· 5 min read
Atienza is 135 kilometres from Madrid, in the northern tip of the province of Guadalajara. The distance is short, but the arrival is worth planning well: the car is the easiest option, there is a daily bus via Sigüenza, and there are alternative routes if you are after scenery. Here is everything you need to know.
By car: A-2 + CM-1101 (the main route)
The fastest route from Madrid leaves via the A-2 (Autovía del Nordeste) towards Barcelona. At kilometre 103, take the exit toward Sigüenza along the CM-1101. The CM-1101 runs north to Atienza, crossing the Pálmaces reservoir and leaving the Sierra de Pela on the left. Total time is around 1 hour 45 minutes in normal traffic. Free parking next to the castle and at the entrance of the old town.
By bus: Serrano Campos and ALSA via Sigüenza
Serrano Campos operates the Madrid – Sigüenza – Atienza line with several weekly frequencies. ALSA covers Madrid – Sigüenza with broader connections and from Sigüenza there is a transfer to Atienza along the CM-110. The bus stop in Atienza is on Calle Real, three minutes' walk from the Plaza del Trigo. Schedules change by season: check official websites before travelling.
By train to Sigüenza and transfer to Atienza
There is no train station in Atienza. The nearest is Sigüenza, with several daily frequencies from Madrid Chamartín (Media Distancia, lines towards Soria). From Sigüenza, the transfer to Atienza is by taxi or local bus (~35 minutes). This combination works very well for a visit that links both villages, joint UNESCO candidates.
Scenic roads: arriving via La Bodera
If you have time and drive calmly, the entrance to Atienza via La Bodera (CM-1003) is probably the most photogenic. The silhouette of the castle suddenly appears over the crag at a turn in the road. Another alternative is to link Atienza with Sigüenza via the CM-110, crossing the landscape that underpins the UNESCO candidacy of the “Sweet & Salt Landscape”.
