Madrid Airport: how to get there and use the services
Millions of tourists and visitors arrive in Madrid every year. Many of them use air transportation, which is why the local Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas airport is one of the most popular not only in the country but also in Europe.
It is the second largest airport in Europe after Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) and the fifth largest by passenger traffic. In the landmark year before the pandemic, the airport served almost 62 million people, writes SimpleFlying.
There are several routes from Madrid-Barajas Airport to the Spanish capital. Among them is the Madrid metro line No. 8, which goes to the city center. Note that Madrid Airport has two metro stations: one in Terminal 2 and the other in Terminal 4.
This line is called the "Pink" line and it takes only 15 minutes to get from the city to Terminal 2 and 20 minutes to Terminal 4. This is the fastest way to get between the airport and the city center.
For tourists, it's worth remembering that you first need to purchase a reusable multi-card, which can be refilled for travel. A metro card costs 2.50 euros and must be refilled for travel.
If you need to get from the airport to the city center, buy one trip for 6 euros. If you plan to stay in Madrid for several days and plan a lot of excursions, buy a seven-day metro pass for 34.40 euros. The metro is open daily from 06:00 to 01:30, with trains departing from the airport every 30 minutes.
Another way to get to the center of Madrid is to use ground transportation. There is an express bus route from the airport 203 and N27. This shuttle is easily recognizable due to its bright yellow color. Moreover, buses from the airport 203 and N27 Aeropuerto Express run around the clock, seven days a week.
Buses depart from both the railway station and Cibeles Square. The express runs from 6:00 to 23:30. From 23:30 to 06:00 Airport Express N27 departs from the bus stop near the Naval Museum.
It should be noted that the bus is one of the cheapest ways to get from the airport to the capital of Spain. The bus fare is only 5 euros one way and can be paid to the driver in cash, with a contactless debit card, or using an account linked to your mobile phone. However, it is worth remembering that the driver does not accept bills larger than 20 euros. The ride from the center to the first stop in Terminal 1 takes about 30 minutes.
Finally, another way to get from the airport is by RENFE train. The train route connects Madrid Airport with the city by train via the C-1 line. The train station at the airport is located in Terminal 4. The train makes five stops during the trip. The travel time between the airport and Atocha station is 30 minutes, and a one-way ticket costs 2.60 euros. Trains run from 05:15 to 23:07.
