Madrid's Metro is one of the largest in Europe, and more and more tourists pay with the card in their pocket. But the airport supplement, a Tourist Ticket that needs a physical Multi Card, and gates that only accept contactless at some entrances trip people up. Here's what works in 2026.
In 30 seconds
- Contactless works only at gates marked for it: tap a bank card or unlocked phone, no app needed
- You still need a Multi Card (€2,50) for Tourist Tickets and the 10-trip Metrobús
- The €3,00 airport supplement is only valid on the day you buy it, until the end of service
Do you need a Multi Card in Madrid?
For single rides, no. Tap your contactless card or phone at a marked gate. Each ride is charged separately and the day's rides are billed together, but there is no daily cap, so ten rides cost ten fares.
For anything else you need a Multi Card: Tourist Tickets, the 10-trip Metrobús, and child or senior discount fares. It costs €2,50 and you can buy it at Metro ticket machines. The card price is included when you buy it together with a Tourist Ticket.
A Tourist Ticket is personal, so every traveller needs their own. A shared Multi Card only works for single and 10-trip tickets, and only if the group starts and ends the trip together.
How much does the Metro cost in 2026?
| Ticket type | Price | Validity | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single ride, contactless or Multi Card | €1,50–2,00 per ride | One ride, billed per day, no cap | 1–4 rides a day |
| Metrobús 10 trips (Zone A) | €7,30 | 10 trips on Metro and bus. Airport trips need the €3,00 supplement per traveller | 3–7 trips over several days |
| Tourist Ticket Zone A, 1 day | €10,30 | Unlimited Metro and bus, airport included | 5+ rides in one day |
| Tourist Ticket Zone A, 3 days | €23,10 | Unlimited Metro and bus, airport included | Most 3-day trips |
| Tourist Ticket Zone A, 5 days | €33,40 | Unlimited Metro and bus, airport included | Longer stays |
| Airport Supplement | €3,00 | Day of purchase only, until the end of service | Each airport trip on a single or 10-trip ticket |
(As of October 2026, Metro de Madrid tariff pages, metromadrid.es)
If you'll take more than a few rides a day over several days, the 3-day Tourist Ticket at €23,10 is the better buy. Choose the 1-day ticket at €10,30 only for a day with five or more rides. It already includes the airport, so on an airport day it saves you the separate €3,00.
Step-by-step: how to get started
- Tap a contactless bank card or unlocked phone at a gate marked for it. Each ride is charged as a single fare, so there's nothing to buy first.
- For a Tourist Ticket, buy a Multi Card (€2,50) at a Metro ticket machine. You can buy the Tourist Ticket at the same machine, or at the customer offices in the airport stations.
- Load the Tourist Ticket for your number of days onto the Multi Card, then tap it at the gate.
- Flying in or out? Buy the airport supplement on the day of travel. A supplement bought earlier is no longer valid.
- Tap again every time you enter the Metro, and when boarding a bus. There is no separate paper ticket to validate.
Getting from Barajas airport to the city
Metro Line 8 (pink) runs from the airport stations (T1-T2-T3 and T4) to Nuevos Ministerios. The trip costs €4,50–5,00 including the €3,00 airport supplement. The supplement is required for Line 8, so buy it on the same day or let your contactless card charge it at the gate.
Cercanías C1 from Terminal T4 is the cheapest option at €2,60, taking 25–30 minutes to Atocha. This is a Renfe train, so Metro tickets and Multi Card passes don't work on it. You need a separate Cercanías ticket. Renfe also takes contactless at the turnstiles, but you must tap out at the exit too, or you're charged the maximum fare for all zones. If you land at T1, T2 or T3, take the free shuttle bus to T4 first.
EMT Exprés Aeropuerto runs 24 hours a day from Terminals T1, T2 and T4 (not T3) to Atocha and Cibeles for €5,00. Expect about 30–40 minutes from Atocha, depending on the terminal. A taxi is a fixed €33,00 to the centre, within the M-30 ring.
Common mistakes
Mistake: Buying the airport supplement the day before your flight. Fix: The supplement is valid only on the day you buy it, until the end of service. Buy it on the morning of your flight, or tap your contactless card at the Line 8 gate on the day you travel.
Mistake: Holding a locked phone to the reader, or several cards at once. Fix: Unlock your phone, select the card you want to use, and hold only that card or phone to the reader. Metro's rules ask you to present only the card you're using, because other cards nearby can make the trip charge go to the wrong place.
Mistake: Using a Metro ticket on the Cercanías C1 to the airport. Fix: The Cercanías C1 is run by Renfe, not Metro. Buy a separate Cercanías ticket (€2,60 to Atocha or the city) or take Line 8 with the airport supplement.
Roamy's quick checklist
- Tap a contactless card or unlocked phone at a gate marked for it; a Multi Card is only needed for Tourist Tickets
- Buy the €2,50 Multi Card if you want the 3-day €23,10 Tourist Ticket or the 10-trip Metrobús (€7,30)
- Buy the €3,00 airport supplement on the day you travel, not the day before
- Take Cercanías C1 from T4 for €2,60 if you're on a budget, with a separate Renfe ticket
- Every traveller needs their own Tourist Ticket; keep your card or phone with you through the gate, and tap every time you board
For zones, the full fare table and every accessibility detail in one place, see the Madrid transport guide.