Madrid Metro Guide: 13 Lines & 302 Stations Explained

Madrid operates a comprehensive metro system spanning 294 kilometers across 13 lines and serving 302 stations, making it the seventh longest metro network globally and the longest in the European Union. The network opens at 0600 and closes at 0130 on weekdays, extending to 0200 on Fridays and continuous operation from Saturday morning through Sunday night. A single journey ticket costs 1.50 euros for zones A, B1, and B2, while a ten-journey ticket costs 12.20 euros. The Tarjeta Multi card, a rechargeable contactless card with a 2.50 euro deposit, works across metro, bus, and commuter rail networks. Tourists visiting for 1-7 consecutive days can purchase a Tourist Travel Pass ranging from 8.40 euros for one day in Zone A to 70.80 euros for seven days covering all zones. The metro reaches Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport via Line 8, which connects to Nuevos Ministerios station in approximately 12 minutes. Commuter rail service from the airport through Atocha station costs 2.60 euros and takes roughly 25 minutes.

The Empresa Municipal de Transportes de Madrid operates 215 daytime bus routes and 26 night routes called búhos, which run from 2345 to 0600. Most daytime buses operate from 0600 to 2330. Bus 200 provides express service between the airport and Avenida de América interchange station in approximately 20 minutes for 1.50 euros. Regular city buses accept the same ticketing structure as the metro. Buses display route numbers and digital destination boards at front and side panels, stopping only at marked paradas with yellow posts and route maps. The network includes dedicated bus lanes on major arteries including Paseo de la Castellana, Gran Vía, and Calle de Alcalá, which reduce journey times during peak traffic hours from 0730 to 0930 and 1800 to 2000 weekdays.

Cercanías Madrid, the commuter rail network operated by Renfe, consists of 9 lines covering 370 kilometers with 90 stations extending into the Madrid metropolitan area. Lines C-3 and C-4 connect Atocha and Chamartín railway stations, the capital's two main long-distance terminals, in 11 minutes with trains departing every 5-8 minutes during weekday daytime hours. Atocha serves high-speed AVE trains to Barcelona, Sevilla, Valencia, and other destinations, while Chamartín handles routes toward Galicia, the Basque region, and the Cantabrian coast. A single-zone Cercanías ticket costs 1.70 euros. The network integrates with metro stations at 27 interchange points. Príncipe Pío, Méndez Álvaro, and Nuevos Ministerios serve as major transfer hubs combining metro, commuter rail, and intercity bus services.

Madrid BiciMAD, the municipal bike-share system launched in June 2014, operates 258 stations with 2,964 electric-assisted bicycles distributed across the central 47 square kilometers of the city. Users must register online or through the mobile application, paying a 1 euro annual subscription fee. The first 30 minutes of each journey cost 2 euros, with additional time charged at 0.04 euros per minute. Stations concentrate in the Salamanca, Centro, Chamberí, and Retiro districts. The electric motor assists pedaling up to 25 kilometers per hour, particularly useful on uphill routes toward the elevated sections around Plaza de Castilla or the slopes near Parque del Oeste. The system prohibits users under 18 years of age and requires helmet use, though helmets are not provided at stations. Dedicated bicycle lanes run along the Madrid Río park corridor parallel to the Manzanares River for 6 kilometers, connecting Casa de Campo park with the southern districts. Calle de Serrano, Paseo del Prado, and sections of Calle de Génova include painted bicycle lanes, though enforcement of car-free zones varies.

Taxi services in Madrid operate under municipal licensing with approximately 15,700 authorized white vehicles marked with a diagonal red stripe on front doors. Taxis use meters with regulated fares beginning at 2.50 euros base rate. Within the M-30 ring road, which encompasses central Madrid, fares run at 1.05 euros per kilometer Monday through Friday 0600 to 2100, increasing to 1.20 euros per kilometer nights and weekends. Supplements include 5.50 euros for trips to or from the airport, 3 euros from train or bus stations, and 6.70 euros for journeys on December 24, 25, and 31 and January 1. A green light atop the windshield indicates availability. Passengers can hail taxis on streets, join queues at designated taxi ranks near major plazas and stations, or request pickup through applications including Uber, Cabify, and Free Now, which operate legally in Madrid since 2018 following regulatory amendments. Journey time from Puerta del Sol to the Prado Museum measures approximately 7 minutes by taxi covering 1.2 kilometers at a typical cost of 5-6 euros. From Sol to the airport averages 20-35 minutes depending on traffic conditions, costing 30-35 euros including supplements.

Walking remains the most direct method for navigating the compact central districts. The distance from Puerta del Sol to the Royal Palace measures 1.3 kilometers westward along Calle Mayor and Calle de Bailén, traversable in 16-18 minutes. From Sol to Retiro Park's Puerta de Alcalá entrance spans 1.8 kilometers eastward via Calle de Alcalá, requiring approximately 22 minutes. The Gran Vía shopping avenue extends 1.3 kilometers from Calle de Alcalá to Plaza de España, connecting the Salamanca and Argüelles districts. Pedestrian-only zones include much of the historic core within the bounds of Calle de Segovia, Calle de Toledo, and the area surrounding Plaza Mayor, though delivery vehicles access these zones during restricted morning hours from 0600 to 1100. Sidewalks average 2-3 meters width on major boulevards but narrow to 1-1.5 meters on side streets in Lavapiés and Malasaña neighborhoods. Crosswalks operate on timed signals with pedestrian countdowns at major intersections. Jaywalking carries a theoretical fine of 80 euros, rarely enforced except on high-traffic arteries. The Paseo del Prado, Paseo de Recoletos, and Paseo de la Castellana form a continuous 6-kilometer north-south axis with tree-lined pedestrian medians, connecting Atocha station to the northern business districts at Cuatro Torres and the financial area.

Car rental services operate from airport terminals and city center locations including Atocha and Chamartín stations. International agencies including Europcar, Hertz, Avis, and Sixt require drivers hold a license for minimum one year, with age minimums ranging from 21 to 23 years depending on vehicle category and surcharges typically applied for drivers under 25. Daily rates for compact vehicles begin around 25-35 euros for multi-day bookings but increase substantially for single-day rentals and during peak tourist periods of Semana Santa and August. Parking in central Madrid operates under the SER zone system, with blue zones permitting maximum two-hour stays Monday-Friday 0900 to 2000 and Saturday 0900 to 1500 at hourly rates of approximately 2.45 euros. Green zones reserve spaces for residents but allow non-residents to park for 1-2 hours at higher rates. Unauthorized parking in resident zones results in fines starting at 90 euros. Multi-story parking garages charge 2.50-4.00 euros per hour, with 24-hour maximum rates reaching 30-40 euros in locations near Gran Vía and Puerta del Sol. Madrid Central, a low-emissions zone encompassing 472 hectares of the historic center bounded roughly by the M-30's interior streets, restricts access to resident vehicles, emergency services, public transport, motorcycles, and vehicles labeled Cero Emisiones or Eco under the DGT environmental classification system implemented in 2018. Non-compliant vehicles entering the zone face fines of 90 euros detected through automated camera enforcement at 115 access points. Street parking remains scarce throughout Salamanca, Chamberí, and Centro districts, with typical search times exceeding 15-20 minutes during business hours.