Madrid, Spain

Getting around Madrid

How to travel around Madrid — 5 options, what they cost, and which booking apps fix the fare before you go.

Last updated 2026-08-08

1. Metro

One of the largest networks in Europe, cheap and reaching the airport directly.

Cost: EUR 1.50–2 plus a EUR 2.50 airport supplement
Tip: The airport supplement applies even with a travel card.

2. Walking the centre

The core between the palace, Sol and Retiro is compact and flat.

3. Cercanías

Suburban rail crossing the city and reaching Toledo and Segovia.

4. Taxi and Cabify

Licensed taxis run a fixed fare to and from the airport.

Cost: EUR 33 fixed airport flat rate within the M-30

5. BiciMAD

Electric bike share, useful given Madrid's hills.

Booking apps in Spain

Agreeing the fare in an app before you travel removes the argument at the end of the journey, which is where most transport scams happen. Links go to each app's official page — lookalike apps are themselves a scam.

Cabify

Spanish-founded ride-hailing operating across Spain and Latin America.

Coverage: Madrid, Barcelona and most large cities.
Why it helps: Fare is agreed in the app before the trip, and the route is recorded — which removes the refused meter, the tampered meter and the fixed 'foreigner price' in one move.

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Hails licensed metered taxis, widely used in Spanish cities.

Coverage: Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville.
Why it helps: Fare is agreed in the app before the trip, and the route is recorded — which removes the refused meter, the tampered meter and the fixed 'foreigner price' in one move.

Renfe

Official Spanish rail booking including AVE high-speed.

Coverage: Nationwide.