More about: Transfer from/to Madrid
Getting to and from Barajas airport to any point in the city centre (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
Travel comfortably 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 centre 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 centre of Madrid directly to the airport with your companions. A driver will pick you up on time so that travelling is stress-free.
Arrive comfortably and without haste at Barajas airport by hiring this private transfer from your hotel or accommodation in the centre. A professional driver will pick you up about two and a half hours before your flight, so you can board your flight without rushing.
You will travel comfortably in an air-conditioned vehicle and you won't even have to deal with your 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 the city centre
If you want to simplify your arrival, I recommend the private door-to-door airport pick-up service.
Private transfer from Madrid airport to the city centre - From 99€
The word "private" often brings with it the adjective "expensive" and so we often tend to overlook it when it comes to a trip where we want to set aside 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 city centre, which picks you up at the airport and takes you to your hotel, is quite reasonable: from 115, if you book in advance. However, 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 travelling with you.
The transfer works in a simple way: when you book online you provide your hotel or accommodation details in Madrid and your flight details (the driver will already know your arrival terminal). The driver will meet you and your group at the terminal, know if your flight is delayed and 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 pram friendly
- 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 are travelling in summer)
Private transfer from Madrid city centre to the airport
The transfer service is also available at the same price if you want to book 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 end your trip to Madrid in the most comfortable way possible.
Other options: public transport, taxi or VTC
Madrid airport has four terminals: Terminals 1, 2 and 3 on one side and Terminal 4 on the other. The metro and bus services run to both terminals and the local 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 bear 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 that leaves 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 leaves at around 11:30 p.m. and the service is somewhat faster than the metro; with a frequency of about 15 minutes, you can be in the centre in 40 minutes.
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 centre, stopping at the Cibeles fountain and Atocha station (both central points). If you don't know the city, I recommend you choose the latter option.
Taxi or VTC
Taxis in Madrid that go from the airport to the city centre or vice versa have a fixed cost of 30 euros each way (you may be asked for a little more if there is a night rate, but the official prices should be indicated inside the taxi). Another widespread option in Madrid are the VTC. With the Uber or Cabify apps you can request one when you arrive at the airport and the fare is usually a little cheaper than a taxi (the app will show you when you enter your destination and you can decide whether to accept it or cancel the journey).
ANA'S TRAVELLER TIP
If the taxi driver asks you for a supplement for your luggage, bear in mind that it is not legal as the prices are regulated independently of the luggage.
Useful tips for your arrival at Madrid airport
Whichever option you choose, the most important thing is to have it decided once you get off the plane to avoid wasting time on unnecessary journeys. Madrid airport is quite large so it will take some time to get out of the airport; if you have booked the pick-up service, don't worry because the driver will take this into account. Once you have collected your luggage from the belt, you will arrive at the departure gate from where you will be able to access the street.
If you want something to eat or drink before your return journey, there are plenty of restaurants available both before and after boarding. Be aware, however, 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 travel between terminals, you don't need to use the metro: there is a free minibus that connects the terminals to each other. It runs every 40 minutes and you can ask for the exact location at any of the airport's information points. It is also available during the night.
As for getting around Madrid during your trip, if you're staying in the city centre, the best option is the metro: it's fast, cheap and works quite well. Don't rule out walking from one area to another either: although the city is large, many parts of the centre can be reached on foot and it's always better to get to know a city on foot. You don't have to worry about safety either: Madrid is a very safe city.
Other details about Madrid airport
Now you've got all your questions about getting from Madrid airport to the city centre answered, but there may be a few more things you should know about the airport if you're going to be spending some time there before your return flight departs.
- WIFI connection is available. This can be useful both in the dead hours of waiting during your return flight and if you need to switch on your mobile phone on the way to call a VTC or to contact the owner of your accommodation to tell him you are on your way.
- There are no smoking areas. Once you pass through security there are no outside smoking areas, so be aware of this. You can't 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, as they are not necessarily going to announce boarding or otherwise.
- It is open 24 hours a day. This will be useful if your flight leaves early and you want to arrive in good time. Although the food outlets don't open until the morning, there are vending machines where you can get a coffee or snack.
- You need to keep track of your time. I don't recommend arriving just in time for your flight; you may miss it. 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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