There are several Barajas airport transfers that will get you to Madrid’s city center. The airport is very well connected to the city and other transport hubs (bus and train stations). Moreover, the cost is relatively cheap compared to other European cities. Your decision depends on your final destination.

Read all the Barajas airport practical information.

Additionally, have a look at how to get from the city center to the airport.

There are several options to get to the airport.

• Metro. The subway is the most popular means of transport. Up: There are two stations, one in Terminal 2 (T2) and another in Terminal 4 (T4). Down: Changing lines once you exit line 8 (pink) can be a hassle if you carry lots of luggage –some stations may not have elevators or escalators. Approximate cost: between €4.50 and €6.

• Train. It is a very good and sometimes faster alternative to the subway, especially when traveling to Atocha or Chamartín (you could also get off the train at other city center stations, such as Recoletos or Nuevos Ministerios). The airport train station is located in Terminal 4 (T4). Approximate cost: between free and €2.55 (€5.10 return)

• Bus. While it is not always be the fastest option, there are several bus routes serving the airport. Approximate cost: €1.50 or €5.

• Taxi. Obviously the most comfortable and fastest option, but also the most expensive. Approximate cost: €30.

 

With some many public transport alternatives, there is no best solution. Your choice will depend on what terminal your flight arrives to and where in the city you need to go to. Here is my advice.

• To go from T1, T2 and T3 to any address in the city center use the Metro. Exception: take a cab if you are carrying lots of luggage.
• To go from T4 to any address in the city center use the Metro and the Cercanías train. Exception: take a cab if you are carrying lots of luggage.
• To go from T1, T2 and T3 to Atocha use the Línea Exprés Aeropuerto.
• To go from T4 to Atocha use the Cercanías train.
• To go from T1, T2, T3 and T4 to Chamartín use the Cercanías train.
• To go from T1, T2 and T3 to Estación Sur use the Metro.
• To go from T4 to Estación Sur use the Cercanías train.
• To go from T1, T2, T3 and T4 to Avenida de América use the EMT bus route 200.

 

Download a public transport map. It summarizes all the routes and alternatives.

You may also be interested on the Madrid Tourist Travel Pass. This transport pass entitles you to get free unlimited rides.

 

Exiting The Airport By Metro

Barajas airport has two Metro stations, one at T2 (floor 1) and the other one at T4 (floor -1). Both are part of line 8 (pink).

The ride to Nuevos Ministerios station takes 15 minutes from T2 and 20 minutes from T4.

Before using the subway, you will need to purchase a ticket. You can do so at the ticket counters and ticket machines. Have a look at a complete explanation on the different types of Metro tickets and how to buy them.

 

1. Go From Terminal 1 (T1) To Terminal 2 (T2) Metro Station

It’s a less than 10 minutes walk.

You will exit the baggage claim area through Arrivals hall 1 or 2. As soon as you go through the sliding doors, look for the Metro signs.

You need to go upstairs, to the 1^st floor. You can use the elevators, but the easiest way is to use the moving ramps located next to each of the Arrivals halls.

As soon as you reach the 1^st floor, keep walking straight across the different check-in counters.

Then, take three consecutive moving walkaways.

Once you exit the last moving walkaway, a sign indicates to turn left.

Use the moving walkaways to get to a big glass-window hall. From there you can access the Metro station, T3 and the car park.

To get to the Metro station, just follow the signs. The access is located on the left hand side and you need to go downstairs, to floor -1.

 

2. Go From Terminal 2 (T2) Arrivals Hall To Terminal 2 (T2) Metro Station

It’s a less than 5 minutes walk.

You will exit the baggage claim area through Arrivals hall 5 or 6. As soon as you go through the sliding doors, look for the Metro signs.

You need to go upstairs, to the 1^st floor. You can use the elevators, but the easiest way is to use the moving ramps located next to Arrivals hall 5.

As soon as you exit the ramps, a sign indicates to turn right. Use the moving walkaways to get to a big glass-window hall. From there you can access the Metro station, T3 and the car park.

To get to the Metro station follow the signs. The access is located on the left hand side and you need to go downstairs, to floor -1.

 

3. Go From Terminal 4 (T4) Arrivals Hall To Terminal 4 (T4) Metro Station

It’s a less than 5 minutes walk.

As soon as you exit the baggage claim area through the sliding doors, you will see a Metro sign indicating you to take the moving ramps to go to downstairs, to floor -1.

There are signs both at the ceiling and on the floor. Just follow them.

The last moving ramp leads you to a big hall where both the Metro and train stations are located. The entrance to the Metro station is the first one on your left.

 

Exiting Barajas Airport By Train

The Madrid airport has one train station, located in Terminal 4 (T4), floor -1.

Arriving to T4 train station takes 25 minutes from Atocha, 18 minutes from Nuevos Ministerios and 11 minutes from Chamartín. There are trains every 30 minutes.

 

Download the Renfe App (for iPhone or Android) to access a complete schedule of all trains. Alternatively, you can also check the Cercanías schedules at Renfe’s website.

Before using the Cercanías train, you will need to purchase a ticket. You can do so at the ticket counters and ticket machines. Have a look at a complete explanation on the different types of Cercanías tickets and how to buy them.

Don’t forget to keep your train ticket with you at all times during the trip because you need it to go through the exit barriers at your destination.

If you need to get to T4 train station from any other terminal (T1, T2 or T3), all you have to do is exit the terminal following the bus and taxi signs.

• Going from T1 to T4. Use the moving ramps to get to the Departures hall. Exit the terminal through the sliding doors and walk to your right. The bus stop is a few steps away.
• Going from T2 to T4. Go upstairs, to the Departures hall, using the moving ramps. Exit the terminal through the sliding doors and walk towards the shuttle bus stop. Don’t catch the shuttle at the Arrivals hall or you will end up going to T1 first before arriving to T4.

The shuttle bus connecting the terminals is free and operates 24/7.

The transport map shows all the internal connections between the airport terminals.

 

Exiting To Madrid Airport By Bus

The airport is very well connected by road and there are three public transport bus routes that you can use. Each one takes you to a different destination and has a different fare.

 

1. Airport Express Bus

The Línea Express Aeropuerto buses offers a direct trip between the airport, c/ O’Donnell, Plaza de Cibeles and Atocha train station. The buses are yellow with a big 24 horas exprés sign on the windows.

The Airport Express bus has two schedules:

• During the day it operates from 6:00 to 23:30 and goes to Atocha, stopping at c/ O’Donnell and Plaza de Cibeles.
• At night it operates from 23:30 to 6:00 and goes only to Plaza de Cibeles. It does not stop at c/ O’Donnell, nor goes to Atocha. Should you go to Atocha, catch a connecting EMT night bus –also known as búhos (owls).

The buses frequency is between 13-20 minutes during the day and 35 minutes at night. The trip to Atocha should take no more than 40 minutes under normal traffic conditions.

Inside the airport, there are bus stops at

• Terminal 1 (T1). Floor 0. Arrivals.
• Terminal 2 (T2). Floor 0. Arrivals.
• Terminal 4 (T4). Floor 0. Arrivals.

The stops are generally located next to the taxis, and are easily recognizable – look for a metal pole with a big yellow sign including a plane and all the information. These stops are shared with regular EMT city buses.

 

2. EMT City Buses

There are two EMT bus lines exiting the airport. Remember that EMT buses are blue.

The one you are more likely to use is line 200. It runs from terminals T1, T2 and T4 of Madrid-Barajas airport to the Avenida de América transport hub.

The buses run every 5-12 minutes at peak times and the journey to Avenida de América takes around 20 minutes from T1 and 30 minutes from T4.

The other line is route 101 and drops you off at Canillejas, where a transport hub offers connections to the Metro, and city and intercity bus routes.

Theses buses share the stops with EMT city buses, so you can catch them here:

• Terminal 1 (T1). Floor 0. Arrivals.
• Terminal 2 (T2). Floor 0. Arrivals.
• Terminal 4 (T4). Floor 0. Arrivals. Line 200 only.

The stops are generally located next to the taxis, and are easily recognizable – look for a metal pole with a big yellow sign including a plane and all the information regarding the routes.

 

Using A Taxi To Exit Madrid-Barajas Airport

Getting to the city center by taxi is the fastest and most comfortable option. It is also the most expensive despite it could be interesting if you are a travel party of at least 4 people.

Every terminal has a large taxi stop and it is clearly indicated by signs located inside the terminal. All you have to do once you are in the Arrivals hall is follow the signs. The taxi stops are usually managed by the airport staff. Please stand in line and wait until you are designated a taxi.

The trip between Madrid and the airport takes about half an hour but it depends very much on the traffic conditions and your accommodation location. Terminal 4 (T4) is further away compared to Terminals 1, 2 and 3 (T1, T2 and T3) so your trip will be 10 minutes longer and the fare higher.

The trip from the airport to the center of Madrid should cost you €30. All taxis must have a fares chart displayed on the rear windows.

Please note that there are two very specific fares:

• Trips from the airport to any origin located inside Calle 30 (also known as M-30, Madrid’s inner ring road) have a flat fare of €30. No extra charge can be added to this fare, even if you have booked a taxi on the phone or through an app.

• If the flat fare does not apply, you will be charged a €5.50 airport arrival fee, and €20 for the first 10 km. After that the meter will keep on going until you reach the airport. In addition to this, you could be changed extra night or bank holiday fees.

No taxi driver is allowed to charge you for your luggage, as long as it fits in the boot or on the roof rack.

Barajas airport’s web has a list with all the official fares.

In addition to this, have a look at an insider’s guide to use Madrid taxis in the most efficient way.

For more details, have a look at the airport’s website information on public transport.