How to Get from Madrid Airport to City Centre | Public transport & Madrid Airport Transfers (2023)

Do you want to know how to get from Madrid Airport to the city centre? 

You’ve landed on the right article, as I live in Madrid, and I’m going to tell you everything you need to know about going from Madrid airport to downtown.

If you are traveling to Madrid, you’ll land at Barajas Airport and will need to go to the city by public transport or Madrid airport transfers such as taxis or private companies.

The official name of Madrid Airport is Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, formerly called Madrid Barajas Airport.

This is useful to know so you don’t get confused.

In this post, you’ll find a practical guide to Madrid Airport transportation.

I break down all you need to know about getting from Madrid Airport to city centre and back from central Madrid and downtown to Barajas Airport.

Madrid Barajas is one of the busiest airports in Europe, and the airport at which passengers arrive from all over the world arrive in Spain.

Figuring out how to navigate from here to the city can be a little confusing, so I decided to write this post to help out.

If you’re wondering how to get from Barajas airport to Madrid city center, this guide will provide everything you need to know.

⭐ If you are looking for a place to stay in Madrid, here you can find hotels at the best price in the city.

1. How to get to Madrid Airport from the Center (and Vice Versa) by Private Transfer

The easiest, and the best way to get from Madrid Airport to city center, is by car.

Whether it be your own car, a rental, or a private transfer. 

How to get from Madrid Airport to the center with a private transfer – The Best Option

Personally, I think this is one of the best options to get to and from Madrid Airport quickly, comfortably, and safely.

And it’s the option I always use when I go from the airport to my home.

My recommendation is that you book in advance for your transfer from Madrid Barajas Airport to city center, in order to make it cheaper.

🚙 I recommend using Civitatis, which has a private transfer service at a very good price:  You can check it out here.

With this airport transfer, you will reach Madrid city center from the airport in about 30 minutes.

Do you want to drive to the Madrid Airport?

I often go by car to Terminal 4 at Barajas Airport, and I leave my car with the guys from Lavacolla, who provide a low-cost parking service for the airport.

Simply book the service by phone or on their app, adding the license plate and model of your car, and how many days you want to leave it.

Once you arrive at Madrid Airport, they will be waiting to pick up your car. That easy!

And when you return from the trip, you only have to call them when you land to inform them that you have arrived, and they will take your car to the airport.

You can calculate how much this service costs from their website as well.

Madrid Airport to center by taxi

You can take a taxi from Madrid airport to city centre!

With this option, the Madrid airport to city center taxi price will be between 30 and 40 euros, depending on the traffic and the area of Madrid in which you are staying.

The distance from Madrid Airport to city centre is about 30 minutes if there’s no traffic.

2. How to Get from Madrid Airport to City Center by Public Transport

Madrid is the first must-stop on any trip or road trip in Spain.

Public transport is a convenient and affordable way of getting from Madrid Airport to Downtown or the city center.

Transfers from Madrid Airport by Metro

One of the most popular options to go from Madrid Airport to the centre is by metro line 8.

Taking the train from Madrid airport to city center is not the most comfortable option, because you will surely have to change trains a few times.

But it’s undoubtedly one of the cheapest ways to get to the city centre.

So it’s the perfect option for those traveling to Madrid on a budget.

Metro line 8 (the pink one) connects, in approximately 15 minutes, all the terminals of the airport (T1, T2, T3, and T4) with the “Nuevos Ministerios” station in the center of Madrid.

There are two metro stations that connect Barajas Airport with the city:

• The station at terminals 1, 2, 3 
• The station for terminal 4

The subway will drop you off at the “Nuevos Ministerios” station, located in the centre of Madrid.

To get to the tourist areas of Madrid, such as Puerta del Sol, you will have to make two transfers.

The same applies if you want to get from Madrid Airport to Gran Via by metro.

You may also like: 8 Things to Do in Madrid for Free.

How much does the subway cost from Madrid Airport to the centre?

All passengers traveling from the Madrid Airport to the centre, and vice versa, have to pay a single ticket, plus an airport supplement of 3 euros.

The single ticket (one way) will cost you between 4.50 and 6 euros (a supplement is included), depending on the area of Madrid where you go.

Remember that this subway ticket will only be valid for that day.

Transfers from Madrid Airport by bus

You can also go from Barajas Airport to the city center on the Airport Express bus (Express 203 Line).

Taking a bus from Madrid airport to city centre can be a bit more uncomfortable since it will take a little longer than going by subway because you can get traffic on the road.

If there is no traffic, you will arrive in Madrid in about 40 minutes.

The bus runs every 15-20 minutes and operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The single ticket will cost you 5 euros and includes the luggage.

The ticket is paid for inside the bus.

You can take the Airport Express bus from the following stops at Madrid Airport:

• Terminal 4. Floor 0. Arrivals
• Terminal 1. Floor 0. Arrivals
• Terminal 1. Floor 1. Departures
• Terminal 2. Floor 0. Arrivals
• Terminal 2. Floor 2. Departures

3. Other options for getting to and from Madrid Airport

Depending on where you’re coming from or going to, the options above may not be the best way to get to and from the airport.

How to go from Atocha train station to Barajas airport and vice versa

If you arrive in Madrid by AVE train from another city in Spain and want to get to Barajas airport, you will be wondering how to get from Atocha train station to Madrid Airport.

Very easy! You can go by Cercanias train, by bus or by taxi.

The Cercanias train connects Terminal 4 with Atocha station and Príncipe Pío station.

First, if you are in terminals T1, T2, or T3, you will have to get to T4 by the free bus that connects all the terminals of the airport.

Then, take line C1 of Cercanias, and in 30 minutes you will have arrived at Atocha train station.

The single Cercanias ticket from Madrid Airport costs 2.60 euros and it’s free for passengers who have an AVE ticket.

By bus, you will have to take the Airport Express shuttle (203 line) that I’ve explained previously and you’ll arrive at Atocha station in about 50 minutes.

If you prefer to take a taxi, it’ll cost about 33 euros.

Additional Information about Madrid Barajas Airport

• IATA code: MAD
• Address: Av de la Hispanidad, s/n, 28042 Madrid
• Phone: +34  913211000
• Website: aena.es/en/madrid-barajas-airport/index.html

As you can see, there are many options to get from Madrid Airport to the centre or back from Madrid to the airport.

Choose the one that suits you best depending on time, money, and comfort.

FAQs On How to Get From Madrid Airport to City Center

For a snapshot of how to get from Madrid to city centre, here are a few frequently asked questions that I believe will help make your transfer from Madrid airport to city centre easier.

How Far is Madrid Airport from City Center?

It is about 19km but how long it takes depends on the transfer method you use.

It can take about 40 – 50 minutes by bus without a traffic jam but can be lower in a private transfer.

Is it Easy to Get a Taxi at Madrid Airport?

The simple answer is Yes! It is easy to get a Madrid airport taxi to the city centre.

If you booked an airport transfer with a specific transfer company, you should be able to locate your driver holding a sign with your name after going through the arrival gate.

However, if you didn’t book a transfer from Madrid airport to the city centre, you can find taxis outside the arrival halls of the various Terminals on the ground floor.

For example, at Terminal 1, you can find taxis just outside the arrival hall on the ground floor. The same goes for Terminals 2, 3 and 4.

Does Madrid Airport Have a Train Station?

If you want to transfer from Madrid airport to Madrid city centre by train, you’ll be happy to know that there is indeed a train station at the airport.

As I mentioned above, you’ll need to use metro line 8 to connect to the city!

It may not be the best way to get from Madrid airport to the city centre but it will definitely get you there!

How do I get from Madrid Airport to the City Centre by Metro?

If you want to transfer using the Madrid Airport metro, you can do that with metro line 8.

I gave the details on using this option earlier in the article so you can check it out again.

Does Uber Work at Madrid Airport?

Yes, Uber does work if you want to transfer from Madrid airport to the city centre.

Just request one on the app and you’ll find out where to meet your driver.

I hope this post has been useful for your next trip to Madrid and that you’ve found answers to your questions about how to go from Barajas Airport to the centre of Madrid.

But if you have further questions, leave a comment and I will help you as much as possible in your Madrid Airport transfers!

Practical Information on Planning Your Visit to Madrid

If you are looking for where to sleep in Madrid, here you can find hotels at the best price in the city.

If you don’t have time to plan all the excursions and what to see in Madrid, I recommend the following Madrid tours:

• Private Tour of Madrid with an expert English-speaking guide that will organize a tailor-made tour.
• Madrid Authentic Spanish Gourmet Tour where you will taste some of Spain’s traditional cuisine during a unique walking tour.
• Madrid Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour on an open-top double-decker bus where you will have the most comfortable way of exploring the city.
• Madrid Pub Crawl to get to experience Madrid’s world-renowned nightlife during a 5-hour tour.
• Royal Palace of Madrid Guided Tour accompanied by an expert English-speaking guide.

If you’re visiting the best museums in Madrid, you will get great discounts if you buy the tickets here:

• Reina Sofía Museum Guided Tour.
• Skip the Line Prado Museum Ticket.
• Madrid Prado Museum Guided Tour.
• Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum Entrance Ticket.

If you want to move around Madrid, the Metro is the cheapest and fastest way to get around the city.

The single ticket costs 1.50 euros, but you can also buy a 10-trip ticket for just over 10 euros.

If you will use it for more than one day, the 10-trip ticket is really worth it.