If you’re planning a trip to Madrid, one question that might be on your mind is how far the city is from the airport. Well, the answer isn’t as straightforward as you might think. There are actually two airports that serve Madrid: Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) and Madrid-Cuatro Vientos Airport (ECV).
Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport
Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport is the main airport serving Madrid and is located about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) northeast of the city center. Depending on traffic, it takes approximately 20-30 minutes by car to get from the airport to the city center.
Tip: If you’re planning on taking public transportation, there are several options available including metro, bus, and train. The most convenient option is the metro since there’s a station located in Terminal 4 of the airport.
Metro
The metro line that connects Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport with the city center is Line 8 (pink line). It takes approximately 12-15 minutes to get from Terminal 4 to Nuevos Ministerios station in central Madrid.
Tip: If you’re staying near Atocha train station or Sol, you can take Line 8 to Nuevos Ministerios and then transfer to Line 10 (dark blue line) to get to your destination.
Bus
There are also several bus lines that connect Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport with central Madrid. The most popular bus line is Express Bus Line 24 which takes approximately 30 minutes to get from the airport to Atocha train station.
Tip: If you’re traveling with a lot of luggage, taking a taxi might be more convenient than taking public transportation.
Madrid-Cuatro Vientos Airport
Madrid-Cuatro Vientos Airport is a smaller airport located about 8 kilometers (5 miles) southwest of the city center. It’s mainly used for general aviation and military purposes, so it’s unlikely that you’ll be flying into this airport unless you’re on a private plane.
Tip: If you do happen to be flying into Madrid-Cuatro Vientos Airport, taking a taxi is probably your best bet for getting to the city center.
Conclusion
In summary, the distance between Madrid city and Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport is about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) and it takes approximately 20-30 minutes by car to get from the airport to the city center. If you prefer public transportation, taking the metro or bus are both convenient options. As for Madrid-Cuatro Vientos Airport, it’s located about 8 kilometers (5 miles) southwest of the city center and taking a taxi is your best bet for getting to the city center.