Last updated: May 11, 2025
Planning a trip to Madrid? Navigating a new city can be daunting, but Madrid’s extensive public transportation system makes getting around surprisingly straightforward. In this guide, I’ll walk you through all the options for travelling from the airport to the city centre and how to get around once you’re there.
From the Airport to Madrid
Terminals 1-3
For those arriving at Terminals 1-3, you have several options:
Metro
The metro offers extensive coverage of the city, but there’s a €3 surcharge to enter or exit at the airport. This effectively means a single ride to the city centre costs alomost €5. Take Line 8 (pink) to Nuevos Ministerios and change there for other lines. This can be a destination in its own right if you’re pressed for time, so do check out this piece on what to do on a layover in Madrid, if so.
Bus
The Airport Express Bus (Line 203) runs 24 hours a day and takes about 30 minutes to reach the city centre, stopping at Cibeles and Atocha. It costs €5 and runs every 15-20 minutes. If you’re arriving between 11:30 PM and 6:00 AM, use the N27 night bus, which also costs €5 but only goes from Cibeles. You can pay by tapping your card on the scanner: don’t do it more than twice or you’ll be double-charged (I got stung with this once)! The advantage here is that it can be much quicker to reach the bus than the metro so a great option if you’re lugging heavy bags. It’s also a good way to make a direct connection to Atocha Station.
Taxi
Taxis are available 24/7 right outside the terminal with a fixed fare of €33 to any destination inside the M30 ring road. This is the quickest option, especially if you’re travelling with a lot of luggage or in a group. However, if you’re hotel is outside the ring road you’ll pay more. I live just one stop out and generally find a taxi fare can be around €40 – needless to say, I need to be VERY jetlagged to take this option!
Terminal 4
Cercanías
If you’re arriving at Terminal 4 (T4), the most convenient option to reach the city centre is the Cercanías suburban train service. Located on the lowest floor next to the metro, the Cercanías train costs just €2.60 to reach central Madrid and handily, you can pay with your card at the ticket gate so you needn’t bother with the ticket machine. This train provides direct access to the city’s three main train stations, including Atocha, and allows easy transfers at Nuevos Ministerios to lines C3 or C4, taking you directly to Sol. Trains run from 6:00 AM until 10:55 PM, making it a straightforward option unless you arrive late. If you do buy a physical ticket, you will pay a 50 cent surcharge but if you hang onto it, you can reuse this for other journeys to places like Alcala de Henares, which is best served by this network.
Metro
If you prefer the metro, you’ll find it convenient for destinations near Line 8, though it comes with a €3 supplement. This option makes more sense if it’s after Cercanías hours or if you’re staying close to a Line 8 stop.
Public Transportation in Madrid
The Metro
The Metro de Madrid is the backbone of the city’s public transportation system, known for its ease of navigation. You’re rarely more than a 10-minute walk from a metro station, with the network comprising 13 lines and 3 light rail extensions. The last trains run from around 1:30 AM.
Trains are generally very modern except for line 1, which was the first to be built but does have a cool ghost station called Anden 0 with some amazing old ceramic advertisements – a must for train nerds!
Tariffs
To use the metro, you’ll need to purchase a Tarjeta Multi, a rechargeable card costing €2.50 from one of the ticket machines. You can choose to do the transaction in English on the touch screen. A single ride in Zone A (central Madrid) costs €1.50, while a 10-ride ticket is €6.10 (currently 50% cheaper due to the cost of living crisis) and also works on city buses. From June 1 this will rise to €7.30
Tourist passes, offering unlimited travel, range from €10 for a day to €42 for a week, depending on the duration. Needless to say, you’re generally better off buying 10 trips on the tarjeta multi! Note that Airport stations require a special ticket or a €3 supplement unless you have an unlimited pass.
If you’re staying in the city longer, perhaps doing the digital nomad thing, you can save even more money by getting a monthly bono (commuter pass) this is currently €21,80 per month but rising to €32,70 from June 1. You have to apply for this online and then go to an office in person to get your card.
Buses
Madrid’s buses come in two colours: blue for inner-city routes and green for interurban routes that travel outside the city. A single fare costs €1.50 and you can pay directly by debit card. There are 10-ride tickets available, and the tourist and monthly passes also offer unlimited use of the blue buses.
Bus stops typically include route diagrams and real-time electronic signs showing the next bus’s arrival time. Some buses, like the No. 5 and No. 27, are especially useful for scenic routes through the city’s main attractions.
Free bus
The electric line 0 bus offers “zero emissions at zero cost” it runs through the city centre from Atocha station to Moncloa via Paseo del Prado, Gran Via and Calle Princesa. There’s always a massive queue! But it’s great if you find yourself strapped for cash. Look for the bus with 001 on the front.
Cercanías Trains
Cercanías trains serve the suburbs and outskirts of Madrid, offering a faster alternative to the metro with fewer stops. These trains are ideal for quickly crossing the city or accessing areas like Atocha and Chamartín train stations. Fares start at €1.60, and unlimited pass holders can use the Cercanías at no extra cost within their designated zone. You can pay for tickets by tapping your debit card in and out of the ticket gates – it’s much simpler this way!
Trains to Other Cities
Madrid’s two main train stations, Atocha and Chamartín, serve as gateways to other cities in Spain. From Atocha, you can take trains to southern destinations like Toledo and Barcelona. Chamartín offers access to northern cities like Segovia and Bilbao. Check your route at www.renfe.com to see which station your train departs from. For high-speed AVE trains, arrive in plenty of time to have your baggage scanned. If you arrive by AVE you can get a free Cercanias ticket from the machine outside the gates by inputing the code on your ticket, which saves you a euro or two!
Taxis
Taxis in Madrid are easily identifiable by their white colour with a red diagonal stripe. Fares within the city typically range from €10 to €20. The meter rates are standardized, with Tariff 1 for daytime, Tariff 2 for night and weekends, and Tariff 3 for holidays. Additional charges apply for services like trips to the airport or train stations. Taxi-hailing apps like MyTaxi and Uber are also available, with Uber offering competitive rates similar to standard taxis.
In my experience, some male taxi drivers can be rather reckless on the roads, driving much faster than is safe. However, these are the exception and, happily, there are quite a few female drivers these days. English may not always be spoken by older drivers.
Travel Tips and Etiquette
Fines
You may be asked to show your pass or ticket when entering or exiting the ticket gates; failure to do so can result in a fine.
Accessibility
Special provisions exist for wheelchair users and those with baby carriages, including designated spaces and stop buttons on buses. Check metro maps to check whether or not stations have elevators.
Reserved Seating
Priority seats on the metro and buses are reserved for the elderly, pregnant women, and those with disabilities. It’s courteous to offer your seat to those who need it.
Getting to Sol (City Center)
A taxi is quick, convenient and costs a fixed rate of 33 euros. The Cercanias train will take you to Atocha and you can get the metro from there. Line 1 is direct to Sol from Atocha (Direction Pinar de Chamartin). The bus is around 5€ from the airport to Cibeles. From there you can walk your way over to Sol through Gran Vía or grab a taxi. The bus might continue on to Atocha where you can get the metro.
Have you visited Madrid recently? Share your transportation tips in the comments below!
