Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport

Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez Airport (MAD) is Spain's largest and busiest airport, serving as the primary hub for Iberia and the main gateway to Latin America from Europe. Located 12 km northeast of Madrid's city center, the airport handles over 60 million passengers annually.

The airport has four terminals divided into two separate complexes:

• T1, T2, T3 (older complex): Connected landside and handle a mix of carriers. T1 serves non-Schengen flights, T2 handles Schengen destinations, and T3 is used for regional and charter flights.
• T4 and T4S (satellite): The modern showpiece terminals designed by Richard Rogers, opened in 2006. Iberia and oneworld alliance partners operate from here. T4S is a satellite building connected to T4 by an underground automated train.

Critical note: T1-T2-T3 and T4 are not connected airside or by walkway. A free shuttle bus runs between the two complexes (about 10-15 minutes). Plan accordingly for connections.

T4's distinctive architecture features a wave-like bamboo ceiling and extensive natural lighting, making it one of Europe's most impressive airport terminals.

MAD is located 12 km (7.5 miles) northeast of central Madrid. Journey times to the city center:

Method	Time to Center	Cost
Metro Line 8	25-35 min	~€6
Express Bus	30-40 min	€5
Taxi	20-30 min	€33 flat rate
Cabify/Bolt	20-30 min	€25-40

Traffic on the A-2 motorway can be heavy during rush hours (8-10 AM, 6-9 PM). Public transit is reliable and avoids traffic.

Important: Uber does not operate in Spain. Use these alternatives:

Cabify is the main rideshare app in Spain:

• Download the Cabify app before arrival
• Pickup points at all terminals (follow "VTC" signs)
• Typical fare to city center: €25-40
• Payment through app (card required)

Bolt is another rideshare option with similar pricing.

Official Taxis (white cars with red diagonal stripe):

• Flat rate to central Madrid: €33 (includes supplements for airport, luggage)
• Flat rate covers destinations within the M-30 ring road
• Destinations outside M-30 use the meter
• Taxi ranks outside all terminal arrivals, 24/7
• Journey time: 20-30 minutes (longer in traffic)

Tips:

• Only use official taxis from designated ranks
• Confirm the flat rate before departure
• The €33 rate is per taxi, not per person

Metro Line 8 (Recommended)

The Madrid Metro provides direct access from all terminals to the city center.

Fare: €6 total (€1.50-2.00 standard fare + €3 airport supplement)

Stations at MAD:

• Aeropuerto T4: Serves T4/T4S
• Aeropuerto T1-T2-T3: Serves T1, T2, and T3

Journey time: 25-35 minutes to central Madrid

Key connections:

• Nuevos Ministerios (12-15 min): Transfer to Lines 6, 10, and Cercanías trains
• Colombia (10 min): Transfer to Line 9
• Mar de Cristal (8 min): Transfer to Line 4

How to take the Metro from T4:

1. Follow signs to "Metro" after exiting arrivals
2. Purchase a single ticket or tourist pass at machines (accept cards)
3. Take Line 8 toward "Nuevos Ministerios"
4. Transfer at Nuevos Ministerios for most central destinations

Operating hours: 6:00 AM to 1:30 AM

Note: The airport supplement applies to all journeys starting or ending at airport stations.

Express Bus (Línea Exprés Aeropuerto)

24-hour express bus service to Atocha station:

• Route: T1 → T2 → T4 → Atocha (central train station)
• Fare: €5 (pay driver or contactless)
• Duration: 30-40 minutes
• Frequency: Every 15-20 minutes (daytime), every 35 minutes (night)
• Night service: 11:30 PM to 6:00 AM, runs to Cibeles instead of Atocha

Stops at MAD: T1 (arrivals), T2 (arrivals), T4 (arrivals level)

The Express Bus is the only 24-hour public transit option and connects to Atocha for high-speed AVE trains.

MAD offers extensive parking across all terminals:

Terminal Parking (Closest)

Lot	Location	Daily Rate	Notes
P1	Terminal 1	From €24/day	2-min walk
P2	Terminal 2	From €24/day	2-min walk
P3	Terminal 3	From €24/day	2-min walk
P4	Terminal 4	From €24/day	2-min walk

Long-Stay Parking

Lot	Daily Rate	Access
Long Stay T1-T2-T3	From €12/day	Free shuttle
Long Stay T4	From €12/day	Free shuttle

Tips:

• Book online at aena.es for significant savings (up to 50%)
• First 15 minutes free in terminal parking
• Electric vehicle charging available
• Long-stay parking requires shuttle but offers substantial savings for trips over 3 days

MAD offers solid dining options, with T4 having the best variety:

Terminal 4 (best selection):

• Mercado de Sabores: Food market concept with Spanish tapas, jamón, wine
• Café Saula: Excellent Spanish coffee
• La Dehesa: Iberian ham and traditional Spanish food
• Rodilla: Classic Spanish sandwich chain
• Lavaca: Grilled meats and Spanish cuisine

Terminal 4S:

• Silk: Pan-Asian options
• Five Guys: American burgers
• Limited but reasonable variety

Terminals 1-3:

• Café & Tapas: Traditional Spanish fare
• Santagloria: Bakery and sandwiches
• Standard fast-food options (McDonald's, Burger King)
• More limited compared to T4

Tips:

• T4's Mercado de Sabores is the standout for authentic Spanish food
• Prices are elevated (expect 30-50% more than city prices)
• Grab jamón and manchego cheese for an authentic Spanish snack

Free WiFi is available throughout all MAD terminals.

Network name: "Airport Free WiFi Madrid"

How to connect:

1. Select "Airport Free WiFi Madrid"
2. Open browser - redirect to Aena portal
3. Register with email or social media account
4. Accept terms and connect

Details:

• Free duration: Unlimited
• Speed: Adequate for browsing and email; streaming may buffer
• No premium tier available

Tip: Coverage is good throughout terminals. Use a VPN for security on public networks.

SIM cards are available at multiple locations:

Arrivals halls:

• Vodafone stores in T1 and T4
• Orange in T4
• Phone House in T4

Airside:

• Limited options - buy in arrivals if possible

Major Spanish carriers:

• Movistar: Best overall coverage
• Vodafone: Strong network, good tourist plans
• Orange: Competitive pricing
• Yoigo: Budget option

Typical costs: Prepaid tourist SIMs with 10-20GB data start around €15-25. EU roaming included for travel within Europe.

Tip: Order an eSIM (Holafly, Airalo) before departure for immediate connectivity on arrival.

ATMs are located throughout all terminals, both landside and airside.

Major banks with ATMs at MAD:

• Santander
• BBVA
• CaixaBank
• Bankinter

Locations: Near arrivals exits, in departure halls, and throughout terminals.

Currency exchange: Bureaux de change are available but offer poor rates (avoid if possible). Use ATMs or exchange currency before arrival.

Tips:

• Spanish ATMs may offer "dynamic currency conversion" - always decline and choose to be charged in euros for better rates
• Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard) are widely accepted throughout Spain
• Notify your bank before traveling to avoid card blocks
• Many small shops and bars still prefer cash, especially outside the airport

MAD offers extensive duty-free and retail options:

Duty-free (operated by World Duty Free/Dufry):

• Large stores in all terminals after security
• Spanish wines, spirits (Rioja, cava, sherry)
• Spanish delicacies: jamón, olive oil, saffron, turrones

Notable stores:

Terminal 4 (best shopping):

• Loewe: Spanish luxury leather goods
• Adolfo Dominguez: Spanish fashion
• Bimba y Lola: Spanish accessories
• FC Barcelona / Real Madrid stores: Football merchandise
• Museo del Jamón: Iberian ham to take home

Terminal 4S:

• Good selection of Spanish and international brands
• Large duty-free store

Terminals 1-3:

• Basic duty-free
• Souvenir shops
• More limited selection

Tip: T4 has the best shopping by far. For authentic Spanish gifts, look for jamón ibérico (vacuum-packed for travel), manchego cheese, or Loewe leather goods.

Priority Pass Lounges

Terminal 1:

• Sala VIP Cibeles: Schengen departures. Near gate B. Basic amenities, snacks, beverages. Can get crowded.

Terminal 4:

• Sala VIP Velázquez: Non-Schengen (near gates H). 24-hour access. Spanish tapas, hot food, full bar. Showers available. One of the better Priority Pass lounges in Europe.
• Sala VIP Canudas: Schengen departures (near gates K). Similar quality to Velázquez.

Terminal 4S:

• Sala VIP Puerta de Alcalá: Non-Schengen departures. Good views, Spanish cuisine, showers. Open 5:00 AM to last departure.

Airline Lounges

Iberia Lounges (oneworld status or Business Class):

• Iberia Velázquez Premium Lounge (T4): Flagship lounge with excellent Spanish food, premium bar, showers
• Iberia Dalí Lounge (T4S): Long-haul premium lounge, high quality
• Multiple other Iberia lounges throughout T4/T4S

Note: Iberia lounges are among the best in Europe, featuring quality Spanish cuisine and wines.

Pay-Per-Use

Most lounges offer day passes (€35-50) bookable through the Aena website or LoungeBuddy.

At the Airport:

• Hilton Madrid Airport: Connected to T4 by covered walkway. Full-service hotel with pool and fitness center. 2-minute walk to check-in (~€120-180/night).

• NH Collection Madrid Suecia: In T2 building. Convenient for early departures from T1-T3 (~€100-150/night).

Near the Airport (shuttle/taxi required):

• AC Hotel Madrid Feria: Modern business hotel, 10-minute taxi (~€80-120/night).

• Ibis Budget Madrid Aeropuerto: Reliable budget option, free airport shuttle (~€50-80/night).

• Holiday Inn Madrid Airport: Full-service with pool, free shuttle (~€90-140/night).

In the City (20-30 min by taxi/metro):

For longer layovers or overnight stays, consider staying in central Madrid. Hotels near Atocha or Sol offer better dining and sightseeing options with easy airport access via Express Bus or Metro.

Tip: The Hilton at T4 is the most convenient for early departures. For budget travelers, the ibis Budget offers good value with free shuttle service.

Madrid is Spain's vibrant capital, rich with art, culture, and gastronomy. From MAD:

Central Madrid attractions (20-35 min by Metro):

• Puerta del Sol: Heart of Madrid, kilometer zero marker (Metro to Sol)
• Prado Museum: World-class art collection (Metro to Banco de España)
• Royal Palace: Largest functioning royal palace in Europe (Metro to Ópera)
• Retiro Park: Beautiful urban park with rowing boats (Metro to Retiro)
• Plaza Mayor: Historic central square, great for tapas

Neighborhoods to explore:

• La Latina: Traditional tapas bars, Sunday flea market (El Rastro)
• Malasaña: Trendy, bohemian neighborhood with great nightlife
• Chueca: LGBTQ+ quarter with excellent restaurants and bars
• Salamanca: Upscale shopping and dining
• Lavapiés: Multicultural neighborhood with diverse food scene

Day trips from Madrid:

• Toledo: Medieval city, 30 min by AVE train (~€13-25)
• Segovia: Roman aqueduct, Alcázar castle, 30 min by AVE (~€12-24)
• Ávila: Walled medieval city, 1.5 hours by train
• El Escorial: Royal monastery complex, 1 hour by bus/train

Transport tips:

• Buy a Tourist Travel Pass (Abono Turístico) for unlimited Metro and bus travel
• Madrid Metro runs 6:00 AM to 1:30 AM
• Many museums are free on certain days/hours (Prado: Mon-Sat 6-8 PM)
• Dinner in Madrid starts late (9-10 PM); tapas in the evening first

Food & drink essentials:

• Tapas: Small plates, best experienced hopping between bars
• Jamón ibérico: World-famous cured ham
• Cocido madrileño: Traditional Madrid chickpea stew
• Churros con chocolate: Classic breakfast or snack at Chocolatería San Ginés