Transportation in Madrid

Transport for Madrid is grouped in underground travel (Metro de Madrid), overland bus travel (Empresa Municipal de Transportes, EMT), and commuter  trains (Cercanías). It is divided into three zones (A, B & C). Central Madrid is in Zone A.

Transportation Cards

METRO-BUS: There is a single ticket called Metro-bus that costs 10 Euros, which is good for 10 trips on both the bus and the Metro.  These can be bought in Metro stations, tobacco shops or newspaper stands.

ABONO DE TRANSPORTE: This is a monthly pass for both the Metro and bus. You can request one in an estanco (tobacco shop) where the forms are available for you to sign. You will need to take a photograph (passport size) and your passport number. The cost for the pass is approximately 1.20 Euros. Once they give you your card, you can buy the monthly ticket, which is good for one calendar month, with an unlimited number of Metro and bus rides. It costs 47.50 Euros for those over 21 years of age for Zone A. A Tarjeta Joven exists for those under 21 years and costs 30.50 Euros. There is a two week processing time for the Tarjeta Joven. If you work outside zone A you will need to pay more.

EUSA does not reimburse costs for lost or stolen abonos (monthly pass) or Metro tickets.

Commuter trains - Cercanías

The commuter rail that services the suburbs of Madrid is called cercanías. It is very well organized and easy to understand. You can catch trains at several Metro stations including Nuevos Ministerios.

The underground system provides good thorough transportation throughout the city. You may travel to one of the other zones for your internship. Once you catch on to the system, which is not difficult, you can get almost anywhere in the city quickly.  The metro runs from 6:30 a.m. until 1:30 a.m.  On Friday and Saturday nights, busses follow the metro lines between 1:30 and 6:30. A one way ticket costs 1 Euro which is good even when transferring from one line to another.  There are maps outside and inside every station to help you.  Line changes, directions, and street exits - salida - are well marked.

Madrid Buses

There are many bus lines that go throughout the city and to the suburbs.  The  bus ticket in Madrid costs 1 Euro.  You enter the bus at the front and exit at the rear.  In order to catch the bus you must find a sign with the number of the bus on it.  Buses will only stop at their own designated stop.

Regular bus lines run from 6:30 am to 12:00 midnight. After these hours special night busses, called buhos (night owls), carry passengers throughout the city on other routes. Buhos leave from the Plaza de Cibeles every half hour.

KEEP YOUR TICKET WITH YOU WHILE RIDING THE BUS OR METRO: THERE ARE PERIODIC CHECKS AND YOU CAN BE FINED FOR NOT HAVING A VALID TICKET

Taxis

Taxis are everywhere and are not very expensive by U.S. standards.  You can hail them in the street (when the green light is on it means they can pick up passengers), can catch them at taxi stops, or call them to come and pick you up (they only accept calls from a land line and there is a higher initial rate). If you want to call a taxi: Radiotaxi tel:  91 547 8200 or 91 405 1213. Teletaxi tel:  91 445 9008.

There is an initial charge, and the fare is then set by the meter according to mileage and time.  Remember that there are additional charges to what the meter reads for Sundays and nights, pick-ups and drop offs at the airport and train stations.  There should be a list of prices placed on the door window.  Check it! If you believe you are being ripped off, ask for a receipt -recibo - and make sure it includes the taxi’s ID number.

Tipping taxis is not mandatory and it is suggested to just leave small change.

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