Madrid-Barajas Airport to the city centre: every option
Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport is about 12 km from the centre and very well connected. The best option depends on your terminal (T1, T2 and T3 are together; T4 is separate and linked by a free shuttle bus), your arrival time and where you are staying. Here is the practical summary.
Quick summary
- Heading to Sol, Gran Vía or Huertas during the day: metro line 8 to Nuevos Ministerios and change, or the Airport Express bus to Cibeles.
- Landing at T4 and going to Atocha, Sol or Chamartín: Cercanías C-1 train, direct from the terminal.
- Arriving in the middle of the night: the Airport Express bus runs 24 hours (at night it terminates at Cibeles).
- Three or four people with luggage: the fixed taxi fare inside the M-30 ring road is very competitive.
Metro: line 8
Line 8 (pink) has two airport stations: Aeropuerto T1-T2-T3 and Aeropuerto T4. It reaches Nuevos Ministerios in about 15–25 minutes, where you can change to lines 6 and 10 and to Cercanías trains. To reach Sol, change to line 10 and then to line 1, 2 or 3, or take Cercanías to Sol.
Airport stations charge an airport supplement (around €3) on top of the single ticket, so the trip usually costs about €4.50–5. Monthly passes and the Tourist Travel Pass include the airport journey with no supplement. You need a Public Transport Card (the physical card costs about €2.50 and is rechargeable) or, at many stations, you can tap a contactless bank card at the gates.
Approximate hours: 6:00 am to 1:30 am.
Cercanías C-1 train
The Cercanías station is inside T4 (level -1). Line C-1 calls at Chamartín, Nuevos Ministerios, Recoletos, Atocha and Príncipe Pío; Atocha is about 25–30 minutes away. It is the fastest option for the south and east of the centre and for the high-speed train station.
If you land at T1, T2 or T3, first take the free inter-terminal shuttle bus to T4. If you hold a Renfe AVE or long-distance ticket, check whether it includes a free Cercanías journey (Combinado Cercanías).
Airport Express bus
An EMT bus line linking terminals T1, T2 and T4 with O’Donnell, Cibeles and, during the day, Atocha station. It runs 24 hours a day, every day; at night the route ends at Cibeles. Tickets cost €5 (flat fare, paid by bank card on board; standard travel passes are not valid) and the journey takes about 35–45 minutes depending on traffic.
It is the best choice for late-night arrivals or if you are staying near Cibeles, the Paseo del Prado, Huertas or the Retiro.
Taxi and ride-hailing
Madrid taxis charge a fixed fare between the airport and anywhere inside the M-30 ring road (around €33; check the current rate; luggage and supplements included). Outside the M-30 the meter applies. Always take a taxi from the official rank at each terminal and ignore anyone offering rides inside the terminal.
Ride-hailing apps also operate at the airport, with signposted pick-up points; prices vary with demand.
Tips
- Check your terminal before heading back: Iberia and its partners mostly use T4.
- For the return trip, allow at least 45–60 minutes from the centre by public transport.
- At rush hour (7:30–9:30 am and 6–8 pm) the metro is crowded; with big suitcases a taxi may be worth it.
- Official information and journey planners are on the websites of Metro de Madrid, Renfe Cercanías, EMT and the Regional Transport Consortium (CRTM).
Frequently asked questions
How much is the metro from Madrid airport to the centre?
A single ticket plus the airport supplement usually comes to about €4.50–5. With a monthly pass or the Tourist Travel Pass there is no supplement. Check current fares on the Metro de Madrid website.
Is there public transport from Barajas at night?
Yes: the Airport Express bus runs 24 hours and ends at Cibeles at night. The metro and Cercanías do not run between roughly 1:30 am and 6 am.
How much is a taxi from Madrid airport to the city centre?
There is a fixed fare to any address inside the M-30 ring road, around €33. Outside the M-30 the meter applies.
Guidance checked in October 2026. Opening hours, prices and conditions change: always check the official sources.