Madrid Metro Subway system

Madrid Metro

The Madrid Metro is the large metro system serving the city of Madrid. It is one of the largest metro systems in the world, which is especially remarkable considering Madrid's population of approximately 3.5 million (Madrid city) to 6 million (metropolitan area). In fact, it is among the top 10 longest metros in the world. It is also one of many fast growing systems in the world, rivaled, among many others, by the Seoul Metro or the Beijing Subway. Madrid Metro trains use left-hand running on all lines. Instead Spanish trains runs usually on the right side.

The Metro network has 231 stations on 12 lines plus one branch line, totalling 282 km, of which approximately 92% is underground

The Madrid metro is a very useful form of transport and is the perfect way to avoid the endless traffic congestion in Madrid.

There are a number of tickets available, be sure to buy the right one. Change the display at the machine into English and you'll see a number of options. Most of them pertain to areas of the Metro you are unlikely to use, so ignore them.
A number of tourist tickets available. These require a passport or Spanish ID card to be purchased (your details need to be put on the card so no one else can use it) so you must buy these from the manned booths.

The tickets available are:

Tourist Ticket 1 Day (Price 5.20 Euros) is a much better value than the Barcelona Metro equivalent, but you still need to be making at least six journeys a day for it to work out cheaper than the 10 Journeys ticket. Work out your itinerary for the day and decide for yourself.
Tourist Ticket 2 Days (Price 8.80 Euros) Virtually the same price as the 10 Journeys ticket. If you'll be making more than 10 journeys over two days, this is the ticket to buy.
Tourist Ticket 3/5/7 Days (Price 11.60/17.60/23.60 Euros). In our opinion these tickets are less valuable than the others as you need to be using the metro a lot over a number of days. If you are here for this long, the 10 Journeys ticket is likely to be better.
If you plan on a two-day zip around Madrid, then the two day tourist ticket is likely to be your best bet. If, however, you plan to have a more leisurely few days in the city (and Madrid definitely rewards leisurely visits) then the 10 Journey tickets are better.

Children under 11 years: 50%. discount. Free under 4 years.

Madrid Metro Plan ( Madrid metro pdf )

OPERATION

Metro runs from 6am till 2 am on almost all lines
Morning rush hours every 2-3 minutes, daytime every 4-6 minutes, every 15 minutes after midnight