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MAD · Madrid, Community of Madrid, Spain · International Hub

Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport Guide

Terminals, minimum connection times, ground transport, parking, lounges, and layover advice for Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD), sourced from the airport or the operator that runs each service, with minimums from OAG data.

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On this page
  1. Map
  2. Terminals & connections
  3. Layover helper
  4. Security & TSA
  5. Lounges
  6. Amenities
  7. Ground transport
  8. Parking
  9. Can I leave?
  10. FAQ

Quick answer

  • Terminals: 4 terminals, not all airside-connected
  • Minimum connection time: 30 min domestic, 1 hr 30 min international to domestic
  • Arrive: Follow your airline's check-in deadline
  • To Madrid: about 20 min one-way
  • Free WiFi: Yes · Showers: Yes

Map

Open in OpenStreetMap

Terminals & connections

Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport has 4 terminals. Not all terminals are airside-connected, so changing terminals can mean clearing security again. T1/T2/T3 and T4 are separated; T1-T4 transfers need shuttle + re-security.

Terminal 1

5 airlines: Delta Air Lines, Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Korean Air, Avianca

Non-OneWorld/Schengen intl.

Terminal 2

4 airlines: Vueling, Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa

Schengen and some intl.

Terminal 3

2 airlines: Ryanair, easyJet

Low-cost (small, older).

Terminal 4 (+T4S)

7 airlines: Iberia, American Airlines, British Airways, LATAM Airlines, Qatar Airways, Finnair, and more

Iberia hub; T4 Schengen, T4S non-Schengen (APM connected).

Minimum connection times

Domestic to domestic
30 min
Domestic to international
1 hr
International to domestic
1 hr 30 min
International to international
1 hr 30 min
Transfer system
APM between T4 and T4S; bus between T1-T2-T3 and T4
Airside connected
No
Check your connection time at MAD

Layover helper

Find how long to plan for a connection at MAD: the official minimum connection time, plus a comfortable time of 30 minutes more, or 60 more when you clear customs or go through security again after a terminal change. Adjust trip type, terminal change, and checked-bag assumptions to match your itinerary.

Minimum connection at MAD

30min

Comfortable

60+ min

The shortest connection airlines usually sell here. Includes the walk between gates. Source: OAG

Comfortable is our guidance, not a rule.

Based on:
Connection times are estimates. Verify with your airline.Powered by Travel VientTerms

Writing about MAD? Embed this connection time calculator on your site

Security & TSA

Security waits at MAD vary by time of day and checkpoint. We have not confirmed a standard arrival time published by MAD, so follow your airline's check-in and bag-drop deadlines.

TSA PreCheck
Not available
CLEAR
Not available
Global Entry
Not available

Schengen e-gates for eligible passports.

Lounges

1 notable lounge at MAD, including airline-branded clubs and third-party options accessible via Priority Pass or day-pass. Check your credit card benefits (Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X) before paying a day-pass fee.

Iberia Premium Lounge Velázquez

Terminal 4S

Iberia / OneWorld

Access: Business, Iberia Club Platino

Amenities: Showers, A la carte dining

Amenities

6 of 7 core amenities available at MAD: showers, free WiFi, nursing rooms, chapel, pharmacy, pet relief. Free WiFi quality is rated good. Dining options span 1 terminal.

Showers

Available

Premium lounges

Sleep pods

Not available

WiFi

Free (good)

Nursing rooms

Available

All terminals

Chapel

Available

Capilla in T1 and T4

Pet relief areas

Available

Pet relief areas

Dining highlights

Terminal 4: Mas Q Menos, La Cocina del Barajas

Ground transport to Madrid

MAD is about 20 min from downtown Madrid by the fastest transit option.

OptionCostTime
Metro Line 8
Subway
Direct metro to Nuevos Ministerios. Fare is a €1.50-€2 single plus a €3 airport supplement.
$5-$612-20 min
Cercanías C-1
Train
From T4 only; to Atocha/Chamartín.
VariesVaries
Taxi flat fare
Taxi
Flat €33 between the airport and anywhere inside the M-30 ring road, any hour. Uber and Cabify prices are not published by the airport.
$39Varies

Parking

MAD does not publish a fixed daily parking rate; on-airport parking is priced dynamically by date and lot. AENA prices Madrid-Barajas parking dynamically via online reservation with no cleanly published fixed daily maximum: the official per-lot pages state 'the rate is per minutes' and post no euro rate. Same reservation-first model as Barcelona (also AENA), so no USD daily rates are listed here. Reserve at aena.es for the lowest price; P1/P4 are closest to the terminals, while the Low Cost and Long Stay lots are cheaper for multi-day trips.

Short-term
Varies
Long-term
Varies
Economy
Not published
Valet
Not published

Can I leave MAD during a layover?

With a 3-hour layover, stay inside MAD. With 6+ hours, you have time to see part of Madrid. Round-trip to the city center is about 40 min plus re-screening on return.

Metro Line 8 reaches Nuevos Ministerios in 12 minutes from T1-T3 and in less than 20 minutes from T4. 5+ hour layovers can do tapas in central Madrid.

Overnight layover hotels

  • Hotel Melia Barajas
    5-min shuttle
    $$

Frequently asked questions

How early should I arrive at MAD?

We have not confirmed a standard arrival time published by Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, so follow your airline's check-in and bag-drop deadlines. Security waits vary by time of day and checkpoint, so add buffer at busy times.

What is the minimum connection time at MAD?

MAD requires at least 30 minutes for domestic-to-domestic connections and 90 minutes for international-to-domestic connections. MAD terminals are not all airside-connected, so changing terminals can mean re-clearing security. Transfer system: APM between T4 and T4S; bus between T1-T2-T3 and T4.

How long does it take to get between terminals at MAD?

We have no officially published terminal-to-terminal transfer time for MAD, so plan around the minimum connection time and add time for the terminal change.

Can I leave MAD during a 6-hour layover?

With 3 hours you should stay inside MAD. A 6-hour layover is enough to leave the airport briefly. Round-trip to the city center is about 40 minutes plus re-screening. Metro Line 8 reaches Nuevos Ministerios in 12 minutes from T1-T3 and in less than 20 minutes from T4. 5+ hour layovers can do tapas in central Madrid.

Does MAD have showers?

Yes, MAD has showers at Premium lounges.

Does MAD have sleep pods?

MAD does not have dedicated sleep pods. Check premium airline lounges for quiet rooms.

Is WiFi free at MAD?

Yes. MAD offers free WiFi throughout the airport.

What is the cheapest way to get from MAD to Madrid?

The cheapest option is typically Metro Line 8 at $5-$6, taking 12-20 minutes. Direct metro to Nuevos Ministerios. Fare is a €1.50-€2 single plus a €3 airport supplement.

Is there TSA PreCheck and CLEAR at MAD?

MAD does not support TSA PreCheck and does not have CLEAR. Security waits vary by time of day and checkpoint. Schengen e-gates for eligible passports.

Where should I eat at MAD during a layover?

Notable dining at MAD includes Mas Q Menos (Terminal 4), La Cocina del Barajas (Terminal 4).

How much does parking cost at MAD?

MAD does not publish a fixed daily parking rate; rates are set dynamically by date and lot. AENA prices Madrid-Barajas parking dynamically via online reservation with no cleanly published fixed daily maximum: the official per-lot pages state 'the rate is per minutes' and post no euro rate. Same reservation-first model as Barcelona (also AENA), so no USD daily rates are listed here. Reserve at aena.es for the lowest price; P1/P4 are closest to the terminals, while the Low Cost and Long Stay lots are cheaper for multi-day trips.

Is there a hotel at MAD for overnight layovers?

The closest option is Hotel Melia Barajas (5-min shuttle, $$). Budget time for the shuttle or rideshare in your overnight plan.

Which terminal does my airline use at MAD?

MAD has 4 terminals. Major airline assignments: Terminal 1: Delta Air Lines, Turkish Airlines, Emirates; Terminal 2: Vueling, Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines; Terminal 3: Ryanair, easyJet; Terminal 4 (+T4S): Iberia, American Airlines, British Airways. Confirm with your boarding pass before arrival since a few airlines operate from multiple terminals depending on route.

Are there pet relief areas at MAD?

Yes. Pet relief areas.

Is there a chapel or prayer room at MAD?

Yes. Capilla in T1 and T4. Catholic chapel.

Compare MAD to other airports

See how MAD ranks against the other 111 airports in our dataset.

Best for layoversMAD is workable for 6h+ layoversWith sleep podsSee which airports offer capsule hotels and nap roomsShortest MCTMAD dom-to-dom: 30 min · intl-to-dom: 1 hr 30 min

More on Madrid and MAD

Go deeper on connecting through MAD and on visiting Madrid.

Airlines operating at MAD

Look up baggage policies for any airline flying out of MAD.

Compare other airports

Sources & verification

Connection times, security, ground transport and parking verified Oct 2026 against the sources above. Amenities, lounges and nearby hotels without a listed source are not yet verified. Always confirm with Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport before flying.

If a figure looks wrong, email hello@vient.org, see how we handle corrections, or browse past fixes in our public changelog.