The actual city center is about 10 minutes walking from Puerta del Sol, but most hostels are nearer this area. This metro station is beneath the Puerta del Sol, the de facto center of the city and the epicenter of tourism in Madrid.

To continue to Centro, at Principe de Vergara, take the 5 train (direction: Cuatro Caminos) 4 stops to Sol. At Colombia metro station, take the 9 train (direction: Puerta de Arganda) 5 stops to Principe de Vergara. To reach the Centro District where most tourists stay, take the 8 line (direction: Neuvos Ministerios) 4 stops to Colombia. The metro trip from Madrid-Barajas Airport to the city center takes about 30-45 minutes depending on the location of your accommodation. *Note: when going to the airport, your departure terminal matters when purchasing the subway fare. When going into the city, it doesn’t really matter where you get on the metro. There is a metro stop located at terminals 1-3 and a stop at terminal 4. Reaching the metro from the terminal involves a bit of walking through the airport, so travelers with excessive baggage should take that into consideration.

It’s as easy as following the “Metro” signs. The fastest way to reach the city center is via the Madrid metro system. Thankfully, it’s pretty straightforward, fast and easy. After passing through immigration and customs, the next thing for tourists in Madrid is to figure out transportation to the city center.

Madrid airport bus to city center