How to get from Madrid to cities of Spain
and Europe. Transport guide

Madrid is not only the capital of bright and passionate Spain, but also the main economic, political and cultural centre of this magnificent country. Madrid is situated in the heart of the Iberian Peninsula, and its Barajas International Airport serves millions of tourists annually. In this city, everyone can enjoy Madrid baroque squares and palaces, visit numerous museums and national holidays and see a real Spanish corrida. If you are coming to Madrid and are going to get from Barajas Airport to the city centre or other resorts of Spain, then you should definitely read one of our guides on the ‘Madrid’ region. There, you will find all the necessary information about your routes: forms of transport, travel times, ticket cost, stops, and many other interesting and useful things.

Means of Madrid transport

Madrid has a well-developed transport network. City buses, commercial shuttles, trains and suburban electric trains, as well as taxis and private transfers – there is a wide choice of it. The quantity of journeys doesn’t depend on the season, so you can easily get to your destination even in winter.

How to get from the airport to Madrid? Tips from tourists

The main goal of KiwiTaxi Airguide is not only to gather all information about transport in Madrid, but also give you a clear idea of how to choose the most suitable means of transport for you. In order to avoid overpaying for a trip and getting in an overcrowded bus with children during peak hours, follow these simple Airguide recommendations:

1. Soberly assess your luggage. To travel light means you have one item of hand luggage and you are mobile, i.e. you can easily carry it from one stop to another. If you have a suitcase or even a few of them, then you should definitely pick the route with minimum walking because carrying large luggage with you is hard even for young and strong tourists.

2. If you are travelling with children, you should first think about their health and comfort. And if a trip in a hot shuttle or waiting in the heat can make you feel bad, for a small child this can be extremely dangerous! So choose routes without changes, as well as air-conditioned vehicles, or if you take a taxi – don’t forget to book a child seat in advance.

3. Special care is for special people. In case you are travelling with aged people or people with reduced mobility (for example, those who use wheelchairs), find out everything about the kind of transport you choose. If it is a bus, find out if it has some special room for disabled passengers. And if it is a taxi – if you can place a wheelchair in it.

4. There are special rules for a night arrival. In Madrid, as in many other European cities, there are not so many forms of transport operating at night. So if you arrive at Barajas at nighttime, check the transport timetable in advance in order not to wait for the first morning journeys.

5. Estimate the time properly. If you see that a bus reaches the city centre in 30 minutes, don’t forget that it doesn’t mean you will get from the airport to your hotel in half an hour. So add the time of getting to the bus stop, waiting for a vehicle or being stuck in a possible traffic jam, as well as getting from the end bus station to your hotel because public transport won’t get you right to it.

By following all these recommendations, you will easily choose the perfect transport in Madrid.

How to choose the right transport in Madrid? Airguide recommends

We’ve studied different forums and blogs by popular tourists and developed some general recommendations for all Airguides’ readers. Thus, we recommend young travellers without luggage who want to save money and are ready to sacrifice comfort and the short duration of the trip to choose Madrid public transport – buses or trains. Those who have a lot of luggage and for whom it is important to get to Madrid in comfort, we recommend to take commercial shuttles. Families with children, aged travellers, disabled people, tourists travelling within a group and all people arriving at night should think about booking a taxi or a transfer.

No matter which means of transport you’ll choose, we wish you a sunny and pleasant trip to Madrid and hope that your journey will start with positive emotions!