See how to get from Madrid airport to the city center. There are many ways to get around and in this article you can include the best one in your travel planning. Take a look:
1. Getting from the airport to the center by car
This way of getting around Madrid is great for those who want to take advantage of their car rental and visit other tourist attractions in the city. Depending on the company you hire your car from, you can even pick it up at the airport and save money on the cab you’d have to take to get to your hotel.
With a car in Madrid, you also have the convenience of traveling wherever and whenever you want, which means you can also go on road trips to neighboring countries in Europe. So take a look at the tips below and make the most of it.
Book your car in advance
Make your reservation online as soon as possible, because a great tip to get a cheap car is to book as far in advance as possible and online. The earlier you book, the cheaper you’ll pay. It’s well worth it and you’ll save a lot with promotions, paying much less than renting a car on the spot.
Don’t rent a GPS in Madrid
Another good tip is not to rent a car with a GPS, as it costs a lot per day. Instead, you can buy a good chip, like the one we listed above, unblocked for international calls and with unlimited Internet. That way, you’ll be able to use the map and location apps with your own cell phone.
Use this incredible price comparator
There are some car rental price comparators in Madrid (and throughout Spain) that are sensational and search all the main car rental companies there, finding the best prices and excellent deals. We recommend one that you can use by going to the website and entering the date of your trip. It then searches for all the best car rental companies in Madrid.
If you want to do the search, click here on Car Rental Comparator. In just a few seconds, you’ll have all the options for renting a car in Madrid from the best companies on your screen, and you can choose the cheapest one. You really will save a lot.
More tips: prefer larger and reliable rental companies, such as Europcar, Budget and Avis. Take out basic insurance when booking, which is super important and is usually included in the price. But don’t fall for the companies who, when you pick up the car, try to push extra insurance that isn’t worth it.
2. Getting from the airport to the center by transfer
Now, if you’re not thinking of renting a car on your trip to Madrid, a safe and economical alternative is a transfer. This is nothing more than renting a vehicle for a specific journey, much like a cab, but which you book in advance.
The advantages of this service are many: you have an appointment with the driver, comfort and a lot of security as it is private transportation, especially if you have a lot of luggage. The first step to hiring a transfer service is to do some research. We really like this Transfer Finder, which is the largest transfer site in the world.
With it, you have three transfer options: one way directly from the airport to the hotel, one way from the hotel to the airport, or both (round trip). All you have to do on this site is enter the airport you’re arriving at and the destination you want to reach in Madrid, and that’s it.
3. Getting from the airport to the center by metro
The airport terminals in Madrid are joined by two metro stations, which are T2 and use metro line 8. The ticket costs around €2 and the service runs from 6am to 2am the next morning. This is a very interesting way to get to and from the city center, as it’s not only cheap, but it’s also fast and very popular.
4. Getting from the airport to the city center by bus
As with the previous alternative, the airport terminals are linked by two bus stations. One of them is the Airport Express Line bus, which runs all day and costs 2€. We highly recommend it, as not only is the fare very cheap, but the journey takes around 40 minutes.
5. Getting from the airport to the center by taxi
Finally, this option is the first that comes to mind when talking about getting around the city. However, the fare can cost up to €30, which is not worth it, especially if you’re traveling alone.
Extra tip: finding the fastest and cheapest route
Our top tip for seeing all the transport options from one city to another is to use this route finder. The site is sensational, as it shows you all the transportation options between one city and another.
It searches for all the plane, train and bus options, so you can buy the best and cheapest one for your trip. As well as being the leading service in Europe, the site has unbeatable prices.
Save money on your trip to Madrid:
Saving money: do you want to plan your trip while making the most of your budget? Be sure to read our article on how to travel to Madrid cheap, with all the tips to save the most, while still enjoying it!
Mobile chip: we always use this chip. It’s electronic (eSIM), you install it instantly and you can use your cell phone’s Internet anywhere in the world.
Hotels: our article on where to stay in Madrid. You will find out the best areas and how to save a lot on the hotel.
Travel insurance: medical care in another country is very expensive and it is extremely important to take out travel insurance for any trip abroad. This is the website we always take out our insurance on. Reliable and at a good price.
