Transfer to/from - Madrid Barajas airport (MAD)

Content written by German Giudici .
Creator of the Aeropuertos del Mundo website network since 2007.

Public transportation services, licensed taxis and rideshare, private transfer companies and car rental services in Madrid Barajas airport (MAD)

Transportation

Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport is very well connected with the entire city, its surroundings and also with other cities in Spain. The metro, urban buses, shuttles, trains, intercity and long-distance services, taxis and even private services such as Uber or Cabify are part of the transport service.

Rent a Car

Which metro line goes to Madrid Airport?

Metro line 8 connects Nuevos Ministerios station with all the airport terminals. The journey from Nuevos Ministerios to terminals T1, T2, T3 takes approximately 13 minutes, and to T4 around 18 minutes. Nuevos Ministerios station is a major rail transport hub that allows connections to other parts of the city via line 10 and line 6.

Airport stops: Terminal T2 (Level 1) for terminals T1, T2 and T3; Terminal T4 (Level -1) for terminal T4.

Timetable: From 6:05 am to 2:00 am every day, including public holidays. The last trains leave at 1:33 am from each end of the line.

Fares: A single ticket for Metro zone A and ML1 costs between €1.50 and €2.00 depending on the number of stops, plus an airport surcharge of €3.00.

What taxi services and apps are available?

Taxis

Official taxis are white with red stripes and the Madrid City Council coat of arms on the doors.

To take a taxi, it is essential to go to the designated rank. Avoid individuals offering their services inside the terminals. Make sure the driver has started the taximeter at the beginning of the journey.

Journey time: The estimated travel time from the airport to the city centre (Puerta del Sol) is around 30 minutes under free-flowing traffic conditions.

Fares: A fixed fare of €33.00 applies to services with origin or destination at the airport and destination or origin within the M-30 area. For services with destinations outside the M-30 with a route shorter than 9 km, a minimum fare of €22.00 applies; once 9 km are exceeded, the taximeter continues to run.

Airport taxi ranks: All terminals have taxi ranks outside the Arrivals areas. Taxi and radio taxi ranks are located at Terminal T1 (Level 0, Arrivals), Terminal T2 (Level 0, Arrivals) and Terminal T4 (Level 0, Arrivals).

Uber, Bolt and Cabify

Uber, Bolt and Cabify are ride-hailing apps. Download the relevant app and complete your profile. Upon arrival at the airport, request your ride and head to the designated parking areas in each terminal to meet your driver.

Pick-up zones:

Terminal 1: Car park P1
Terminal 2: Express arrivals car park
Terminal 4: Car park P4. Module D. Level 4

Journey time: The estimated travel time from the airport to Madrid city centre (Puerta del Sol) is around 30 minutes under free-flowing traffic conditions. The estimated time between the terminals and the meeting points with your drivers is about 5 minutes.

Fares: Fares vary depending on the service requested and the demand at any given time.

Express Line (203): Atocha Renfe-Airport

Connects the airport with the Atocha-RENFE transport interchange, in the city centre and close to the main museums: Prado Museum, Reina Sofía Museum, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. Journey duration: 40 minutes under normal traffic conditions.

Airport stops: Terminal T1 (Level 0 Arrivals and Level 1 Departures), Terminal T2 (Level 0 Arrivals and Level 2 Departures), Terminal T4 (Level 0 Arrivals).

Fares: €5.00. The single ticket is paid in cash on board. The maximum change accepted is a €20 note.

Timetable: Operates 24 hours a day. Frequency is every 15–20 minutes during the day and every 35 minutes at night. The Atocha-Renfe stop is not operational between 11:30 pm and 6:00 am; during this period, the route terminates at Plaza de la Cibeles.

Line 101: Intermodal de Canillejas-Airport-Barajas

Connects T1, T2 and T3 with the Canillejas interchange, where connections can be made with several city and intercity bus lines and with the Madrid metro network.

Airport stops: Terminal T1 (Level 0 Arrivals and Level 1 Departures), Terminal T2 (Level 0 Arrivals and Level 2 Departures), Terminal T3 (Level 0 Arrivals).

Fares: The single ticket (€1.50) is valid for one journey and can only be purchased on board the bus. There are also tickets valid for 10 journeys. A Tarjeta Multi card is required to load these tickets.

Timetable: From 6:05 am to 11:45 pm, every day including public holidays, with a frequency of 13–16 minutes.

Line 200: Avenida de América-Airport

Connects T1, T2, T3 and T4 with the Avenida de América transport interchange, where connections can be made with several city and intercity bus lines and with the Madrid metro network.

Airport stops: Terminal T1 (Level 0 Arrivals and Level 1 Departures), Terminal T2 (Level 0 Arrivals and Level 2 Departures), Terminal T3 (Level 0 Arrivals), Terminal T4 (Level 0 Arrivals).

Fares: Single ticket: €1.50, valid for one journey and purchased on board the bus.

Timetable: From 5:50 am to 11:30 pm, with a frequency of 12–15 minutes.

Which Cercanías train lines arrive at and depart from the airport?

Line C1: Príncipe Pío - Atocha - Chamartín - Airport T4

The C1 line of Renfe Cercanías connects Terminal 4 with the city centre (Príncipe Pío, Atocha, Chamartín). The airport station has wider access gates to facilitate luggage handling and ticket vending machines for all Renfe products.

Stops at the airport: Terminal 4. Floor -1. Cercanías Station.

Timetable: For detailed timetables and frequencies, it is recommended to visit the Renfe Cercanías website.

Fares: A single ticket is valid for one journey within 2 hours of issue. It is free for passengers holding an AVE ticket who are connecting to a flight. A 10-trip ticket (Bonotren) is available, valid for one month and can be used by more than one traveller at the same time. These tickets must be loaded onto the Multi contactless card, which can be purchased at ticket offices and ticket machines located in the concourses of any Cercanías station.

More fare details

Line C10: Villalba - Príncipe Pío - Atocha - Chamartín - Airport T4

The C10 line connects Terminal 4 with the city centre and Villalba.

Stops at the airport: Terminal 4. Floor -1. Cercanías Station.

Timetable: For detailed timetables and frequencies, it is recommended to visit the Renfe Cercanías website.

Fares: Please consult the website of the Madrid Transport Consortium.

Which intercity buses arrive at and depart from the airport?

Line 822: Airport T1 - Coslada - San Fernando de Henares

Connects T1 with Coslada and San Fernando de Henares.

Stops at the airport: Terminal 1. Floor 1. Departures.

Fares: Single ticket: €1.50–2.00. Purchased on board the bus. A 10-trip ticket is also available. The Multi Card is required to load these tickets.

Timetable: To San Fernando de Henares: 6:30 am to 11:15 pm. To the Airport: 5:50 am to 10:35 pm.

Line 824: Airport (T1-T2) - Torrejón de Ardoz - Alcalá de Henares

Connects T1 and T2 with Torrejón de Ardoz and Alcalá de Henares.

Stops at the airport: Departures T1.

Fares: Single ticket: €1.50–2.00.

Timetable: To Alcalá de Henares: Monday to Friday from 6:40 am to 10:00 pm, Saturdays and Sundays from 8:30 am to 9:30 pm. To the Airport: Monday to Friday from 5:45 am to 10:00 pm, Saturdays and Sundays from 7:30 am to 10:30 pm.

Line 827: Airport T4 - Alcobendas - Universidad Autónoma - Tres Cantos

Connects T4 with Tres Cantos, Alcobendas, San Sebastián de los Reyes, Universidad Autónoma, and Madrid/Metro Canillejas.

Stops at the airport: Terminal 4. Floor 0. Arrivals.

Fares: Single ticket: €1.50–2.00.

Timetable: Operates from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm (from 6:45 am on weekends).

Line 828: Airport T4 - Alcobendas - Universidad Autónoma

Connects T4 with Alcobendas, Universidad Autónoma, and Madrid/Metro Canillejas.

Stops at the airport: Terminal 4. Floor 0. Arrivals.

Fares: Single ticket: €1.50–2.00.

Timetable: Operates between 7:11 am and 7:17 pm.

What long-distance bus services are available?

ALSA

Services from the T4 bus terminal (located next to module F of P4) to cities in Spain (A Coruña, Alicante, Barcelona, Bilbao, Burgos, Gijón, Granada, León, Logroño, Lugo, Murcia, Oviedo, Pamplona, Santander, San Sebastián, Santiago de Compostela, Toledo, Valladolid, Vitoria, Zaragoza, among others), Portugal (Lisbon, Porto, Setúbal, among others) and France (Paris).

Stops at the airport: Bus terminal.

Avanzabus

The company provides transport from Terminal T1 (arrivals) and from the T4 bus terminal (located next to module F of P4) to several towns in Extremadura (Mérida, Cáceres, Badajoz) and Valencia.