Sol to Madrid airport - metro or train?

Here are the schedules for the Cercanías trains in Madrid. On 10 April between 09:00 and 11:00 (assuming this is your timeframe for heading to the airport) there are trains from Atocha to Aeropuerto T4 at the following times. Note that the C10 also goes from Atocha to the airport on the same route, so both trains are included:

• 09:08-09:37 (C10)
• 09:20-09:49 (C1)
• 09:37-10:06 (C10)
• 09:50-10:19 (C1)
• 10:06-10:35 (C10)
• 10:21-10:50 (C1)
• 10:35-11:04 (C10)
• 10:50-11:19 (C1)

I stay on the back side of Foreign Affairs, just below Sol, and to get to T4 take the train from Sol. The first train northbound from Sol—any line, and change to C-1 or C10 at Nuevos Ministerios. Both have escalators—pretty sure they have them for all level changes.

( I do pass through Atocha when I arrive from T4, but get off the metro a stop before Sol, which is a hair closer to the Apartment, but, more importantly, let out right in front of a great bakery.)

The schedules that Andrew shared... They're kind of hypothetical, or suggestions. Every 15 mins or so is right, but they don't hit those actual times.

Thanks Andrew and Scudder.

I think the C4 from Sol to Nuevos Ministerios then C1/C10 to airport will work well for us.

It’s a personal preference, but we take the metro, Sol to Cuatro Caminos, then switch again at Nuevos Ministerios, then straight to the airport. An alternative is Sol to Goya, to Mar de Cristal, to the airport. Either way takes about 40-45 minutes.

Good info - my flight was an early one (also I wanted a full 3 hours at the airport) and the first Cercaníus trains would not have given me that. So I opted for the €30 taxi, which gave me a little more than that. I will add that I left from 4S, which was another trek….and confusing. So I was happy to have extra time. However I ended up with an hour for coffee and breakfast, which I wouldn’t complain about (but I had expedited check in and security, which made a difference). I am sure you know how spread out the airport is - mainly adding for anyone else reading.

So I opted for the €30 taxi, which gave me a little more than that.

We have been told that the €30- flat rate taxi is only available from the airport into Madrid and not from Madrid to the airport. Did you find it was available going to the airport?

We have been told that the €30- flat rate taxi is only available from the airport into Madrid and not from Madrid to the airport. Did you find it was available going to the airport?

Rate valid 24 hours a day, every day, for services with origin or destination Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport and destination or origin in the interior area of ​​the M-30.

https://www.aeropuertomadrid-barajas.com/transportation/madrid-airport-bytaxi.htm#/search

roubrat is correct. €30 was on the meter when we got in each direction.

Just to clarify... you can take C-3, C3a, or C4 from Sol to Nuevos Ministerios—that's all of the trains that pass through Sol. On the mezzanine, there's signage to the platform for... I forget if it says the direction of Nuevos Ministerios or Chamartin, but either one is the right way.

And yes on the 30€. I'd forgotten that but I was headed to MAD at 7am last week, with a rare, miserable, accidental hangover, and while I was walking to Sol the taxis' green lights lured me in.