Short answer: Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas (MAD) is Spain’s busiest airport, about 12 km (7.5 miles) northeast of central Madrid. The quickest public route is Metro line 8, about 12 minutes from Terminals 1-2-3 (under 20 from Terminal 4) to Nuevos Ministerios, for €4.50–€5 one way including the €3 airport supplement. The cheapest is the Cercanías train from Terminal 4, from €1.70. The easiest door to door is an official taxi: a fixed €33 to anywhere inside the M-30 ring road, day or night (all as of October 2026).
- IATA code
- MAD
- ICAO code
- LEMD
- Serves
- Madrid, Toledo, Segovia
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Travel guides for places this airport serves
Barajas has two separate terminal areas: Terminals 1, 2 and 3 form one long, connected building, and Terminal 4, with its satellite T4S, stands on its own a few kilometers away. Aena, the airport operator, reported a record 68.2 million passengers in 2025, so check your terminal before you set off and give yourself time at busy hours.
Getting from Madrid-Barajas to the city center
Five options cover almost everyone. Prices below are the official fares as of October 2026; they change, usually in January.
Metro line 8
- Stations: Aeropuerto T1-T2-T3 (in Terminal 2, floor 1) and Aeropuerto T4 (Terminal 4, floor -1).
- Route: Aeropuerto T4, Barajas, Aeropuerto T1-T2-T3, Feria de Madrid, Mar de Cristal, Pinar del Rey, Colombia, Nuevos Ministerios. Change at Nuevos Ministerios to Metro lines 6 or 10 or to Cercanías trains for the rest of the city.
- Journey time: about 12 minutes from T1-T2-T3 and under 20 minutes from T4 to Nuevos Ministerios.
- Hours: 6:05 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. every day, holidays included; the last trains leave each end at 1:33 a.m.
- Fare: a Zone A single costs €1.50–€2.00 depending on the number of stations, plus a €3 airport supplement when you enter or leave an airport station. The supplement also applies to the 10-trip ticket. The Tourist Travel Pass already includes it.
- Tickets: trips are loaded on a contactless public transport card (the Multi card, €2.50, sold at station machines and ticket desks). Since June 2026 you can also tap a contactless bank card or phone at Metro gates for a single journey. If you plan to do that at the airport, check on the machine screen how the supplement is charged.
Cercanías train C1 and C10 (from Terminal 4 only)
- Station: Aeropuerto T4, under Terminal 4 (floor -1). There is no train station at T1-T2-T3; if you land there, take the free shuttle bus to T4 or use the Metro.
- Route: Renfe’s suburban lines C1 and C10 run to Chamartín, Nuevos Ministerios, Recoletos, Atocha and Príncipe Pío. Atocha and Chamartín are Madrid’s two main high-speed rail stations.
- Journey time and frequency: roughly 20 minutes to Chamartín and 30–35 minutes to Atocha. The two lines together give a train about every 15 minutes, from about 6 a.m. until around midnight. Works on the Chamartín approaches have changed timetables in the past, so check Renfe’s Cercanías Madrid timetable on the day.
- Fare: a single costs €1.70 (1–2 zones), €1.85 (3 zones) or €2.60 (4 zones); the machine works out the price from your destination. If your Renfe high-speed ticket includes the Cercanías connection to a flight, the airport train is free.
Exprés Aeropuerto bus (EMT line 203)
- Route: Atocha station and Plaza de Cibeles to Terminals 1, 2 and 4. At night (from about 11:30 p.m. to 6 a.m.) the city end is Cibeles instead of Atocha.
- Hours and frequency: 24 hours a day. Every 15–20 minutes from 6:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., and about every 35 minutes overnight.
- Journey time: about 30 minutes from Atocha to T1, 35 to T2 and 40 to T4; allow more in rush-hour traffic.
- Fare: a flat €5. Pay on board with a contactless card or phone, or in cash (no notes over €20), or buy at the ticket machines at the airport stops and Atocha. The Tourist Travel Pass is not valid on this line.
Two ordinary EMT city buses also serve the airport: line 200 from Avenida de América and line 101 from Canillejas. They are slower and mostly useful if you are staying near those stops.
Taxi: €33 flat fare inside the M-30
- Where: official taxi ranks on floor 0 (Arrivals) at Terminals 1, 2 and 4. Madrid taxis are white with a red diagonal stripe and the city coat of arms. Ignore anyone offering rides inside the terminal.
- Inside the M-30 ring road (which takes in the whole historic center): a fixed €33 per trip, day or night, any day of the week, with no extra charges for luggage or the airport.
- Beyond the M-30: the meter runs, with a minimum of €22 that covers the first 9 km, then €1.40 per km. Check the meter is started and ask for a receipt (recibo).
Ride-hailing and pre-booked transfers
Uber, Bolt and Cabify operate at Barajas, with set pick-up points: the P1 car park at Terminal 1, the Express car park (Arrivals) at Terminal 2, and car park P4, Module D, floor 4 at Terminal 4. Fares are dynamic, so compare the in-app quote with the €33 taxi fare. Chauffeur services and pre-booked transfers meet passengers in car parks P1, P2 and P4. A transfer is worth it for families, groups with lots of luggage or very late arrivals; you can book one from the box near the top of this page.
Terminals
Madrid-Barajas works as two hubs: Iberia and its oneworld partners at Terminal 4, and Air Europa with SkyTeam partners at Terminals 1, 2 and 3. Aena lists more than 90 airlines at the airport. Your booking shows your terminal; the examples below come from Aena’s airline directory as of October 2026.
- Terminal 1: many long-haul and low-cost airlines, including Air Europa (international flights), Delta, United, Aeroméxico, Turkish Airlines, Ryanair and easyJet.
- Terminal 2: Air Europa (domestic and Schengen flights), Air France, KLM and Lufthansa, among others. The Metro station for T1-T2-T3 is here.
- Terminal 3: part of the same building, next to T2, with its own gates and lounge.
- Terminal 4 and T4S (satellite): Iberia, Iberia Express, Vueling, British Airways, American Airlines, Emirates and Qatar Airways, among others. Designed by Antonio Lamela and Richard Rogers and opened in 2006, its wavy bamboo-lined roof is one of the airport’s landmarks. Gates M and S are in the satellite, T4S, reached by an internal train.
Moving between terminals
- Free shuttle bus (T1-T2-T4): 24 hours a day, every 5 minutes from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and every 20 minutes overnight. Stops: T1 floor 1, T2 floor 2 (Departures) and T4 floor 2 (Departures). A second route links the Arrivals levels.
- T4 to T4S: a free automated train runs non-stop between T4 (gates H, J, K) and the satellite (gates M, S) in about 5 minutes, every 4–12 minutes. Allow extra time if your gate is in T4S.
- Metro: line 8 also links Aeropuerto T1-T2-T3 and Aeropuerto T4, but you pay the fare and supplement.
- On foot: T1, T2 and T3 are connected inside; walking to T4 is not practical.
Arriving: passport control, baggage and SIM/eSIM
- Passport control: only if you arrive from outside the Schengen area. Adult EU/EEA citizens with an e-passport can use the automatic gates. Since April 2026 most non-EU visitors are registered in the EU’s Entry/Exit System on their first entry (passport scan, photo and fingerprints; under-12s are not fingerprinted), which can take longer the first time. Entry rules are on our Spain travel guide.
- Baggage reclaim: all on floor 0. T1 uses Hall 1 for non-Schengen flights and Hall 2 for Schengen and domestic; T2 uses Hall 6; T4 and T4S use Hall 10. Free luggage trolleys are spread around every terminal.
- Lost or delayed bags: report it at your airline’s or handling agent’s desk in the reclaim hall before you leave.
- Customs: in T1 and T4. Travelers from outside the EU must declare goods above the allowances and cash of €10,000 or more.
- Phone and data: EU and EEA phone plans roam at home prices in Spain. Everyone else should check their roaming fees; an eSIM bought before you fly usually works the moment you land, and our packing list tool links to one. Free airport Wi-Fi (below) covers you until then.
- Transport passes: the Tourist Travel Pass (1–7 days of unlimited Metro and bus travel) is sold at the information points on floor 0 of T1 and T4. More handy apps and calculators are on our free travel tools page.
Departing: check-in times and security
- Check-in times: Aena asks you to follow your airline’s check-in and bag-drop deadlines, which vary by airline and route. Check the airline’s website, and check in online where you can.
- Go to the right terminal: T4 is a separate building. If you go to the wrong one, the free shuttle bus or Metro line 8 will get you across, but it costs time.
- Terminal 4 security: the new central checkpoint on floor 2 of T4, fully open since summer 2026, has 3D CT scanners. With them, you can leave liquids and electronics in your cabin bag while it is scanned. There are dedicated lanes for families and passengers with reduced mobility. Liquid rules can differ between terminals and airports, so check Aena’s hand-luggage page before you pack; packing liquids in 100 ml containers in a clear bag is the safe default. Other checkpoints may still ask you to take items out.
- Fast Track: Aena sells paid priority security access at T1, T2 and T4.
- Leaving Schengen: flights to the UK, the Americas and other non-Schengen destinations pass outbound passport control after security. Allow for it, especially from T4S, where you also need the train.
Facilities
- Wi-Fi: free. Join the “AIRPORT FREE WIFI AENA” network and register with your email address; daily session and data limits apply.
- Lounges: Aena’s own VIP lounges are open to any passenger for a fee, whatever your ticket: Cibeles (T1), Puerta de Alcalá (T2), Puerta del Sol (T3), Retiro (T4), and Gran Vía and Neptuno (T4S). Book on Aena’s VIP Services site. Airlines also run lounges for their premium passengers and status members.
- Left luggage: staffed left-luggage offices in T1 (5 a.m. to 11 p.m.), T2 (7 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and T4 (5 a.m. to 11 p.m.), charging by item and by time (from €10 for up to 2 hours as of October 2026). Bag-wrapping is also available.
- Accessibility: Aena’s free “Sin Barreras” assistance helps passengers with reduced mobility or other needs from the car park, forecourt or check-in to the plane. Request it at least 48 hours before departure through your airline, Aena’s website or app, or by phone (+34 91 321 10 00). Be at a signposted meeting point at least 2 hours before departure (Aena recommends 2½).
- Food and shops: every terminal has cafés, tapas bars, quick sandwiches, sit-down restaurants and duty-free, on both sides of security. Spanish favorites like a ham bocadillo or tortilla are easy to find, and prices are higher than in town.
Car rental and parking
Car rental: the main rental companies have desks in Terminal 1 and Terminal 4. In T4 the desks are on floor -1 and you collect the car from car park P4 (floor 0). A car is handy for touring the region but not for central Madrid. The whole city is a low-emission zone and the center has extra access limits, so read the driving notes on our Madrid travel guide before you drive in. You can compare rental prices from the box near the top of this page.
Parking: Aena runs several public car parks, open 24 hours:
- Terminal car parks (P1 at T1, P2 at T2, P4 at T4): a short walk from check-in, best for pick-ups and stays of a few days.
- Express parking at T1 and T2 for quick drop-offs and pick-ups.
- Long-stay car parks for T1-T2-T3 and for T4, designed for vacations.
- Low-cost car park for T1-T2-T3: online booking only, minimum stay 5 days, with a free shuttle bus (about 3 minutes to T1 and 5 to T2/T3).
Booking online on Aena’s website usually costs less than paying at the barrier. Prices change with demand, so we don’t list them here.
Hotels near the airport
For most visitors, staying in the city makes more sense: the center is only 20–40 minutes away and transport runs late. An airport hotel is worth it for a dawn departure, a late-night arrival or a long layover. Look around the old village of Barajas and the Feria de Madrid (IFEMA) trade-fair area, both on Metro line 8 a stop or two from the terminals. You can search hotels near MAD from the box near the top of this page.
Plan your trip: once you land, our Madrid travel guide covers neighborhoods, museums, tapas and day trips, and the Spain travel guide has entry rules, money and getting around the country. Let our AI trip planner build a day-by-day itinerary, check the Destination weather tool for your travel dates, and use the Money exchange tool to see what €5 or €33 means in your own currency.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Madrid airport to the city center?
Take Metro line 8 to Nuevos Ministerios (12–20 minutes, €4.50–€5 with the airport supplement) and change there; take the Cercanías train from Terminal 4 to Chamartín, Nuevos Ministerios or Atocha (from €1.70); ride the 24-hour Exprés Aeropuerto bus to Cibeles and Atocha (€5); or take a taxi for a fixed €33 to anywhere inside the M-30 (fares as of October 2026).
How much is a taxi from Madrid airport?
A fixed €33 per taxi, not per person, between the airport and any address inside the M-30 ring road, 24 hours a day, with no luggage or airport extras (as of October 2026). Beyond the M-30 the meter runs, with a €22 minimum for the first 9 km. Use the official ranks on floor 0 of T1, T2 or T4.
Which terminal does my airline use at Madrid-Barajas?
Iberia, Iberia Express, Vueling, British Airways, American Airlines, Emirates and Qatar Airways use Terminal 4. Air Europa uses T1 and T2. Ryanair, easyJet, Delta, United and Turkish Airlines use T1, and Air France, KLM and Lufthansa use T2. Terminals can change, so always check your booking or Aena’s airline list.
Does the Madrid Metro run to the airport all night?
No. Metro line 8 runs from 6:05 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Overnight, use the Exprés Aeropuerto bus, which runs 24 hours (about every 35 minutes at night, from Cibeles), or a €33 flat-fare taxi.
How do I get between Terminal 1 and Terminal 4?
Take the free airport shuttle bus. It runs 24 hours, every 5 minutes from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and every 20 minutes at night, stopping at the Departures levels of T1, T2 and T4. Metro line 8 also connects them, but you pay the fare plus the €3 supplement.
Is there free Wi-Fi at Madrid airport?
Yes. Connect to “AIRPORT FREE WIFI AENA” and register with your email address. Daily session and data limits apply, but it is enough for messages, maps and booking a ride.
Researched and last reviewed on 6 October 2026. Sources: Aena (transport, terminals, airlines, services, parking, security), Metro de Madrid and the Consorcio Regional de Transportes de Madrid (Metro fares and supplement), Renfe and CRTM (Cercanías), EMT Madrid (Exprés Aeropuerto), the City and Community of Madrid (taxi fares, contactless payment) and esMADRID, the city’s official tourism site. Fares, hours and terminal assignments change, so check the official links before you travel.