Madrid

Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain, as well as the capital of the autonomous community of the same name (Comunidad de Madrid). The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million with a metro area population of almost 6.5 million. Madrid is best known for its great cultural and artistic heritage, a good example of which is the El Prado museum. Madrid also boasts some of the liveliest nightlife in the world.

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Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (IATA: MAD, +34 902 404 704) is located 13km from the city center. It is one of the largest airports in Europe and is serviced by many airlines, as well as being the homebase for Iberia Airlines. The airport has 4 terminals. Terminals 1, 2 and 3 are close together and serviced by the same metro station, while Terminal 4 is far from those and has its own metro and commuter train stations.

• Bus
  By far the most convenient way of reaching downtown is a 24-hours express bus service that passes all terminals and then goes direct to O’Donell, Cibeles (20 minutes walk or quick metro ride to Puerta del Sol) and Atocha (main train station, not serviced between 11:30 PM and 6 AM). 5 euros, paid in cash to the bus driver. Departures every 12 minutes (daytime) to 35 minutes (late at night). Travel time Terminal 4 (end of line) – Cibeles 30-40 minutes.

  Public bus 200 operates between the airport and Avenida de América bus station in Madrid. It is only 1.50€ and you can use your weekly ticket or 10-trips ticket. Bus 114 does NOT go to the airport terminals and is a 40-minute walk to Terminal 1.

  Public night bus N4 goes from Plaza Cibeles to Barajas district, 400m walk from the terminal through a passageway over the highway. Best to get off at the second-last stop, Avenida Central, and then make a right turn immediately after the bus stop. Go straight on, keep going straight crossing the parking lot, and then you make a left to cross another huge parking lot. After that you see the road and the pedestrian highway overpass. Only 1.50 Euros or the 10-trip ticket is valid as well.

• Train
  Terminal 4 of the airport is connected to the city by Cercanias commuter train (line C-1, from 05:30 to 23:30, €2.15) which goes directly to Atocha and Chamartin mainline train stations, and provides easy connection to Sol. Take the train (look for Renfe Cercanias) to “Nuevos Ministerios” and then transfer to line C-3 or C-4 southbound on platform 8; Sol will be the first stop
• Metro
  Alternatively, you can take the Metro (line 8 pink, from 06:30 to 01:30, to/from the airport €5.00) to Nuevos Ministerios station from all terminals. In order to reach the city centre (Sol, Ópera or Gran Vía), you must change metro line twice – first in Nuevos Ministerios (which is a huge station and involves a lot of walking) and then again at another station, which is obviously quite inconvenient.
• Shuttle
  • Mad Shuttle operates between the airport and city centre with all type of vehicles from 8,66 Euros per person.
    Service +34 91 125 1008 (booking@madshuttle.com),24/7/365, 24hs
  • Europe Shuttle offers the airport taxi transfer from or to Madrid Barajas Airport to any destination from 26 Euros per vehicle.
    Service +44 20 3318 1696 (booking@europeshuttle.com) 24hs
  • Airport Shuttle Madrid 24hs
  • Radio Eco Taxi
    Taxi transfer from or to Madrid Barajas Airport to any destination. Booking and price Online fixed price 30 eur city.
    Service +34 911251602 (taxi@eco-taxi.es) 24hs