Routes and stations
Sol, Gran Vía, Callao and Ópera are the central stations for shopping and the Royal Palace. Atocha Renfe serves the high-speed train station, and Santiago Bernabéu (line 10) the Real Madrid stadium.
Line 8 runs from Nuevos Ministerios to the airport terminals T1-T2-T3 and T4 in about 15–20 minutes. At Nuevos Ministerios you change to lines 6 and 10 or to Cercanías trains.
Tickets and fares
A single Metro ticket starts at €1.50 and rises with the number of stations. The 10-trip Metrobús ticket costs about €7.30 and is valid on Metro and city buses; up to three people can share it by passing it through the gate one after another.
Journeys starting or ending at the airport stations cost an extra €3 with single or 10-trip tickets. The Tourist Travel Pass already includes this supplement. In zone A it costs from about €10.30 for 1 day to €43.20 for 7 days; children under 11 get 50% off.
Fares are set by the regional transport authority and can change, so check before you travel.
How to buy
Buy the red Multi card (€2.50) at machines in any station and load tickets on it. Machines accept cash and bank cards and have an English menu.
Each card is personal for passes but can be shared for 10-trip tickets. Keep it until you leave the station.
Tips for travellers
From the airport, line 8 is the simplest option. The Cercanías C1 train also links T4 with Nuevos Ministerios, Atocha and Chamartín, and the Exprés Aeropuerto bus (about €5) runs to Atocha and Cibeles.
The metro opens at 6:00 and the last trains leave at about 1:30. Night buses (búhos) cover the rest of the night.
Many stations have long walkways and stairs between lines. Families with prams should look for the lift symbol on the metro map.
Last checked: October 2026. Fares and timetables change, so confirm on the official website before you travel.
