Search Flights from Barcelona to Madrid

Capital of the autonomous community of Catalonia in Spain, Barcelona is one of Europe’s most important cities in terms of tourism and commerce. Barcelona is the 7^th most populated city in the European Union and is home to Spain’s second busiest airport. Serving 40 million passengers annually, Barcelona Airport is one of the major factors that contributes to the city’s tourism economy. The airport is easily accessible from the city, which has undergone significant transformations since the 1900’s.  

Rail

You can easily get to the airport using the rail system from the Old City, Barceloneta, or Sagrada Familia, which is one of the city’s most important monuments. By transferring to the Barcelona Sants Station, which is 7 stops from Catalunya Square, and 5 stops from Sagrada Familia, you can get on the 30-minute long train to the airport. Barcelona has been using metro and railway networks for urban transportation since the 1920’s. There is a transfer point located between each rail line. Thus, you can get from locations outside of the city and within the city to the airport without having to deal with above ground traffic.

Airport Buses

Catalunya Square, a few minutes walking distance from the districts of Ciutat Vella, Barceloneta and El Raval, is the departure point for the Aerobus buses that provide transportation to the airport. The bus lines A1 and A2 provide transportation to the airport during the day; the trip takes between 30 minutes and 1 hour. At night the N16 and N17 bus lines provide transportation to the airport.

These buses operate between 5 am and 12:30 am. During peak hours these buses run every 5 minutes. The fare for these buses is cheaper than taking a taxi.

Taxi

Another convenient mode of transportation to the get to Barcelona Airport, which is located 12 km from central Barcelona, is by taxi.

However, transportation from central locations in the city, especially if you’re traveling alone, can be quite expensive.

Personal Car

Driving from the city center or coastal areas to Barcelona Airport takes around 20 minutes. To get to the airport all you have to do is follow the wide and long avenue Gran Via De Les Corts Catalanes. Once you pass the bridge over Llobregat River you will enter the Castelldefels area and the road will continue to the airport access road. The airport is divided into 2 buildings; Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. The airport stands out for its passenger capacity and parking capacity. The airport contains indoor and outdoor parking lots and has a total car park capacity of 19,000 vehicles.

Airport Information

Barcelona is a popular tourist destination, particularly for those coming from Northern Europe. Barcelona Airport, also known as Barcelona-El Prat Airport, offers a total of 42 restaurants, cafes, and pubs to ensure passengers have a pleasant time while at the airport.

Barcelona Airport also offers tax-free shopping services at the Duty Free shops. The airport also features free wireless internet connection and has an area dedicated to exhibitions and performances.

The Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport, also referred to as Madrid-Barajas Airport, is located 12 km from Madrid’s city center. There are a variety of transportation alternatives to get to the city center from the airport including the metro, trains, buses, taxis, or rental cars.

Metro

Madrid’s metro system is a modern, clean, and quick transportation alternative to get to the city center from the airport. There are two metro stations at the airport that provide convenient transportation to the city’s metro system. There is a station located in Terminal 2, which is accessible from the other terminals using the airport’s inter-terminal transportation system. The other station is located in Terminal 4. Metro Line 8 runs through both stations. Departing from Terminal 4, Metro Line 8 runs to the following lines respectively, Barajas, Airport T1-T2-T3, Campo de las Naciones, Mar de Cristal, Pinar del Rey, Colombia, all the way to the Nuevos Ministerios Station in only 12 minutes. At the Nuevos Ministerios Station you can transfer to Metro Line 10 and Metro Line 6, depending on your destination in the city. You can also transfer to Line 4 at the Mar de Cristal Station.  

We recommend taking a look at the Madrid Metro System online beforehand, or getting a map at the airport, to find out which metro line you should take depending on your final destination in the city. The metro is an affordable and convenient method of transportation to get to the city center. However, you might have to transfer at multiple locations depending on your final destination. So if you have a lot of luggage then taking the metro can be a bit troublesome. The Madrid metro system runs from 6 am to 2 am. Metro Line 8 operates every 5 minutes. If you purchase a Madrid Tourist Travel Pass then you will be paying less for public transportation and won’t have to deal with purchasing separate tickets for each ride. These cards are valid on the metro, buses, and trains.  

Train

Another convenient method of transportation to get to the city center from the airport is by using the RENFE trains. There is a station located in Terminal 4, which is accessible from the other terminals using the airport’s inter-terminal transportation system. From this station you can get to stops in the city like Chamartin, Nuevos Ministerios, Atocha, and Principe Pio by taking the C1 trains. The total train ride from the airport station to Chamartin Station takes 11 minutes and the total train ride from the airport station to Principe Pio Station takes 38 minutes. The C1 trains operate from 5:15 am to 12:15 am and run every 30 minutes.

Bus

Buses are another form of transportation to get to the city center and its surrounding areas from the airport. Airport Express buses provide transportation along Plaza Cibeles to the city’s main railway station, Atocha Station. This station is also quite close to the city’s main bus stop. These buses operate 24 hours a day and run every 15 minutes during the day and every 35 minutes at night. These yellow buses also let off passengers at the junction of O’Donnell and Doctor Esquerdo and stops along Plaza de Cibeles before arriving at Atocha Station. The ride from the airport to the last stop takes about 40 minutes under normal traffic conditions. In addition, there are regular public bus services that provide transportation to various locations in the city. Bus line 200 runs from each terminal to the Avenida de America Station, where you can connect to other major bus routes. Bus line 200 operates from 5 am to 11:30 pm and runs every 12 to 15 minutes during rush hour.

Taxi

Another transportation alternative to get to the city center from the airport is by taxi. Taxis are easily accessible outside of the arrivals hall. Since the airport is located in such close proximity to the city center, only 13 km away, taking a taxi is a comfortable option. Official taxicabs in Madrid are colored white with a red stripe on them. Taxis operate using a taximeter but also use maximum and minimum flat rate fares. For example, if you are traveling 10 km away then the minimum fare will be 20 euros. But if you are traveling to specific sections in the city then your maximum fare will be 30 euros. These prices can vary over time and taxi fares are higher over the weekend, during public holidays, and at night between 9 pm and 6 am. For more detailed information on taxi fares and services please take a look at Madrid-Barajas Airport’s website.  

Rental Car

Renting a car is another alternative to get to the city center from the airport, especially if you’re planning on exploring areas surrounding the city. However, if you plan on only staying in the city then keep in mind that parking and traffic can be a problem. It might not be worth renting a car considering the fact that public transportation is so convenient. Regardless, there are various rental car companies that have offices at the airport, such as Sixt, Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Enterprise and ATESA. Rental car offices can be found in the arrivals hall of terminals 1 and 4.

Airport Information

Located 12 km from the city center,  Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport, also referred to as Madrid-Barajas Airport, is the main airport in Madrid, serving both international and domestic flights. Madrid-Barajas Airport consists of 4 terminals, Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3, and Terminal 4, which was built in 2006. Terminal 4 is the largest terminal in the airport and operates flights for many major airlines such as Turkish Airlines and American Airlines. It is an impressive structure with modern architecture that also features a satellite building, TS4. Terminal 1 is the airport’s oldest building and another major terminal. Many airlines take off and land at Terminal 1. Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 are smaller in comparison to the others. Terminal 3 is dedicated to flights operated by Lagun Air. There is an airport shuttle bus that runs 24 hours a day, providing inter-terminal transportation.

Internet at the airport is free for the first 15 minutes. In Terminal 4 you can connect to the internet by paying a fee. In Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and Terminal 3 you can connect to the internet in the departure lounges, VIP lounges, and restaurant area.

There are various VIP lounges located at the airport. The La Revoltosa and Premium lounges at Terminal 4, La Revoltosa lounge in Terminal 4S, Cibeles lounge in Terminal 1, Puerta de Alcala lounge in Terminal 2, and Puerto del Sol lounge in Terminal 3 are accessible for those with a Priority Pass card. Apart from those there are 3 VIP lounges in Terminal 4 belonging to Iberia Airlines. Madrid-Barajas Airport offers passengers a rich variety of stores where they can go shopping. If you weren’t able to do as much shopping as you would have liked during your time in the city, you can easily make up for it at the airport.

There are many stores at the airport where you can buy various products such as duty free items, food, cosmetics, gifts, electronics, clothing, jewelry, and accessories. While the majority of the stores are located in Terminal 1 and Terminal 4 there are plenty of options in the other terminals as well. The airport is home to many brand name stores such as Adidas, Carolina Herrera, Sunglass Hut, Hugo Boss, Burberry, Massimo Dutti, Zara, and Michael Kors.  

Madrid-Barajas Airport also offers passengers a range of eateries aimed at meeting their pre-flight and post-flight needs. If you want to get a bite to eat or something to drink before or after your flight you can go enjoy familiar venues such as Starbucks, Mc Donald’s, Burger King, Paul, and Lavazza. The airport also features various cafes and restaurants that serve delicious examples of international cuisine.