Airport
Inside Barajas
Madrid has one airport, and it goes by the name of Barajas International. It’s certainly no O’Hare, nor is it about to give Heathrow a run for its money, but with over 40 million people passing through each year on their way all over the world, it’s certainly got its share of bustling traffic.
While the building itself is not particularly exciting, a fourth terminal was added on (affectionately known as T4) and was designed by the award-winning team of Lamela, Rogers and TPS Engineers. It was inaugurated in 2006 and it is, architecturally speaking, quite spectacular.
Barajas is located just 8 miles (13 kilometers) northeast of the city centre, and it is very easily accessible.
Cheap travel to the city centre from the airport
Take a taxi (not the cheapest option, but if a) you’re in a hurry and/or b) you fly when the metro isn’t open (between 1:30 am and 6:15 am), it’s your best (and only) bet. This could cost you up to 40 euro. Buses are few and far between: only about four lines travel to the airport and from very certain (and somewhat inconvenient) areas only. The metro is by far the most economical option, and the journey from the city center shouldn’t take more than 45 minutes, an hour tops. It’s very important to keep in mind from which terminal your flight is leaving as there are two stops for the airport: T1-T2-T3 and T4 (which is a slightly longer journey). If you bought a Tourist Travel Pass, then your trip to the airport should cost you nothing; however, if you don’t have a one, the journey will be about a euro and you’ll have to buy an airport supplement ticket upon arriving to the airport, which will set you back another euro. If your flight is at some ungodly hour in the morning, you might want to consider taking the last metro and then camping out on the floor of the airport. You won’t be the only one!
Buen viaje!
Visiting European cities on a tight budget? Check out our other dirt cheap guides!
Amsterdam budget travel guide.
Barcelona budget travel guide.
Berlin budget travel guide.
Birmingham budget travel guide.
Copenhagen budget travel guide.
Istanbul budget travel guide.
London budget travel guide.
Rome budget travel guide.
Vienna budget travel guide.