Lois Larson
Madrid Airport, officially known as Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport, is one of the busiest airports in the world, serving over 50 million travellers annually. The airport consists of four terminals, with Terminal 4 (T4) being the furthest away from the other three. T4 is divided into two sections, T4 and T4S, with the latter being a satellite terminal that handles non-Schengen flights. Passengers arriving from outside the Schengen Zone must go through customs before reaching the baggage area. Madrid Airport is located within Zone A, which coincides with the municipality of Madrid, and can be easily accessed via the Metro de Madrid.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport |
| Location | 13km/8 miles from Puerta del Sol, Madrid city centre |
| Terminals | 4 (T1, T2, T3, T4) |
| Terminal T4 Sections | T4 and T4S (satellite terminal) |
| Zone | A |
| Transport Card | Public Transport Card (TTP) |
| Transport Card Price | €2.50 |
| Transport Card Types | Multi Public Transport Card, Personal Public Transport Card |
| Transport Card Validity | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7 consecutive calendar days |
| Transport Card Discounts | 50% on 10-trip tickets, 60% on 30-day Transport Season Ticket, 30% on Blue Card |
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What You'll Learn
Madrid Airport's terminals and their uses
Madrid Airport, officially known as Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport, is Spain's busiest airport. It is located only 13km from Madrid's city centre and is listed as the first aviation hub in Spain concerning passenger traffic and commercial movements. The airport is divided into four terminals, with a fifth terminal exclusively handling cargo flights.
Terminals 1, 2, and 3 are all located within the same large building, with Terminal 4 situated 6km away. Terminal 1 primarily serves international flights to the Middle East and Asia, with Terminal 2 handling flights to and from the Schengen zone countries. Terminal 3 is considered a domestic terminal, serving the same airlines as Terminal 2. Terminal 4, which opened in 2006, is divided into two sections: the main terminal building and a satellite terminal (T4S). T4 serves both domestic and international flights, with T4S handling non-Schengen flights.
Terminal 1's first floor houses the departures area, with check-ins taking place on level 1 and arrivals and baggage claim on the ground floor. Terminal 2's ground level houses the baggage carousels, with the check-in area on the first floor and departures on the second floor. Terminal 3's first floor hosts departures and check-in, with arrivals and baggage carousels on the ground level. Terminal 4's first level has boarding gates and a duty-free area, with check-ins taking place on the second level.
Passengers can easily walk between Terminals 1, 2, and 3, but Terminal 4 is accessible via a free shuttle bus that runs between the terminals. Terminal 4 also has an underground train station, with an automatic train providing free transfers between the main terminal and T4S.
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Transport to and from the airport
Madrid–Barajas Airport, officially named Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport, is located just 13km from the city centre. It is one of the busiest airports in the world, serving over 50 million travellers annually. The airport has four terminal buildings, with Terminal 4 (T4) being 6km away from the other three terminals. Passengers can walk between Terminals 1, 2, and 3, but they need to take a shuttle bus to get to T4. T4 is also connected to the other terminals via an underground automatic train called the APM.
Madrid–Barajas Airport is easily accessible by public transportation, including buses, taxis, private transfers, and car rentals. The airport is also served by the Metro de Madrid, which can be accessed from any terminal via the two stations located within the airport: Aeropuerto T1-T2-T3 and Aeropuerto T4, both on Line 8. The metro operates from 6 am to 1.30 am, and to ride it, you need a Public Transport Card (TTP) loaded with a valid ticket for your journey. The Multi Public Transport Card can be purchased from automatic machines at all Metro stations for €2.50. This card can hold up to two 10-journey tickets, allowing a maximum of 20 journeys of the same ticket type. If you plan to use a Single or 10-Journey Ticket at the airport, you must pay an extra Airport Supplement. However, from 1 January to 30 June 2025, there is a 50% discount on 10-trip tickets and a 60% discount on the 30-day Transport Season Ticket.
In addition to the public transportation options, the airport also offers comfortable taxis, luxurious private transfers, and car rental services. When travelling to or from the airport, it is recommended to arrive early, as Madrid Airport is a busy aviation hub, and you will need ample time for check-in, passport control, and other procedures.
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The airport's location in relation to Madrid
Madrid Airport, officially known as Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport, is located just 13km (8 miles) from the city centre of Madrid. The airport is named after Adolfo Suárez, Spain's first democratically elected prime minister. Madrid Airport is Spain's busiest aviation hub in terms of passenger traffic and commercial movements, and it is also one of the top 5 airports in Europe and one of the top 20 busiest airports in the world.
The airport is conveniently located near the city centre, with easy access to public transportation. It has four terminal buildings: T1, T2, T3, and T4. T1, T2, and T3 are located close together, while T4 is about 6km away from the other three terminals. Passengers can walk between T1, T2, and T3, but they need to take a shuttle bus to get to T4. The shuttle bus takes about 10 minutes to travel between the terminals.
Terminal 4 (T4) is the newest terminal, having opened in 2006, and it services flights to North and South America, as well as other international and domestic destinations. T4 is a five-story building, with the check-in area on the second level and arrivals on the ground level. It is also connected to a satellite terminal, T4S, which handles non-Schengen flights. T4S can be accessed via an automatic train called the APM, which departs from the underground level of T4.
Terminals 2 and 3 are essentially the same terminal and serve Schengen Zone flights, domestic flights, and other European destinations. T3 is considered the domestic terminal, with arrivals and baggage carousels located on the ground level, while T2 primarily serves Schengen destinations. However, a few domestic and intercontinental flights also depart or arrive at T2.
Madrid Airport is well-connected to the city and offers various transportation options, including buses, taxis, private transfers, and car rentals. It is also accessible via the Metro de Madrid, with two stations located within the airport: Aeropuerto T1-T2-T3 and Aeropuerto T4, both on Line 8. To access the metro, passengers need a Public Transport Card and a valid ticket for their trip.
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The airport's Schengen Zone procedures
Madrid Airport, officially known as Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport, is one of the busiest airports in the world, serving more than 50 million travellers annually. The airport consists of four terminals, with Terminals 1, 2, and 3 located close to each other and Terminal 4 situated 6km away.
Passengers arriving at Madrid Airport from outside the Schengen Zone will need to go through customs and passport control before proceeding to the baggage area. Those arriving from within the Schengen Zone or from another part of Spain can proceed directly to the departures terminal.
Terminal 2 primarily serves Schengen destinations, although it also handles some domestic and intercontinental flights. Terminal 3 is mainly designated for domestic flights within Spain. Terminal 4, the newest terminal, opened in 2006 and handles a mix of international and domestic flights, including flights to North and South America. Terminal 4 is further divided into two sections: the main Terminal 4 building and the satellite terminal T4S, which handles non-Schengen flights.
When transferring between flights within the same terminal at Madrid Airport, passengers do not need to go through security again. They can simply proceed to the gate of their next flight. However, when transferring between different terminals, passengers should follow the signs for connecting or transferring flights. Additionally, a free shuttle bus service connects Terminals 1, 2, and 3 to Terminal 4, with a travel time of about 10 minutes. An automatic train, known as the APM, provides a connection between Terminal 4 and its satellite terminal T4S, operating every 5 minutes with a travel time of approximately 3 minutes.
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The airport's facilities and amenities
Madrid–Barajas Airport, officially named Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport, is located 13km from Madrid city centre. It is Spain's busiest airport and one of the top 20 busiest airports in the world, serving over 50 million travellers annually. The airport consists of four terminals, with a fifth satellite terminal, handling flights from all over the world.
Madrid Airport is divided into four terminal buildings, three of which are located close together, while the fourth, T4, is a short shuttle bus ride away. T4 is a five-story building, with the underground levels hosting the airport's train station, car rental agencies, and APM trains. The ground floor of T4 is where arrivals are located, with the first level housing boarding gates and a duty-free area. The second level is where passengers check in, with security checkpoints on the third level. T4 is also home to Iberia's special lounge for unaccompanied children.
T4S is the satellite terminal, which handles non-Schengen flights. APM trains connect T4 with T4S, which takes about three minutes. Arrivals are on the ground level of T4S, with departures on the first floor, along with shopping and dining amenities.
Terminals 1, 2, and 3 are located next to each other, with T2 primarily serving Schengen destinations and T3 mostly handling domestic flights. T2 features a large children's playground and a staffed nursery with cots, a nappy-changing area, and a food-heating facility.
The airport offers a wide range of facilities for both leisure and business travellers, including over 30 bars, cafes, and restaurants, as well as more than 100 shops. There are a la carte restaurants, wine bars, coffee shops, snack bars, traditional tapas bars, sandwich kiosks, fast-food outlets, juice bars, and a food gallery. Duty-free shops sell wines and spirits, tobacco, jewellery, and Spanish gourmet delicacies. There are also pharmacies, bookshops, florists, newsagents, and fashion and accessory boutiques.
For business travellers, there are five VIP lounges with tea, coffee, snacks, internet access, fax and copy services, newspapers, and flight information. There are also numerous conference and meeting rooms, press rooms, and celebrity lounges. The airport provides access to international car rental desks, medical assistance points, a left-luggage office, a VAT refund desk, tourist offices, banks, currency exchange desks, chapels, a mosque, and an oratory.
The airport is designed to be accessible for disabled persons, with wheelchair access and reserved parking spaces available. Airlines can provide wheelchairs upon request. Additionally, flight status information is available via mobile phone message to assist visually impaired individuals.
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Frequently asked questions
Madrid Airport, or Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, is in Zone A. This zone coincides with the municipality of Madrid.
Madrid Airport has four terminals, T1, T2, T3, and T4. Terminals T1, T2, and T3 are located close to each other, while T4 is about 6km away.
Terminals T1, T2, and T3 handle international and Schengen Zone flights, as well as other European destinations. Terminal 4, which opened in 2006, services flights to North and South America, as well as other international and domestic routes.
