Madrid is the city with the greatest diversity of means of transport for all those users who want to get around the city, whether to go to work, carry out any activity or do tourism.
The high number of inhabitants and tourists added to the size of the capital means that Madrid has to look for numerous alternatives to be at the forefront in terms of mobility, something to be expected in the case of a European capital.
Among the advantages offered by this plurality of means of transport, we find: a complex travel network, sustainability, time reduction, comfort and the possibility of travel 24 hours a day.
From Barbieri Real Estate, specialists in home rental, we invite you to learn about all the travel options that are within your reach to move around the town of Madrid.
Getting around Madrid in Metro
Inaugurated by Alfonso XIII, since 1919 the Metro of Madrid has been providing service to users who, every day, cross the turnstiles to get around the city. This metropolitan railway network consists of a total of 12 lines differentiated by numbers and colors that cover the most important neuralgic points of the capital.
This centennial underground is configured as the third largest metro system in Europe, behind London and Moscow. Of its more than 300 stations and its 300 km extension, some iconic stops stand out such as: Tirso de Molina station, Alsacia, Chamartín, Paco de Lucía, Sevilla, etc.
Thus, all those who wish to use the Madrid metro must know that it is the fastest, most sustainable and economical way. In order to use its facilities, users must access it using the public transport card, if you do not have one you can get one from the vending machines located at the entrance of each station.
Once you have a card, you can choose between a single ticket for a single trip (from 1.50€), a ten-trip voucher or a monthly transport pass; This pass costs 20€ for people under twenty-six years of age; from that age, the price varies depending on the area chosen.
Getting around Madrid by bus
For those who don’t like the idea of traveling through underground tunnels or do not have a metro stop close to their position, there is the option of the bus.
Madrid has a total of two hundred and nineteen lines and a constantly moving fleet of more than two thousand buses. You can use this means of transport with the same card that you use for the Metro of Madrid if you have contracted the monthly transport pass. If you do not have the card you can pay the cost of the ticket at the entrance with a price of 1.50€.
This transport network has numerous advantages, such as: access at street level, the possibility of seeing the city from your seat, access for the disabled, and a night transport network, the so-called owls. The drawback is the famous traffic of the capital, which makes it slower than the subway.
Getting around Madrid on a motorcycle
Getting around Madrid on two wheels is much faster than doing it on four wheels. For all those privileged people who have their own vehicle, we have little to tell them beyond warning them of the dangers of driving through such a busy city.
If you are one of those who do not have your own vehicle, you don’t have to worry, you have companies specialized in renting motorcycles, for example, the motosharing rental company, whose cost is based on the time of use.
The best known are Acciona, eCooltra, Movo and Muving. Depending on your card you can choose one or the other. The operation is very easy, with your app you can see the motorcycles that are available in your location, reserve them and you can use it for as long as you need, or as long as its battery charge level allows you. At the end of the trip, the cost of the trip goes directly to the bank account associated with the application.
Being electrically charged, they represent a sustainable as well as comfortable alternative because at the end of the trip, you just have to leave the motorcycle well parked within the space allowed for it.
Getting around Madrid by car
Another way of getting around, and for many the most comfortable, is by car. Having your own vehicle offers the freedom to go anywhere, at any time and without depending on the schedules and conditions of public transport.
Currently, the disadvantage of the car is determined by the increase in the price of gasoline, which has skyrocketed in recent months, in addition to the traffic jams that exist in the city and that are inevitable at certain times, such as mornings and afternoons of to and from work.
However, you can save costs through rental cars for time offered by various companies and you can access them through their application as they are parked in many parts of the city. Some stand out such as: WiBLE, Zity, Carsharing, etc.
They are a good alternative to traveling by car and a way to avoid paying the parking meter within the M-30 area, in addition to offering numerous discounts by accumulating points with the trips made.
Getting around Madrid by bike
The increase in pollution is determined, in part, by the emission of gasses from means of transport such as the car, the bus or the motorcycle. In this way, the environment is being damaged more and more every day and Madrid is left with a layer of contamination that is harmful to the health of its inhabitants.
For this reason, many people decide to travel by bicycle: an agile vehicle that does not pollute and a good way to save costs. The truth is that Madrid has 130 km of exclusive bike lanes for cyclists. However, all those who opt for this means of transport can travel on the road, respecting road safety regulations.
It is advisable to always have the brakes on the front and rear wheels, wear the helmet, the bell that will help you avoid accidents and the lights to move around at night.
Traveling by bike in Madrid is likely to delay the arrival time at the destination compared to other means, but it is a sustainable way of traveling and a good option to do some sport.
Move around Madrid on a scooter
Similar to the bike, the scooter has become a comfortable and agile way to get around the city. On the other hand, it doesn´t require any official card for its use, which translates into a large range of users.
If you don´t have your own scooter, Madrid offers the possibility of renting it through companies specialized in the sector. The city has about 5,000 electric scooters for rent, the rate of which is lower than, for example, motorcycles or rental cars.
The average price is usually around 0.15€ per minute, being a good alternative for sightseeing through the streets of Madrid or traveling to the workplace, avoiding traffic.
Madrid has demonstrated to be a city that allows all its inhabitants and tourists to get around with a multitude of options for all tastes and pockets: from more comfortable and conventional means of transport such as the car or motorcycle, to those that show solidarity with the environment like the bike or the scooter.
At Barbieri Real Estate, specialists on rental housing, we offer you properties in the neighborhoods of Aravaca, Chamberí and Salamanca. Discover all our offer of available apartments in Madrid.