Line 8 connects Madrid Barajas Airport directly to the city centre: Nuevos Ministerios in 20 minutes for €4.50–€5.00, with step-by-step guide and journey times.
At a Glance
- Airport
- Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
- Journey time
- ~20 min to Nuevos Ministerios (T1-T2-T3) / ~30 min from T4
- Fare estimate
- €4.50–€5.00 (zone fare €1.50–€2.00 + €3.00 airport supplement)
- Metro line
- Line 8
How to Get from Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport to the City
The Line 8 connect the airport with central Madrid, and are usually the most predictable way to travel at busy times.
Travel Tips
- Terminal 4 is further from the city, add about 8 minutes to journey times from T4 vs T1-T2-T3.
- The €3.00 airport supplement is charged when you enter or leave an airport station, unless you hold a Tourist Travel Pass or monthly pass.
- Buy a Multi card (€2.50) at the airport metro station, it works on buses and metro throughout your stay.
- Nuevos Ministerios connects to Lines 6 (circular) and 10 for onward travel to all parts of the city.
- Line 8 trains to the airport run every 5–10 minutes during the day.
- Taxis from Barajas to central Madrid cost approximately €30–€35 (fixed tariff from T4 to city centre is €30).
Paying for the Journey
Payment methods: Multi card (holds single, 10-trip and Tourist Pass tickets) · Contactless bank card or phone (single fares) · Tourist Travel Pass · Monthly Abono Transporte (residents).
💡 Load a 10-trip ticket onto a Multi card. It works on the metro and EMT city buses, can be shared by people travelling together, and costs far less per ride than single tickets. The Multi card itself costs €2.50 and is reusable.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the metro from Madrid Airport to the city?
About €4.50–€5.00: the standard zone fare (€1.50–€2.00 depending on distance) plus the mandatory €3.00 airport supplement. Pay with a Multi card for the best experience, load it at the airport station vending machine.
Is there a direct metro from Terminal 4 to the city?
Yes, Line 8 serves both T1-T2-T3 station and a separate Terminal 4 station. T4 is about 8 minutes further on Line 8. Both connect to Nuevos Ministerios in the city centre. From T4, journey time is about 28–30 minutes.
Does the airport supplement apply on the return journey?
Yes, the €3.00 airport supplement applies in both directions whenever your journey uses the airport section of Line 8 (between Aeropuerto T1-T2-T3 and Barajas station). Budget for this each way.
What are the first and last metro trains from Barajas?
Line 8 runs from about 06:00 to about 01:30 every day. If arriving outside these hours, a taxi or airport bus (Exprés Aeropuerto, 24 hours) is needed.
See also: Madrid Metro ticket prices · Payment card guide · Full Madrid Metro guide
Source: Metro de Madrid. Journey times and fares are indicative, so verify before travel.