As Terminals 1+2+3 are more than 2.5 km away from Terminal 4, the most convenient modes of transport and travel time to the city centre vary depending on which terminal you are flying from.
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Transportation from terminals 1, 2, 3
Bus stops for lines 101, 200 and 203 (Express) can be found in front of all terminals, while the metro station is located in the middle of the complex and serves all terminals at once.
Metro line 8
This will take you to Nuevos Ministerios station on the northern edge of the centre, from where you can take other metro lines further into the centre.
You pay individual fares from 5,50 eur to 7 eur (+2,50 eur for a plastic recharge card) depending on the distance you travel. A full day ticket (valid only on a calendar day) with an airport surcharge costs 8,40 eur. There is no charge for the plastic card in the case of a day ticket.
The metro journey to the city centre (Sol station) takes about 40 minutes with one change.
Tickets can be bought from the ticket machines at each metro station. You can pay by card or cash.
You will never miss the airport surcharge when travelling by metro to/from the airport. When travelling from the airport, the surcharge will be added automatically, but you must always select the "Airport" option when travelling from the city centre.
- Price: 5.50 to 7 eur
- Travel time to Sol station (with transfer): 40 minutes
- Frequency: 15 minutes
- Last metro from the terminal - 1:37
- First metro from Nuevos Ministerios - 6:05
- Official metro website: metromadrid.es/en
Buses
There are 2 bus lines that go to Terminal 4 and can be used to get to the city centre. Taking bus line 200 is the cheapest way to get to the centre. For a bus ticket, pay 1,50 eur + another 1,50 eur for the metro.
- Airport Express (line 203) - runs to Atocha station 24 hours a day, about once every 10 minutes during the day, once every 30 minutes at night. Special fares apply here 5 eur and all day tickets are not valid here
- Line 200 - goes to the Avenida América transfer point on the northern edge of the centre, where you can change to metro lines 4, 7 and 9. The bus runs once every 15 minutes from 5:00 am to 11:30 pm, one ride costs 1,50 eur and all-day tickets are valid here
- Line 101 - goes to Canillejas Metro Line 5 station once every 15 minutes from 7:00 to 23:30, one ride costs 1,50 eur and all-day tickets are valid here
- official bus website: emtmadrid.es
Metro vs. bus comparison
| Price to the centre | Frequency | Travel time to the centre | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro line 8 | 4,50 eur | 15 minutes | 40 minutes |
| Bus Airport Express | 5 eur | 10 minutes | 40 minutes |
| Bus 200 + metro | 1,50 eur + 1,50 eur | 15 minutes | 45 minutes |
Transportation from Terminal 4
All transport goes to the main building T4. The satellite terminal T4S is connected to the public area by a free automatic train running every 3 minutes. To get to Terminal 4, use the C1 and C10 trains, Metro line 8 and buses 200 and 203 (Express).
Cercanías trains
The C-1 and C-10 trains (maps and timetables available at: renfe.com/es/suburban-madrid) connecting Terminal 4 with Atocha and Chamartín stations, the major interchange and bus station of Príncipe Pío, or the financial district of Nuevos Ministerios, are the fastest way to reach central Madrid. The journey to the centre takes about 30 minutes.
The ticket costs 2,60 eur and you buy it from a machine marked "Renfe" at the station. If you are going from the centre to the airport and you have used your red card for public transport while in Madrid, it cannot be used on the "C" line trains. However, it is still the cheapest way to travel on Cercanías trains.
Not even the €8.40 day passes for public transport are valid here.
- Price: 2,60 eur
- Travel time to Atocha station: 30 minutes
- Frequency: 15 minutes
- Last train from the terminal: 0:01 (line C-1)
- First train from Atocha: 5:15
- Official train website: renfe.com/es/suburban-madrid
Metro Line 8
The most used metro is the pink line 8. It takes you to Nuevos Ministerios station on the northern edge of the centre, from where you can take other metro lines to get further afield.
You pay individual fares from 5,50 eur to 7 eur (+2,50 eur for a plastic recharge card) depending on the distance you travel. A full day ticket (valid only on a calendar day) with an airport surcharge will cost 8,40 eur. There is no charge for the plastic card in the case of a day ticket.
The metro journey to the city centre (Sol station) takes about 40 minutes with one change.
Tickets can be bought from the ticket machines at each metro station. You can pay by card or cash.
You will never miss the airport surcharge when travelling by metro to/from the airport. When travelling from the airport, the surcharge will be added automatically, but you must always select the "Airport" option when travelling from the city centre.
- Price: 5,50 to 7 eur
- Travel time to Sol station (with transfer): 45 minutes
- Frequency: 15 minutes
- Last metro from the terminal - 1:33
- First metro from Nuevos Ministerios - 6:05
- Official metro website: metromadrid.es/en
Buses
There are 2 bus lines that go to Terminal 4 and can be used to get to the city centre. The bus line 200 is the cheapest way to get to the centre.
- Airport Express (line 203) - runs to Atocha station 24 hours a day, about once every 10 minutes during the day and once every 3 minutes at night. There is a special fare for 5 eur and there are no all-day tickets
- Line 200 - goes to the Avenida América transfer point on the northern edge of the centre, where you can change to the metro. The bus runs once every 15 minutes from 5:00 am to 11:30 pm, one ride costs 1,50 eur and all-day tickets apply here.
Information about buses and public transport in Madrid is available on the transport company's website.
There are also long-distance buses, Alsa or Socibus, that go directly to the airport.
Metro vs. bus vs. train comparison
| Price to the centre | Frequency | Travel time to the centre | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro line 8 | 4,50 eur | 15 minutes | 44 minutes |
| C-1 and C-10 trains | 2,60 eur | 15 minutes | 31 minutes |
| Bus Airport Express | 5 eur | 10 minutes | 50 minutes |
| Bus 200 + metro | 1,50 eur + 1,50 eur | 15 minutes | 55 minutes |
Map of public transport lines to Madrid Airport
Useful links
- Metro Madrid - www.metromadrid.es/en
- Cercanías urban trains - www.renfe.com/es/en/suburban/suburban-madrid
- Public Transport Buses - www.emtmadrid.es
Taxis
The price from the centre to all terminals is flat rate and official taxis are not allowed to run at higher prices. You will always pay for the journey from the airport to Madrid 30 eur.
Car rental
If you're heading straight from the airport to travel around the Spanish countryside, it's worth hiring a car directly from the terminal. Madrid Airport has dozens of local and multinational car rental companies. Compare their prices at the click of a button via the web rentalcars.com.
