Buses & Trams

EMT Bus Network

EMT Madrid (Empresa Municipal de Transportes) operates the city's public bus network. With over 200 routes and more than 2,000 buses, it is the most extensive surface transit system in Madrid. All EMT buses are low-floor vehicles with manual ramps for wheelchair access.

The bus network covers the entire city, including areas the metro does not reach. For wheelchair users, buses can be a good alternative when metro stations lack elevators or when your destination is closer to a bus stop.

Buses run from about 6:00 AM to 11:30 PM on most routes. Night buses (buhos) take over after midnight and run until 6:00 AM.

Boarding an EMT Bus

All EMT buses have a deployable ramp at the middle door (the second door). Here is how to board:

1. Wait at the bus stop near the middle door position. Most bus stops have a raised platform or curb about 15 to 20 centimeters high to reduce the gap.
2. Signal the driver by pressing the wheelchair button on the exterior of the bus (located near the middle door) or by making eye contact with the driver.
3. The driver will lower the bus (kneeling function) and deploy the manual ramp from the middle door.
4. Board via the ramp and move to the designated wheelchair space.
5. Apply your brakes and hold on to the grab bar or use the securing strap if available.

When you want to exit, press the stop request button well before your stop. The driver will deploy the ramp at the middle door for you to exit.

Wheelchair Space on Buses

Each EMT bus has one designated wheelchair space located near the middle door. The space is about 80 centimeters wide and 130 centimeters deep. It includes:

• A fold-down seat that standing passengers should vacate for wheelchair users.
• A grab bar for stability.
• A stop request button within reach.

Power wheelchairs and standard mobility scooters fit in this space. If the wheelchair space is occupied by a stroller, wheelchair users have priority and the stroller must be moved.

Audio and Visual Announcements

All EMT buses have:

• Audio announcements: The next stop is announced through speakers inside the bus.
• Visual displays: Electronic screens near the front of the bus show the route number, current stop, and next stop.
• Exterior displays: The front and side of each bus show the route number and destination.

Night Buses (Buhos)

Madrid's night bus service operates from approximately midnight to 6:00 AM, seven nights a week. There are 27 night bus routes (numbered N1 through N27). Most routes radiate from Plaza de Cibeles in the city center.

All night buses are low-floor with the same ramp system as daytime EMT buses. Wheelchair boarding follows the same process. Night buses run every 15 to 35 minutes depending on the route and time of night.

EMT App and Real-Time Tracking

The EMT Madrid app (free for iOS and Android) provides:

• Real-time bus tracking and arrival times for every stop.
• Route planning with accessibility filters.
• Information about which buses on a route are accessible (all are, but the app confirms the next arriving bus).
• Stop locations on a map.

The app is available in Spanish and English.

Fares and Tickets

EMT buses use the same Tarjeta Multi rechargeable card as the metro.

You can pay the driver directly with contactless card or cash (exact change preferred) if you do not have a Tarjeta Multi. The contactless card payment is the same fare as the standard single trip.

MetroSur Light Rail (ML1)

MetroSur is a light rail line that runs through Madrid's southern suburbs: Mostoles, Alcorcon, Leganes, Getafe, and Fuenlabrada. It forms a loop connecting these municipalities.

Accessibility: All MetroSur stations are fully accessible with elevators and level boarding. The trains have wide doors, low floors, and designated wheelchair spaces. Gap between platform and train is minimal.

MetroSur is not in the main tourist area. It is useful if you are staying in the southern suburbs or visiting attractions outside the city center.

Madrid Tourist Bus (Bus Turistico)

Madrid City Tour operates open-top sightseeing buses along two routes covering major landmarks. Accessibility on these buses varies:

• The lower deck of some buses is accessible, but not all buses in the fleet have ramps.
• Check with the operator at the boarding point (the main stop is near Plaza de Espana) whether the next bus has wheelchair access.
• The upper open-air deck is reached by stairs and is not wheelchair accessible.

Tips for Bus Travel

• Position yourself at the middle door when the bus arrives. This is where the ramp deploys.
• Allow extra time. Buses in Madrid can be delayed by traffic, especially during rush hours (8:00 to 10:00 AM and 6:00 to 8:30 PM).
• Bus lanes help. Many major streets in Madrid have dedicated bus lanes, which reduce delays compared to car traffic.
• Bus stops are mostly accessible. Most stops in the city center have raised platforms and tactile paving. Some older stops in residential neighborhoods may have lower curbs.
• Air conditioning: All EMT buses are air-conditioned, which is important during Madrid's hot summers (June through September, when temperatures often exceed 35 degrees Celsius).