than the weather tells you to.

    🏟️ Indoor vs Outdoor

    Cold and dry outside first thing, warm inside once the hall fills. The swing between the two is the thing to plan for.

    SHAKEOUT RUN ROUTES

    EASY 5 KM — PARQUE JUAN CARLOS I PERIMETER LOOP

    The single best thing about IFEMA as a race venue. The park sits directly east of the fairground, roughly 10 to 15 minutes' walk from the South Gate. The perimeter circuit is about 5 km on flat, wide tarmac paths, open 07:00 to 01:00 daily, so an early shakeout works.

    🏃 Parkrun

    Madrid has free 5 km parkruns at 09:00 on Saturday at Retiro and at Casa de Campo. Both are 11 to 15 km from IFEMA, so allow 40 to 50 minutes each way by metro. If you race on Saturday 20 March, skip it. Register once at parkrun.es and bring your barcode.

    🏟️ Track Access

    No practical track option close to the venue. The Juan Carlos I loop and the gyms below cover a shakeout or a station tune-up.

    Well-used paths with open sightlines and drinking fountains along the main routes. Very little shade and dogs off-lead, so do not expect a quiet track. Toilets exist but hours are not published — plan around your hotel.

    GYMS NEAR VENUE

    FUNCTIONAL / STRENGTH

    PHOENIX 4 FIT CAMPO DE LAS NACIONES (C. DE AMBERES 8, BARAJAS)

    Roughly 250 m from IFEMA. Functional training, very strong reviews. Open 07:00–21:00 weekdays, Saturday morning only, closed Sunday. Message ahead for a drop-in.

    GEA TRAINING CLUB (C. DE LAS SICÉLIDAS 10, HORTALEZA)

    About 1.8 km. Explicitly aimed at cross-training and hybrid athletes. Opens 07:00 weekdays, Saturday 10:00–13:00, closed Sunday.

    VORY BOX DE CROSSFIT HORTALEZA (C. DE AGUSTÍN CALVO 47)

    About 2.6 km. Runs HYROX-format classes. Closed Sunday, and reviewers note there are no showers.

    COMMERCIAL GYMS

    Anytime Fitness Hortaleza (C. de Mota del Cuervo 30)

    About 1.5 km. The only nearby option open 06:00 to midnight, seven days — your Sunday fallback. Reviewers report it gets crowded and warm.

    HOTEL GYMS WORTH USING

    Hilton Madrid Airport

    24-hour gym, genuinely useful for a 05:30 activation session.

    Novotel Madrid Feria and Airport

    Closest hotel to the venue; bar and restaurant 08:00 to midnight, but no 24-hour gym.

    Book any drop-in for Wednesday to Saturday. Almost every box near IFEMA closes on Sunday — Anytime Fitness Hortaleza is the exception.

    ESSENTIALS — RACE WEEKEND OPS

    SUPERMARKETS

    El Corte Inglés Campo de las Naciones

    Av. de los Andes 50

    ~12 min walk. 10:00–22:00 Mon–Fri, 11:00–21:00 weekends — too late for race morning.

    Bay Center Mall

    C. Bahía de Pollensa 5, Barajas

    About 2 km east, two supermarkets, opens from 06:00.

    Life Center (supplements)

    C. Emigrantes 11, Hortaleza

    About 1.8 km. Closed Sunday and closed 14:30–17:00 for the afternoon break.

    PHARMACIES

    Conde Orgaz pharmacy

    Av. de Machupichu 37, Hortaleza

    About 1.1 km, ~14 min walk, open 24 hours seven days. Save this one in your phone.

    Barajas Health Centre

    Av. de Logroño 319

    GP-level care, weekdays 08:00–21:00, closed at weekends.

    SPORTS SHOPS

    Decathlon Madrid City Alcalá

    C. Alcalá 338, about 4 km south, open daily including Sunday 11:00–20:30.

    Centro Comercial Plenilunio

    About 3 km away, sports retail, open 10:00–22:00 every day.

    🆘 "OH NO" KIT CHECKLIST

    Blister plastersElectrolyte tabsKinesiology or rigid tapeAnti-chafe balmSpare lacesBasic pain relief (ibuprofen or paracetamol)Safety pins and a spare pair of socks

    VENUE DAY TIMELINE

    06:30Wake. Water and electrolytes straight away.
    06:45Breakfast. Aim to finish 3 hours before your start. Carbs you have trained on, nothing new.
    07:45Kit check. Race kit on, warm layer over the top, bag packed with one change of dry clothes.
    08:15Leave the hotel. Walk to Puerta Sur, 5 to 15 minutes depending on where you are.
    08:30Arrive IFEMA. Allow 5 to 10 minutes walking inside the complex to your hall.
    08:45Check-in and bag drop. Hard deadline is 09:00, one hour before your start.
    09:10Toilet. Queues build fast — go earlier than feels necessary.
    09:20Warm-up starts. Easy movement, gradual build, activation.
    09:45Final gel or carb hit. Strip the warm layer.
    09:50Corral. Get in early, get settled.
    10:00RACE.
    11:30Finish. Keep walking for 5 minutes. Do not sit down straight away.
    11:45Rehydrate and take protein within the first hour.
    12:30Shower and change. Collect bag.
    13:15Leave via Puerta Sur for the metro, or the South Gate taxi rank (€8 minimum fare).
    14:00Real food. Avenida de los Andes for something close, or Line 8 into town.
    EveningContrast session if you have booked one, then legs up.

    SPECTATOR GUIDE

    BEST VIEWING ZONES

    • HYROX has not published the Madrid floor plan — confirm zones on arrival
    • Historically the roped area around the sled lanes gives the best sightlines
    • The wall ball zone, where the racing gets decided
    • The Thunderdome viewing area advertised on the event page for the finish

    FAMILY LOGISTICS

    • Spectators need their own ticket. Athlete tickets are single-day only, so a partner racing on a different day still buys a spectator ticket
    • IFEMA is fully step-free with lifts, and Feria de Madrid metro is accessible — pram access is straightforward
    • Toilets and cafés exist throughout the fairground, though hall-specific provision for HYROX is unpublished
    • It is loud. Bring ear defenders for small children
    • Halls are cavernous and seating is limited — assume standing unless you arrive early

    📍 MEET-UP PLAN

    Do not agree to 'meet at the exit'. IFEMA has three gates. Agree on Puerta Sur, by the metro entrance, as your default, and set a clock time rather than 'when you finish'. Phone signal in a packed hall is unreliable.

    BUDGET CALCULATOR

    Line itemBudgetMidPremium
    Flights€50€150€320
    Hotel (3 nights)€165€390€780
    Food (3 days)€60€130€250
    Local transport€12€25€70
    Race extras€0€40€110
    Recovery (sauna / massage)€0€60€150

    ESTIMATED TOTALS (excl. flights)

    3 nights:~€237/~€645/~€1,360

    PACKING CHECKLIST

    RACE KIT

    • Race shoes (carry-on only, never checked)
    • Race singlet or top
    • Shorts or tights
    • Two pairs of socks
    • Sports bra
    • Watch, charged, plus charger
    • Photo ID — required for check-in, no exceptions
    • Ticket QR code, saved offline

    WARM UP

    • Warm layer and long trousers for the walk in
    • Gloves and a beanie for a 3°C dawn
    • Throwaway top for the corral
    • Resistance band
    • Skipping rope if that is part of your routine

    RECOVERY

    • Change of dry clothes in the bag drop, not the hotel
    • Compression tights or socks
    • Massage ball or mini roller
    • Flip-flops for the sauna
    • Swimwear for BioSpa or Riela
    • Small towel

    NUTRITION

    • Gels or chews for race day
    • Electrolyte tablets
    • Pre-race breakfast you have trained on
    • Refillable bottle
    • Post-race protein

    TRAVEL

    • Tarjeta Multi (buy at the airport machine)
    • Passport or photo ID
    • GHIC or travel insurance details
    • Type C/F plug adapter
    • €20–30 in cash for small bars
    • Dry bag for wet kit

    SAMPLE RACE WEEKEND ITINERARY

    1

    DAY 1: ARRIVAL & RECON

    • Metro Line 8 from Barajas to Feria de Madrid, Tarjeta Multi bought at the airport machine
    • Check in at Campo de las Naciones or Hortaleza, then walk the route to Puerta Sur
    • El Corte Inglés Campo de las Naciones for tomorrow's breakfast, gels and electrolytes
    • Easy 5 km shakeout on the Parque Juan Carlos I perimeter loop
    • Carb dinner at Lamucca de Andes from 13:00 onwards — kitchens shut 16:30 to 20:00 elsewhere
    2

    DAY 2: RACE DAY

    • Wake 06:30, water and electrolytes, breakfast 06:45 to finish 3 hours before your start
    • Leave 08:15, enter via Puerta Sur, allow 5 to 10 minutes walking to your hall
    • Check-in and bag drop by 08:45 — the hard deadline is one hour before your start
    • Warm-up from 09:20, corral 09:50, RACE at 10:00 — do not chase splits on run 1 at altitude
    • Keep walking after the finish, protein within the hour, shower and change
    • Late lunch on Avenida de los Andes, then legs up
    3

    DAY 3: RECOVERY & EXPLORE

    • Late breakfast at Bar La Antigua 1913, open from 07:00
    • Contrast session at Riela Bathhouse in Centro, or BioSpa if it is a Sunday
    • Prado or Reina Sofía, or Retiro and Mercado de San Miguel with spectators
    • Easy walk through Parque Juan Carlos I before you fly
    • Metro Line 8 straight back to the terminal — 6 to 10 minutes

    LOCAL RULES & EMERGENCY INFO

    Tipping

    Not expected and not built into wages. Rounding up or leaving a euro or two for good service is normal. Nobody will chase you.

    Cash vs card

    Madrid is close to cashless — cards and phone wallets work almost everywhere including taxis and metro machines. Carry €20–30 for small bars.

    Sunday closures

    Most independent shops, physio clinics and gyms close on Sunday. Large shopping centres, El Corte Inglés and Decathlon generally stay open, and pharmacies run a duty rota.

    Eating times

    Lunch runs 14:00–16:00 and dinner rarely starts before 21:00, with many kitchens shut between roughly 16:30 and 20:00. A 19:00 pre-race meal needs a venue with continuous service.

    19 March

    That Friday is San José, Father's Day in Spain, so restaurants get busy. Whether it is a public holiday in Madrid in 2027 was unpublished when we checked — verify before relying on shop or transport timetables.

    EMERGENCY INFO

    112

    Emergency (all services)

    061

    Medical emergencies

    091

    National Police

    Hospital: Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Ctra. de Colmenar Viejo (M-607) km 9.100, 28034 Madrid. 24-hour emergency care and the reference hospital for Madrid-Barajas, so it is where an ambulance from IFEMA would most likely take you — 10 to 12 km, 15 to 20 minutes by car, Metro Begoña on Line 10.

    Pharmacy: Conde Orgaz pharmacy, Av. de Machupichu 37, Hortaleza — about 1.1 km from the venue and open 24 hours, seven days.

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