# How do you get from Madrid-Barajas Airport to the city centre? > Madrid-Barajas to the centre: the €33 fixed taxi fare inside the M-30, the €5 Exprés Aeropuerto bus (24h), Metro Line 8 with a €3 supplement, or C-1 from T4. - Source: https://clevertourists.com/resources/madrid-airport-to-city-guide - Authors: Evan & Clara, Clever Tourists (first-hand, from years of travel across 20 countries) - Published: 2026-08-27 **From Madrid-Barajas, a taxi has a fixed fare of €33 to anywhere inside the M-30 ring road, which is the best value for two or more people; for one traveller, the €5 (≈ $5.6) Exprés Aeropuerto bus (24 hours) is the easiest and Metro Line 8 is the fastest to Nuevos Ministerios.** The Cercanías C-1 train is the cheapest at about €2.60 (≈ $2.9) but only serves Terminal 4. We spent about 4 days in Madrid in June 2022. Figures below come from 2026 guides and the city's fixed-fare rule as reported in 2026; the official Metro fare page would not load for us, so the Metro supplement is listed as approximate. ## Which terminal are you in? Barajas has four terminals (T1, T2, T3 and T4). The Metro station serves T1, T2 and T3 together (**Aeropuerto T1-T2-T3**) and a separate station serves **T4**. The Exprés bus and taxis serve all terminals. The Cercanías C-1 train is only at T4, so check your terminal before choosing. T4 is the long-haul terminal for Iberia and many Oneworld flights, and is 4 km from the other terminals. A free shuttle runs between terminals. ## Taxi: the fixed €33 fare Madrid's taxis charge a **fixed fare of €33 (≈ $37)** from the airport to any address inside the **M-30** ring road, 24 hours a day, with luggage included, according to 2026 guides citing the city council's rule. Outside the M-30 the meter applies. The ride takes about 20 to 30 minutes off-peak. Use the official taxi rank outside arrivals, white cars with a red diagonal stripe and the Madrid coat of arms on the door. Ask for the fixed airport fare if the driver reaches for the meter, and ask for a receipt. Uber, Cabify and Bolt cost roughly €25 to €40 (≈ $28–45) depending on demand and pick up at designated VTC points, not the taxi rank. ## Exprés Aeropuerto bus (24 hours) The yellow **Exprés Aeropuerto** (line 203) runs 24 hours at a flat **€5 (≈ $5.6)**, paid on board. By day it stops at all terminals, then runs via **O'Donnell**, **Cibeles** and on to **Atocha** in about 30 to 40 minutes, every 15 to 20 minutes. From about 23:30 to 06:00 it runs a shorter route between Cibeles and the airport, every 35 minutes. It is a good middle option for solo travellers, and the only public transport at night. Cibeles is steps from the Paseo del Prado and Retiro; Atocha links to trains to Toledo and other places, as in our [day trips from Madrid](https://clevertourists.com/resources/day-trips-from-madrid). ## Metro Line 8 and the airport supplement **Line 8** runs from the airport to **Nuevos Ministerios** in about 15 to 20 minutes, where it connects to lines 6, 10 and the Cercanías network. Hours are roughly 06:00 to 01:30. The airport station charges a **€3 (≈ $3.3) supplement** on top of the normal fare, so a single costs about €4.50 to €5 (≈ $5.0–5.6) in total; a combined ticket is listed around €6 (≈ $6.7). Metro de Madrid's own fare page was not available to read for this guide, so check the ticket machine at the station for the current supplement. To reach Sol or Gran Vía you change at Nuevos Ministerios (to line 10 or 6) and ride on. That is quick, but a lot of stairs with big bags. ## Cercanías C-1 from Terminal 4 If you land at **T4**, the **Cercanías C-1** train is the cheapest route at about **€2.60 (≈ $2.9)** with no airport supplement. It reaches **Chamartín** in about 12 minutes and **Atocha** in about 25 minutes, roughly every 30 minutes from 06:00 to midnight. Trains are not frequent, so check the board before you commit. For Atocha, you are well placed for the Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Retiro neighbourhood; for Chamartín you connect to trains to the north. See [where to stay in Madrid](https://clevertourists.com/resources/where-to-stay-in-madrid) before picking a base. ## Practical tips for the first hour Madrid is the starting point for many routes through Spain. If you are heading on to Toledo, Segovia or Ávila, the Exprés bus to Atocha or the C-1 from T4 gets you to the stations used for onward trains; see [day trips from Madrid](https://clevertourists.com/resources/day-trips-from-madrid). Watch for pickpocketing on the Metro near Sol and Atocha, and for unlicensed drivers offering rides in the terminal. Official taxis show a green light when free. Airport staff at the rank can confirm the fixed fare if a driver disputes it. ## Which option should you pick? Two or more people with luggage: the **fixed-fare taxi** (€33 (≈ $37) splits to €16.50 (≈ $18.4) each). One person arriving at T1-T3 and heading to Sol, Gran Vía or Atocha: the **Exprés bus**, then a short walk. Arriving at T4: **C-1**. Hotel in Chamberí, Nuevos Ministerios or Salamanca: **Metro Line 8**. After midnight: Exprés bus or taxi. Next, [how many days in Madrid](https://clevertourists.com/resources/how-many-days-in-madrid) and [what to eat in Madrid](https://clevertourists.com/resources/what-to-eat-in-madrid) help plan the first days, [tipping in Spain](https://clevertourists.com/resources/tipping-in-spain-restaurants-bars-propina-guide) covers taxis and bars, and the [Spain eSIM guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/spain-esim-for-tourists) covers data on arrival. ## Frequently asked questions ### How much is a taxi from Madrid airport to the centre? A fixed €33 to any address inside the M-30 ring road, 24 hours a day, per 2026 guides. Outside the M-30 the meter applies. ### Is there a night bus from Madrid airport? Yes. The Exprés Aeropuerto runs 24 hours at about €5 (≈ $5.6). From about 23:30 to 06:00 it runs a shorter route between the airport and Cibeles every 35 minutes. ### How much is the Madrid airport metro? Line 8 from the airport adds a €3 (≈ $3.3) supplement to the normal fare, so a single is about €4.50 to €5 (≈ $5.0–5.6) in total. It reaches Nuevos Ministerios in about 15 to 20 minutes. ### Does the train go to Madrid airport? Yes, but only to Terminal 4. The Cercanías C-1 costs about €2.60 (≈ $2.9) and reaches Chamartín in about 12 minutes and Atocha in about 25. ### Is Uber cheaper than a taxi from Madrid airport? Not reliably. Ride-hailing runs about €25 to €40 (≈ $28–45) depending on demand, while the taxi has a fixed €33 (≈ $37) inside the M-30.