Madrid-Barajas Spanish International Airport is located 12 km from the city centre. It is the country's main airport, as well as Europe's main airport in terms of direct flights to Latin American cities. The Madrid - Barcelona airline known as "puente aéreo" is the first in the world by the number of flights per week. Since 2006, the airport has had 5 terminals and a title of the world's largest airport on the surface of its terminals. In 2015, the airport attracted 45 million passengers.
Airport shuttle
Line 203 (Exprés Aeropuerto - Airport Express): The express line connects Atocha station and the airport. The bus runs 24 hours a day, every day of the year. However, the Atocha stop only operates from 06:00 to 23:30. During the night, the bus stop becomes Cibeles in the centre of Madrid and the bus becomes the N27 Exprés Aeropuerto.
The bus runs every 15 to 20 minutes during the day and every 35 minutes at night.
The journey takes 30 - 40 minutes.
The one-way ticket costs €5
Public transport
Choose public transport, you have several options. The airport, by its size and importance, is well connected to the downtown core and other cities in the region.
Buses
Urban and interurban buses stop and leave from each airport terminal in the arrival area.
T1:
Line 200: connects the Avenida de América transport centre to the airport. The bus runs every 10 to 20 minutes from 5:00 am to 11:30 pm.
- Line 101: Provides a link between the Canillejas transport centre and the airport. On working days (including Saturdays), the line operates from 06:00 to 23:25, on Sundays and public holidays from 07:30 to 23:25. Depending on the traffic, you can wait 15 to 30 minutes before the bus arrives.
- Line 822: starts in Madrid T1 and goes to Coslada and San Fernando de Henares. It runs every day of the year from 06:00 to 23:30.
- Line 824: The first stop is at the airport in T1 and the destination is Torrejón de Ardoz and Alcalá de Henares. Throughout the year, the bus runs from 6:40 am to 10:00 pm.
T2:
Line 822 does NOT pass here, all the others do.
T3:
Lines 203, 822 and 824 do NOT stop at this terminal, others do.
T4 & T4S:
Apart from lines 203 and 200 which stop here, there are two more lines.
Line 827: take the following route: Madrid (Canillejas) - Airport T4 - Alcobendas - Autonomous University - Tres Cantors. The bus runs from 06:00 to 23:00.
Line 828: connects Madrid (Canillejas), airport T4, Alcobendas and La Universidad Autonoma. The bus runs from 07:00 to 18:00.
Long-distance buses to MAD: From and to Madrid airport, there are connections to slightly more distant cities.
Avanzabus offers direct round trips between the airport and Avila and Salamanca. Departures are from T1, bus parking area.
Alsa airline travels from the airport to: Zaragoza, Barcelona, Valladolid, León, Murcia, Alicante, Gijón, Oviedo, Lugo, La Coruna, Santiago de Compostela, Burgos, Vitoria, San Sebastián, Santander, Bilbao, Logroño and Pamplona. Departures are from T4, arrival area.
The Socibus Company connects the airport with parts of Andalusia: Ayamonte, Córdoba, Cadiz, Jerez, Seville, etc. Departures are from the bus parking area in T1.
Metro
Metro line 8 connects terminal T4 to Nuevos Ministerios (Madrid City). The line has two stations at the airport.
The line operates from 06:05 to 01:30.
The first stop is the T1-T2-T3 metro station and the journey from the city takes 13 to 15 minutes.
At the second stop, there is an additional 5 minutes of travel time.
A single ticket costs €4.5.
NOTE: Between two airport stations there is a stop called Barajas. It's in the city, not at the airport, so don't go out there.
Train
The Spanish railway company connects Madrid to the airport by the RENFE train via the local network service Cercanias C1.
It is the cheapest way to get to the city centre, as a single ticket costs €2.60.
The station is on T4 (floor -1), it is called Aeropuerto T4.
The journey takes about 40 minutes (from the Principe Pio stop to the airport).
The first train leaves at 06:00 and the last at about 23:00 (depending on whether you are going to or from the airport).
NOTE: If you have problems reaching another terminal, a free shuttle service connects them. Check the schedule.
Taxi service
Taxis are, as is usually the case, by far the most expensive option to reach the city centre. However, if you decide to continue, make sure you only go with the officials (white with a red stripe at the door). A flat rate is €30.00 per trip, but the rate may change due to traffic conditions, time of day and season. Baggage is included in the price, regardless of the price. Try to avoid taking taxis during peak hours on working days, as there is a chance that the driver will overload you.
Transfer
If you are not a public transport enthusiast but do not want to take a taxi, consider booking a private transfer that will wait for you at the airport and take you to your hotel or wherever you need to go.
A professional driver will be in the arrivals area with your name on it.
If necessary, child safety seats can be ordered in advance.
Rent a car at Madrid airport
At Madrid airport, there are six car rental companies. All are located in the arrival area of the T1 and T4. You can book online services with companies such as Sixt, Avis or Europcar to avoid having no car available or waiting.
Rent a bus at Madrid Airport
If you are travelling with a large group, the best option would be to rent a bus online before you arrive in Madrid. After that, the bus rental companies will inform you about the meeting point.