A Comprehensive Guide to the Madrid Metro

The idea of public transportation can be daunting, especially if you aren’t accustomed to it. Even if you’re a frequent traveler, every city has its own system, which makes it even more confusing. Madrid is no exception; though I lived in London for a semester, the Madrid Metro is different from the London Underground in a lot of ways.

When I’m with a group of friends, I usually become the official trip navigator. My favorite app, Citymapper, helps with this important job. But I like to think I’ve got a good handle on public transportation in general. (Now, the Barcelona Metro? That’s another story. Despite my mastery of most metro systems, I managed to end up on the wrong train not once, but TWICE in three days.)

For anyone planning a visit to Madrid, I’ve put together a comprehensive guide to the metro.

First of all, a couple of fun facts about the Madrid Metro. (I think they’re fun, you might not.)

• 2019 was the centennial anniversary of the Madrid Metro system! Yep, it first opened in 1919.
• It’s the second largest metro network in Europe (after London) and 14th-largest in the world.
• All trains drive on the left side of the track; cars in Spain drove on the left until 1924, after the metro started operating.
• With 1,710 escalators, it boasts more escalators than any other metro system in the world.
• Some underground stations host museums or sometimes even events.

Madrid Metro Map (updated August 2024)

Madrid Metro Lines

As you can see, there are 12 main lines serving Madrid, and 11 of them are all or mostly in Zone A. The lines don’t have specific names; they are just numbered with a designated color.

Linea 1: Pinar de Chamartín-Valdecarros
Linea 2: Las Rosas-Cuatro Caminos
Linea 3: Villaverde Alto-Moncloa
Linea 4: Argüelles-Pinar de Chamartín
Linea 5: Alameda de Osuna-Casa de Campo
Linea 6: Circular*
Linea 7: Hospital de Henares-Pitis
Linea 8: Nuevos Ministerios-Aeropuerto (Barajas)
Linea 9: Paco de Lucia-Arganda del Rey
Linea 10: Hospital Infanta Sofia-Puerta del Sur
Linea 11: Plaza Eliptica-La Fortuna
Linea 12: MetroSur

*Since Line 6/Circular doesn’t have a designated start or end point, signs in the metro station will say either “Anden 1” or “Anden 2” to denote which direction that train is traveling.

Most tourists in Madrid will probably use Line 1 and Line 2 within the city, and Line 8 and Line 10 when traveling to/from the airport.

Madrid Metro Zones

Though there are additional zones, the Madrid metro covers zones A to B3. You can see on the map above that there are varying “rings” radiating out from the city center. In Zone A, it’s the cheapest to travel; as you get farther outside of Zone A, it gets more expensive. If you’re just visiting Madrid, it’s unlikely you would need to venture outside of Zone A, which is a good thing for you! For this reason, when you scan your ticket to enter the metro, you won’t have to scan out unless you’re in one of these other zones. If your ticket doesn’t cover that fare, you’ll be asked to pay a bit extra before exiting.

Again, for tourists this situation isn’t very likely. The only exception is when going to the airport via metro; there is an additional airport transit fee that must be paid upon arrival.

Tickets and Passes

For tourists, by far the best deal is the 10-use pass. For €12.20 (plus a €2.50 new card fee the first time), you can get 10 trips within Zone A. And you can reload it as many times as you want or need! Another great thing is that you can share this card with your travel companions. So two people, for example, can use the same card. Scan it at the turnstile, the first person walks through, hand it back to the second person, scan it, and walk through. If you don’t plan on taking the metro too much, this is a great option.

*Note: For some reason, there seems to be a 50% discount running through June 30, 2025. Which means loading 10 trips on your metro card should only cost €6.10 instead of €12.20! If you find this to be the case for sure, let me know — I won’t be back in Madrid until February.

If you’re going to be in Madrid for a longer time — studying abroad, for example — you’ll want to buy an abono, which is an unlimited metro pass for a set price. If you’re 25 or under, you qualify for the abono joven, which means you’re basically one of the luckiest people alive. For €20 per month, you get unlimited travel between all zones in Madrid. As someone who takes the metro sometimes 3x a day, this is a crazy good deal.

If you’re 26 or older, there are different abonos available, depending on which zones you travel to frequently. The cheapest ticket — staying within Zone A only — is €54.60. See the full chart here.

You can apply for an abono online or in-person at one of the offices, at larger stations marked on the map with a red rectangle and “Public Transport Card Office.” I believe if you apply in person, you get your card immediately (though you must make an appointment); if you apply online, it takes about 2 weeks to receive your card in the mail.

Learn more about applying in person and scheduling an appointment here or apply online here.

Logistics

Some metro stations are huge and may have many different entrances/exits. Some have very long walking distances between them when changing lines. You can see that in the map above – stations such as Nuevos Ministerios and Núñez de Balboa are examples. (And Núñez de Balboa just happens to be my least favorite metro station ever for just this reason.) Once you’re inside the station, most of the time, it’s pretty easy to follow the signs to where you need to go. And any travel app you’re using can usually help with that! I’m not sure about others, but Citymapper will even tell you which exit to take.

Most of the trains I’ve been on are really nice; it’s easy to tell which ones are new. Overhead, there will usually be an announcement about the next station: “Proxima estación: Avenida de América. Correspondencia con lineas 4, 6, 7, y 9.” (Next station: Avenida de América. Connections with Lines 4, 6, 7, and 9.) It’s always in Spanish only, unless you’re on Line 8, which goes to the airport — they’ll also say the same thing in English.

Just like in probably every transportation system in the world, it’s polite to offer your set to the elderly, disabled, pregnant, etc. You can ask someone whether they’d like to sit by simply saying, “Quieres sentarse?”

Safety in the Madrid Metro

This probably goes without saying, but in crowded metros/metro stations like Sol and Goya, make sure to keep an eye and a hand on your personal belongings. I’ve never felt unsafe or seen anything happen, but it’s always a good idea to be aware just in case. Luckily, there always seem to be plenty of station staff on hand, no matter the time of day or night.

Plan Your Visit To Madrid

Best Hotels in Madrid: Madrid Hotels

Things to Do in Madrid: Prado Museum Skip-the-Line // Reina Sofia Museum Skip-the-Line // Real Madrid Stadium Bernabeu Tour // Royal Palace Fast-Access Admission // Visit Segovia and Toledo

 

What else do you want to know about taking the metro in Madrid? Let me know in the comments!

-Cathy

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Originally Published on January 21, 2019.