Madrid is the centre of Spain’s road network. Kilometre O is located at the Puerta del Sol, alongside the Real Casa de Correos, from which point all roads start and connect Madrid with the rest of the Iberian Peninsula. A dense road network runs through the city, of which the six national motorways can be highlighted. 

A-1. Madrid-Irún. Motorway of the North

It leads to the Plaza de Castilla, where the two famous towers forming the gateway to Europe are found. If you wish to visit the Northern Sierra of Madrid, you must take this motorway. 

A-2. Madrid-Barcelona. Motorway of Aragon

It passes through the Henares corridor and connects Madrid with Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport.

A-3. Madrid-Valencia. Motorway of Valencia

It is also the road to Albacete, Alicante and Murcia.                                    

A-4. Madrid-Seville. Motorway of Andalusia

This motorway links the capital to the South of Spain and connects with other roads leading to Malaga, Cadiz and Almeria.

A-5. Madrid-Badajoz. Motorway of Extremadura

This motorway goes all the way to the Portuguese border and is an alternative route to the west of Andalusia.

A-6. Madrid-A Coruña. Motorway of A Coruña

After passing through the municipality of Villalba, it becomes the AP-6 toll motorway, which leads to the town of Adanero in Avila. It has a reversible lane on the stretch close to the city, which changes depending on the amount of traffic.

Arterial Roads and Ring Roads

In recent years, the transport links have been modernised, in order to cater for the incredible growth of the city. Particularly noteworthy additions have been the M-40, M-45 and M-50 roads, providing access to the region’s peripheral municipalities. All these roads and the Calle 30 can be accessed from any of the national motorways.

Calle-30: This is the ring road closest to the centre, providing access to the capital’s most emblematic streets. Thanks to the works carried out in recent years, including tunnels and the creation of connections between districts, traffic has been redistributed:

• Ventisquero de la Condesa: Avenida de la Ilustración / Calle 30 – Ventisquero de la Condesa – M-40

• Pío XII: Nudo de La Paloma – Pío XII – Ginzo de Limia – Avda. de la Ilustración (via Monforte de Lemos or Silesio Delgado)

• Sor Ángela de la Cruz: Costa Rica (Calle 30 Este) – Alberto Alcocer – Plaza de Cuzco (Castellana) – Sor Ángela de la Cruz – Marqués de Viana – Villamil – Avenida Camino de los Pinos – Avenida de la Ilustración (Calle 30 Oeste)

• Cuatro Caminos: Avenida Reina Victoria (Avda. Pablo Iglesias) – Cuatro Caminos – Raimundo Fernández Villaverde – Paseo de la Castellana

• O’Donnell: Calle de Alcalá (Puerta de Alcalá) – O’Donnell –Calle 30

• Avenida de Portugal: Plaza de España – Alto de Extremadura

• South Bypass: A-3 / Calle 30 – west side Calle 30 Tunnels

• Embajadores: Glorieta de Embajadores / A-4 / M-40 and Sur Coach Station – Avda. del Planetario – Embajadores / A-4 / M-40

M-40: It runs past areas such as Vicálvaro, Alcobendas, Villaverde, Vallecas, Fuencarral, the Parque Juan Carlos I and the Ifema Exhibition Centre. It also links up with roads leading to the towns of Leganés, Fuenlabrada, Móstoles, Getafe, Las Rozas or Pozuelo de Alarcón.

M-45: It connects the south-east of the region. It covers the axis from the A-2 to the M-40, before its connection with the A-5, crossing the A-3, A-4 and the N-401. It is also connected to the arterial toll roads. It passes through San Fernando de Henares, Vicálvaro, Vallecas, Villaverde, Getafe, Leganés, Coslada and Carabanchel.

M-50: It aims to link up all of the south-east of Madrid.

Finally, Madrid now has new arterial toll roads. Their aim is to reduce traffic on national motorways, following the same route in order to reduce travelling time to and from the capital. These motorways are:

• AP-41: Madrid-Toledo
• R-1: Under construction. It will run parallel to the Madrid-Irún Motorway.
• R-2: Madrid-Guadalajara
• R-3: Madrid-Arganda del Rey
• R-4: Madrid-Ocaña
• R-5: Madrid- Navalcarnero

Further information:

• Spanish Traffic Authority (DGT)
• Madrid Central