Madrid is a city where dinner starts at ten and a show can finish at half past eleven with the night still young. The public transport timetable does not always keep up. If you know how it works, getting home is easy. If you do not, it is the one thing that can sour a good night.
Metro hours
Metro de Madrid generally runs from 6:00 to 1:30. That 1:30 is the time when stations stop letting new passengers in. Trains already running continue to the end of their line, so the last train from a central station may leave a few minutes after 1:30, but you should not count on it.
The safe rule: be inside a station before 1:30. Times can change for works, big events and holidays, so check Metro de Madrid if your plan is tight.
Night buses: the búhos
After the metro closes, the city’s bus company EMT runs a network of night buses known as búhos (owls). Most of the main lines start from Plaza de Cibeles, in the centre, and spread out to the different districts, running through the night until the day buses and metro take over.
- Night lines are numbered with an N, such as N1, N2 and so on.
- Buses stop on request, so signal clearly when yours approaches.
- You can pay by contactless card on board, or use a transport card with credit.
Routes and timetables are on the EMT Madrid website and in their app. Look up your line before you leave, not at the stop at 2am.
Taxis and ride-hailing
Madrid taxis are white with a red diagonal stripe on the front doors. A green light on the roof means it is free. You can hail one in the street, find one at a rank or book through an app. Ride-hailing apps also operate in the city.
For two or three people sharing, a taxi across the centre is often a fair price compared with juggling night buses, especially in cold or wet weather.
Walking
Central Madrid is compact. From La Latina you can walk to Sol in about ten minutes and to Lavapiés or Huertas in fifteen to twenty. Main streets in the centre stay busy late into the night, and walking home is a normal part of a night out for many people who live here.
Getting to and from our shows
Our English comedy nights take place at Off Latina, Calle de los Mancebos 4, in La Latina. The nearest metro is La Latina on line 5, a few minutes’ walk away. Tirso de Molina (line 1) is also within walking distance.
Shows start at 21:30, with doors at 21:00, and run for around an hour. That leaves plenty of time for a drink or dinner nearby and still catching the metro home. If you are planning food, see our guide to eating in La Latina before a show.
A simple checklist for a late night
- Know your nearest metro station and line before you go out.
- Note what time you need to leave to make it before 1:30.
- Look up the búho that goes nearest your home, just in case.
- Keep a little battery on your phone for the map and the app.
- If you are with friends, agree on the plan before the last drink.
Arriving from the airport late
If you land late, the Airport Express bus connects Barajas with the city centre around the clock, with a night route ending at Plaza de Cibeles. Check the current route and fare on the EMT site before you travel.
Plan the night, then enjoy it
Once the journey home is sorted, you can relax and stay out. Pick a show from our upcoming English comedy nights, or if you are building a whole evening around La Latina, our guide to Thursday night in Madrid has a ready-made plan.
