Metro and bus: main connections
The twelve lines, the interchanges and how to combine metro, bus and train.
The essentials
- The Madrid Metro has 12 lines, the Ramal branch and about 300 stations; the centre is best explored on foot.
- Most monuments are a few minutes from a station.
- For several days, look at the Consortium's tourist pass.
- Commuter trains link with the mountains and the villages of the region.
Metro
- 1Line 1 Pinar de Chamartín – Valdecarros
- 2Line 2 Las Rosas – Cuatro Caminos
- 3Line 3 Moncloa – Villaverde Alto
- 4Line 4 Argüelles – Pinar de Chamartín
- 5Line 5 Alameda de Osuna – Casa de Campo
- 6Line 6 (circular) Loop around the inner city
- 7Line 7 Pitis – Hospital del Henares
- 8Line 8 Nuevos Ministerios – Aeropuerto T4
- 9Line 9 Paco de Lucía – Puerta de Arganda
- 10Line 10 Hospital Infanta Sofía – Puerta del Sur
- 11Line 11 Plaza Elíptica – La Fortuna
- 12Line 12 (MetroSur) Loop through Leganés, Getafe, Fuenlabrada and Alcorcón
- RRamal Ópera – Príncipe Pío
The most useful interchange stations
- Sol123Historic centre; commuter rail C-3 and C-4
- Ópera25RRoyal Palace, Teatro Real; branch to Príncipe Pío
- Callao35Gran Vía and the theatre district
- Gran Vía15Between Gran Vía, Chueca and Malasaña
- Tribunal110Malasaña and Conde Duque
- Alonso Martínez4510Chueca, Chamberí and Justicia
- Plaza de España310Temple of Debod and Gran Vía
- Príncipe Pío610RMadrid Río; interchange and commuter rail
- Moncloa36Moncloa lighthouse; bus interchange
- Atocha1High-speed and commuter trains; Art Walk
- Banco de España2Prado, Thyssen and Cibeles
- Nuevos Ministerios6810Line 8 direct to all airport terminals
- Avenida de América4679Interurban bus interchange
- Plaza de Castilla1910Cuatro Torres and buses to the mountains
- Chamartín110High-speed, commuter and long-distance trains
- Cuatro Caminos126Three-line junction north of the centre
Line terminals as of the current network; check the Metro de Madrid website. Colours are this guide’s own.
See the official map and information at metromadrid.es.
Tickets
- Multi card: the rechargeable public-transport card.
- Tourist Pass: valid for a number of days on all transport.
- Fares and zones: crtm.es.
Fares change: confirm them on the official website before travelling.
Buses
The EMT covers the whole city. There are night lines, called «búhos» (owls), that leave from Cibeles. Information at emtmadrid.es.
Commuter trains
Renfe's Cercanías trains connect the stations of Atocha, Chamartín and Príncipe Pío with Alcalá de Henares, Aranjuez, El Escorial and the mountains. Renfe.
Tips
- Avoid rush hours (7:30–9:30 and 18:00–20:00).
- Look after your belongings in crowded stations.
- Download the official Metro de Madrid app to see the map.
See also the symbolic map to find which station is closest to each place.
Frequently asked questions
How many stations does the Madrid Metro have?
It has 12 conventional lines, a short branch between Ópera and Príncipe Pío and 302 stations, according to Visit Madrid.