Madrid Metro Hours and Night Buses: When Trains Stop
When the Metro opens and closes, how often trains run late at night, which night buses take over and what changes on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
Madrid Metro runs every day from about 6:00 to 1:30, with trains every 2 minutes at the morning peak and about every 15 minutes after midnight. Between roughly 23:30 and 6:00, EMT búho night buses take over from Plaza de Cibeles, and on Saturday nights and holiday eves they run until 7:00. A bus ride costs the same €1.50 as by day, as of November 2026.
What time does Madrid Metro open and close?
The network opens at about 6:00 and the last trains leave around 1:30, every day of the year except special nights described below. Madrid’s official tourism site gives these frequencies:
| Time | Typical frequency |
|---|---|
| Morning peak | About every 2 minutes on the busiest lines |
| Weekday daytime | A few minutes |
| Weekend daytime | Less frequent than weekdays |
| After midnight | About every 15 minutes |
A few stations keep their own hours, such as Pitis on Line 7 and the stretch from Puerta de Arganda to Arganda del Rey. Engineering works also close lines or sections for weeks at a time, with free replacement buses run by EMT. Before a late trip, check the service notices on Metro de Madrid’s website or app.
“Last train around 1:30” means the last departure from each end of the line, so trains pass central stations a little later or earlier depending on where you are. If you need the last connection, leave a margin of 15–20 minutes.
Which light rail lines run with the Metro?
Three Metro Ligero (light rail) lines work alongside the Metro, plus a tram in Parla:
- ML1: Pinar de Chamartín to Las Tablas in the north of the city. It uses zone A tickets.
- ML2: Colonia Jardín to Aravaca, west of the city.
- ML3: Colonia Jardín to Boadilla del Monte.
- ML4 / Tranvía de Parla: a circular tram in Parla, south of Madrid.
ML2 and ML3 (Metro Ligero Oeste) need a Combinado ticket or an Abono that covers their zones. Fares are in our Abono Transporte price guide.
How do the búho night buses work?
When the Metro closes, EMT’s night lines, called búhos (owls), take over. Almost all of them start at Plaza de Cibeles and fan out to the outer districts, from N1 (Sanchinarro) to N27; N28 runs from Moncloa to Aravaca. The regional transport consortium’s night network map gives these hours:
| Night buses (búhos) | |
|---|---|
| First departures | Between 23:20 and 23:45, depending on the line |
| Last departures | Between 5:30 and 6:00 |
| Saturday nights and holiday eves | Last trips leave Cibeles at about 7:00 |
| Frequency | About every 35 minutes Sunday to Friday; 15–20 minutes on Saturday nights and holiday eves |
| Fare | €1.50 single, or a trip on a 10-trip ticket or Abono |
Two other night services matter for travelers. The Airport Express bus runs all night between the airport and Cibeles, and line N32 links Avenida de América with all airport terminals. See our guide to getting from Barajas to the city.
Towns outside Madrid have interurban night buses, which leave mainly from the large bus interchanges such as Moncloa, Avenida de América and Plaza de Castilla. Each line has its own timetable, so check it before you set off.
What changes on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and big event nights?
The holiday timetable is published by the regional transport consortium (CRTM) each December. In the 2025–26 season it set out these changes, which give an idea of what to expect:
- Christmas Eve (24 December): Metro service ended at 22:00, with entry closing at 21:30. Cercanías trains stopped at 21:00 and night buses started early, from 22:00.
- Christmas Day and New Year’s Day: the Metro opened later, at 8:00 on 25 December and 7:00 on 1 January.
- 30 and 31 December: Sol station closed from 21:00 for the bell rehearsal and the New Year countdown. Night buses ran from 22:30 on 31 December until 7:00 on 1 January.
- Christmas shopping weekends: Sol was closed between 18:00 and 21:00 on several busy days, and Line 5 trains skipped Gran Vía at those times.
The 2026–27 timetable usually appears in mid-December on the CRTM website. For football matches, concerts and large events, Metro adds trains on the lines that serve the venue; check the event notice rather than assuming late service.
How do you get home if you miss the last train?
- Walk or take a taxi to Plaza de Cibeles, the hub of the night bus network.
- Find your line at the Cibeles stops. Each stop shows the lines and departure times.
- Pay on board with a contactless card or cash, or use your Abono or a 10-trip ticket.
- Press the stop button in good time. Night buses only stop on request.
A taxi is the alternative for short distances or groups; prices are in our taxi and ride-hailing guide.
Bottom line
Save the night bus line for your neighborhood before you need it, and note where it stops near home. On weeknights the 35-minute gap between buses is the real cost of missing the last train, so a short taxi ride can be worth it.
FAQ
Does Madrid Metro run 24 hours on weekends?
No. The Metro closes at about 1:30 every night. On Saturday nights the night buses run more often and later, until about 7:00.
Do night buses cost more?
No. The búho fare is the same as a daytime EMT bus: €1.50 single, or a trip on a 10-trip ticket or Abono, as of November 2026.
Is the Metro open on New Year’s Eve?
Yes, but with changes. Sol station closes in the evening of 30 and 31 December, and the opening time on 1 January is later than usual. Check the CRTM holiday notice each year.
Are Metro stations accessible at night?
Lifts work during opening hours where a station has them. Not every station is step-free, so check the accessibility information on the Metro map before you travel.
