Madrid offers free public transport and Bicimad after the Christmas holidays

Madrid will offer two days of free urban transport in January. EMT buses and Bicimad will be free on the 8th and 9th. The measure seeks to reduce congestion and emissions. Only the Exprés Aeropuerto line will retain its fare. Find out how to make the most of this opportunity.

Madrid City Council has announced that on 8 and 9 January 2026 urban transport will be completely free. During these 48 hours, users will be able to travel free of charge on all EMT municipal buses, except the Exprés Aeropuerto line, which will continue to charge its usual fare. The initiative coincides with the return to school and work after the Christmas holidays, one of the times of heaviest traffic in the city.

To benefit from the free service, it will be necessary to validate the transport pass. Those who do not have a season ticket or ticket may request a free single ticket from the driver. Since 2021, Madrid has applied this measure in 29 periods, totalling 72 days of free transport and more than 79 million journeys, of which more than 15 million were by infrequent users.

The public electric-bicycle system Bicimad is also joining the initiative. For the sixth time, journeys of up to 30 minutes will be free for both subscribers and occasional users during the two days. The aim is to establish cycling as a real alternative to the car, especially for short journeys between neighbourhoods or towards the centre.

The City Council stresses that these free days have become an effective tool to encourage the use of public transport, especially among those who do not use it every day. They are scheduled on high-demand dates, such as the return to school, the return after Semana Santa or Black Friday, and also during episodes of high pollution to reduce private traffic and emissions.

In 2025, Madrid offered seven free periods, totalling 12 days and more than 2.7 million beneficiaries. The record was reached on 28 November, with almost 1.94 million passengers in a single day. This year, the measure seeks to make the return to routine easier and encourage Madrid residents to leave the car at home just as the city regains its usual rhythm after Three Kings' Day.