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Getting Around Madrid: Complete Transport Guide
How to get around Madrid — Metro, buses, walking distances between neighbourhoods, and when a taxi actually makes sense.
By Get Madrid · Updated September 7, 2026
Madrid Is a Walkable City
Central Madrid — Sol, La Latina, Malasaña, Chueca, and Huertas — all sit within a compact core that's genuinely walkable end to end in under 30 minutes. Most visitors will do more walking than riding, and the Metro exists mainly for longer hops (Retiro to Salamanca, or anywhere to the airport or a museum on the edge of the centre) rather than short ones.
The Metro
One of Europe's most extensive networks — thirteen lines, colour-coded and easy to navigate even without Spanish. Single tickets and the reloadable Tarjeta Multi card (needed to load any ticket type, including tourist passes) are available from station machines. Trains run roughly 06:00–01:30. Line 8 is the direct airport link; most tourist sights cluster around Sol, Ópera, Retiro, and Atocha stations.
Tourist Travel Pass
A Madrid Tourist Travel Pass, valid for 1–7 days, covers unlimited Metro, bus, and local train travel including the airport supplement — worth it if you're moving around a lot or making a day trip that touches the wider Cercanías rail network.
Buses
A dense network that covers what the Metro misses, including some direct routes between neighbourhoods that would otherwise need a change underground. Google Maps handles Madrid's bus routing reliably, making it easy to use without memorising the system.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Official taxis are white with a red diagonal stripe, metered, and reasonably priced compared to other major European capitals. Ride-hailing apps operate widely and are useful for late-night trips when the Metro has stopped running. Neither is generally necessary for getting around the compact centre itself.
Practical Notes
Rush hour (08:00–09:30 and 18:00–20:00) gets genuinely crowded on central Metro lines — plan around it if you're carrying luggage. Cercanías commuter trains from Atocha and Chamartín handle day trips to Toledo, Segovia, and Ávila via high-speed connections, not the standard Metro. Walking between Retiro Park and Sol takes about 25 minutes and passes several landmarks worth the detour rather than going underground.