Trains in Madrid

Atocha and Chamartin are the main stations, with AVE high-speed trains to Barcelona, Seville and Valencia. Cercanias commuter trains reach the suburbs.

Cercanias runs from about 05:00 or 06:00 until about midnight. High-speed departures through the day.

Tickets and prices

• Cercanias in zones 1 and 2: about 1.70 EUR, more for outer zones
• Madrid to Barcelona high speed: fares vary a lot, cheapest when booked early
• Ouigo and Iryo: low-cost high-speed operators
• Renfe app for tickets

Where to buy tickets

• Renfe: renfe.com, the Renfe app, or ticket offices and machines in stations
• Ouigo: its website and app. Iryo: iryo.eu, the Iryo app or Iryo desks in stations
• Cercanias: station machines and ticket offices, or the new Renfe Cercanias app. Many stations also take a contactless bank card at the gates
• Not possible on board. High-speed and long-distance trains need a ticket with a seat before you board
• No ticket on board: high-speed and long-distance pay double the fare, Media Distancia the fare plus 5 to 10 EUR, Cercanias the fare plus double the top fare of the zone

Good to know: For long distance, compare Renfe, Ouigo and Iryo prices.

Renfe (official site)

Direct trains from Madrid

• Segovia: about 25 min from Chamartin, AVE, Avant, Ouigo
• Toledo: about 35 min from Atocha, Avant
• Alcala de Henares: about 40 min from Atocha or Chamartin, Cercanias C2, C7
• Aranjuez: about 45 min from Atocha, Cercanias C3
• Cuenca: about 1 h from Chamartin or Atocha, AVE, Avlo, Alvia, Ouigo, Iryo
• El Escorial: about 1 h from Atocha, Sol or Chamartin, Cercanias C3a
• Valladolid: about 1 h from Chamartin, AVE, Avant, Ouigo
• Zaragoza: about 1 h 15 min from Atocha, AVE, Avlo, Ouigo, Iryo
• Cordoba: about 1 h 45 min from Atocha, AVE, Avlo, Ouigo, Iryo
• Valencia: about 1 h 50 min from Chamartin (some from Atocha), AVE, Avlo, Ouigo, Iryo
• Leon: about 2 h from Chamartin, AVE
• Tarragona: about 2 h 15 min from Atocha, AVE, Ouigo, Iryo
• Alicante: about 2 h 15 min from Chamartin, AVE, Ouigo, Iryo
• Barcelona: about 2 h 30 min from Atocha, AVE, Avlo, Ouigo, Iryo
• Seville: about 2 h 40 min from Atocha, AVE, Avlo, Ouigo, Iryo
• Malaga: about 2 h 45 min from Atocha, AVE, Avlo, Ouigo, Iryo
• Murcia: about 2 h 45 min from Chamartin, AVE, Avlo, Ouigo
• Santiago de Compostela: about 3 h from Chamartin, AVE, Avlo
• Granada: about 3 h 15 min from Atocha, AVE
• A Coruna: about 3 h 40 min from Chamartin, AVE, Avlo
• Gijon: about 3 h 40 min from Chamartin, AVE, Avlo
• Girona: about 3 h 45 min from Atocha, AVE
• Vigo: about 4 h from Chamartin, AVE, Avlo
• Bilbao: about 4 h 50 min from Chamartin, Alvia
• San Sebastian: about 5 h 15 min from Chamartin, Alvia
• Perpignan (France): about 4 h 40 min from Atocha, AVE (Renfe)
• Montpellier (France): about 6 h 40 min from Atocha, AVE (Renfe)
• Nimes (France): about 7 h 10 min from Atocha, AVE (Renfe)
• Avignon (France): about 7 h 40 min from Atocha, AVE (Renfe)
• Marseille (France): about 8 h 15 min from Atocha, AVE (Renfe)

Trams and metro in Madrid

Madrid Metro has 12 lines plus the short Ramal, and is one of the largest in Europe. Metro Ligero light rail serves the north and west.

Metro about 06:00 to 01:30. Line 6 closes at 23:00 from Sunday to Thursday during works.

Tickets and prices

• Metro single ticket in zone A: about 1.50 EUR, a flat fare since October 2026
• 10-trip ticket: about 7.30 EUR, also valid on EMT buses
• Tarjeta Multi: a reloadable card, 2.50 EUR, free with the Tourist Travel Pass
• Tourist Travel Pass: 1 to 7 days, from about 10.30 EUR for zone A

Where to buy tickets

• Ticket machines in every metro station, by cash or card
• Tap a contactless bank card or phone at the gates, about 1.50 EUR a trip
• Tarjeta Multi card and 10-trip tickets: metro machines, estancos (tobacconists) and other authorised shops
• Not possible on board. Buy before you pass the gates or board Metro Ligero

Good to know: Add a 3 EUR airport supplement when entering or leaving the metro at the airport. The zone A Tourist Travel Pass includes it.

Metro de Madrid (official site)

Madrid network

Madrid Metro has 12 lines plus the short Ramal branch line. Line 1 is light blue and line 6 is the grey circular line.

• Line 1: Pinar de Chamartín to Valdecarros. Stops: Chamartín (Trains, north), Gran Vía (Shopping), Sol (Puerta del Sol), Atocha (Trains, Reina Sofía).
• Line 2: Las Rosas to Cuatro Caminos. Stops: Ópera (Royal Palace), Sol (Puerta del Sol), Banco de España (Cibeles), Retiro (Park).
• Line 3: Villaverde Alto to Moncloa. Stops: Moncloa (Buses, park), Callao (Gran Vía), Sol (Puerta del Sol), Lavapiés (Neighbourhood).
• Line 4: Argüelles to Pinar de Chamartín. Stops: Bilbao (Nightlife), Colón (Plaza de Colón), Serrano (Shopping), Goya (Shopping).
• Line 5: Alameda de Osuna to Casa de Campo. Stops: Casa de Campo (Park), Ópera (Royal Palace), Callao (Gran Vía), Gran Vía (Shopping).
• Line 6: circular line around the city. Stops: Nuevos Ministerios (Line 8 to airport), Moncloa (Buses, park), Príncipe Pío (Trains, west), Avenida de América (Buses).
• Line 8: Nuevos Ministerios to Aeropuerto T4. Stops: Nuevos Ministerios (Change from 6, 10), Mar de Cristal (Line 4), Barajas (Terminals 1, 2, 3), Aeropuerto T4 (Terminal 4).
• Line 10: Hospital Infanta Sofía to Puerto de Santa María. Stops: Príncipe Pío (Trains, west), Plaza de España (Gran Vía), Tribunal (Malasaña), Nuevos Ministerios (Line 8 to airport), Chamartín (Trains, north).

Where lines meet: Sol (1 + 2 + 3); Callao (3 + 5); Nuevos Ministerios (6 + 8 + 10); Tribunal (1 + 10); Príncipe Pío (6 + 10).

Buses in Madrid

EMT buses cover the city, and interurban buses use the big bus stations such as Plaza de Castilla and Moncloa.

Day buses about 06:00 to 23:30 on weekdays, 07:00 to 23:00 at weekends. Night buses (Buhos) leave from Cibeles.

Tickets and prices

• EMT single ticket: about 1.50 EUR, pay on board by card or cash
• Express Airport bus: about 5 EUR
• Long distance: ALSA and FlixBus
• 10-trip ticket on the Tarjeta Multi works on buses

Where to buy tickets

• On board from the driver: about 1.50 EUR, by bank card or cash (change given for up to 5 EUR)
• Tap a contactless bank card or phone on the reader when you board
• EMT ticket kiosks at Atocha and the airport sell single tickets
• 10-trip tickets on the Tarjeta Multi: metro machines and estancos, not on board
• Interurban green buses: pay the driver by card or cash, about 1.50 EUR in town or 3 EUR between towns

Good to know: The Airport Express bus runs 24 hours. It leaves from Atocha by day and from Cibeles at night.

EMT Madrid (official site)

Airport links in Madrid

Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas (MAD) is the main airport, on the north-east edge of the city.

Metro line 8 takes about 12 minutes from T1-T2-T3 to Nuevos Ministerios, about 20 minutes from T4. Cercanias C1 also serves terminal T4.

Tickets and prices

• Metro: about 1.50 EUR plus 3 EUR airport supplement
• Express Airport bus: about 5 EUR
• Taxi to the centre inside the M-30: fixed 33 EUR
• Cercanias C1 to T4

Where to buy tickets

• Metro line 8: buy a ticket plus the 3 EUR airport supplement at station machines or ticket offices. Contactless bank cards also work at the gates
• Cercanias C1 at T4: Renfe machines in the station. Free with many AVE tickets
• Express Airport bus: about 5 EUR, pay the driver by bank card or use the kiosks at T1, T2, T4 and Atocha. The Tourist Travel Pass is not valid
• City buses 200 and 101: about 1.50 EUR from the driver, card or cash
• Free shuttle bus between the terminals, no ticket needed

Good to know: The fixed taxi fare covers any trip between the airport and the area inside the M-30 ring road, day or night.

Aena Madrid (official site)

Airport to city centre: full guide

Tips for Madrid

• Avoid peak hours, roughly 08:00 to 09:30 and 18:00 to 20:00.
• You can tap a contactless bank card or phone at metro gates instead of buying a ticket.
• The Tourist Travel Pass pays off if you ride several times a day.
• The Metro fine without a valid ticket is 80 EUR, cut to 40 EUR if you pay on the spot or within 15 days.

Apps to download

• Metro de Madrid: Official metro app
• EMT Madrid: Buses and live times
• Renfe: Cercanias and long-distance trains
• Cabify: Spanish ride-hailing