Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Guide
Quick summary
Madrid's airport has four terminals (T1, T2, T3, and the newer T4/T4S satellite), and Metro Line 8 links all of them to the city for about €4.50–€5 including the airport supplement. Note that T4 is a long ride from T1–T3, so double-check which terminal your flight uses.
The bottom line on MAD
Barajas catches people out with its split layout: T4 (and its T4S satellite) is a separate building about 3 km from the T1–T3 complex, with no airside link, so a terminal change can eat 20 to 30 minutes. Confirm your terminal before you travel, and if you are connecting between the T1–T3 cluster and T4, leave a generous window.
For the city, the official white taxi charges a fixed €33 flat fare inside the M-30 ring, so refuse anyone quoting more; Metro Line 8 costs about €4.50 to €5 including the airport supplement. The cheapest option, the Cercanías C-1 at €2.60, only stops at T4.
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Traps most travelers fall for at MAD
- T4 (and its T4S satellite) is a separate building about 3 km from the T1–T3 complex with no airside link, so a terminal change can eat 20–30 minutes — confirm your terminal before you travel and leave a generous connection window.
- The official white taxi charges a fixed €33 flat fare inside the M-30 ring, so refuse any driver quoting more.
- The cheapest train, the Cercanías C-1 at €2.60, only stops at T4 — from T1–T3 you first take the free shuttle to T4, so budget about €5 for Metro Line 8 instead.
Terminals at MAD
Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas has four passenger terminals. T1, T2, and T3 sit together as one connected complex (you can walk between them) and handle a mix of Schengen, non-Schengen, and low-cost airlines. T4, opened in 2006, is a separate, much newer terminal used mainly by Iberia and its oneworld partners (British Airways, American, Qatar, etc.), plus Air Europa; T4S is its satellite building for most non-Schengen long-haul departures, reached from T4 by an automated underground people-mover (airside). T4 is about 3 km from the T1–T3 complex — a free shuttle bus and the Metro connect them, but a terminal change can take 20–30 minutes, so allow a generous connection window if you switch between the T1–T3 cluster and T4.
MAD parking rates & options
| Short-term / P1–P4 (per terminal) — 1 hour | About €4 |
| Short-term / P1–P4 — per day (max) | About €25–30 per day |
| Low-cost long-stay (T1/T2/T3) — per day | About €10–14 per day |
| Long-stay T4 — per day | About €10–14 per day |
| Express drop-off (T2 Departures) | First 10 minutes free, then per-minute charge |
| Long-stay — 1 week (online reservation) | About €55–70 |
Where the money actually goes at MAD
The gap between the cheapest and dearest parking here is €51 a day — €4 at the short-term / p1–p4 (per terminal) — 1 hour versus €55 at the long-stay — 1 week (online reservation). Over a week that is €357, for the same trip.
Calculated from the published rates in the table above — not an estimate. Rates change, so confirm before you book.
🚆 Getting to & from the airport
Metro Line 8 (pink) links all four terminals to Nuevos Ministerios in the city in about 15–20 minutes; the fare is roughly €4.50–€5, made up of a normal single ticket plus a €3 airport supplement per passenger. The Cercanías C-1 commuter train runs from the T4 station to Chamartín, Nuevos Ministerios, and Atocha for about €2.60 (valid 2 hours) in around 25–35 minutes — but it only stops at T4, so from T1–T3 you first take the free shuttle to T4. The EMT Airport Express bus (line 203) runs 24 hours to Atocha and Cibeles for a €5 flat fare. Official white taxis charge a fixed flat fare of €33 between the airport and anywhere inside the central M-30 ring, day or night. Uber, Bolt, Cabify and FreeNow all operate legally from designated pickup zones.
MAD vs BCN vs FCO: which airport is easier?
How the traveler experience compares, side by side.
🛋️ Lounges
T4 has the widest selection, anchored by Iberia's flagship Dalí Premium Lounge and Velázquez/Cibeles lounges for business and elite flyers, plus Aena Sala VIP lounges. Aena's Sala VIP lounges (branded with names like Puerta de Alcalá and Cibeles) are spread across T1, T3, T4, and T4S and are open to Priority Pass, LoungeKey, Amex Platinum, and pay-per-use guests, offering buffets, drinks, showers, and Wi-Fi. Check your exact departure terminal, since there is no airside path between the T1–T3 complex and T4.
📶 Wi-Fi
Free unlimited Wi-Fi is available across all terminals via the Aena 'Airport Free Wifi' network — connect through the captive portal with no time cap.
😴 Layovers & overnight
T4 is the most comfortable place for a long wait, with abundant natural light, a large selection of restaurants and shops, and the best lounges. The T1–T3 complex is functional but older and busier. There is no airside connection between the T1–T3 cluster and T4/T4S, so you cannot roam between them without exiting and re-clearing security. Overnight, the terminals stay open but get quiet and cold, and many shops close; travellers do sleep in the seating areas, though Barajas isn't especially comfortable for it. For a real rest, several hotels sit on-site or a short shuttle away, including a hotel directly connected to T4.
Insider tips
- Confirm your terminal before you travel — T4 is a separate building far from T1–T3, with no airside link.
- The Metro L8 fare includes a €3 airport supplement on top of the normal ticket; budget about €5.
- The taxi flat fare to central Madrid (inside the M-30) is a fixed €33 — refuse any driver quoting more.
- Cercanías C-1 (€2.60) is the cheapest train but only stops at T4; from T1–T3 take the free shuttle first.
- For long-haul non-Schengen flights on Iberia partners, you'll likely leave from the T4S satellite — allow extra time for the airside train.
MAD airport — FAQ
＋ − How do I get from Madrid Airport to the city center?
Metro Line 8 reaches Nuevos Ministerios in about 15–20 minutes for roughly €4.50–€5 (including the €3 airport supplement). The Cercanías C-1 train from T4 to Atocha is about €2.60, the 203 Express bus to Atocha/Cibeles is €5, and the official taxi flat fare to central Madrid is €33.
＋ − How much is parking at Madrid Airport?
Short-term parking at the terminal (P1–P4) is around €4 an hour up to roughly €25–30 a day. Low-cost long-stay lots are about €10–14 per day, and a week runs roughly €55–70 if booked online in advance.
＋ − How do I get between the terminals at Madrid-Barajas?
T1, T2, and T3 are one connected complex you can walk between. T4 (and its T4S satellite) is a separate building about 3 km away — use the free inter-terminal shuttle bus or Metro Line 8, and allow 20–30 minutes for the change.
＋ − Is Wi-Fi free at Madrid Airport?
Yes. Free unlimited Wi-Fi is available in all terminals via the Aena 'Airport Free Wifi' network — just accept the terms on the login page, with no time limit.
＋ − Which terminal should I use for a long layover at Madrid?
T4 is the most comfortable, with better light, more dining, and the best lounges (including Iberia's Dalí lounge). If you're flying a low-cost carrier from T1–T3, you'll be in the older complex, which is serviceable but plainer.
Sources & official links
This guide is independent and not affiliated with Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport. Parking rates, terminal layouts, and transit options change often — always confirm on the airport's official website before you travel.