BiciMAD or bike hire: choose for your outing
BiciMAD is Madrid's public electric bike service. It suits short journeys between docking stations: reaching a park, changing neighbourhoods or returning to your accommodation. Electric assistance helps on hills, but does not remove junctions or stretches shared with cars. Take time to try the brakes and starting the bike before joining the road.
For a ride with several stops, a conventional hire shop may be more convenient. You keep the same bike for the agreed period without finding a station at every break. Ask whether the helmet, lock, electric assistance and accessories are included. Prices depend on equipment and duration: compare the total cost rather than an advertised hourly starting price.
With children, specifically look for appropriately sized bikes or an approved child seat. BiciMAD is available from age 14; under-18s must be registered by a parent or legal representative. It therefore does not replace family bike hire. For a guided ride, explain how comfortable you are in traffic before booking: a monuments tour and a park ride present different challenges.
BiciMAD prices: long stops can be expensive
| Option | Up to 30 minutes | Second 30-minute period | Each subsequent 30-minute period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic contract | €0.50 | €0.50 | €3 |
| 30-day flat rate, €10 | included | €0.50 | €3 |
Prices checked in October 2026. Part periods are charged. On the basic contract, a 45-minute journey therefore costs €1, and a 75-minute journey €4. A bike kept during lunch continues to incur charges: return it before sitting down.
The flat rate includes unlimited journeys lasting no more than 30 minutes, but does not make longer journeys free. For a short stay, the basic contract is a straightforward choice if you only plan a few trips. Calculate your actual usage; do not buy a monthly plan simply because a journey is described as “free”. Check the renewal conditions in your account before leaving, too.
Set up the app and return the bike correctly
Create your MPass account, shared by EMT services, and prepare the BiciMAD app and payment method before reaching a station. The service publishes a list of countries whose phone numbers are accepted; check yours if you are travelling from outside the European Union. A failed registration at the last minute should not derail your day's plans.
On the map, choose an operational station with bikes available, then identify another near your destination. Adjust the saddle and check the tyres, brakes and battery charge. If you see a defect, choose another bike and report the problem. Keep your phone charged: you also need it to check the return and contact support.
At the end, dock the bike if the station has a free space. Wait for confirmation: a green light indicates a successful return, yellow means wait, and red means the return failed. Also check the bike's screen and that the journey has ended in your account. If the station is full, follow the official overflow procedure around the station, within its GPS perimeter, and close the lock. This does not permit leaving the bike elsewhere in the city.
Ride 1: Madrid Río and the Manzanares bridges
For a first outing, choose Madrid Río. Plan a linear ride between the Puente de Segovia area and Matadero, with a break around Puente de Toledo. The riverbanks reveal the city from the water without trying to connect all the central monuments. Allow about two hours for riding and stops, then shorten the outing according to how busy it is.
The Arganzuela footbridge is a useful architectural landmark, but bridges and entrances can be crowded with pedestrians. Dismount to take photographs or when the passage is congested. In shared areas, always adapt your speed to walkers; a wide riverbank is not a dedicated cycle lane.
To visit an exhibition at Matadero, first end your BiciMAD journey or use the lock supplied with your rental. Check the exhibition's own opening times: a riverside outing does not guarantee the galleries will be open. Before deciding to cycle back, compare availability at the docking stations.
Ride 2: Casa de Campo for a greener outing
Casa de Campo suits those who want to extend their ride into a large park. The Puerta del Rey entrance connects the Madrid Río area with the park. For a first visit, make the lake your destination and return along a known route rather than improvising a large loop from a rough map.
The interior has hills and different surfaces. A short journey along a suitable path is better than a steep or stony shortcut. Bring water and preserve some battery if using an electric bike. With conventional hire, ask for a route suited to your equipment and ability; not every sporting itinerary works for a city bike.
Allow half a day if you want to combine cycling, a stop at the lake and lunch. This is more comfortable with time-based hire than with a BiciMAD journey left running for several hours. Do not plan a cable-car return without checking its operation: it is not a fallback you can take for granted.
Ride 3: El Retiro or western Madrid
El Retiro works for a short outing, following permitted paths and signs. Allow one hour to an hour and a half, including walking breaks by the lake. The monument's steps are not a cycling shortcut. The park is busy at weekends and may close during weather alerts: check municipal information before heading there.
To the west, Parque del Oeste and the Temple of Debod can be destinations for cyclists comfortable with hills. Dismount to visit gardens and crowded areas around the temple. Do not combine El Retiro, Debod and Casa de Campo on your first ride: that adds urban crossings and climbing to an already full day.
Traffic, weather and equipment: useful habits
Pavements and pedestrian areas are generally closed to bicycles. Dismount and push your bike through them, following any exceptions signed locally. A road marked “30” may be shared with cars: that does not make it a protected bike lane. Select a suitable cycling route rather than the shortest driving route suggested by your phone.
Municipal rules regulate permitted paths in parks and give pedestrians priority. They include a reduction to 5 km/h in areas without separate pedestrian space at busy times. Helmets are compulsory for under-16s and on interurban roads; they remain useful equipment for city rides. Avoid making phone calls while cycling and stop to check the map.
In summer, prefer mornings and avoid long climbs during the hottest hours. After rain, watch for slippery cobbles and painted surfaces. Bring water, sun protection and a layer suited to the return journey. If traffic makes you uncomfortable, return the bike and continue on foot or public transport: changing plans is part of a successful outing.
Further reading
Compare tickets in our guide to transport in Madrid, then choose breaks with the Madrid parks and gardens guide. To plan visits around the river, read the guide to Arganzuela.
