Madrid Airport (MAD)
Madrid Airport (MAD) is Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, with Terminals T1, T2, T3 and T4 and the T4 Satélite. A free shuttle bus runs between the terminals, and an underground connection train links T4 with the satellite in about 5 minutes. The metro reaches the airport, with a supplement to pay on entry and on exit.
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Updated October 2026
The terminals at Madrid Airport
The Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport has Terminal T1, Terminal T2, Terminal T3, Terminal T4 and the T4 Satélite, which is the satellite building of T4. The airport publishes the map and the information of each one.
Getting to and from Madrid Airport
The metro reaches the airport, and the airport stations have an airport supplement that you have to pay on entry and on exit, on top of the metro ticket. The supplement is the same whichever airport station you use.
The Cercanías train also serves the airport, and the airport's own pages cover the metro, the train, the bus, the taxi and the car with driver.
What happens when you arrive at MAD
Keep your passport and any form you filled in on the plane with you the whole way, from the aircraft door to the exit.
The time you need for a connection depends on the route, the airline and whether you have to collect your baggage, and it can change a lot depending on whether the next flight leaves from the same terminal or a different one. The airport publishes the connections page for this.
Madrid Airport with children
The free shuttle bus runs all day and every night, and the underground connection train between T4 and the satellite takes about 5 minutes, so moving between buildings with a stroller is easier than it sounds.
Leave the passports and the children's documents in your carry-on bag, not in checked luggage, so you have them at passport control.
Plan your stop at Madrid Airport
Check with the airline and the airport's own site before you travel: the terminals, the airlines and the arrival procedures change. And check with the embassy or consulate about the documents your family needs for the entry rules of every country on your route.
Sources
- Official home page of Aena for the Aeropuerto Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, which lists Terminal T1, Terminal T2, Terminal T3, Terminal T4 and the T4 Satélite. — aena.es (checked 21 October 2026)
- Official page of Aena on the transport between the terminals of Madrid-Barajas: the free shuttle bus on the T1-T2-T4 route and the T4-T3-T2-T1 route, every day, every 5 minutes from 06:00 to 22:00 and every 20 minutes from 22:00 to 06:00, and the underground connection train between T4 and the T4 Satélite, which takes about 5 minutes. — aena.es (checked 21 October 2026)
- Official page of Aena on getting to Madrid-Barajas by metro: the airport stations and the airport supplement that has to be paid on entry and on exit. — aena.es (checked 21 October 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How many terminals does Madrid Airport have?
Terminals T1, T2, T3 and T4, plus the T4 Satélite, which is the satellite building of T4.
How do I get between the terminals at MAD?
With the free shuttle bus, on the T1-T2-T4 route and the T4-T3-T2-T1 route, every day, every 5 minutes from 06:00 to 22:00 and every 20 minutes from 22:00 to 06:00. Between T4 and the T4 Satélite there is an underground connection train.
How long does the train take from T4 to the satellite terminal?
About 5 minutes. The underground connection train runs without interruption all year, and the frequency is between 4 and 12 minutes.
Can I take the metro to Madrid Airport?
Yes, the metro reaches the airport, and you have to pay an airport supplement on entry and on exit, on top of the metro ticket. The airport's own page has the details.
What do I do first when I land at MAD?
Keep your passport and any form you filled in on the plane with you the whole way, from the aircraft door to the exit, and leave the children's documents in your carry-on bag.