After you move to Madrid and find an apartment, you must learn how to travel around the city. Madrid has an excellent and cheap public transit network.
This guide explains how to use the underground metro, city buses, and suburban trains.
Understand the transit network
The public transit network is managed by the Consorcio Regional de Transportes de Madrid (CRTM). The system is clean, fast, and covers the entire metropolitan area.
There are three main modes of public transit:
- Metro de Madrid: The underground subway system. It has 12 colored lines, one branch line (Ramal), and three light rail lines (Metro Ligero).
- EMT Madrid: The red city buses. They run over 200 routes during the day and night.
- Cercanías: The suburban train network operated by Renfe. These trains connect the city center with surrounding towns.
Transit zones explained
The Madrid transit network is divided into eight concentric zones. The zone system determines the price of your ticket.
These are the zones:
- Zone A: Covers the municipality of Madrid, including the city center. Almost all tourist sites and major expat areas are here.
- Zones B1, B2, and B3: Cover suburban municipalities like Alcobendas, Pozuelo, and Alcalá de Henares.
- Zones C1 and C2: Cover towns further away from the city center, such as Aranjuez and El Escorial.
- Zones E1 and E2: Cover cities in neighboring regions, such as Toledo and Guadalajara.
If you travel across zones, you must buy a ticket that covers your entire journey.
Choose your ticket card
Madrid has phased out paper tickets. You must load all tickets and passes onto a contactless smart card.
There are two main cards:
Tarjeta Multi
The Tarjeta Multi is a red, anonymous card for public use. It costs €2.50 to purchase.
You can buy it at Metro ticket machines and licensed tobacco shops (estancos). Multiple people can share one card if they travel together.
Tarjeta Personal
The Tarjeta Personal Publica is a personal transport card. It contains your name and photo.
It costs €4.00 to issue. You cannot share this card. You must use this card to load monthly or annual passes.
Ticket types and costs
The cost of public transit depends on the ticket type and zones you select.
Here are the standard ticket options:
Single tickets
A single ticket on the Metro de Madrid costs between €1.50 and €2.00, depending on the stations. A single ride on an EMT bus costs €1.50.
Metrobús (10-trip ticket)
The Metrobús card loads 10 rides for Zone A. It costs €12.20.
It is valid on all Metro stations in Zone A and all EMT city buses. You can share this ticket with other people.
Monthly pass (Abono Mensual)
The monthly pass offers unlimited travel within your chosen zones for 30 days.
| Pass type | Covered zones | Price per month |
|---|---|---|
| Abono Joven (Under 26) | All zones (A to E2) | €20.00 |
| Abono Normal A (26 to 64) | Zone A | €54.60 |
| Abono Normal B1 | Zone A and B1 | €63.70 |
| Abono Normal B2 | Zones A, B1, and B2 | €72.00 |
| Abono de la Tercera Edad (Over 65) | All zones | Free |
Apply for a personal transport card
You can request your personal card online or in person. You need this card to buy monthly passes.
Document checklist
Ensure you have the following items before applying:
- Application form : Fill out the digital form on the CRTM portal.
- Passport or TIE : Bring your original document and a photocopied page. TIE card explained
- Color photo : A recent passport-sized color photograph.
- Payment : Credit card or cash to pay the €4.00 issuing fee.
Apply online
Go to the official CRTM website. Upload your photo and a copy of your identification document.
Pay the €4.00 fee with a credit card. The card will arrive at your address in 7 to 10 business days.
Apply in person
You must book an appointment online at a Oficina de Gestión de la Tarjeta Transporte Público.
Bring your documents to the appointment. The officer will print your card immediately.
How to buy and load tickets
You must load tickets onto your card before you travel.
Metro ticket machines
You can buy and load tickets at any Metro ticket machine. The machines accept cash, credit cards, and contactless payments.
Select your language on the screen. Tap your card on the red reader.
Choose the ticket type and pay. Keep the card on the reader until the transaction is complete.
Tobacco shops
You can load tickets at licensed tobacco shops (estancos). Look for the red sign with a tobacco leaf.
Hand your card to the clerk and ask to load your desired ticket. You can pay with cash or card.
Mobile application
You can use the official Tarjeta Transporte app to load tickets. Your phone must have NFC enabled.
Open the app and scan your card against the back of your phone. Select your ticket and pay. Scan the card again to load the balance.
Validate your ticket
You must validate your card every time you enter a station or board a bus.
Riding the Metro
Tap your card on the green reader at the entry gates. The gate will open and show your remaining balance.
You do not need to tap your card when you exit the Metro. The exit gates open automatically.
Riding EMT buses
Board the bus through the front door. Tap your card on the reader next to the driver.
You cannot board a bus without a valid ticket.
Riding Cercanías trains
Tap your card on the reader at the entry gates. You must also tap your card at the exit gates when you leave.
The Cercanías system uses tap-out validation to calculate fares across zones.
Accessing the airport
Madrid-Barajas Airport is well connected to the public transit network. You can reach the terminals using the Metro or Cercanías trains.
Metro Line 8
Metro Line 8 (pink line) runs from Nuevos Ministerios directly to the airport. It has two separate stops at the airport.
The first station serves terminals T1, T2, and T3. The second station serves terminal T4.
Remember that you need to pay a special €3.00 airport surcharge to enter or exit these stations. You can load this surcharge onto your Tarjeta Multi.
Cercanías train lines C-1 and C-10
You can take the Cercanías train lines C-1 or C-10 from the city center to terminal T4. The trains stop at major stations like Atocha, Chamartín, and Príncipe Pío.
A single train ticket to the airport costs €2.60. You do not need to pay an airport surcharge when using the Cercanías trains.
If you arrive at terminal T4, use the free shuttle bus to reach other terminals.
Night bus services (Búhos)
The Metro and Cercanías trains close at 1:30 AM. If you need to travel after this time, you must use the night bus network.
These buses are commonly called Búhos (owls). All night bus lines start with the letter ‘N’.
Fares and routes
There are 28 night bus routes in Madrid. Almost all of these routes start and end at Plaza de Cibeles in the city center.
During the week, buses run every 35 minutes from 11:55 PM to 5:10 AM. On weekends and eves of public holidays, they run every 15 to 20 minutes.
The fare is the same as the daytime bus. You can use a single ticket for €1.50 or a ride from your Metrobús 10-trip card.
Rules and fines on public transit
Ticket inspectors check cards regularly. Always follow the network rules.
Travelling without a ticket
If you travel without a valid ticket, you will receive a fine. The standard fine is €80.
Example: You travel with an unvalidated card. The inspector issues an €80 fine. If you pay on the spot, the fine is reduced to €40.
Rules for dogs
Dogs are allowed on the Metro de Madrid under strict conditions.
You must follow these rules:
- You can only travel with one dog.
- The dog must wear a muzzle and a short leash.
- You must travel in the last car of the train.
- You cannot travel during peak hours on weekdays.
Peak hours are from 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM, 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, and 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Rules for bicycles
Bicycles are allowed on the Metro. You do not need to pay extra.
You can travel with a bicycle at any time on weekends and holidays. On weekdays, you cannot bring a bicycle during morning and evening peak hours.
Questions and answers
Can I pay for my fare with a bank card?
Yes, but only on buses. You can tap your contactless debit card or phone on EMT buses. You cannot do this on the Metro or Cercanías gates yet.
What is the airport surcharge?
A special fee to travel to Barajas airport. If you use Metro Line 8 to go to Airport T1-T2-T3 or T4, you must pay a €3.00 surcharge. Monthly pass holders do not pay this fee.
Can I share my Tarjeta Multi with other people?
Yes. You can tap the card once for yourself, pass it to your friend, and tap it again. You can only do this with single and 10-trip tickets, not monthly passes.
What should I do if I lose my personal transit card?
You must request a duplicate. Go to a CRTM office or apply online for a replacement. It costs €6.00, and your remaining pass balance will transfer to the new card.
Do children need a ticket to travel?
Maybe. Children under 4 years old travel for free on all transit. Children between 4 and 6 years old need a free Tarjeta Infantil to travel.
Can I use my Madrid card in Barcelona?
No. The Madrid transit card is only valid within the Community of Madrid. Barcelona and other Spanish cities use their own transit networks and ticketing systems.
