Guide on getting around Madrid by metro | SmartRental

Getting around Madrid by metro: a complete guide

Getting around Madrid by metro has many advantages: it is a cheaper way to move around, you can quickly reach the tourist attractions of the city and is a sustainable alternative to private vehicles. If you are traveling to the Spanish capital, it will surely be the transport you will use the most during your stay.

Read our guide to the Madrid metro to find out how to use it, how much the tickets cost and how to move around the city without problems with this means of transport.

How does the Madrid metro work?

The 302 stations of the Madrid metro network are marked with a sign with a red, blue and white Metro logo, which can be seen from the entrance on the street, as well as a colored box with a number indicating the line.

Like any public transport network, you need a transport card to use the Madrid metro, with different rates depending on the user and the areas in which it moves.

The Madrid metro can be accessed with bicycles at any time, and with dogs at any time except the morning and afternoon rush hour. In addition, most of the stations in Madrid are adapted for disabled users.

How many metro lines are there in Madrid?

The Spanish capital has twelve metro lines and three light rail lines. One of the newest is line 8, which runs from Nuevos Ministerios to Barajas Airport T4, linking the city with the airport in about 20 minutes.

You can use the Madrid metro lines to go around the city center, to go to the main shopping and tourist areas such as Gran Via and Sol, to transport hubs such as Atocha station, and also to move to nearby towns.

How much does the metro cost in Madrid?

Madrid metro tickets are charged on the Tarjeta Multi, a rechargeable card to use public transport in the capital. The cost of the card is 2,5€, and you can buy it in the machines of the Metro.

A single ticket on the Madrid metro costs between 1.5€ for journeys of up to 5 stations, and 2€ if you travel 10 stations or more. A 10-trip ticket costs 12,20€, while a single ticket to or from the airport costs between 4,5€ and 5€.

There is also an unlimited tourist ticket to move around Madrid, which costs between € 8.40 for the 1-day rate to € 35.40 for 7 days, in the A fare zone of the metro, the most central.

Tips on how to move by metro in Madrid

• Look at the complete line route: it does not matter the beginning and end, but the stops.
• An unwritten rule: on escalators, it is advisable to stand on the right to let people pass on the other side.
• Although some do it automatically, many subway doors must be pressed to open.
• Don’t miss the last metro! Madrid metro schedules on weekdays and holidays are from 6:05 am to 2:00 am, but the last train may pass before closing time.
• Some trains do not make the complete route at certain times of the day, so you must be attentive to the warnings on the illuminated signs.
• Children up to 4 years old travel free and children under 11 years old pay 50% of the tourist ticket.
• Make a rough estimate of the routes you will use during your trip to choose the right ticket. For example, if you are staying in the city for a few days and you are not going to use the metro much, you should buy a 10-trip ticket. If you are going to use the metro a lot in a weekend, maybe it is better to buy a 2-day tourist ticket.

Are you planning your next trip to Madrid? Now you know how to get around the city by metro, which will allow you to get everywhere!

If you still don’t have accommodation, SmartRental has holiday apartments in the best areas of the city: Gran Vía, Puerta del Sol, La Latina, Atocha and Chueca. All the places you want to visit are at your fingertips from our comfortable and modern rental apartments in the center of Madrid, close to the main metro stations.

Choose an area and an apartment to your liking and book your stay in Madrid with SmartRental, we are waiting for you!