Transportation to / from Madrid Barajas Airport

Madrid transport options & information-  all in one place for you. 

Taxi: This option is for those who have money to spare… or have packed enough for all four seasons in a week trip (you know, just in case).Taking a taxi  is the most convenient, but also the most expensive option. Be prepared to pay around 20-60€ from the airport to the city, depending on your final destination.

Taxi drivers will add an airport surcharge, luggage surcharge, “surcharge just-because-they-feel-like-it” surcharge, the “you’re-a-foreigner-so-you-won’t-notice” surcharge, and the “oops-my-finger-slipped-on-the-meter-and-I-accidentally-pressed-the-surcharge-button” surcharge. Ok, maybe it’s not quite this bad, but you get the idea.

 Warning: Do not accept rides with taxi drivers inside the Airport terminal, as they might be frauds and will rip you off. Walk outside to the designated taxi stops.

                                                                                                                               Tipping: You do not need to tip the taxi driver unless he did a special service for you (like help with your suitcases) and even then, he probably added the surcharge to the bill already. If you’re feeling particularly giving, you can round up your bill. For example, if you owe 9.75, leave 10. You may feel like a jackass leaving a 15 cent tip, but any tip is unexpected for the drivers. Tipping is not a custom in Spain.                                                                                                                                                                             

24 Hour-Airport Express Bus:

24 hour transportation to/ from the airport. Just ask the information desk at the airport to point you in the direction of the Airport Express Bus stop. The bus stop locations are: O’Donnel, Cibeles, Atocha.

If none of these stops is your final destination you can take the Metro (Underground)   or a taxi from any of these locations.

These guys look absolutely miserable.

Frequency: Bus runs every 15 minutes during the day | every 35 minutes at night.

Price: One of the cheaper airport transportation options. For a single journey, pay the busdriver 5€ cash once you get on.

Duration: On their website they say the trip takes around 40 minutes depending on traffic.

In addition, get a quick quick preview of Madrid and some of its major landmarks: Puerta de Alcalá, Cibeles fountain, the Post Office, El Pirulí, Neptune Fountain, Atocha Train Station.

Puerta de Alcalá

Madrid’s Post Office

Disadvantages: They tend to fill up the bus to maximum capacity. The trip can be a bit uncomfortable if you’re traveling at peak times as they pack as many people as physically possible in the aisles along with their suitcases and bags.

                                                                                                                                                                                   I’ve been on the bus when a woman and her daughter hesitated at their bus stop for a moment, then they couldn’t grab their bags and push their way towards the exit in time, so the bus driver closed the doors and drove on with no remorse. So be prepared and have an idea of where you need to get off.

Bus timetables: http://www.emtmadrid.es/lineaaeropuerto/horarios.html

Information Sheet: http://www.gomadrid.com/transport/Airport-Express.pdf

Metro (Underground):

One of the cheaper transportation options. The price of a single journey to/from the airport 4.50€ (1.50€ single journey ticket + 3€ airport surcharge).

 Madrid’s Metro is considered one of the best subways in the world. It’s extensive, clean, and extremely easy to follow. It’s color & number coordinated with arrows pointing you exactly where you need to go… which is perfect for those not blessed with a good sense of direction (like yours truly). 

Here are PDFs of Madrid’s Metro Map:               http://www.metromadrid.es/export/sites/metro/comun/documentos/planos/Planoesquematicoespanol.pdf

http://www.metromadrid.es/export/sites/metro/comun/documentos/planos/Planobasecartografica.pdf

Keep in mind, it might be a difficult journey if you’re lugging around several heavy suitcases. Also, you may need to change Metro lines a few times, and some metro stations don’t have elevators. A trip from the Airport to the center of the city will take about 45 minutes.

{Metro Passes are also valid for the local EMT Madrid buses.}

Single-trip = Riding from 1-5 metro stations: 1.50€.

6-9 stations: 1.60€-1.90€

More than 9 stations: 2€

10-trip pass = 12€ 

Depending on your plans, the Madrid Tourist Travel Pass might be a better option for you. This pass includes trips on the Metro, local buses, suburban train, and inner-city light railway for 1, 2, 3, 5, or 7 days.

How to Purchase: You can purchase this pass online, in which case you will be sent a receipt that can be exchanged for the actual ticket itself at the Madrid Metro Customer Service Desk “Centro de Atención al Cliente”. This desk is located outside the Metro Station at Terminal 2 of Madrid’s airport (open every day 7am to 10pm).

You can also purchase the Tourist Travel Pass at the tourist office located in Plaza Mayor.

For more information on purchasing the pass, go here: http://www.gomadrid.com/transport/travel-pass.html

 *Children under 11 pay half price.

Type of Tourist Travel Pass	Price
Zone A, 1 Day	8€
Zone A, 2 Days	13.40€
Zone A, 3 Days	17.40€
Zone A, 5 Days	25.40€
Zone A, 7 Days	33.40€

Aerocity Airport Shuttle:

A specialized taxi service that operates 24 hours. They will pick you up/take you to the airport comfortably in a 7-seater, air-conditioned van. The prices are extremely reasonable. This is a great option if you’re traveling with your family… and you tend to overpack.

 Aerocity Information: http://www.gomadrid.com/aerocity/

# of Passengers	Total Price (weekdays)	TOTAL Price (22:00h-6:00h), weekends, holidays.
1	24 €	27 €
2	24 €	27 €
3	24 €	27 €
4	27 €	29 €
5	42 €	45 €
6	44 €	48 €

Renfe Cercanias:

Spain’s Suburban rail network; one of the cheapest options. Line C-1 will take you to Madrid Barajas Airport, Terminal 4, where you can grab a free bus to another terminal if necessary.  

Frequency to/ from airport T4 (terminal 4) = every 30 minutes.

Price: 2.15€ single journey

{*Free for those who have an Ave ticket and have to catch a connecting flight}

Once at the airport, free buses can take you from T4 to T1, T2, T3.

Schedule: 5:15am- 11:30pm to the airport| 5:59am- 12:15am to Príncipe Pío

Cercanias Map: http://www.renfe.com/viajeros/cercanias/madrid/mapa_zonas_madrid.html

Airport Terminals: On your return trip, to find out which terminal you´re leaving from, click here & scroll down: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madrid-Barajas_Airport

Feel free leave comments, ask questions, make suggestions, say hi, talk about life, puppies, whatever.