For price and convenience, the Madrid subway – also called Metro, can’t be beat. It has some 300+ stations throughout the city, so chances are there is a Metro station near where you want to go.
The best and easiest way to use the Metro is with the help of a map.
The Madrid subway is a fast, affordable way to get around the city, but it’s also one that has its own etiquette and set of rules. I suggest you to have a look at some tips for riding the Metro Madrid.
You will be traveling around like a local in no time!
Madrid subway has 12 lines
Madrid has 12 subway lines. A number and a color identify each one. The large majority of the lines cross the city center and most of them are intertwined, allowing you to arrange endless combinations.
The Metro lines are:
- 1 (light blue). Pinar de Chamartín – Valdecarros
- 2 (red). Las Rosas – Cuatro Caminos
- 3 (yellow). Villaverde Alto – Moncloa
- 4 (brown). Argüelles – Pinar de Chamartín
- 5 (light green). Alameda de Osuna – Casa de Campo
- 6 (grey). Círcular
- 7 (orange). Hospital del Henares – Pitis
- 8 (pink). Nuevos Ministerios – Aeropuerto T4
- 9 (purple). Mirasierra – Arganda del Rey
- 10 (dark blue). Hospital Infanta Sofía – Puerta del Sur
- 11 (dark green). Plaza Elíptica – La Fortuna
- 12 (khaki). MetroSur
There is an additional short line, called Ramal, linking Opéra and Príncipe Pío.
Line 8 (pink) connects the city center with Madrid airport. Here you have all the details:
Apart from the subway, certain suburbs are connected to Madrid city center by Metro Ligero. The Metro Ligero de Madrid is a light rail tram system that has 3 lines with 38 stations.
The Metro Ligero lines are:
- ML1 (light blue). Pinar de Chamartín – Las Tablas
- ML2 (purple). Colonia Jardín – Estación de Aravaca
- ML3 (red). Colonia Jardín – Puerta de Boadilla
Check all the information related to the Metro Ligero, in case you need to use it.
Madrid subway operating times and trips
Metro stations are indicated by a red, blue and white sign.
The trains run from 6:00 to 1:30 all year round. This is valid except for the Pitis station (line 7, orange), the section between Puerta de Arganda-Arganda del Rey and accesses with special opening hours. Have a look at the timetables if you need to use it early in the morning.
As a general guide the trains arrive every 2 to 4 minutes during working hours. At weekends and in the evening they are less frequent, and you may have to wait up to 10 or 15 minutes, depending on the time.
On most journeys, you will have to change lines at least once. Even if you have to change twice, trains arrive and depart so frequently, and operate so fast, that this shouldn’t be a problem. Nevertheless, the walk between lines can be long (up to 15 minutes), particularly in some large stations such as Sol, Nuevos Ministerios or Avenida de América.
Madrid subway tickets
There are different types of Metro tickets. You can have a look at all of them, including the updated prices at the Metro de Madrid tickets page.
Always validate your Multi Card or Tourist Travel Pass. You can get a fine of 80€ for being caught without a ticket.
Here is what I consider the most interesting possibilities for someone like you, visiting Madrid for a few days.
1. Multi Tarjeta (Multi Card)
The Madrid Multi Card. The Madrid Multi Card is not personal, so anyone can use it. If you are traveling in a group all of you can use the same Multi Card until you have no credit on it.
- A Billete sencillo (Single ticket) is valid for one trip in any bus, except the Airport Express one. You can only purchase them on board.
- The Metrobús is valid for 10 trips in the whole EMT network (bus), as well as in the subway network (Metro) and the tram Metro Ligero ML1.
2. Madrid Tourist Travel Pass
Another option is to buy a Madrid Tourist Travel Pass (Tourist Ticket or Billete Turístico), which allows you unlimited travel on all forms of public transport (subway, light rail, buses and trains) within Madrid and its region (comunidad autónoma). The pass is available for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 days, and it is personal and non transferable.
This should be your choice if you intend to use the Metro (and the bus) massively, which is rather probable. It’s also a best seller for day trips to Toledo, Aranjuez, Alcalá de Henares and El Escorial.
How to go to or from Madrid Airport by Metro
The Madrid subway one of the many alternatives you can use to reach or exit the Madrid Airport.
You have two complete tutorials on the subject that will guide you step by step: