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Transport in Madrid
Getting
here
By plane
Madrid’s Barajas Airport, code MAD, is located around
15 km (9 miles) from the capital’s city center. This
airport is fast developing into a major hub on an international
scale and handles over 25 million passengers a year. There
are several convenient connections from the airport into the
city:
-
Hopping on a bus: every 15 minutes a number
89 bus leaves the airport headed for Plaza de Colón.
The trip lasts for an approximate 30 minutes and the fare
is around € 2.40.- Another option is taking a number
101 bus to the Canillejas station.
-
Flagging a taxi: depending on the traffic,
the taxi ride into town will last you between 20 to 40 minutes.
Fares are charged using a taximeter and will cost you around
€ 20.-
-
Taking the metro: the airport terminal
has direct access to the Madrid metro system. There is also
a METRO Information Stand where any questions or doubts
you may have will be cleared up and where you can obtain
a map of the metro system. The service runs continually
and the ride into town lasts around 12 minutes.
-
Renting a car: at the terminal are various
car rental agencies, such as Budget, Europcar, Nacional,
Internet and Herz. From the airport you’ll have to
take the nacional motorway N100, then the N2 access and
finally the M30 or M40 motorways to reach Madrid’s
city center.
By car
The most common access by road into Madrid
is from France with the main access route at the eastern end
of the Pyrenees. Two options are available: the express highway,
the E-15, or the more scenic costal road.
By train or bus
an interesting option for those interested in enjoying the
Spanish and French countryside on the way. The train is still
the more comfortable and faster option. Many private companies
offer services from Madrid to other European cities although
usually connections are required in France.
Getting around:
In Madrid there are several means of transport
to get you around town, namely the subway network, the bus
service and the train. Taking a taxi or renting a moped is
also an option. Bikes are not that common here as in other
European cities...and given the chaotic traffic it is really
no wonder.
Metro: In total, the metro
network connects 161 stations. Trains run every 3 to 5 minutes
from 6 am to 1:30 am. The fare costs around €1.15.
Bus: Madrid has a total of
170 bus lines servicing the city and the outer suburban areas.
Schedules and frequency vary according to times and areas
being serviced. Buses generally run between 6 am and 11:45
pm. Around 25 bus lines run during night hours.
Trains: The commuter trains
are another transport option. Run by the state company RENEFE,
trains run from Atocha and Chamartín stations and reach
many great sightseeing destinations as well as the airport.
The service runs every 3 to 5 minutes from 6 am to 11 pm.
If you’re keen on using the public transport
system more frequently, it may be a good idea to get a “Diez
Viaje“ or a ten-ride ticket for around €5 that
is valid for both buses and the metro. Another possibility
is purchasing an „Abono Turístico“ –
with this special ticket you will have access to various means
of transport for a certain period of time without having to
pay the fare each time you climb on a bus or take the subway.
Taxi: Official taxis in Madrid are white
with a diagonal red stripe and the city shield on the door.
Taxis are very convenient to get around town in but remember
that the meter keeps running!
Rental cars: many important rental car companies
have agencies in Madrid. Having a car at your disposal is
a convenient option although you may have to get used to the
somewhat chaotic traffic behaviour. Parking can also be an
issue.
Roller Blading: a fun way of getting around
Madrid if you have the time and the energy is sporting a pair
of roller blades...you’ll get plenty of exercise and
at least parking won’t be a problem! But hectic traffic
conditions don’t really make this the best option.
Our Spanish Language School in Madrid
is ideally situated so that students are just minutes away
from the city's means of public transport.
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