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Madrid

Local Transport

Madrid has a comprehensive public transport system comprising buses, suburban trains and a metro.

BUS

EMT operates Madrid's bus network which consists of over 150 bus lines. However the metro and suburban train network is so comprehensive that few travellers ever need to travel by bus except at night when the metro has stopped running. Regular city buses operate with metro tickets, including the Metrebús ten-ride ticket.

The night buses, known as búsos, are centred around Plaza de la Cibeles between midnight and 6am. The 20 búsos bus routes leave Plaza de la Cibeles every half hour (on the half hour) between midnight and 3am and every hour (on the hour) between 3am and 6am after which time the metro starts running again.

METRO

Madrid has an excellent metro network (website www.metromadrid.es) with 202 stations scattered throughout the city. It is also one of Europe's fastest growing metro systems with 37km of new lines constructed between 1995 and 1999 and ambitious extensions underway which should see a tighter integration between the metro and Cercanías suburban train network in the future.

A single metro ticket costs €1.15, while a ten-ride Metrobús ticket is €5.80. With the exception of line 9 between the stations Rivas Urbanizaciones and Argancia del Rey, line 10 south of Cuatro Vientos and all of line 12, the whole metro system falls within zone A of the Madrid transport network. Travel to stations outside zone A will require a higher fare.

Monthly travel cards are also valid on the metro, these cost €37.15 for zone A.

CERCANÍAS SUBURBAN TRAINS

The metro is supplemented by the extensive Cercanías suburban train network operated by Renfe (website www.renfe.es). The Cercanías trains go as far as El Escorial, Segovia and Toledo making them handy for day trips to nearby cities.

The Cercanías trains are also a good way to get around the city and serve as an extension to the metro network. Probably the most useful route is the route connecting Atocha and Chamartín train stations.

Príncipe Pío, Atocha and Chamartín stations serve as the main hubs for the Cercanías network.

Metro tickets are not valid on Cercanías trains. A single trip within zones 1 and 2 costs €1.05. Monthly travel cards are also valid on Cercanías trains.

FARES

One-way tickets for buses and the metro cost €1.15 and the ten-trip tickets are €5.80.

A one-day pass costs €3.50, a two-day pass is €6.30, a three-day pass is €8.40, a five-day pass is €13.20 and a seven-day pass costs €18.40.

There are monthly travel passes which allow travel on buses, the metro and Cercanías trains. These travel passes work according to a zone system. Zone A includes the City of Madrid and all metro stations except line 9 between Rivas Urbanizaciones and Arganica del Rey, line 10 south of Cuatro Vientos and all of line 12. The zones then radiate out from Madrid encompassing the entire Comunidad de Madrid. Unless you're renting a house or staying with friends in the suburbs or outlying towns a zone one or zone A ticket is all you'll need. A monthly zone A travel pass costs €37.15.