Money at Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas (MAD)
Currency, tipping and cash-vs-card for arrivals at Madrid, Spain.
Madrid uses the EUR (€). Expected airport→city taxi fare is roughly €33 (taxi flat) · €5 (metro). Card accepted; some drivers prefer cash for short trips.
Airport currency kiosks quote rates 5–15% worse than any bank ATM inside the terminal. If you need cash on landing, use an in-terminal bank ATM — not the "0% commission" kiosks (the margin is in the rate).
Frequently asked
Q.What currency is used at Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas (MAD)?
Spain uses the EUR (€). Airport ATMs dispense EUR directly — skip the exchange kiosks.
Q.How much should a taxi from MAD to the city cost?
Expected fare on the MAD → Centro route is roughly €33 (taxi flat) · €5 (metro). Around €50–€70 is already high, and €80+ is a scam quote — confirm the meter or a printed rate before you get in.
Q.Do I tip taxi drivers at MAD?
Not expected — round up. Drivers in Spain don't rely on tips the way US drivers do; inflated "tips" are sometimes used to justify an overcharge — pay the metered fare first, then decide.
Q.Cash or card for a taxi at MAD?
Card accepted; some drivers prefer cash for short trips. "Card machine broken" is the most common excuse to force a cash overpay — carry a small stack of EUR notes and you keep the leverage.
Q.Should I change money at MAD?
Only if you need $10–20 of EUR to cover a taxi or a SIM card. Airport exchange kiosks quote 5–15% worse than a bank ATM in the same terminal. If your card has no FX fee, just pay by card and skip cash entirely.
Every transport option ranked, fare tiers, first-30-minute checklist and reported scams.