The Barajas terminals: T1, T2, T3 and T4
Barajas has two separate complexes. Terminals T1, T2 and T3 form a single building, with a shared metro station and shared bus stops. T4, newer and located further north, is used in particular by Iberia and its partners; it has its own metro station, its own bus stop and the airport's only Cercanías station. Its satellite, T4S, is connected to T4 by an internal automated train on the airside.
A free shuttle bus links all the terminals 24 hours a day, running every 5 to 40 minutes depending on the time. Check your terminal on your boarding pass before choosing your transport: from T1 or T2, the Cercanías train means going to T4 first.
The metro, line 8: the fastest way to the north of the city
Line 8 (pink) serves two stations at the airport, Aeropuerto T1-T2-T3 and Aeropuerto T4, and reaches its terminus Nuevos Ministerios in about twelve minutes from T1-T2-T3 and in under 20 minutes from T4. At Nuevos Ministerios you can change to lines 6 and 10 or to the Cercanías; Colombia station, on the way, also connects with line 9. For Sol or Gran Vía, allow 35 to 45 minutes in total with one change.
The metro runs every day from 6:00 am to 1:30 am.
The €3 airport supplement
Entering or leaving through the two airport stations costs an airport supplement of €3, added to both the single ticket and the 10-trip ticket. Since 1 October 2026, a single metro ticket in zone A costs €1.50 whatever the distance, so an airport-to-centre trip comes to €4.50. You also need to buy the Multi card once (€2.50), the rechargeable contactless card on which all tickets are loaded; it is not personal and lasts for your whole stay.
The 10-trip ticket (€7.30 in zone A) is still good value if you are staying several days: pay it with the €3 supplement at the airport, then use the remaining trips in the city, on the metro as well as on EMT buses. Several people travelling together can tap the same card one after the other.
The only exception to the supplement is the tourist pass (Abono Turístico), which includes it. Our tips for choosing between these tickets are in our guide to public transport in Madrid.
The Exprés Aeropuerto bus: direct to Cibeles and Atocha
The Exprés Aeropuerto line (number 203) of EMT, the municipal bus company, runs 24 hours a day, every day of the year, with reduced timetables on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January. It serves terminals T1, T2 and T4, then makes only three stops in the city: O'Donnell, Plaza de Cibeles and Atocha station.
- Flat fare: €5, with no supplement. Pay on board in cash (notes of up to €20) or by contactless bank card or phone; ticket machines are also located at the terminal exits and at Atocha.
- From 6:00 am to 11:30 pm: the terminus is Atocha, with a bus every 15 to 20 minutes. Allow about 30 minutes from Atocha to T1, 35 minutes to T2 and 40 minutes to T4, traffic permitting.
- From 11:30 pm to 6:00 am: the bus terminates at Plaza de Cibeles and does not go on to Atocha. One departure every 35 minutes.
It is the most practical option at night, when the metro and trains are closed, and for hotels near the Cibeles Palace, the Prado or Atocha. The luggage holds take large suitcases.
Other buses
EMT line 200 links the airport with Avenida de América (metro lines 4, 6, 7 and 9) at the standard urban fare of €1.50, from 5:00 am to 11:30 pm. It accepts the 10-trip ticket and the tourist pass, but stops more often than the Exprés.
The Cercanías train: from T4 only
Cercanías lines C1 and C10, Renfe's commuter rail network, leave from Aeropuerto T4 station, in the basement of the terminal. They serve Chamartín, Nuevos Ministerios, Recoletos, Atocha and then Príncipe Pío: about 25 minutes to Atocha. Trains run from about 6:00 am to midnight, every 20 to 30 minutes depending on the time.
- Single ticket: €2.60, with no airport supplement.
- Free with an AVE or long-distance ticket: the "Combinado Cercanías" code printed on your Renfe ticket can be entered at the ticket machine to get the connecting trip free of charge.
The train makes sense if you are staying near Atocha, Recoletos or Chamartín, or if you are continuing by train to Toledo, Segovia or the rest of Spain. From T1 or T2, first take the free shuttle to T4.
The taxi: €33 flat fare inside the M-30
Taxi ranks are on level 0, outside the arrivals area of each terminal. Madrid's official taxis are white with a diagonal red stripe and the city's coat of arms on the doors.
- Flat fare of €33 (tariff 4) between the airport and any address inside the M-30 ring road, in both directions, 24 hours a day, luggage included, with no supplement at all. This area covers the whole centre: Sol, Gran Vía, Salamanca, Chamberí, Malasaña, La Latina, Atocha.
- Outside the M-30: metered fare, with a minimum of €22 (tariff 3) covering the first 9 kilometres, then €1.40 or €1.60 per kilometre depending on the time.
- The journey takes 20 to 40 minutes depending on traffic; the flat fare protects you from traffic jams.
Turn down drivers who approach travellers in the arrivals hall: official taxis wait only at the rank. Ride-hailing cars (Uber, Cabify, Bolt) have dedicated pick-up points, shown in their apps; their prices vary with demand and often exceed the taxi flat fare at peak times. Other pitfalls are described in our article on scams to avoid in Madrid.
Which transport to choose for your situation
- You are travelling light, by day, to the north or Salamanca: metro line 8, then a change.
- You are staying near Cibeles, the Prado, Atocha or Lavapiés: Exprés Aeropuerto bus, with no change.
- You arrive at night (after 11:30 pm): Exprés to Plaza de Cibeles, or a taxi.
- You arrive at T4 and are continuing by train: Cercanías C1 or C10, free with an AVE ticket.
- You are three or four people with suitcases: the €33 taxi costs barely more than the bus per person and drops you at the door.
To reach Puerta del Sol, the simplest route is metro line 8 to Nuevos Ministerios, then line 10 to Tribunal and line 1 to Sol; Cercanías lines C3 and C4, taken at Nuevos Ministerios, also stop at Sol. If you have not yet chosen your accommodation, our guide on where to stay in Madrid takes these journeys into account.
Comparison of transport between Barajas and the centre
| Transport | Terminals | Price per person | Time to the centre | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro line 8 | T1-T2-T3 and T4 | €4.50 (€1.50 + €3 supplement), plus €2.50 Multi card | 12 to 20 min to Nuevos Ministerios | 6:00 am - 1:30 am |
| Exprés Aeropuerto bus (203) | T1, T2, T4 | €5 | 30 to 40 min to Atocha | 24 hours (Cibeles at night) |
| Bus 200 | T1, T2, T4 | €1.50 | Avenida de América, then metro | 5:00 am - 11:30 pm |
| Cercanías C1 and C10 | T4 only | €2.60 (free with AVE ticket) | 25 min to Atocha | about 6:00 am - midnight |
| Taxi | All | €33 per vehicle inside the M-30 | 20 to 40 min | 24 hours |
Prices noted in October 2026, on the websites of Metro de Madrid, the Consorcio Regional de Transportes, EMT, Renfe, Aena and Madrid City Council.
Further reading
Once in the city, our guide to public transport in Madrid explains tickets, night buses and bike sharing. To estimate your overall spending, see our Madrid travel budget, and to plan your first day, what to do in Madrid in one day.
