Madrid City Pass Guide: Compare & Choose Your Best Option

Understanding Madrid City Passes: What Are They?

Madrid city passes fall into two clearly separate categories. The official Madrid Tourist Travel Pass is issued by the Consorcio Regional de Transportes de Madrid (CRTM) and covers unlimited rides on all public transport — Metro, EMT buses, and Cercanías commuter trains — for 1 to 7 days. It does not include attraction entry. It is the pass you need if your main goal is moving around the city cheaply and freely.

Private attraction passes — such as the Madrid City Pass from Citypasses.eu and The Madrid Pass from OnlineCityPass — bundle skip-the-line entry to paid sites like the Royal Palace of Madrid and the Prado Museum. Some add a hop-on hop-off bus tour or an optional transport top-up. They are not issued by the city and are sold online by third parties.

A third category worth knowing is the Tarjeta Multi, the standard reloadable smartcard used by residents and short-stay visitors who prefer pay-as-you-go or 10-trip tickets rather than an unlimited pass. Understanding which category fits your needs is the first step before comparing prices.

Madrid Tourist Travel Pass: Zones, Prices & Where to Buy

The Tourist Travel Pass gives unlimited journeys on all CRTM-integrated transport for a fixed number of consecutive days. You choose between two zones. Zone A covers the city centre and is the correct choice for almost every tourist — it includes the Metro network, all EMT city buses, and the Cercanías commuter trains within the urban core. Zone T extends coverage to regional areas and is worth adding only if you plan day trips to places like El Escorial, Aranjuez, or Alcalá de Henares, since Zone T costs noticeably more.

2026 prices for adults (12 and over) are as follows. Zone A: 1 day €10.00, 2 days €17.00, 3 days €22.50, 4 days €27.00, 5 days €32.50, 7 days €42.00. Zone T: 1 day €15.00, 2 days €25.50, 3 days €34.00, 4 days €42.00, 5 days €49.00, 7 days €61.00. Children under 11 pay 50% on all options. Children under 4 travel free on the Metro and buses; under-6s travel free on Cercanías. Note that the Spanish transport authority extended its discounted fare regime through at least end of 2026, so these prices reflect the current subsidised rate.

The pass is pre-loaded onto a Tarjeta Multi smartcard, which is provided free when you buy a 1, 2, 3, 5, or 7-day Tourist Travel Pass. It cannot be shared between multiple people — each traveller in your group needs their own card. Buy at any Metro station ticket machine or staffed booth, at airport Metro stations, or at Estanco kiosks and other authorised retailers. The pass activates on first use and runs for consecutive calendar days, so activate it the morning you plan to start using it.

The Tourist Travel Pass is not valid on high-speed AVE trains or Renfe regional trains connecting Madrid to cities like Toledo or Segovia. For those routes, you buy separate Renfe tickets. It also does not cover tourist trains.

Madrid City Pass (Citypasses.eu): Inclusions & Benefits

The Madrid City Pass sold by Citypasses.eu is a digital pass — you purchase online, receive tickets by email, and show them on your phone. No physical pick-up is required on arrival. Core inclusions are skip-the-line entry to the Prado Museum and the Royal Palace, plus a 24-hour hop-on hop-off bus ticket and an audio guide app covering over 100 Madrid sights with walking routes. A 20% discount code for other attractions, flamenco shows, tapas tours, and excursions (including Toledo) is also included.

Two optional add-ons are available at checkout. The first is a 3-day public transport card, which gives unlimited Metro, bus, and train travel for three consecutive days. The second is a private taxi transfer from Madrid-Barajas Airport to your hotel — if you add this, a driver meets you at the arrivals hall and hands you the physical transport card, which activates on first scan. This combination (base pass + transport + airport transfer) makes it the most comprehensive bundle on the market for visitors who want everything pre-arranged.

The alternative compact option from the same provider is the Royal Madrid Combo — a cheaper ticket covering skip-the-line entry to the Royal Palace and the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium tour, plus the Real Madrid Museum and an audio guide app. It is worth considering if the stadium is on your list but the full Prado–HOHO–transport bundle feels excessive for your trip length.

The Madrid Pass (OnlineCityPass): Attractions & Packages

The Madrid Pass from OnlineCityPass focuses purely on bundling key attraction tickets. Standard inclusions are skip-the-line entry to the Royal Palace and the Prado Museum, a panoramic city bus tour, and an audio guide. It does not include public transport, so you will need to use separate Metro tickets or the Tarjeta Multi alongside it.

This pass suits visitors who prefer walking or taxis between sights and want their major attraction entries pre-booked and skip-the-line. It is a lighter and generally less expensive option than the Citypasses.eu bundle for those who only intend to visit the two flagship sites. Check the OnlineCityPass website for current pricing before your trip, as packages and inclusions can change seasonally.

Madrid's Public Transport System: An Overview

The CRTM integrates all public transport in Madrid: the Metro (12 lines, 300+ stations), the EMT city bus network (200+ routes), the Metro Ligero light rail, and the Cercanías regional train. A single Tarjeta Multi card works across all of them. The system uses fare zones — Zone A is the city centre and covers every major tourist site. You rarely need to go beyond Zone A unless making a day trip.

Madrid's Metro runs 06:00–01:30 daily, with trains every 2–5 minutes at peak times. EMT buses run 06:00–23:30, with the Búho (Owl) night bus network taking over from 23:30 until 06:00. Night buses depart from Plaza de Cibeles on 27 routes. If you plan to use Madrid's nightlife frequently, keep the night bus map handy — it is free to ride with the Tourist Travel Pass.

Since June 2026, all 303 Metro stations accept contactless payment (bank card, Apple Pay, Google Wallet) directly at turnstiles for single tickets at a flat €1.50 per ride. This is convenient for a day or two but becomes expensive quickly: six single trips cost €9.00 compared to €10.00 for a full 1-day Tourist Travel Pass with unlimited rides. For stays of two days or more, the Tourist Travel Pass is almost always better value than repeated single taps.

Getting Your Tarjeta Multi (Pay-as-You-Go Card)

For visitors who prefer not to commit to a multi-day pass — or who want to supplement an attraction pass with occasional Metro rides — the Tarjeta Multi is the right tool. The card itself costs €2.50 and is available at any Metro station machine. It is non-personalised and can be shared between members of your group, unlike the Tourist Travel Pass.

Load it with a 10-trip Metrobus ticket (€7.30 in 2026) to use across both Metro and EMT buses. You can also add a single ticket (€1.50–€2.00) or a Tourist Travel Pass directly onto the same card. Keep the card for future visits — it is valid for 10 years and can be topped up at any Metro station machine or via the "Tarjeta Transporte" app.

Important note: when changing from Metro to bus or from one bus to another, you must tap your card again. A transfer does not count as a continuation — each boarding uses one trip credit. This is a common surprise for visitors used to free transfers in other cities. Plan your routes with Citymapper or the Madrid Metro Bus Cercanías app to minimise unnecessary interchanges.

Madrid Metro: Zones & Key Lines for Tourists

The Metro is the fastest and most reliable way to reach every major attraction in Madrid. Line 1 (light blue) runs north–south through the centre and stops near Prado Museum (Atocha Renfe) and Gran Vía. Line 2 (red) connects Sol with the eastern edge of the city. Line 3 (yellow) covers the southern corridor including Lavapiés. Line 10 (dark blue) links Nuevos Ministerios directly to Madrid-Barajas Airport Terminal 4 — though an airport supplement of €3.00 applies to all Metro tickets for the airport route, including when using the Tourist Travel Pass.

The airport supplement is a frequent source of confusion. Even with an unlimited Tourist Travel Pass, you pay €3.00 extra when travelling to or from Terminal 4 via the Metro. The Airport Express bus (line 203) avoids this: it runs 24 hours a day between Atocha railway station and the airport for a flat €5.00 per trip, which is often cheaper than Metro + supplement especially at night when Metro does not run. Buses run every 15 minutes by day and every 35 minutes at night.

Madrid Buses (EMT) & Night Network

The EMT network of over 200 lines fills gaps the Metro does not reach and offers above-ground views of the city. Useful tourist routes include line 001 (Circular) around the city centre, and line 27 connecting Atocha to Retiro Park. Frequency on main routes is every 5–10 minutes on weekdays, dropping to 10–20 minutes on weekends. Buses run 06:00–23:30; on weekends daytime service starts at 07:00.

The 27 Búho night bus routes operate 23:30–06:00 and all depart from Plaza de Cibeles. They are perfectly usable with the Tourist Travel Pass — no extra charge. Single bus tickets can be purchased directly from the driver in cash for €1.50, but the Tarjeta Multi 10-trip or Tourist Travel Pass is always the cheaper option for more than two rides.

Comparing Madrid Passes: Which Is Right for You?

The Madrid Tourist Travel Pass (Zone A) gives unlimited transport for fixed days. Use it if you plan to take five or more Metro or bus rides per day and want simplicity. A 3-day Zone A pass costs €22.50 for an adult. It does not include any attraction entry and cannot be shared. It is the best-value transport option for most tourists staying 2–7 days.

The Tarjeta Multi with 10-trip ticket costs €2.50 (card) + €7.30 (10 trips) = €9.80. This is cheaper than a 1-day Tourist Travel Pass (€10.00) if you take fewer than 10 trips across your entire visit. The card can be shared. Best for: day-trippers, those who walk or take taxis much of the time, or visitors who are combining Madrid with other Spanish cities and want a card to top up only when in Madrid.

The Madrid City Pass (Citypasses.eu) bundles the Prado, Royal Palace, HOHO bus, and audio guide, with optional 3-day transport and airport taxi transfer. The base pass without transport is suited to visitors with a packed sightseeing agenda who want skip-the-line access pre-arranged. Adding the transport option makes it the most all-inclusive choice. Best for: visitors spending 2–4 days focused on cultural sightseeing who want everything sorted before arrival.

The Madrid Pass (OnlineCityPass) covers the same two flagship sights and panoramic bus, without transport. It is typically cheaper than the Citypasses.eu bundle and is sufficient if you are happy using the Metro on pay-as-you-go. Best for: visitors who plan to visit the Prado and Royal Palace but do not need the airport transfer or HOHO bus upgrade.

Which Pass Fits Your Itinerary Length?

On a 1-day visit, buy a Tourist Travel Pass (€10.00 Zone A) if you plan to move between multiple neighbourhoods. If you want to see the Royal Palace and the Prado in one day, the Madrid Pass or Citypasses.eu base pass makes more sense: both sites have long queues and skip-the-line access is worth it in peak season (April–September). You can combine an attraction pass with contactless single Metro taps for the few rides you need.

On a 3-day visit, the Tourist Travel Pass at €22.50 (Zone A) covers all transport. If you also plan to visit two or three paid attractions, run the maths: individual Prado tickets cost €15.00, Royal Palace costs €14.00. A bundle that covers both plus skip-the-line is worth comparing to buying individual tickets, especially if queues are long. Add the Zone T upgrade only if you plan a day trip outside the city.

On a 7-day visit, the 7-day Tourist Travel Pass at €42.00 (Zone A) is exceptional value. At that length, individual tickets and top-ups would likely cost more. For attractions, individual tickets bought in advance online (Prado, Reina Sofía, Thyssen) are fine at this duration since you can spread visits to off-peak morning slots when queues are short. There is less need for a skip-the-line bundle when you have a week to work with.

Common Mistakes with Madrid Passes (and How to Avoid Them)

Buying Zone T when you only need Zone A. Zone T costs 50% more across all durations and is only necessary for day trips to satellite towns like El Escorial or Aranjuez. If your plan is to stay in the city for your whole trip, Zone A is always sufficient. Check your itinerary before choosing at the ticket machine — the default screen often shows Zone T first.

Assuming the Tourist Travel Pass can be shared. Unlike the Tarjeta Multi 10-trip ticket, the Tourist Travel Pass is not transferable. Each person in your group needs their own pass. This catches families off-guard at the gate when one person tries to tap through twice. If your group is small and transport-light, the Tarjeta Multi 10-trip shared card may be a better fit for the whole group.

Activating the pass the night you arrive, then losing a day. The pass counts consecutive calendar days, not 24-hour periods from first use. If you tap in at 23:00 on Sunday, your Day 1 ends at midnight — not 24 hours later. Tap in on the first morning you plan to fully use transport, not the night you land.

Forgetting the Metro airport supplement. The €3.00 supplement for Terminal 4 (Barajas) applies even with a Tourist Travel Pass. If your hotel is near Atocha, the Airport Express bus at €5.00 flat can actually be cheaper and runs 24 hours, so it is worth considering for the airport leg instead of the Metro.

Practical Tips for Using Your Madrid Pass & Transport

Always tap your card until you see a green light at the Metro turnstile or bus reader. A near-miss tap that shows amber or no light means your trip was not registered and you can be fined. Hold the card flat against the reader rather than brushing it sideways.

Keep your Tarjeta Multi away from other bank cards or contactless items — interference can cause read errors. A separate card sleeve or front pocket works well. If the machine cannot read your card, try a different turnstile before queueing for the staffed booth.

Peak hours on the Metro are 08:00–09:30 and 18:00–20:00 on weekdays. If your itinerary allows, schedule major cross-city journeys outside those windows. Line 10 to the airport is busiest on Friday afternoons. The getting around the city guide covers route planning in more detail.

Download the Citymapper app or the Madrid Metro Bus Cercanías app before you arrive — both work offline and include real-time disruption alerts. The official Madrid Metro maps are also available in print at any station information desk.

Be vigilant with your belongings at Sol, Gran Vía, and Atocha stations and on any crowded Line 1 carriage. Keep bags in front of you and store your Tarjeta Multi in a secure inner pocket rather than a back pocket or open bag top.