In short
- Lines have a number and a colour; the platform sign shows the last station (dirección).
- You travel with a rechargeable card, the tarjeta transporte público.
- Correspondencia means transfer and salida means exit.
How the network works
The metro has about a dozen lines, each with a number and a colour. To choose a platform, look for the name of the last station on the line: that's the dirección. Going from Sol towards Las Rosas? Follow the signs for line 2, dirección Las Rosas.
Changing lines is a correspondencia — signs in each colour lead you through the corridors. When you arrive, look for Salida (exit) and the name of the street you want: big stations have several exits.
Tickets and the travel card
You travel with the tarjeta transporte público, a contactless card you load with single trips, ten-trip tickets or a monthly pass (el abono). You can top it up at the machines in every station. Fares and the types of pass change, so check the official transport website for the current options.
¿Dónde puedo recargar la tarjeta?
Where can I top up my card?
Quería un billete de diez viajes.
I'd like a ten-trip ticket.
La máquina no funciona.
The machine isn't working.
¿Cuánto cuesta el billete al aeropuerto?
How much is the ticket to the airport?
The signs you'll see
- la línea
- line
- la dirección
- direction (the last station)
- el andén
- platform
- la correspondencia
- transfer between lines
- la salida
- exit
- la entrada
- entrance
- el torno
- ticket barrier
- Cercanías
- the commuter train network
- el próximo tren
- the next train
Asking your way
People in Madrid are used to giving directions. Start with Perdona (“excuse me”), ask, and listen for izquierda (left), derecha (right) and todo recto (straight on).
Perdona, ¿dónde está el metro?
Excuse me, where's the metro?
¿Este tren va a Atocha?
Does this train go to Atocha?
¿Dónde tengo que cambiar?
Where do I have to change?
¿Cuál es la salida para el Retiro?
Which exit is for the Retiro?
¿Está lejos?
Is it far?
You
Perdona, ¿para ir a Atocha?
Excuse me, how do I get to Atocha?
Señor
Coge la línea uno, dirección Valdecarros.
Take line one, towards Valdecarros.
You
¿Está lejos?
Is it far?
Señor
No, está muy cerca.
No, it's very close.
You
¡Muchas gracias!
Thank you very much!
Questions
Can I use the same card on buses?
Yes, the tarjeta transporte público works across Madrid's public transport. Which trips your ticket or pass covers depends on what you load — the official transport website explains the current options.
Does the metro run all night?
No. It closes late at night and reopens early in the morning; night buses (“búhos”) cover the hours in between. Check the official website for current times.
Is “coger” OK to say in Spain?
Yes. In Spain “coger el metro” simply means “to take the metro”. It's the normal, everyday verb.
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