Madrid Airport to the City: Metro, Bus, Train or Taxi
Five ways to get from Madrid-Barajas into town, compared by terminal, price and time, including what runs at night.
The cheapest fast route from Madrid-Barajas airport is Metro Line 8: a single ticket plus the €3 airport supplement costs €4.50–5, and Nuevos Ministerios is 12–20 minutes away. The Airport Express bus runs 24 hours to Cibeles and Atocha for about €5, and a taxi costs a flat €33 to anywhere inside the M-30, as of November 2026.
Which option is best from each terminal?
Barajas has four terminals in two buildings. T1, T2 and T3 sit together; T4 (with T4S) is a separate building about 10 minutes away by free shuttle bus. Not every service stops at every terminal.
| Option | Terminals | Goes to | Time to center | Price (Nov 2026) | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Line 8 | T1-T2-T3 station and T4 station | Nuevos Ministerios (change to lines 6 and 10, Cercanías) | 12 min from T1-T3, about 20 from T4 | €4.50–5 (single + €3 supplement) | About 6:00 to 1:30 |
| Airport Express bus (203) | T1, T2, T4 | O’Donnell, Cibeles, Atocha (daytime) | About 30–40 min to Atocha | About €5 | 24 hours |
| Cercanías C-1 | T4 only | Chamartín, Nuevos Ministerios, Recoletos, Atocha, Príncipe Pío | About 12 min to Chamartín, 25 to Atocha | Renfe zone fare, under €3 | From early morning to about midnight |
| EMT bus 200 / 101 | 200: T1, T2, T4; 101: T1, T2 | Avenida de América / Canillejas | Depends on traffic | €1.50 | Daytime |
| Night bus N32 | All terminals | Avenida de América | Depends on traffic | €1.50 | About 00:10 to 5:30 |
| Taxi | All, from official ranks | Anywhere | 20–40 min | €33 flat inside the M-30 | 24 hours |
How do you take the Metro from the airport?
- Follow the Metro signs to the Aeropuerto T1-T2-T3 or Aeropuerto T4 station.
- Buy a single ticket plus the €3 airport supplement at a machine. You first need a €2.50 Tarjeta Multi if you do not have a card; it is free if you buy a Tourist Travel Pass.
- Since June 2026 you can also tap a contactless bank card or phone at the gates for a single journey. Check on the machine screen whether the supplement is charged on that route.
- Ride Line 8 to Nuevos Ministerios and change to lines 6 and 10 or to Cercanías.
Monthly Abono holders do not pay the supplement, and the zone A Tourist Travel Pass includes it. See our Abono price guide if you are moving to Madrid. Line 8 also stops at Feria de Madrid for IFEMA trade fairs.
Where does the Airport Express bus stop, and what about night arrivals?
The Airport Express (EMT line 203) stops at T1, T2 and T4, then O’Donnell, Cibeles and Atocha. According to Madrid’s official tourism site, it runs every 15–20 minutes in the day and every 35 minutes at night. Between 23:30 and 6:00 it ends at Plaza de Cibeles and does not go to Atocha. Service is reduced on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January.
The 2026 fare table of the regional transport consortium sets the fare at €5, while some city pages still show €5.10. You can pay on board in cash (no notes above €20) or by contactless card, or at machines outside the terminals and at Atocha. The Abono is not valid on this line. Details are on the esMadrid Airport Express page.
If you land after the Metro closes, you have three options: the Airport Express to Cibeles, where the night bus network starts; night bus N32 to Avenida de América, which leaves T4 between about 00:10 and 5:25; or a taxi. Our guide to Metro hours and night buses explains the búho lines from Cibeles.
When is the Cercanías train the better choice?
If you arrive at T4 and are heading to Chamartín, Atocha or the north of the city, the C-1 commuter train is quick and avoids changing lines. The station is on level -1 of T4. There is no Cercanías station at T1, T2 or T3. Trains run about every 20 minutes. Renfe charges by zones; a single ticket into central stations is under €3, and holders of a long-distance Renfe ticket that includes a Cercanías connection travel free. The regional Abono is valid on Cercanías inside its zones.
How much is a taxi from Barajas, and what about Uber or Cabify?
Take a taxi only from the official rank outside arrivals. As of November 2026:
- Inside the M-30: flat €33, day or night, with no extra charges for luggage, nights or holidays.
- Outside the M-30: the meter runs, and short trips under 9 km carry a minimum fare (€22 on the Comunidad de Madrid consumer page).
- Payment: all Madrid taxis must accept cards. Ask for a receipt.
Ride-hailing apps (VTC) such as Uber, Cabify and Bolt pick up at the meeting point the app shows, not at the taxi rank. Their price is set by the app before you book and can rise at busy times, so compare it with the €33 taxi fare before you confirm. Our comparison of taxis and ride-hailing apps in Madrid covers the rules.
Bottom line
Check your terminal before choosing: from T4 the train or Metro is easy, from T1-T3 the Metro is fastest, and with heavy bags or a group of three or four the €33 taxi often costs about the same per person as public transport. Keep a contactless card handy so you can skip the ticket machines.
FAQ
Does the Metro run all night to the airport?
No. The Metro runs from about 6:00 to 1:30. At night use the Airport Express bus, night bus N32 or a taxi.
Can I use one ticket for the Metro and the Airport Express?
No. They are separate fares. The Metro needs a single or 10-trip ticket plus the €3 supplement; the Airport Express has its own single fare.
How do I get between T4 and T1?
A free shuttle bus links all terminals. Madrid’s tourism site says it runs every 5 minutes in the day and less often at night.
Is the €33 taxi fare per person?
No. It is per taxi, for up to the number of seats in the car.
