Finding your way around Madrid by public transport
Are you ready to explore the city of terraces, art, and tapas? Then we have some useful tips about transport in Madrid for you. Moving around Madrid is easier and cheaper than you think! You just only need to know which transport is better to use in each case and have your transport card ready. Let's go!
Tarjeta Transporte Público
The Public Transport Card (Tarjeta Transporte Público) can be used in every kind of public transport: metro, bus, and tram (Metro Ligero). Whether you are planning a short or a long stay in Madrid, this card offers the easiest solution for public transport use, free of headaches.
There are two types of public transport cards: Multi and Personal. The Multi card is sold by the automatic machines at the metro stations and in tobacco and convenience shops around the city. It will cost you €2,50 and can be recharged. It can be used by anyone, so make sure you don't lose it! The Personal card is available online by request and will cost you €4,00.
With the Personal card, you can pay for the trip of companions who share the same route as you, using your available tickets.
Simple one-way metro tickets cost €1,50, and a package of 10 will cost you €12,20. But the cheapest way to move around is to use the Transport Pass (Abono Transporte), which starts at €27,30 and offers unlimited rides per month. Good news: there is a discount for people under 25 years old. Check out the details and the fares by zones here.
Plan your trip
Madrid is a large city with an estimated population of 2,3M people, so transport can get busy. But no worries, planning your trip and allowing sufficient time for it will do the trick. Here you will find real-time updates on public transportation and services, so you can optimize your trip dynamically.
Metro and Metro Ligero
The metropolitan service in Madrid is one of the widest in Europe: it's a quick, practical, and safe system to move around. There are 12 numbered and color-coded underground routes that transport passengers throughout the central city, to the airport and suburbs. There are also three Metro Ligero tram lines, and a special Ramal line (Line R), which connects Ópera station to Principe Pío station. The closest Metro Ligero station to the Student Experience residence in Pozuelo is only 750 meters away and is called Prado Del Rey - (ML2).
Bus
There are more than 200 bus lines tracing the city. Loose tickets can only be purchased on the buses. Some of them accept debit or credit cards, so it's always good to have some cash with you, or in case you don't have a public transport card yet. The city's night buses are especially helpful to those who want to experience Madrid's nightlife and don't want to splurge on a taxi. There is also a 24-hour bus service from the airport to the city center. You can find the bus stop of line 594 in front of the residence and other spots within walking distance from the complex (400m): lines 560, 562A, and 563.
Bike rental
Madrid has recently introduced an electric bike rental service called BiciMAD which allows you to rent a bike as an occasional user for one or two hours. You can find more than 2000 bikes located in over 160 stations. The cost can vary from €2 to €4 euros for a two-hour rental.
Carsharing
Using a car in Madrid is very convenient for a short trip on the weekend outside the city or when you need to pick something up from IKEA for example. If this is the case, you can use one of the shared cars from Ubeeqo available at the location.
Scooter rental
Electric scooters are very popular in the city center, and there are several companies in Madrid that offer scooters for rent in public spaces! The main electric scooter companies you will find are Lime, Voi, and Bird. You have to download the app of the corresponding company, register with a payment method, get next to the scooter, scan the QR code, and you are good to go! The average price is €0,15 per minute, with some companies offering them at €0,11 and others at €0,23 per minute. Good to know: you cannot ride or park electric scooters on the pavement, in bus lanes, or on streets with more than one lane in each direction. The maximum speed is limited to 25 kilometers per hour. When riding on cycle paths, or cycle lanes, you must keep at least a 1-meter distance from pedestrians. The use of an approved helmet is recommended, and it is only mandatory for children under 18 years of age or if you are riding on a multimodal lane at 25 kilometers per hour.