€2–4 gets you from the airport side straight to UAM
Interurban Bus 828 Universidad Autónoma runs between Canillejas and the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid campus in about 30–45 minutes, so you skip the Chamartín detour. It’s a regular CRTM interurban line, used heavily by students and staff moving between the northeast corridor of Madrid and UAM on teaching days.
The line doesn’t drive into the terminals at MAD, but it runs close to the airport corridor near Canillejas, where you connect from the airport by city bus or metro in one hop. A single ticket sits in the usual interurban zone band for this route, around €2–4 depending on your exact ticket or pass. If you already use an abono for zones that cover 828, it’s included.
On teaching days, Bus 828 runs roughly every 20–30 minutes, with noticeably fewer departures on weekends, holidays and university breaks. First and last departures shift a bit by term, so check the CRTM timetable before an early exam slot or late lab. Allow an extra 10–15 minutes buffer at peak hour because loading at intermediate stops can be slow.
Step-by-step from MAD to Universidad Autónoma
- 1. Land at T1, T2, T3 or T4 and follow signs for buses/metro; you’re heading for a connection toward Canillejas.
- 2. From T1–T3, take EMT city bus (or metro from Aeropuerto T1-T2-T3) toward Canillejas; from T4, use the T4 metro station and ride to Canillejas on Line 8 + transfer as needed.
- 3. At or near Canillejas, locate the posted stop for interurban line 828 Universidad Autónoma; check the stop pole or shelter for the green 828 logo and timetable.
- 4. Board the 828 through the front door, tell the driver your destination if paying cash, and pay about €2–4 or validate your CRTM card on the reader.
- 5. Stay on for roughly 30–45 minutes until the Universidad Autónoma stops; the bus serves different points around the campus area, so watch the onboard display or follow along on a maps app.
- 6. Get off at the closest campus stop to your faculty building and note the return stop for your trip back toward Canillejas and the airport.
One tip: on teaching days around 08:00–09:00 and 17:00–18:00, buses can fill with UAM commuters, so aim for an earlier 828 or the next one 20–30 minutes later if you see a full load pull in.