From Barajas to Madrid. How to get from Madrid Barajas Airport to the city center

For tourists flying to the capital of Spain for the first time via Barajas, the main issue is delivery to the hotel, or rather, how to get from Madrid airport to the city center. For those traveling through Madrid in transit, we can also advise taking advantage of the five to seven hour gap between flights and stopping by the capital at least for a short time. Moreover, everything in this case is conducive to this. In this article we will talk about how to get to the city, which transport will take you faster to the center of Madrid and how to choose a cheaper trip.

Briefly about the airport

Many people planning a vacation to the Pyrenees are interested in the question of how many airports there are in Madrid and whether it is possible to somehow reduce flight costs. So, near the Spanish capital there are three airports providing passenger transportation. On internal and charter flights The main airport operating is the small Terragona Airport, located 24 km from Madrid.

Recently in passenger transportation The former Spanish air force base of Torrejon de Ardoz also helps, which began to operate as a reception center in 1990 passenger aircraft. Together these two small airport they are unloading the main airport of Madrid, the main air gate of the capital - Barajas. So if you need to cut down on airfare costs, you can use air carriers operating from two other airports.

Barajas International Airport is today recognized as the largest air hub not only in Spain, but also in Europe; it is compared in terms of passenger traffic with the French Charles de Gaulle Airport. It is the busiest in its country and the sixth busiest in Europe.

Only numbers. The peak year in terms of passenger traffic was 2013, when passenger turnover amounted to 50 million people, which was an absolute record since the opening of this airport back in 1931. The largest in Europe in terms of area is the fourth terminal of the airport in Madrid.

Extremely convenient location airport makes it attractive to tourists from all over the world:

  • only 9 km separate the airport from the financial center of the capital, and the historical center of Madrid is 13 km from here;
  • It is convenient to fly from Barajas both to Europe and to other continents of the world. Therefore, for connecting flights in destinations South America from Europe, Madrid airport seems ideal;
  • go to famous resorts It is convenient for Spain to fly through Madrid, for example, to fly to Malaga or Barcelona, ​​changing flights in Barajas;
  • For Russians, this air hub is convenient due to the availability of direct flights from Moscow operated by the local airline Iberia, as well as Russian airlines Aeroflot and S7. In addition, direct charter flights of the Spanish carrier Iberia Express can be used to travel to Madrid from St. Petersburg.

Thus, this entire huge flow of tourists and connecting flight passengers arriving at the airport every day requires good transport connections between the airport and the central area of ​​the city. And the capital of Spain readily provides well-developed transport links, so getting from Barajas Airport to the Madrid center is not difficult.

Additionally. For those flying with a long layover, it makes sense to go to the nearest hotel where you can stay and relax. So, there are a couple near the airport good hotels, where the shuttle goes for free, and double room per night will cost 60 euros.

How to get there

From the airport by metro

The metro remains one of the most democratic types of Spanish transport. Moreover, you can go to the metro station directly from the terminal. There is a separate line from Terminal 4 of Barajas Airport, below is a diagram in which this line is highlighted with the number “8” and in pink. There is also a station in the second terminal of the airport. Both stations are located on the ground floor of the airport terminal and, like other stations, operate from six in the morning until half past two at night.

Usually tourists get to New Ministries - that’s the translation name for the station, which takes about twenty minutes to get to. Here are the banks, departments, and business centers of Madrid. The trip will cost 5 euros. Read on to learn more about the specifics of paying for using the metro.

From there, as a rule, everyone follows in the direction of the historical center - along the 6th and 10th lines or by changing to the electric train at Puerta del Sol. They can get to railway station(Atocha) and further to the suburbs.

The metro fare depends on the travel distance, but for travel to the airport you have to pay extra in addition to the general fare.

You can buy a ticket in the metro itself, but for non-Spanish speakers this can be problematic; the metro staff only communicate in their own language. So it’s better to use ticket machines - they are equipped with an English-language menu.

Among the undoubted advantages of the Madrid metro is that the stations are located directly at the airport, and this is convenient. Ticket prices are affordable, and trains run frequently and regularly. The metro map allows you to get to almost every corner of the capital.

There are also disadvantages - tedious transfers along the way to the desired station and, of course, the fact that the metro does not work at night.

are fully automated, and therefore you can watch the movement of the train forward almost as if a carriage driver would do it

From the airport by train

You can also get to the center of the capital from Barajas Airport by rail. Spanish domestic routes railways Russians usually call RENFE by commuter train or Aeroexpress, officially this line C1 is called Cercanías and conveniently connects Principe Pio station with the fourth terminal of the airport. This is a new line that connects the airport with the railway station and passes through the main areas of the city. A train ticket to Atocha station costs 2.6 euros, and you can buy it from vending machines that also work with an English-language menu. The train leaves every half hour, about the same time a passenger travels to the city center. Electric trains run from six in the morning until the evening - the last train leaves the airport at 22.30, and leaves the city an hour later.

There is an electric train station only in the fourth terminal of the airport. However, if you get to any other terminal in Barajas, you will get to the desired terminal if you take advantage of the free shuttle bus that runs between the airport terminals.

Bus to the city

To get to the city by public transport, there are several bus routes:

  • Express No. 201 – every 15 minutes it departs from the airport and back to the airport, operating around the clock. The peculiarity of the bus is that during the day the train station serves as the point of departure and arrival, but at night the bus changes its number to No. 27 and departs from a stop in the central part of the city Cibeles. At night, flights operate at intervals of 35 minutes. The trip will cost 5 euros, and this price is the same for other buses going to the city from the airport. The journey will take half an hour if there is no traffic jam;
  • express number 200 – runs from the airport every 10 minutes to Avenida de América, no flights at night;
  • bus number 101 - takes you to the Canillejas metro station, it runs every half hour, but has certain traffic restrictions on weekends.

Tickets can be purchased from bus drivers. All buses await passengers either in the departure or arrival area, respectively, near the first and fourth terminals.

Taxi to Madrid

The official taxi is painted in white and red colors and has a green beacon on the roof of the car. Their parking lots are located in the arrivals area of ​​terminals 1, 2 and 4; the fare includes a mandatory payment of 2.1 euros, as well as a fee at a tariff that varies depending on the time of day, weekends and holidays. Usually a kilometer of travel costs 1.05 euros. For a trip from the airport you will have to pay an additional fee of 5.5 euros. There are some other places, landing near which also requires an additional fee of 3 euros - these are the train station, bus station, and the Parque Ferial Juan Carlos exhibition center. There are also additional fees for being stuck in traffic during the day or at night.

There are parking lots for rental cars at the airport. You can rent them and travel regardless of public transport.

For those who do not risk renting a car in a foreign country, but want to travel in comfort, we recommend using a transfer - Russians usually use the services of Russian transfer services, which provide a car to the airport, and the driver meets you in the arrivals area.

As it turns out, getting to the city center in Madrid, both from the airport and from any other point in the Spanish capital, is quite simple and inexpensive.

Video

Madrid Barajas Airport very large, but if you strictly follow the signs, it seems simple. From Moscow the plane arrives at terminal T4S. After arrival, you need to follow the “exit” signs to the train, which runs between terminals T4 and T4S. It's hard to get lost because it's the only way out of this terminal.

Waiting for a train traveling between the terminal T4 And T4S

Already in terminal T4 you will find your luggage.

After picking up your luggage in terminal T4 using the “exit” icons, you need to leave the arrivals hall.

Then go to the metro using the “metro” signs. The airport is directly adjacent to the metro - the final station is called - Aeropuerto T4(8th line, light pink). Using the metro you can easily get to any point in the city.

How to get to the center of Madrid

– From the airport, station Aeropuerto T4, take light pink line 8 to the station Nuevos Ministerios.
– Transfer to the 10th dark blue line and get to the station Tribunal
– Then drive one station, along the 1st blue line, to the station Gran Via

Madrid metro opening hours are from 6.00 am to 1.30 am

Before entering the metro you need to buy a ticket from a ticket machine.

If you are in Madrid for several days, I advise you to buy 10 trips at once, it is much more economical than buying one-time trips. Then, in the ticket machine, first select the language, then mark 10 trips.

Now be careful! If several people will travel on one ticket, then this must be selected here. This will increase the total ticket price by €1 for each person added. If you select only one person, then two people will not be able to pass in one place - the ticket will not work a second time.

Metro station Aeropuerto T4

Photo of the Madrid metro

Madrid Airport is one of the largest

We tell you how to get from Madrid airport to the city center by different types of transport and how much it costs.

Most planes arrive at Madrid Barajas Airport, at terminal T4S. After passing through passport control you need to go up to the second floor and from there get to terminal T4 by free electric train. The trip lasts 5 minutes, the interval of trains is 10 minutes.

After receiving your luggage, you can get from the airport to the city center by bus, train, metro or taxi.

Briefly about the route:

  • Distance to the center of Madrid – 13 kilometers
  • How long to go: from 12 minutes
  • Fare: from 1.5 euros

Metro

At Madrid airport the route to the metro is signposted.

Special ticket vending machines accept credit cards and cash. The cost of a ticket from the airport to Nuevos Ministerios station is 4.6 euros.

The metro in Madrid operates from 06:00 in the morning to 02:00 at night, trains run every 5 - 8 minutes. The duration of the trip to the city center will be 12 – 15 minutes.

Please note: turnstiles in the metro are located both at the entrance and at the exit, so the ticket must be kept until the final destination.

Bus

You can also get to Madrid from Barajas Airport by bus.

The yellow express number 203 allows you to travel from Madrid Airport to the Atocha train station (Estacion de Atocha) with intermediate stops Plaza de Cibeles and O'Donell.

The ticket costs 5 euros and can be purchased from the driver.

Travel time to the final station (Atocha Station) is 40 minutes. Express runs 24 hours a day:

  • From 06:00 to 23:25 – every 15-20 minutes
  • from 23:25 to 06:00 – every 35 minutes.

They also stop at the T4 airport terminal. Shuttle Buses No. 200, 201, 204, 827, 828, which go to the Avenida de America and Canillejas stops in Madrid. From there you can get to the city center by taking the metro.

A ticket for city buses costs 1.5 euros (sold from the driver).

Buses only run during the day– from 06:05 to 23:30 with an interval of 10-20 minutes. The exact schedule of each route can be found at the stop (they change periodically). The journey to the center of Madrid takes about 40 minutes.


Photo: Madrid Airport Express Bus © Ricardo Ricote Rodriguez / flickr.com

Train

The train stop is located on the ground floor (P1) of terminal T4. It takes 25 minutes to get from the airport to Atocha Train Station in Madrid.

Trains from the airport run from 05:00 to 23:45. The movement interval is half an hour. The ticket costs 2.6 euros, and you can buy it from a special machine at the station.

Taxi

The taxi rank is located at the exit from terminal T4. Licensed taxi cars in Madrid are white with a red stripe.

The average price of a trip from the airport to a hotel in the center of Madrid is 35-50 euros.

Important: pay attention to the fact that the taxi driver turns on the meter only when getting into the car - sometimes there are unscrupulous drivers.


Photo: licensed airport taxi © JasonParis / flickr.com

Transfer

If you arrive at night or are traveling with your family, it is more convenient to travel from Madrid airport to the city center. The driver will meet you with a sign at the airport, help with your things and take you to the hotel, and you will be sure of a comfortable and safe trip without overpayments.

Travel time is about 15 minutes.

How much does a transfer cost at Madrid airport:

  • – from 40 euros (2690 rubles)
  • – from 40 euros (2690 rubles)
  • – from 39 euros (2600 rubles)

Car rental

Those who like to travel independently can rent a car right at the airport. This can be conveniently done using the website

Madrid Airport, called Barajas, is located 12 km from the center of the capital of Spain and is not only the largest international airfield, it is a link between Europe and America. Every year Barajas serves about 50 million passengers, being one of the busiest airports in Europe.

Tourists, arriving here, even in flight, try not to miss the opportunity to get acquainted with the historical center of the capital. Therefore, many are interested in how to get from Madrid airport to the city center.

We will try to describe all the methods in detail so that any traveler, even those arriving in Spain for the first time, can understand it.

Madrid Airport consists of 4 terminals, the 1st and 2nd are connected by passages, but the 4th, opened in 2006, is located far from them. There is a free bus between the terminals. If you need to get to the 4th terminal, then you need to go outside, where you will see a green bus, it will take you to the other terminal. International flights arrive at terminal T1 and T4, and T3 - only private flights.

We decided to recommend the transfer first because it is the most convenient way for those who are traveling to Spain for the first time, having booked a hotel, or, perhaps, going to Europe for the first time. For those who have already traveled a lot, other methods are also suitable, since they are less expensive.

The transfer will cost you from 35-40 euros, but you will be met at the airport with a sign and taken to your place of stay in just 15 minutes. This way you will feel confident, you don’t need to worry about what transport to get there

Taxi from the airport

Of course, you can take a taxi directly from the airport; the cost of travel should not be more than 30 euros. Look for old cars with a number on the door and a red stripe. These are official taxis, their stands are located at the exit from any terminal.

Bus to the center of Madrid Airport Express

By bus you can get from Madrid airport to the center of Madrid in just half an hour, the journey will cost 5 euros. Unlike other buses, it is bright yellow. Along the way there will be three stops in the city, you can also get to the railway station.

Buses run around the clock every 15 minutes, so this is a very convenient and economical way to get to the center.

In addition, the bus has a special space where you can put large bags and suitcases. The ticket can be purchased from the driver, so it is advisable to have small bills.

You can get from Madrid Airport to the city center by Airport Express bus.

By regular buses

It will be even cheaper to get there by regular bus; the ticket costs only one and a half euros; you need to buy it from the driver. The following routes depart from the airport:

  • № 200 - runs from terminal T1 to the Avenida de América stop, this is a metro station, going down into it you can get to the historical center. Buses run until 23:00, the journey takes half an hour.
  • № 89 departs from terminals T1 and T2 every 15 minutes, open until 2 am. Its route goes to Columbus Square.
  • №204 – runs from terminal T4 to the Avenida de America stop.

To the city center by metro

Getting from Madrid Airport to the center of Madrid by metro is not difficult; follow the signs to find the entrance to the metro, Barajas station. Drive you need to take metro line 8 to Nuevos Ministerios (New Ministries) station, and then change to lines 6 or 10, which lead to historical center. Using the metro map you can navigate and get to the desired point in Madrid.

Getting to the center of Madrid by metro is very convenient

To buy a ticket here you need to know some features.

The fare depends on the travel distance, up to 5 stations costs one and a half euros, and then 10 cents are added for each station, but the maximum price cannot be more than 2 euros.

However, if you are going to the airport, then an additional rate of 3 euros is added, as a result, a metro ticket to the center of the capital will cost you 5 euros.
You can buy tickets at the box office or from vending machines; it is better to use them, since the staff mostly do not speak English.

From Madrid Airport you can reach the city center by metro. Line 8 connects Terminal T4 (Aeropuerto T4) and Nuevos Ministerios. Travel time is approximately 12-15 minutes.

Please note that between the metro stations "Aeropuerto T1 T2 T3" and "Aeropuerto T4" there is a metro station called "Barajas". This metro station is in the city, not at the airport.

Those who are accustomed to comfort should pay attention to the services.
For example, a transfer from the airport to the city will cost you approximately € 40 for 4 passengers. The cost of a metro ride will cost approximately €20.

Madrid metro map

Airport stops:

  • Terminal T4, floor P1
  • Terminal T2, floor P1.

Metro fare in Madrid

Single metro ticket zone A plus additional airport: € 4,50 - € 5

This ticket allows you to travel between airport stations T1 -T2-T3 or T4 and any metro or ML1 station in zone A (minimum fare of € 4,50 up to € 5 stops; € 0,10 for each additional stop, up to a maximum of €5 for trips over 9 stops).

Combination one way ticket + additional airport: € 6

This ticket allows you to travel between airport T1-T2-T3 or T4 and any station in Zone A, Metro Sur, Metro Norte, Metro Este or TFM station.

Additional airport ticket: € 3

Passengers holding a ticket valid for metro zone A (metro zone single ( Metro zone A single), Metrobus pass for 10 trips ( Metrobus 10-trip pass) and combined single tickets) must pay this additional ticket to travel to/from Terminals T1-T2-T3 or T4.

You can purchase tickets from ticket offices and machines in the lobby of any metro station.

Tourist pass holders ( travel passes or tourist passes) no need to pay extra for travel to/from the airport.

Opening hours and contacts

Metro operating hours
from 06:05 to 01:30

Customer assistance:
+34 917 796 399

For information:
+34 902 444 403

All rates are valid until the next change.

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