Madrid: Transportation Options Based on your Mobility

Madrid offers many ways to get around the city, including underground (metro), bus, taxi/Uber. There are many pedestrian-friendly streets to get around on foot or wheels. In this post, we will cover your options of how to get to/from the airport, the main train station and how to get around Madrid itself. The goal is to help you decide the best transportation for enjoying Madrid based on your mobility level. As always, the links below are all the official transportation/location links unless otherwise noted.

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Getting to/from Airport:

The Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD) is northeast of the center of Madrid, about 12km away. Check-in for all flights and baggage claim is located at T4. There are 5 terminals in all, connected by a tram. You have several options for transportation based on your mobility level to get to Madrid from the airport. You can go by taxi, bus or combination of train and metro.

Photo featuring inside architecture of Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD)

Taxi

There is a €33 flat-fee for a taxi to/from T4 of the airport anywhere from the city center within the M-30 highway ring. Get a taxi from the official stand in front of T4 and confirm the flat rate before departing.

Metro

The metro to/from the airport runs from 6:30am to 2:00am. Metro line 8 gets you from the airport to the northern portion of the city in under 20 minutes. At Nuevos Ministerios, you would connect with metro lines 6 or 10 to get to your lodging. You can also connect there to several Cercanías trains that have stops throughout the city. The total trip would take 40-50 minutes depending on your destination and would cost €4.50 to €5 depending on your destination.

Bus

Madrid’s buses including those to/from the airport are accessible. Bus line 203 transports you between T4 Terminal and Cibeles (near the northwest corner of El Retiro Park) and Atocha train station in about 40 minutes. The cost is €5 one way. Buses depart every 15-35 minutes.

Getting to/from the Train Station

Lush tropical plants inside Madrid's Atocha train station

Atocha is Madrid’s main train station. If you are coming from Barcelona or cities in Southern Spain, you will arrive here. Atocha is multi-level, connected by escalators but elevators are also available. Atocha has connections to metro L1, all but one of the Cercanías train,s and multiple bus routes. It is within a 5-minute walk to Madrid’s modern art museum, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía.

Charmatín is Madrid’s secondary train station to the north. It connects travelers to Northern Spain and also Alicante. It is another major public transportation hub for the city. Both train stations offer step-free access and have accessible restrooms.

Getting around Madrid

Metro

Today, 70% of metro stations are step-free. By 2028, the goal is 84% . Currently, a single ticket costs €1.50-2 depending on distance. You can purchase single tickets, groups of 10 tickets, or there are tourist-specific day passes for the metro and buses. By 2026, you will be able to tap your credit/debit card instead of buying single tickets or a multi-use cards. There are 12 metro lines in Madrid. I used the metro pretty extensively the week I was there and never waited more than 5 minutes for a train.

The metro website offers a list of accessible stations, a metro map with accessible stations indicated, and real-time information about out-of-service escalators and elevators. See the links at the bottom of this post.

Train: Cercanías

In addition to the metro, Madrid has a series of regional/commuter trains that stop in many places in the city. These will be indicated with a C in front of the number rather than an M. Some of these trains share stops with the Metro. There are 9 lines and pending on where you are going, may be a quicker alternative for you as they have fewer stops in the city center. All but one train transfers through the Atocha train station. C10 connects to the airport. Cercanías is part of Renfe, Spain’s train company. A single ride costs €1.70 within city center. It is important to note that these are different tickets than the metro and bus tickets.

Note: there is also light rail in Madrid. Central Madrid and tourist sites are not accessed by the light rail so I will not cover it in this post. If you want to learn more, visit the official website.

Colorful Casa de las Bolas corner with bus on a sunny day in Madrid, Spain.

Buses

All buses run by Madrid’s EMT are fully accessible. They also offer priority seating for those with reduced mobility. They offer a pdf map of bus routes in relation to tourist sites.

Taxis

Madrid utilizes both taxis and ubers. Taxis will have a green light on top indicating they are available. There are taxis ranks throughout the city but you are also allowed to flag one down. Asociación Eurotaxi de Madrid has wheelchair accessible taxis you can book ahead of time. A full list of taxi companies is available on Madrid’s Official Tourism Website

Rental Cars

The least recommended transportation option for getting around Madrid, no matter your mobility level, is via rental car. You will have to largest choice of rental car companies at the airport and Atocha train station. It is highly recommended you drop off your rental car at one of these locations rather than trying to navigate and park in the city center. Parking and driving in the city center is highly restricted for non residents. If you do need a car while visiting Madrid, learn more from this post from Madrid Traveller.

A picturesque street in Madrid, Spain, showcasing greenery and urban life.

Walking

Madrid has a walk score of 100, making it a very pedestrian-friendly city. As sidewalks are well maintained and there are minimal cobblestones, it is an easier big city to get around with or without an assistive device. Learn more about traffic-free streets and plazas in our terrain post.