(Please find below the third in a new series of Adventurous Appetites’ Bite-sized blogs, designed to provide information and opinions that may be useful for visitors to Madrid.)
The metro in Madrid is clean, fast and cheap and there is no need to worry about safety if using the service at night. However as in any big city do be careful with pickpockets particularly if using the airport service.
The metro is open from 6am to 2am (but the last trains leaves its starting-station at 1.33am)
There is a huge choice of different tickets to choosing including Tourist Travel Passes, which sound good but unless visiting places in the area surrounding Madrid are probably overkill.
Madrid is a very walkable city and once in the centre of town we would recommend walking most places, but if you do want to use public transport, for the VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE, who are staying in the centre, the 10 Journey Metrobus ticket is by far the best ticket to get. It is valid for use on either metro or bus in the city centre
Once you have bought a travel card (2.50€), it costs 6.10€ for 10 journeys (Price valid till June 2025).
If you buy a ten-ticket pass, you may use this for more than one person by having the first person go through the turnstile and pass back the card to the next. Tickets must be carried at all times on the bus and metro.
Public transport is free for children under 4.
How to buy your ticket:
Tickets can be bought in machines in all metro stations
First you must buy the contactless travel card Multitarjeta (2.50€ available in machines). You keep this card for the duration of your stay and charge it with the relevant tickets.
In this case you add a 10-Journey Ticket valid for Metro, TFM, Metro Ligero 1, Metro Ligero Oeste and city and intercity buses. 6.10€ - everything you could need for moving around the centre!!!!
(If you are travelling to or from the airport there is and additional airport supplement of 3 euros which you must add on the day of airport travel.)
Payment can be made by card or cash, but card is easier.
If you are having problems most big stations will have staff who can help you, though their English may not be fluent
How to use your ticket:
You must carry your ticket with you at all times as they do have inspections.
You scan your ticket at the turnstile when you ENTER the metro (or on entering the bus). The number of journeys remaining on the card will appear when you scan it.
When you EXIT the metro there is no need to present the card at the turnstile
Recharging your ticket:
If you should need to recharge your ticket, insert your travel card in the ticket machine and follow the instructions to add another 10 journey ticket.
PLEASE NOTE THAT WHEN TRAVELLING LATE AT NIGHT THE METRO RUNS EVERY 20 MINS, SO IF YOU HAVE TO CHANGE LINE TO REACH YOUR DESTINATION AND YOU ARE UNLUCKY WITH YOUR TRANSFERS, YOU MAY BE ADDING ON 40 MINS TO YOUR JOURNEY. WHEN TRAVELLING LATE AT NIGHT GENERALLY WE ADVISE GETTING A TAXI (NOT EXPENSIVE IN MADRID) FOR CONVENIENCE.
The opinions expressed in Adventurous Appetites’ bite-sized blogs are the subjective opinions of the author and are designed in all good faith to be helpful to the reader. The accuracy of any information shared cannot be guaranteed and neither the writer nor Adventurous Appetites Ltd accepts any responsibility for the veracity of such information, nor for any actions taken by the reader based on said information.

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