Madrid is Spain’s busiest airport, but also one of Europe’s most frequented thanks to it being a hub for oneworld airline Iberia and SkyTeam member Air Europa. Both of these network airlines keep Madrid’s 4 runways quite busy morning and night, and give travellers the opportunity to reach all corners of the globe direct or with at least one connection. I travel through the airport quite often, but have learned how to navigate it with ease. While connections between the different terminals can be tedious, these insider tips will help you breeze through like a pro.
Going to or from Madrid Airport
Madrid Airport is connected to the city via a metro line. Madrid’s exemplary metro system is fast, clean, frequent and easy to use. Keep in mind that taking the metro from or to the airport will require paying a small supplement to the standard fare.
The journey into the heart of town takes around 30–40 minutes, which in my opinion is just as long as it might take to wait for and travel on airport hotel shuttles. While the latter may be cheaper, if time allows, consider a city-centre hotel near a metro stop that is convenient for an airport ride.
The Cercanias trains (those that go to Madrid suburbs) also reach the airport’s Terminal 4 station. From there, those bound for any other terminals, can catch the metro.
Since there is not a lot within walking distance of most airport hotels (other than office parks and residential buildings), tourists will feel stranded. It is possible to take a public bus from some of the airport hotels to a nearby metro station and head into town as an alternative.
4 runways, 4 terminals
As traffic has grown, so too has the need for more space. The airport now has 4 runways and 4 terminals, but the latter are not all connected to each other. Even the ones that are connected require long walks, and I find that moving walkways are not always available for long stretches.
The airport was previously known as Madrid Barajas, but in 2014, it modified the official name to Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport in honour of Spain’s first democratically elected prime minister. Madrid is Europe’s second largest airport by land size after Paris Charles de Gaulle.
Terminals 1–3
These are the original airport terminals, and they meander in a hodgepodge of connected buildings constructed during different decades. Walks can be long and circuitous, but signage is excellent. In my experience, connections between airlines operating flights in these terminals are not far from each other.
Terminals 4 and 4S
The colourful rooftop outlines of these architectural masterpieces were designed to look like the horns of a Spanish bull, but to many, they also look like the letter M for Madrid. Skylights and tall windows of glass fill them with natural light.
Terminal 4 handles Schengen flight departures while an underground train takes travellers to T4S for all flights outside of the Schengen Zone. The train between the two can take between 5–15 minutes with numerous escalators required. This is the longest airport people mover in Europe (T4 is 1.5 km from T4S), and I can vouch for that claim after every trip.
Connecting between terminal complexes
Since Terminals 1–3 are quite far from the T4 complex, connecting between the two areas requires taking a free bus between the two. Most of the day, it runs every five minutes. This means you will have to exit the secure area of the airport and take a bus to re-clear security in the other terminal.
Keep this in mind when booking flights that involve multiple, unaffiliated airlines. If you are booking flights on two separate bookings to save money (rather than all together on the same ticket), I recommend a minimum of 3–4 hours between connections at Madrid because you will need to reclaim any checked bags before going to the other terminal.
Airport hotels
Madrid has plenty of easily accessible airport hotels, but none is physically connected to the airport. I prefer both the Marriott or the Hilton, which both have shuttles that are frequent enough between the terminals and the hotels themselves. The shuttles start at Terminal 4 before going to T1-3 and then to their respective hotels before returning in a reverse trajectory.
Claiming VAT tax refunds at Madrid airport
When non-EU citizens make eligible purchases within the European Union, they can claim a refund for any tax paid before departing the EU. If Madrid airport is your last point in the European Union, you can claim the refund at the airport.
The process can seem confusing. You will want to complete all necessary forms in the shop and bring those with you to the airport. You need to have the form validated or stamped at the refund counter or via kiosk before checking in for your flight as customs officers may ask to see your purchases. You will need to show your boarding pass or a copy of your ticket plus passport.
Only after validating the form should you check any bags for your flight. Most refunds are issued electronically to your bank account or credit card, but sometimes, they are given in cash at the VAT refund office. Be sure to use the forms at the appropriate refund counter as there are multiple companies that manage the refund process.
Be careful what you buy
Even after security, not everything for sale in the airport is allowed in other countries. This includes certain types of cheese and some of the famous bellota ham on offer in the terminal. If you a travelling back to the UK, this shouldn't be a problem. But if you are heading somewhere outside of Europe, you could be fined upon arrival. I recommend asking the sales person before handing over your card.
Interesting facts about Madrid airport
Not only is this the country’s busiest, but it was its first airport. Today, you can reach five continents via a direct flight from its four runways.
From many terminal areas (and clearly from two of its four runways), a long white cross covers one of the neighbouring hills. I used to wonder what this is, until I finally asked. As it turns out, this question gets asked multiple times a day at the airport’s information desks.
It is a monument dedicated to the more than 1,000 people killed during the Paracuellos Massacre at that location in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War. A graveyard (not visible) is located at the bottom of that hill.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
