How To Get From Madrid Airport to Atocha Train Station Best Way – All Possible Ways (Updated 2023)

Last updated on April 18th, 2023 at 09:43 am

How To Get From Madrid Airport to Atocha Train Station Best Way – You can bo by bus, train, metro, taxi and private transfer.

What is The Distance From Madrid Airport to Atocha Train Station?

The distance from Madrid airport to Atocha Train Station is 16 kilometers. Click here to book online activities in Madrid and day tours

The travel time by taxi from Barajas airport to Madrid Atocha train station is 20 minutes. The taxi fare from Barajas airport to Madrid Atocha train station is €30. Read here Madrid Atocha to airport the reverse way.

What is The Cheapest Way From Madrid Airport to Atocha Train Station?

The cheapest way from Madrid airport to Atocha Train Station is by train for €2.60. The train travel time from Barajas Madrid airport to Atocha is around 30 minutes. Read here how to get from Madrid airport to city center and Madrid airport to Segovia.

What is The Best Way From Madrid Airport to Atocha Train Station?

The best travel time from Barajas airport to Atocha train station is by bus for €5. The travel time from Barajas airport to Atocha by bus is around 30 minutes.

We also listed other options like taxi, car rental and private transfers from your hotel that can be cheaper than a taxi.

Read here how to get from Madrid airport to Toledo, Madrid airport to Salamanca, Madrid airport to Avila, best places to visit in Madrid, Madrid itinerary, Madrid Instagram Spots and where to stay in Madrid!

SIM CARD AT MADRID BARAJAS AIRPORT

I wouldn’t recommend you to buy a sim card at Madrid airport. If you wish comfort you can buy eSim online and if you aren’t in a hurry just go around phone shops in the city and compare prices to buy the cheapest sim card in Madrid. Read here Spain sim card for tourist and Spain eSim

You can buy the cheapest eSim in Spain with Airalo eSim Spain prepaid starts at $4 USD with 1 GB data valid for 7 days. (USING DISCOUNT CODE GAMINTRAVELER 10%). And Nomad Spain eSim for $6 USD with 1 GB data valid for 7 days.

Holafly eSim Spain for less than $65 USD with unlimited data internet for 30 days if you use our code GAMINTRAVELER for just $2 USD per day.

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You can get Safetywing Travel Insurance for Digital Nomads valid for 28 days Safetywing for $50 USD per month with kids until 10 years old included

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HOW TO GET FROM MADRID AIRPORT TO ATOCHA TRAIN STATION

If you are coming for the first time to Madrid you will land in Adolfo Suárez Madrid Barajas Airport which is well-connected to the city. You can use the metro, Renfe Cercanías Train, or take the Airport Express Bus.

1. METRO FROM MADRID AIRPORT TO ATOCHA

You can go from Madrid airport to Atocha by metro. One of them is from the airport’s Terminal 1, 2 and 3, and the other option is from Terminal 4.

If you want to use Madrid’s metro, the first thing you have to do is buy a metro card to move around Madrid. The card costs €3 and you can buy them from metro machines with cash or credit card.

Once you buy your card you have to add credits to the card to go to Atocha. Apart from the initial €3 for the metro card, €3 will be added for your fare from Madrid airport to Atocha along with the extra €2 to go around Madrid.

If you want to get to Madrid from the airport using the metro. It will cost you €8. But you will be able to use the metro card while visiting Madrid adding more credits. The metro starts at 6 am until 1 30 am. You can check the stations and schedules in Metro de Madrid’s website.

If you’re headed to Atocha the main train of Madrid, you have to transfer in Nuevos Ministerios and get into Line 10 heading to Puerta del Sur and change in Tribunal Metro Station to Line 1 until Atocha Renfe.

The metro fare from Madrid airport to Atocha train station is for €8 for one way ticket. The metro travel time from Madrid airport to Atocha train station is around 45 minutes.

It will be worth it as I mentioned if you will use the Madrid Metro card in the city next days. Anyway you should purchase €3 metro card and top up. 

Maybe you can find your Metro Card for free in the information at the airport. If they are promoting Metro campaigns (but don’t trust on this) you can be lucky.

2. BEST WAY MADRID AIRPORT BUS TO ATOCHA TRAIN STATION (MADRID AIRPORT EXPRESS BUS)

The best way from Madrid airport to Atocha train station is by bus. The Madrid Airport Express Bus leaves from Terminal 4 and stops at Terminal 1, 2 and 3 of Adolfo Suarez Barajas Airport. Buses run every 13-20 minutes during the day and every 35 minutes at night.

The Airport Express Bus is starting in Terminal 4, Terminal 2, Terminal 1, O’Donell (already Madrid city center), Cibeles and Atocha Train Station (only during the day and not stopping at night). Click here to check schedule and prices!

Take note of this from 11:30 PM-6 AM, the bus will make stops in Cibeles instead of the Atocha train station coming from the airport.

The bus fare from Madrid airport to Atocha train station is €5 only payment in cash. The travel time from Madrid airport to Atocha train station is 30 minutes.

The Airport Bus leaving Barajas airport is stopping at Cibeles which is located in the city center and it has buses that connect with most of the points of interest in the city.

Atocha is the main train station in Madrid and it has great connections for long-distance travel to areas like Toledo and Segovia, Seville, Malaga, Valencia and Barcelona.

The best thing about the bus from the airport to Atocha train station is the flat rate is €5 and it’s 24 hours leaving every 20 minutes during the day and every 35 minutes at night from the airport. Remember you have to pay in cash to the driver. There are ATMs available for this in Barajas Airport.

Read here where to go in Madrid city center: Temple of Debod, Sabatini Gardens, Retiro Park and San Miguel Market

Getting a Go City Travel Pass for Madrid

If you’re looking at making the most out of your Madrid trip, we suggest you check out the Go City sightseeing pass which allows you unlimited access to all the spots you want to visit (that are included in the pass) and other tour perks for a discounted price and without lining up for physical tickets.

3. BY TAXI MADRID AIRPORT

If you are riding a taxi is for sure the most comfortable way to get to Atocha from the airport. The taxi fare by taxi from Madrid airport to Atocha train station is a fixed price of €30. The travel time by taxi from Madrid airport to Atocha train station is around 15-20 minutes.

So it would be best option to have someone to share the ride with. It’s fixed price from 2019 (will update for sure when changing the prices) and again is €30 fixed read below I’m taxi driver in Madrid. 

Here’s a fun fact: I was actually a taxi driver in Madrid before I started traveling the world and meeting Rachel. This was my job until we started our travel blog in November 2015. Would you believe that? Cool, right?

Anyway, as I was saying a taxi ride from Adolfo Suarez Barajas Airport to Atocha lasts 20 minutes on a taxi depending on the traffic. Taxis are available 24/7 and accept both cash and credit cards. Very convenient and you will not have to be worried of anything until you get to your hotel or Airbnb in Madrid.

It can be expensive but if there are 2-3 of you the comfort is totally worth it. If you are on a budget keep reading the other options which are cheaper like train and Airport Express Bus.

4. MADRID AIRPORT TO ATOCHA TRAIN STATION (CHEAPEST WAY)

The cheapest way from Madrid airport to Atocha Train Station is by train. Going by Train Renfe Cercanías of Madrid is another great choice for you to get to Atocha Train Station from the airport especially if arriving in Terminal 4 of the airport.

The travel time from Madrid airport to Atocha Train Station can last 30 minutes by Train Cercanías. There are also stops in Chanmartin, Nuevos Ministerios, Mendez Alvaro and Príncipe Pío. All these destinations have trains leaving to other cities in Spain.

The train fare from Madrid airport to Atocha train station is €2.60 (last time I did was July 2020 and still same price) to and from the city center and €0.50 cents for the card that you can use in the future if you stay in Madrid.

If you are coming from AVE (High-Speed Train) the train ticket will be free since it’s included in the High-Speed Train. There are trains running every 15-20 minutes. The first train departure starts at around 6 am and the last train leaving at 11 pm.

The best thing is that train is really comfortable if you go to Atocha Train Station plus is the cheapest price. Maybe you will catch a train to Valencia, Barcelona, Malaga or Sevilla so can be the best option for you going to Atocha train station when getting to Madrid.

Pay attention that can be tricky since is only going to Terminal 4 and not to Terminal 2 (mostly domestic and European flights) and Terminal 1 (mostly international flights). There is a Transit Bus for free connecting Terminal 4 (the one is farther) with Terminal 3, 2 and 1 in Barajas Airport.

5. CAR RENTAL AT MADRID AIRPORT

There are many options for renting a car in Madrid’s airport. It will be the most convenient option if you are traveling with a few people or a lot of luggage and planning to visit places around like Toledo and Segovia. There is a parking spot in Atocha if not make sure that you have parking place in your hotel or Airbnb since sometimes can be so challenging in Madrid.

Click here to get the best deals renting a car in Madrid!

6. PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION FROM THE AIRPORT TO ATOCHA

Airport transfers are also very easy and convenient like taxis but can be a little bit pricey. The airport transfers from Madrid airport to Atocha train station are usually available 24 hours and is only ideal if you have the budget and you really want comfort after your flight to Madrid.

Best Way From Madrid Airport To Atocha Train Station

The best way from Madrid airport to Atocha is by taxi or airport transfer if you prefer comfort.

In my opinion quality price, I would say the best way from Madrid airport to Atocha train station is only 30 minutes and is the cheapest from 6 am to 11 pm.

The best way from Madrid airport to Atocha train station if you are getting to Madrid at night time you will have the Airport Express Bus 24 hours for €5 and it will take 30-40 minutes.

Feel free to use our links for discounts. Using our links will help us to continue with the maintenance of the website and it will not cost you anything. Thanks for the love guys 

Happy Travels!