Last reviewed: · Prices in Euros (€) are approximate and for orientation only.
Madrid-Barajas (MAD) to Central Madrid: €2.60 Cercanías, €5 Express Bus & €33 Flat Taxi
1) Cercanías Train C1 / C10 (from Terminal 4 basement; free shuttle bus links T1/T2/T3 to T4): €2.60 to Chamartín (13 min), Nuevos Ministerios (20 min), Puerta de Atocha (28 min), or Príncipe Pío—100% FREE if you scan the Combinado Cercanías barcode on a Renfe AVE/Avlo ticket! 2) Exprés Aeropuerto 24h Yellow Bus (Line 203): €5.00 contactless tap on board from T1, T2, and T4 to O'Donnell, Plaza de Cibeles, and Atocha (30–40 min). 3) Metro Line 8: €4.50–€5.00 (includes €3 airport supplement) to Nuevos Ministerios. 4) Official White Taxi: mandatory €33.00 flat rate (Tarifa 4) to or from ANY address inside the M-30 ring road, with zero extra charge for bags, night hours, or holidays.
Barcelona-El Prat (BCN) to Central Barcelona: €7.25 Aerobús, €4.60 R2 Nord Train & €5.50 Metro
1) Aerobús (A1 from Terminal 1, A2 from Terminal 2): blue express buses departing every 5 minutes to Plaça d'Espanya and Plaça de Catalunya in 35 minutes (€7.25 single / €12.50 return; tap contactless card at the driver). 2) Rodalies R2 Nord Train (from Terminal 2 rail bridge): 26 minutes to Barcelona-Sants and Passeig de Gràcia (€4.60 single, or just 1 ride from a €12.15 T-casual card!). 3) Metro L9 Sud (from both T1 and T2): requires a special €5.50 Billete Aeropuerto (unless you hold a T-usual or Hola Barcelona pass). 4) Official Black-and-Yellow Taxi: metered (~€35–€42 to Eixample; minimum airport fare €21).
Málaga (AGP), Palma de Mallorca (PMI), Valencia (VLC), Seville (SVQ) & Bilbao (BIO)
Málaga (AGP): Cercanías C1 train outside T3 reaches Málaga María Zambrano in 8 min and Málaga Centro-Alameda in 12 min for €1.80 (tap your bank card at the turnstile!). Palma (PMI): EMT Bus A1 to Plaça d'Espanya (€5.00, 20 min). Valencia (VLC): Metro Lines 3 & 5 directly from the terminal to Xàtiva/Colón in 20 min (€4.80–€5.80). Seville (SVQ): EA Especial Aeropuerto bus to Santa Justa and Plaza de Armas (€5.00, 35 min). Bilbao (BIO): Bizkaibus A3247 to Plaza Moyúa (€3.00, 20 min).
Key Takeaways & Local Tips
- At Málaga Airport (AGP), you do not even need to queue at the ticket machine for the C1 train—just tap your contactless Visa or Mastercard directly on the green reader at the turnstile.
- In Barcelona, remember that the R2 Nord train departs only from Terminal 2 (use the free green airport shuttle bus if you land at Terminal 1).
- Never accept rides from unlicensed touts inside terminal arrivals halls—follow the yellow 'Taxi' overhead signs to the official outdoor queue.
Official sources & further reading
Rules, prices and schedules change. Confirm details here before you travel: