For price and convenience, the Madrid subway – also called Metro, can’t be beat. It has some 300+ stations throughout the city, so chances are there is a Metro station near where you want to go.
The best and easiest way to use the Metro is with the help of a map.
The Madrid subway is a fast, affordable way to get around the city. You’ll be traveling around like a local in no time!
How many lines has the Madrid subway?
The Madrid Metro comprises a total of 13 lines:
- 12 conventional lines, numbered 1 to 12.
- 1 branch line, known as the Ramal (R), which connects Ópera (Lines 2 and 5) to Príncipe Pío (Lines 6 and 10).
Each line is designated by a specific number and color, facilitating easy navigation throughout the network.
Additionally, the system includes 3 light rail lines, referred to as Metro Ligero, which extend the network’s reach to peripheral areas of the city.
This extensive network covers approximately 293 kilometers and serves 302 stations, making it one of the most comprehensive metro systems in Europe. The large majority of the lines cross the city center and most of them are intertwined, allowing you to arrange endless combinations.
List of the Madrid subway lines
The 12 Metro lines are:
- Line 1 (Light Blue Line). Pinar de Chamartín – Valdecarros
- Line 2 (Red Line). Las Rosas – Cuatro Caminos
- Line 3 (Yellow Line). Villaverde Alto – Moncloa
- Line 4 (Brown Line). Argüelles – Pinar de Chamartín
- Line 5 (Light Green Line). Alameda de Osuna – Casa de Campo
- Line 6 (Grey Line). Círcular
- Line 7 (Orange Line). Hospital del Henares – Pitis
- Line 8 (Pink Line). Nuevos Ministerios – Aeropuerto T4
- Line 9 (Purple Line). Paco de Lucía – Arganda del Rey
- Line 10 (Dark Blue Line). Hospital Infanta Sofía – Puerta del Sur
- Line 11 (Dark Green Line). Plaza Elíptica – La Fortuna
- Line 12 (Khaki Line). MetroSur
Again, there’s an additional short line, called Ramal, linking Opéra and Príncipe Pío.
Line 8 (pink) connects the city center with Madrid airport. Here you have all the details:
List of Madrid Metro Ligero lines
Apart from the subway, certain suburbs are connected to Madrid city center by Metro Ligero. The Metro Ligero de Madrid is a light rail tram system that has 3 lines with 38 stations.
The Metro Ligero lines are:
- Line ML1 (Light Blue Line). Pinar de Chamartín – Las Tablas
- Line ML2 (Purple Line). Colonia Jardín – Estación de Aravaca
- Line ML3 (Red Line). Colonia Jardín – Puerta de Boadilla
What are the Madrid Metro zones?
The Madrid subway system is organized into several fare zones to structure ticket pricing and manage the network’s extensive reach.
Here’s a breakdown of these zones:
Zone A
- This central zone encompasses the core of Madrid, covering the majority of the city’s main attractions, business districts, and densely populated areas.
- Most travelers, especially tourists like you, will find that journeys within Zone A suffice for accessing popular sites and destinations.
Zones B1, B2, and B3
- These zones represent concentric areas extending outward from Zone A, covering suburban neighborhoods and municipalities surrounding Madrid.
- Travelers venturing to the outskirts or specific suburban destinations will traverse these zones.
Zone T
- Zone T includes the entire geographical coverage of the Madrid Travel Tourist Pass, up to zone E2.
- Ideal for those planning to travel extensively throughout the Madrid region and into neighboring provinces.
How much are Madrid Metro tickets?
There are different types of subway tickets, and each has a different price.
If you’re taking the Metro, you’ll need a transport card with enough balance for your trip. Just make sure it’s loaded up before you hop on!
Are kids free on Madrid subway?
Once kids turn four, they’ll need a transport pass. But here’s some good news… You can get a child’s Public Transport Card (Tarjeta de Transport Público Infantil) for free if they’re between four and seven years old.
For more details about Madrid Metro prices, see the Metro de Madrid tickets page.
What are the different Madrid Metro passes?
Here is what I consider the most interesting possibilities among Madrid Metro passes for someone like you, visiting Madrid for a few days.
Multi Tarjeta (Multi Card)
The Madrid Multi Card (Tarjeta Multi) is a non-personal, contactless, rechargeable public transport card designed for use across Madrid’s extensive transit network.
You can can load various ticket types onto the card:
- A Billete sencillo (Single ticket) is valid for one trip in any bus, except the Airport Express one. You can only purchase them on board.
- The Metrobús is valid for 10 trips in the whole EMT network (bus), as well as in the subway network (Metro) and the Metro Ligero Line ML1 (Light Blue Line).
- The Airport supplement required for trips to or from airport stations.
- A Tourist Ticket that offers unlimited travel within selected zones for a set number of days. You can read more details in this complete guide.
The big advantage of the Madrid Multi Card is that it’s not personal, so anyone can use it. If you’re traveling in a group all of you can use the same Multi Card until you have no credit on it.
Madrid Travel Tourist Pass
Another option is to load a Madrid Travel Tourist Pass (Tourist Ticket or Billete Turístico) onto your Madrid Multi Card (Tarjeta Multi).
This pass allows you unlimited travel on all forms of public transport (subway, light rail, buses and trains) within Madrid and its region (comunidad autónoma).
The pass is available for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 days. However, keep in mind that it’s personal and non transferable.
This should be your choice if you intend to use the Metro (and the bus) massively, which is rather probable.
It’s also a best seller for day trips to Toledo, Aranjuez, Alcalá de Henares and El Escorial.
Always validate your Multi Card or Travel Tourist Pass. You can get a fine for being caught without a ticket.
Is there a Madrid subway map?
The Madrid Metro provides several maps to assist you in navigating its extensive network. You can access these maps on the official Metro de Madrid website:
- Schematic Map of the Subway Network: This map offers a clear, simplified view of all metro lines and stations, making it easy to plan your route.
- Touristic Map of the Metro Network: Designed for visitors, this map highlights key tourist attractions in relation to metro stations, helping travelers combine sightseeing with convenient transit options.
- Metro de Madrid Map with Cartographic Basis: For a more detailed perspective, this map overlays the metro network onto a geographic map of Madrid, providing context on station locations relative to city streets and landmarks.
These resources are available for download in PDF format, allowing for offline access during your travels. Additionally, physical copies of these maps are typically available at metro stations throughout Madrid.
For real-time navigation and updates, consider using Metro de Madrid (available in iOS and Android) or Citymapper (available in iOS and Android), which offers interactive maps, service alerts, and route planning features to enhance your transit experience.
By utilizing these tools, you can efficiently navigate Madrid’s metro system and explore the city with confidence.
What are the Madrid Metro working hours?
The trains run from 06:00 to 01:30 all year round, with the last trains departing their respective terminal stations around 01:30. This is valid except for the Pitis station on Line 7 (Orange Line), the section between Puerta de Arganda-Arganda del Rey on Line 9 (Purple Line) and accesses with special opening hours.
Please note that during public holidays, such as Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, the Metro may operate on adjusted schedules. For instance, on December 24, services typically conclude earlier, while on December 25, operations commence later in the morning. You should check for specific holiday schedules in advance.
What is the Madrid subway train frequency?
As a general guide the trains arrive every 2 to 4 minutes during working hours. At weekends and in the evening they are less frequent, and you may have to wait up to 10 or 15 minutes, depending on the time.
On most journeys, you’ll have to change lines at least once. Even if you have to change twice, trains arrive and depart so frequently, and operate so fast, that this shouldn’t be a problem.
Nevertheless, the walk between lines can be long (up to 15 minutes), particularly in some large stations such as Sol, Nuevos Ministerios or Avenida de América.
How to go to or from Madrid Airport by Metro
The Madrid subway is one of the many alternatives you can use to reach or exit the Madrid Airport.
The Madrid Airport Subway is a super convenient and budget-friendly way to get from the airport to the city center. It runs on Metro Line 8 (Pink Line) and connects Madrid-Barajas Airport to Nuevos Ministerios, a key transport hub in the city.
Apart from the information below, you can also read a full tutorial on using the Madrid Airport Metro.
And if you need more information on how to exit or reach Madrid Airport, you have two complete tutorials on the subject that will guide you step by step:
How the subway services of MAD Airport work
There are two subway stations at the airport:
- One at Terminal 2 (T2) – serves passengers from T1, T2, and T3.
- One at Terminal 4 (T4) – located underground.
Metro Line 8 (Pink Line) operates daily from 06:05 to 01:33. The ride takes about 15 minutes from T2 and 20 minutes from T4. Trains run every 6-8 minutes during the day and every 15 minutes late at night.
However, keep in mind that to reach Madrid’s historic center, you’ll need to transfer at Nuevos Ministerios to another metro line.
Tickets & prices
To ride the Madrid subway, you need to buy a Multi Card (2.50€). This acts like a digital wallet where you load your tickets.
The one-way fare from the airport to the city is between 4.50€ and 5€. This price includes:
- A base metro ticket (1.50€ for up to 5 stops, with small surcharges for extra stops).
- A fixed airport supplement fee (€3).
For longer stays, you might want a multi-ride ticket:
- 10-trip Metrobús ticket (6.10€ for Zone A), but the airport fee not included.
- A Tourist pass (valid for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 7 days), which is best if you’ll be using public transport a lot. These include the airport fee, so you don’t pay extra.
Tickets can be purchased from automatic vending machines at Madrid Metro stations or at tourist information desks.
Drawbacks of using the Madrid subway to/from the airport
- Limited baggage space on trains.
- Some stations lack elevators, so be prepared if you have heavy luggage.
- Clear signage helps you find the metro easily.
- Barajas Station is NOT inside the airport, even though it’s on the same metro line.
If you’re traveling light and want an affordable, quick way to get from Madrid Airport to the city, the metro is a great choice. It’s cheap, runs frequently, and gets you to the city center in about 15-20 minutes.
Just be ready to transfer lines if your final stop is deeper in the city!
