Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas (MAD)
MAD has four terminals. T1-T3 are close together; T4 (and T4S) is a separate building 3 km away, connected by free shuttle. Most international flights use T1 or T4. The fixed taxi fare of €30 applies to all terminals.
Metro Line 8 to Nuevos Ministerios: €4.50-5 (including airport supplement), 15 min. Cercanías C1 train from T4 to Atocha: €2.60, 25 min.
Airport Express bus to Atocha station: €5, 30-40 min. Runs 24 hours (night route to Cibeles). EMT bus 200 to Avenida de América: €1.50.
Madrid taxis have a fixed airport fare of €30 to anywhere within the M-30 ring road. Honest, regulated, and good value. Pre-booking only makes sense for groups.
Kiwitaxi — Fixed pricing with vehicle choice. Useful for groups needing minivans or for transfers to Toledo/Segovia.
GetTransfer — Bids from €22 to central Madrid. Can beat the €30 fixed taxi fare.
Read full GetTransfer review →
Uber and Cabify both work well at MAD. Designated pickup zone at T4. Pricing is competitive with taxis during normal hours.
Metro Line 8 (12 min to Nuevos Ministerios, €4.50-6.00) is fast and frequent. Runs until 1:30am. One of Europe's best airport metro connections.
The €30 fixed fare: Madrid's transparent fixed taxi fare of €30 from the airport to anywhere within the M-30 ring road is one of Europe's best deals. It covers most tourist areas including Gran Vía, Sol, Retiro, and Salamanca. Destinations outside the M-30 use the meter.
T4 vs T1-T3: Terminal 4 is a separate building, 3 km from the main terminal complex. A free shuttle bus connects them (15 min). If you're connecting between terminals, allow extra time. Most intercontinental flights use T4.
Late-night Madrid: Spain runs on a late schedule — dinner at 10pm is normal. But public transport does stop (metro closes at 1:30am). Night buses (búhos) run from Cibeles square. For late airport arrivals, the Airport Express bus runs 24 hours.
| Service | Price range | Standout feature | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome Pickups | €35–50 | In-terminal meet-and-greet, free child seats | Check price → |
| Kiwitaxi | €25–40 | Wide vehicle selection, transparent pricing | Check price → |
| GetTransfer | €20–35 | Bidding system — often cheapest | Check price → |
| intui.travel | €22–38 | Shared transfers, budget groups | Check price → |
Prices for a sedan (up to 3 passengers). GetTransfer prices are typical winning bids. See our full comparison for Madrid for detailed pricing by route.
Currency: EUR (€). ATMs are available in all airport terminals.
Language: Spanish (moderate English at airport) Having your hotel address saved on your phone (screenshot or Google Maps pin) is always helpful for drivers.
Tipping: Not customary in Spain. Rounding up by €1-2 is generous.
Safety: Madrid has a transparent fixed taxi fare of €30 from the airport to anywhere within the M-30 ring road. Taxis are white with a red diagonal stripe.
SIM / connectivity: Spanish SIM cards from Movistar, Orange, or Vodafone at MAD. EU roaming free for EU residents.
Tip 1: Madrid's €30 fixed taxi fare is excellent value — one of Europe's cheapest airport taxis. Pre-booking is mainly worthwhile for groups.
Tip 2: The Metro is fast (12 min) and cheap (€4.50). Best for solo travelers heading to central Madrid.
Tip 3: MAD Terminal 4 (T4) is separate from T1-T3. If flying Iberia, you're probably at T4. Confirm your terminal.
Tip 4: For day trips to Toledo or Segovia, transfer services offer competitive return packages.
See how Welcome Pickups, Kiwitaxi, GetTransfer, and intui.travel compare for Madrid airport routes.
Compare all 4 services for this city →Traveling through the region? Check our airport transfer guides for these nearby cities:
Travel tip
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