Urban transportation
Madrid has one of the best public transportation systems in Europe. It is not only fast, but also quite inexpensive. You can either use the underground “metro” or the surface bus system.
The program pays for an unilmited monthly transportation pass during your stay.
A ten ride metro/bus tickets costs 9,30 € and can be shared for travel by more than one person on a journey. Single ride tickets are 1€.
METRO
Madrid’s metro system is inexpensive, extensive and efficient. The metro is made up of 12 lines and covers most of the city and runs from 6:00 a.m to 1:30 a.m daily.
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CITY BUSES
Madrid’s extensive bus services consist of over 150 lines that reach virtually every corner of the city and outskirts. Although the buses tend to take longer to reach their destination than the metro, they cover a larger area of the city, and you get to see where you’re going.
The buses run every 10 or 15 minutes (depending on the time of the day) from 06:00 to 23:30.
Madrid also has
late night buses called buhos (“owls”) which run every 20 minutes starting at midnight from Plaza Cibeles (near Puerta del Sol in downtown Madrid) and following the approximate layout of the metro lines on the weekends.
Single ride tickets are the same price as for the metro and you can use your monthly transportation pass.
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Travel outside Madrid
TRAINS
Trains in Spain are all run by one company, called RENFE and they are extensive and well operated. Most common trains are called “Talgos” and will take you quickly from one city to another.
We also have a
bullet train, the “AVE,” between Madrid-Toledo, Madrid-Córdoba, Madrid-Sevilla, Madrid-Valladolid, Madrid-Málaga, Madrid-Valencia, Madrid-Zaragoza-Barcelona... Tickets on the AVE are more expensive than on regular lines, but you will save time.
Main train stations (train access and tickets):
Estación Atocha (Metro Atocha Renfe)
Estación Chamartín (Metro Chamartín)
Trains destined to Sevilla, Barcelona, Málaga and Valencia, for example, depart from Atocha station, while trains heading to the San Sebastián and Valladolid depart from Charmartín. Check the RENFE website to find out which station services your destination.
Making reservations: 902 240 202 (24 hours)/902 243 402 (International Info).
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BUSES
Unlike trains in Spain, they are many different bus companies, which services different routes. The first step to travelling by bus is to determine which company services your destination. You can use this website to figure out which company offers a bus to your destionation:
www.movelia.es
Once you have determined the bus company, you can go to their website to look at times and fares.
Main bus station:
Estación Sur
Tel: 914 684 200
Metro: Méndez Alvaro
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shuttle service
Aeorcity-Hotel-airport/airport-hotel All vehicles are provided with air conditioning and telephone.
Estimate price: 25 € (depending on number of passengers)
Tel: 917 477 570 (Terminal 1 - sala 2)
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Mad Shuttle
Estimate price: 25 € (depending on number of passengers)
Tel: 911 251 007
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AIR
To get to Barajas airport take either an airport bus (2.50€ one way leaving from Intercambiador Avenida de América) , the metro Line 8 (1.15€) from Nuevos Ministerios to Aeropuerto T1-T2-T3, (2.15€) to Aeropuerto T4 or take a cab (from 20€ to 30€). There is also a express bus to the airport. See below:
Express bus to the airport. Price: 2€. Bus leaves from Atocha Intercambiador and stops at Plaza de Cibeles, O’Donnell, Terminal 1 (Departures), Terminal 2 (Departures) and Terminal 4.
Departing from Atocha from 6:00 am to 23:30 pm every 15 minutes.
Departing from Cibeles from 23:30 pm to 6:00 am every 35 minutes.
For airline companies check:
American Airlines
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British Airways
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Iberia
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Advantage Travel (Syracuse)
SallyCurtis
Susan Gordon
For cheap flights check:
Vueling
Kayak
Ryanair
Skyscanner
Sidestep
Rumbo
Easyjet
Learning how to get around Madrid and its neighboring provinces is essential to truly enjoy your time abroad. But do not worry, traveling around Madrid is simple. However, if you are not from a city with a complex transportation system such as New York, it is here traveling along with the locals where you may experience the most culture shock...
