How much is a monthly transport pass in Madrid?

Around €21.90/month for the normal Zone A abono in 2026 (thanks to the government discount). Under 26 pay just ~€8/month.

How do I get to Madrid airport by public transport?

Cheapest and fastest is Cercanías C-1 (from T4) or metro Line 8 from Nuevos Ministerios (€5 with airport supplement). Metro takes 12–15 min from Nuevos Ministerios.

Is Madrid's metro safe at night?

Yes, generally very safe. Runs until 01:30. Standard big-city awareness applies — pickpockets on Line 5 and Line 1 around Sol.

Do I need a Spanish NIE to get a transport card?

For the TTP monthly card, yes — NIE or passport is required. For single tickets and Multi cards, no ID needed.

Can I use Google Maps for public transport in Madrid?

Yes, it works well. Citymapper is slightly better for bus routing and real-time metro alerts.

Madrid Public Transport Guide (2026): Metro, Bus, Cercanías

Madrid has one of the best transport networks in Europe. If you set up the right card in the first week, you'll never pay a single-ride ticket again.

The three networks you'll actually use

All three are covered by the same monthly pass (abono transportes) and interoperate cleanly.

Metro

13 lines, runs 6:00–01:30. Fast, safe, air-conditioned, gets you almost anywhere inside the M-30. Default choice for daily commuting.

Bus (EMT)

Great for short trips within a barrio or when the metro would need two changes. Night buses ('búhos') run when the metro closes.

Cercanías (regional trains)

Connects the city with suburbs, the airport, and day-trip towns (Toledo, Alcalá, Aranjuez, San Lorenzo de El Escorial). Also useful across the city — a Cercanías from Atocha to Nuevos Ministerios is faster than the metro.

Which travel card to get

You want the Tarjeta Transporte Público (TTP). It's a physical card you load monthly. Get it from any Consorcio Regional office (or many tobacconists) — bring your NIE/passport.

Abono normal (Zona A): ~€21.90/month with the current 60% government discount. Covers metro, bus, Cercanías inside Madrid.
Abono joven: ~€8/month if you're under 26. Same coverage. Best deal in Europe, no exaggeration.
Abono tercera edad: ~€6.20/month if you're 65+.
Tourist card (single/multi-day): only worth it if you're staying under a week and using it heavily.

Airport transfers, honestly

Barajas (MAD) is well-connected. Skip the taxi rank unless you're carrying half your life.

Metro Line 8 to Nuevos Ministerios — €5 including the €3 airport supplement. 12–15 min.
Cercanías C-1 from T4 to Chamartín or Príncipe Pío — covered by the abono if you have one.
Bus 203 (Express Aeropuerto) from Atocha — €5, 24h, good if you land late.
Taxi: fixed rate of €33 to anywhere inside the M-30. Cabify/Uber usually €25–€40.

Tricks that save time

Use the Citymapper or Moovit app — Google Maps is fine, but these handle EMT bus changes better.
Cercanías is included in the abono — most newcomers don't realise this and take the metro when the train is 3× faster.
Metro Line 6 (the circle) is your friend for crossing barrios without going through Sol.
Between 07:30–09:30 and 18:30–20:00, avoid Line 6 south of Príncipe Pío — it gets brutal.
Late night: 'búhos' (night buses) run from Plaza de Cibeles to almost every barrio.

Getting around Madrid