Madrid Airport Transfers
If you land in Madrid, here are the different ways to get to your hotel in the center of the city
Aircraft landed at Adolfo Suárez-Barajas Airport | ©Miguel Ángel Sanz
Getting to and from Barajas airport to any point in the city center (about 15km away) is easy, but you have several options to choose from and you should know them all.
Madrid Private Transfer from Airport to Hotel
Convenient travel from the airport to your accommodation in Madrid
Hire this private transfer, so that your arrival in Madrid is worry-free. A driver will be waiting to take you and your companions to your hotel in the center of Madrid.
Hire a private transfer from Barajas airport to your hotel or accommodation in Madrid. Travel comfortably, without worries, alone or with your group of companions.
This door to door service is available 24 hours a day. A driver will be waiting for you at the departures terminal and will take you in an air-conditioned vehicle to your destination.
Recommended if... you want to simplify your life and make sure you get to rest quickly and comfortably after your flight.
Madrid Private Transfer from Hotel to Airport
Get to the airport on time and worry-free from your accommodation in Madrid.
Travel from your hotel in the center of Madrid directly to the airport with your companions. A driver will pick you up on time so that traveling is not a stress.
Arrive comfortably and without haste at Barajas airport by hiring this private transfer from your hotel or accommodation in the center. A professional driver will pick you up about two and a half hours before your flight, so you can board without rushing.
You will travel comfortably in an air-conditioned vehicle and you will not even have to deal with luggage.
Recommended if... you want to make sure you get to the airport and catch your flight on time, without complications and without stress.
The best transfers between Madrid Barajas airport and downtown Madrid
If you want to simplify your arrival, I recommend the private pick-up service at the airport, door to door.
- Private transfer from Madrid airport to downtown - From $137.
- Private transfer from the center of Madrid to the airport - From $128.
Private transfer from Madrid airport to the city center - From 99€
The word "private" often brings with it the adjective "expensive" and that is why we often tend to overlook it when it comes to a trip where we want to reserve the money to get to know the city we are arriving in. However, in the case of Madrid the price of hiring a private transfer from the airport to the center, to pick you up at the airport and take you to your hotel, is quite reasonable: from 137, booking in advance. Of course, the final price will depend on the number of people using the service: you can request a shared transfer or a vehicle for you and the people traveling with you.
The transfer works in a simple way: when booking online you provide the details of your hotel or accommodation in Madrid and the details of your flight (with that the driver will already know your arrival terminal). The driver will meet you and your group at the terminal, will know if your flight is delayed and will wait for you up to 45 minutes after the scheduled time.
Advantages of using a private transfer
- You have enough space for your luggage (if you have special luggage, please let us know).
- It is accessible for baby strollers
- Greater convenience, "door to door" service
- Reliable drivers who speak English and Spanish
- Communication with the company 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Free cancellation of the service with one day's notice
- Air-conditioned vehicle (something you will appreciate if you travel in summer)
Private transfer from Madrid city center to the airport
The transfer service is also available at the same price if you want to hire it on your return to get to the airport from your accommodation. The conditions are the same and what you have to take into account is that the pick up time is always set three hours before the departure of your flight to take into account possible unforeseen events, check-in time, traffic, etc.
At the time of booking you will have to provide your hotel details so that the driver can pick you up and with this, you will be ready to finish your trip to Madrid in the most comfortable way possible.
Other options: public transport, cab or VTC
Madrid airport has four terminals: on one side, there are terminals 1, 2 and 3 and on the other side terminal 4. The metro and bus reach both terminals and the suburban train network has a stop at terminal 4 (for other types of transport there are services in all terminals).
Metro
Metro line 4 has a stop at Terminal 4 and another stop at Terminal 1, 2 and 3. What you have to keep in mind is that in Madrid you need a card to ride the metro (it will also work for intercity buses).
Suburban trains
The suburban train network in Madrid is integrated with the metro. The line departing from terminal four of Barajas airport connects with central stations such as Nuevos Ministerios, Atocha (train station) or Méndez Álvaro (Madrid bus station). The last suburban train departs around 11:30 at night and the service is somewhat faster than the metro; with a frequency of about 15 minutes, in 40 minutes you can be in the center.
Bus
You have two options: the intercity buses that pass through the airport (lines 101 and 200) or the bus that takes you directly to the center stopping at the Cibeles fountain and Atocha station (both central points). I recommend that if you do not know the city you choose the latter option.
Cab or VTC
Cabs in Madrid that go from the airport to the center or vice versa have a fixed cost of 30 euros each way (you may be asked for something more if there is a night rate, but the official prices should be indicated inside the cab). Another widespread option in Madrid are the VTC. With the Uber or Cabify apps you can request one upon your arrival at the airport and the price of the ride is usually a little cheaper than a cab (the app will show you when you enter your destination point and you can decide whether to accept it or cancel the trip).
ANA'S TRAVELLER TIP
If the cab driver asks you for a supplement for luggage, keep in mind that it is not legal since the prices are regulated regardless of the luggage.
Useful tips for your arrival at Madrid airport
Regardless of the option you choose, the most important thing is to have it decided once you get off the plane to avoid wasting time on unnecessary trips. Madrid airport is quite large so it will take some time to leave the airport; if you have hired the pick-up service, do not worry because the driver will take it into account. Once you pick up your luggage from the belt you will arrive at the departure gate from where you can access the street.
If you want to have something to eat or drink before your return trip, there are many restaurants available both before and after boarding. Please note that prices at the airport will be much more expensive. As for the immediate vicinity, there is nowhere worth going out to eat.
If you need to move between terminals, you don't need to use the subway: there is a free minibus that connects the terminals with each other. It runs every 40 minutes and you can ask for the exact location at any of the airport information points. It is also available during the night.
As for getting around Madrid during your trip, if you are staying in the center the best option is the metro: it is fast, cheap and works quite well. Do not rule out walking from one area to another: although the city is large many areas of the center are reachable on foot and it is always better to get to know a city on foot. You don't have to worry about security either: Madrid is a very safe city.
Other details about Madrid airport
Now you have all your questions about how to get from Madrid airport to the city center answered, but perhaps there are a few more things you should know about the airport if you are going to spend some time there before your return flight.
- WIFI connection is available. This can be useful both in the dead hours of waiting during your return or if you need to turn on your cell phone to call a VTC or to contact the owner of your accommodation to tell him that you are on your way.
- There are no smoking areas. Once you pass through security there are no outside areas where you can smoke so keep this in mind. You cannot use electronic cigarettes either.
- There are no public address announcements. If your flight is delayed or your gate is changed, you will have to look at the screens throughout the airport, because they are not necessarily going to notify you of the boarding or other change.
- It is open 24 hours. This will be useful if your flight leaves early and you want to arrive in good time. Although the restaurants don't open until the morning, there are vending machines to get a coffee or snack.
- You have to keep track of your time. I don't recommend arriving just in time for your flight; you may miss it. The Madrid airport is very large and, depending on which gate your flight departs from, it can take up to half an hour to get from the boarding gate to the airport.
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