Getting around Madrid
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Airport
Madrid is served by Barajas International Airport, only 12km (7.5 miles) away from the capital, which makes it both easy and cheap to access. The airport recently expanded with the opening of a fourth terminal in February 2006.
Transport from the airport
By taxi: There are taxi ranks outside all the arrival halls. Drivers charge a supplement fee of €5.50 from the airport. Expect to pay around €20 to get to the centre of Madrid.
By metro: Line 8 (Nuevos Ministerious-Aeropuerto T4). 12 minutes to central Madrid from Terminal 1, 2, 3 or 20 minutes from Terminal 4, tickets cost €2.
By bus: Line 101 from Terminal 1, 2, 3 and line 204 from Terminal 4. 40 minutes to central Madrid, tickets cost €1. There is also a free shuttle connecting the four terminals every five minutes.
Transport in Madrid
Metro
With over 12 lines covering the city, Madrid's metro system is a cheap and easy way to get around. Take a single journey to any destination for €1 or buy a ten journey Metrobús ticket, valid on any bus or metro line, for €9. Metro trains run everyday from 6am to 1.30am.
By Foot
Madrid city centre is compact and makes it surprisingly easy to explore by foot. The majority of the city's prime attractions are located between the Parque del Buen Retiro in the east and the Palacio Real de Madrid in the west.
Taxis
All official taxis are painted white with a red diagonal stripe across the front doors of the vehicle. Watch for the green light positioned on the roof of the taxi or the ‘Libre' on the windscreen, which signifies that the taxi is available. Fees are different for day and night, as well as for weekdays and holidays. There is a minimum fare of €2.05 at the start of the meter (€2.20 on weeknights; €3.10 on weekend and holidays nights). Very few cabs accept credit cards.
Taxiflot: (+34) 915 390 400
Eurotaxi: (+34) 914 473 232
Radio Taxi: (+34) 914 475 180
Travel cards
The most convenient way to get around is the Tourist Travel Pass, which covers the Metro, the entire EMT bus network and Cercanias - Renfevalid - the local train system. It is valid from one to seven days (€5.20 - €23.60).
Alternatively, the Metrobús pass, which as its name indicates can be used on both Metro (Zone A) and buses, gives you 10 journeys for €9.
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