Madrid Transport

Getting around Madrid is an easy affair. Whether going by Metro, bus or taxi, you can be sure to have a safe, comfortable ride at a reasonable price. The Metro is usually the fastest and easiest form of transport to use, while the bus network is very efficient and taxis are plentiful and reasonably priced.

By Metro

The quickest way to get around in Madrid is by Metro, which reaches most places and operates from 06:00 to 01:30. The Madrid Metro station at the airport is situated in Terminal 2. Single-trip ‘MetroBus’ metro tickets are available. If you’re in Madrid for more than two days and plan to use local transportation, the 10-trip MetroBus ticket is recommended. MetroBus tickets are good for both Metro and bus trips, and can be purchased at any Metro station.

By train

The national rail network in Spain is operated by the Red Nacional de Ferrocarriles Españoles (RENFE). RENFE trains don’t operate in the centre of Madrid, as the Cercanías Renfe train network serves the community of Madrid. These are suburban trains that run frequently to small towns and points of interest outside the city centre. Madrid’s main rail terminals are Madrid Atocha and Chamartin stations, and they provide excellent links by RENFE train to and from towns and cities both within Madrid and the rest of Spain.

By bus

Madrid’s comprehensive bus network covers the city more extensively than the Metro and operates from 06:00 to midnight. The main bus and coach station in Madrid is the Estación Sur de Autobuses. Bus route maps are located at most bus stops, often showing not only the bus route at that location, but routes throughout the entire area. 

After midnight, only a few buses, known as ‘buhos’ (owls), operate, leaving from Plaza de Cibeles to nearly all districts of Madrid. There’s no regular schedule for departure, as buses often wait until a certain number of passengers board.

Taxis

Taxis are plentiful and always coloured white with a red, diagonal banner across the front doors. They can be flagged down anywhere in Madrid, even in the most remote parts of the city, and at almost any hour. They are however, save for limousine hire, the most expensive form of city transportation. A taxi ride from Madrid Barajas Airport to the centre of Madrid takes about 30 minutes, depending on traffic conditions.

Tourist services

Madrid Barajas Airport is served by an airport bus connection to the Plaza de Colon, departing from the Arrivals level of each terminal every 15 minutes, day and night.

From the airport

With air conditioned on all trains, you can travel by Metro from Madrid Barajas Airport to downtown, Móstoles suburb and throughout the city, reaching all four-corners of Madrid.

The traditional bus from the airport to Plaza de Colón has been substituted by the new line number 200, which ends at avenida de América. The number 200 bus has the same fare as any normal bus line in Madrid, and the Metrobus one-trip ticket can be used for this route as well as on any other bus or Metro.

At avenida de América, you can also reach destinations by way of metro lines 4, 6 and 9. There are also other buses available for city transport.

There are official taxi stands outside each Airport terminal and visitors are advised to use these rather than unofficial taxis. Within the city, taxis do not charge the fees and supplemental add-ons that routes to or from the airport do, but there are always a few unscrupulous taxi drivers that overcharge unsuspecting tourists who are unaware of the taxi rates, city layout or the language.

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