Transport to Madrid: How to get around in Madrid?

Passing to Madrid, the sublime Spanish capital? So here are the best solutions to move to Madrid with ease!

How do you move to Madrid without taking your head? This question deserves to be asked if you want to discover one of the most beautiful capitals in Europe! Cosmopolite and lively, combining modernism and history to perfection, it is full of small neighborhoods more beautiful than others. Its architecture, gastronomy, climate and quality of life make it an unforgettable destination!

To be able to walk through the streets of Madrid without congestion, we have prepared a mini-guide with many essential tips and tricks!

The essential: the Multi card

How do I imagine moving to Madrid without getting the Multi card? You get this card is simple. There are automatic machines in the subway and many authorized sales points in any city. It costs only 2,50€ to which it will be necessary to add the ticket price, whether simple, for 10 trips or tourists.

This refillable and non-nominative transport card can be used for all non-personal transport titles. To complete your card and not be bothered with tickets, you can then buy one of the two tourist tickets: Zona A and Zona T. These tickets will normally facilitate your travel to the Spanish capital during your stay.

The Zona A ticket

Thus, the Zona A ticket is valid on the entire Madrid transport network of zone A (metro, bus and Cercanías) as well as on line 1 of the ligero metro. Unlike other metro tickets, it includes the airport supplement. Here are the fares for this ticket:

• 1 day: 8,40€ adult (+12 years old), 4,20€ child (4-11 years);
• 2 days: €14.20 adult, €7.10 child;
• 3 days: 18,40€ adult, 9,20€ child;
• 5 days: 26,80€ adult, 13,40€ child;
• 7 days: 35,40€ adult, 17,70€ child.

The Zona T ticket

As for the Zona T ticket, it allows you to take the metro, bus, toll bus, Cercanías and the metro ligero throughout the community of Madrid. Here are the fares for this ticket:

• 1 day: 17,00€ adult (+12 years old), 8,50€ child (4-11 years old);
• 2 days: 28,40€ adult, €14.20 child;
• 3 days: 35,40€ adult, 17,70€ child;
• 5 days: 50,80€ adult, 25,40€ child;
• 7 days: 70,80€ adult, 35,40€ child.

Attention, however, none of these tickets includes the express shuttle route to the airport.

It should also be noted that it is sometimes difficult to register one or another of the tourist tickets. However, it avoids you having to worry about the duration of tickets or trips. The Zona T ticket is especially useful for anyone who wants to discover the surroundings of the capital.

Madrid City Pass

The Madrid City Pass also includes a 3-day transport pass, with even a private transfer from Adolfo-Suárez Airport from Madrid-Barajas to your accommodation, convenient when you want to travel easily to Madrid. The public transport card includes access to metros, buses and trains in the city for a period of 3 days.

If you plan to buy this Pass to visit Madrid, consider including this option to easily move to the capital.

The fastest: the metro

To move to Madrid quickly, nothing is worth its metro! The city has an excellent, fast and very wide network. It is thus one of the largest in Europe with more than 300 stations, serving almost all the points of the capital as well as most neighbouring cities. It circulates 6h to 1h30 in the morning with a good frequency.

There’s nothing simpler to get your metro tickets, head to the automate or the nearest ticket desk when you arrive in one of the many stations to buy one. Otherwise, some newspaper kiosks are entitled to deliver them.

Only pricing is a bit complicated with this means of transport. A one-way trip costs 1,50€ in the Madrid center area (zona A) and ML1. If you need to use more than 5 stations, then there will be an extra cost 0.10€ per additional stop (flated to 2€).

When you buy your ticket, you must indicate your destination. The machine then automatically calculates the number of stations and the corresponding price on the shortest route.

The most comfortable: the bus

The Madrid bus network is dense and convenient, and even particularly fast. It works 6h to 11h30 . Night buses then take the relay 23h45 to 5h10 . To buy your tickets, you will have to buy them directly from the driver. The pricing is the same as the metro.

Comfortable, Madrid buses are sometimes air conditioned and not necessarily crowded. They are then an excellent way to move to Madrid and even enjoy a nice view!

The most available: the bike

The bike is another great way to travel to Madrid. Very available, it will allow you to easily visit the capital at your own pace.

To travel to Madrid by bike, you will need to have the Ocasional Uso map. Free – with a bond of 150€ blocked – it can be valid 1, 3 or 5 days. You can get it to the station automations with a payment card.

Billing is done on time. The first hour costs 2€ then 4€ for each overtime.

Like many capitals, Madrid has a self-service bicycle system and a good network of bike paths. These bikes are also electric, to climb the capital's hills more easily! The Bicimad has approximately 123 terminals throughout the city. The network even has an application to locate terminals or book a bike.

From Madrid Airport

The Madrid metro is undoubtedly the most convenient and economical option to travel from the airport to the centre of Madrid and the other way around. At each terminal in Madrid-Barajas is a metro line, which goes to the city center. The journey usually lasts about 15 minutes. The ticket price is identical to that seen in the "subway" section.

As a reminder, the Madrid metro runs from 6am to 1h30am. The frequency is usually a metro every 5 minutes in the day, every 10 minutes from 22h to 23h and every 15 from 20h to 2h in the morning.

Express bus

Note that you can also opt for the "Express" yellow shuttles. Departure is at terminals 1, 2 and 4. They also circulate 24 hours a day every day of the year. These shuttles usually leave every 15 minutes in the day and every 35 minutes in the evening. They are the ideal option for those who do not want or cannot use the metro (night).

Once on the bus, you'll have to pay for it. 5€ to get a ticket.

Map of transport plans in Madrid

Getting around in Madrid is obviously much easier if you have a precise and complete plan of the city and its transport. You'll find it all over the city in tourist places, metro stations, kiosks and buses.

However, do not miss downloading an app to optimize your travel, such as Moovit (or Google Maps), or an offline map.