San Sebastián de los Reyes is a town north of Madrid with three Metro Line 10 stations and one Cercanías station. Locals call it Sanse, and it sits in fare zone B1, which is the detail that catches visitors out: the zone A tourist pass does not reach it. The quickest link is the Cercanías C-4a commuter train, 27 to 28 minutes from Sol to Alcobendas-San Sebastián de los Reyes station, which sits on the Alcobendas border, 14 minutes’ walk from the old town. Metro Line 10 has three stations in the town, Baunatal, Reyes Católicos and Hospital Infanta Sofía, but needs a change at Tres Olivos. From the airport, it is two trains and about 33 minutes on board.
How do you get to San Sebastián de los Reyes from Madrid? By Cercanías C-4a from Sol to Alcobendas-San Sebastián de los Reyes, 27 to 28 minutes, by Metro Line 10 with a change at Tres Olivos, or by buses 152C, 154C and 156 from Plaza de Castilla, about 25 minutes. The catch: Sanse is fare zone B1, outside the zone A tourist pass.
- From Terminal 4: C-1 to Chamartín in 15 minutes, then C-4a for 18 more
- Right ticket: zone T tourist pass €15.40 a day, or a €3.00 combined Metro single
- For the outlet: bus 152C ends by The Style Outlets, 35 minutes from Plaza de Castilla
- Last train back: 11.34pm on weekdays, 11.33pm at weekends; then night bus N102 hourly
Which is the fastest way from central Madrid?
The Cercanías C-4a is the fastest way from central Madrid to San Sebastián de los Reyes, 27 to 28 minutes from Sol with no change. Metro and bus-plus-Metro both take around 41 to 42 minutes on board, before waits, because they need one or two changes. Where you are going inside Sanse can still change the answer.
| Option from Sol | Minutes on board | Changes | Last service back to Madrid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cercanías C-4a | 27-28 min | none | 11.34pm from Sanse on weekdays |
| Bus 154C + Metro Line 1 | 41 min | Plaza de Castilla | 11.50pm from Sanse on weekdays |
| Metro Line 10 + Line 1 | 42 min | Tres Olivos and Tribunal | Metro closes at 1.30am |
By destination: for The Style Outlets and Micropolix, bus 152C ends on Calle Salvador de Madariaga, by the outlet; for the old town, bus 154C stops 378 m from Plaza de la Constitución; for Plaza Norte 2, bus 156; for the theatre, Baunatal Metro, 197 m away. At weekends the three buses drop to every 30 minutes on the days listed below, while trains keep one every 20 minutes around midday. What to do once there is covered in things to do in San Sebastián de los Reyes.
How do you get there from Barajas airport?
From Terminal 4, take the Cercanías C-1 to Chamartín, 15 minutes, and change to a C-4a towards Alcobendas-San Sebastián de los Reyes, 18 minutes more. There is no direct intercity bus from Barajas to Sanse.
Step by step from Terminal 4:
- Follow the Renfe signs to the Cercanías station inside Terminal 4 and take a C-1 to Chamartín, 15 minutes.
- Change at Chamartín to a C-4a whose board says Alcobendas-San Sebastián de los Reyes, not Colmenar Viejo, 18 minutes.
- Walk or take the bus from the station: the old town is 14 minutes on foot, and The Style Outlets is closer from Hospital Infanta Sofía Metro.
From Terminals 1, 2 and 3, Metro Line 8 runs into the city; the Metro airport supplement and when you pay it are explained in the Madrid airport Metro supplement. Cercanías fares are zone-based, as covered in Madrid Cercanías ticket zones.
Which ticket covers San Sebastián de los Reyes?
Sanse is fare zone B1, so a zone A ticket or pass does not cover it. From the city, a single trip costs €3.00 by combined Metro ticket or by two-zone (A-B1) intercity bus ticket. For visitors, the tourist travel pass in its zone T version, €15.40 for one day, covers Sanse; the zone A version, €10.30, does not.
The single tickets and passes all load onto the Multi card sold at station machines, explained in the Madrid Multi transport card. How the zones are drawn is in Madrid transport zones explained.
How does the Cercanías C-4a work?
Cercanías line C-4 splits north of Chamartín: the C-4a ends at Alcobendas-San Sebastián de los Reyes, while the C-4b turns off at Cantoblanco towards Colmenar Viejo, so check the destination on the board. On the usual November 2026 timetable there are 61 trains a day on weekdays, one every 20 minutes around midday, and 55 on Saturdays and Sundays.
The first train from Sanse to Madrid leaves at 5.43am on weekdays and 5.48am at weekends. The previous stop, Valdelasfuentes, is in Alcobendas. The single is priced by zone, from €1.70, and is valid for two hours.
How does Metro Line 10 reach Sanse?
Metro Line 10 reaches San Sebastián de los Reyes through its MetroNorte section: you ride Line 10 to Tres Olivos and change to the train that runs to Hospital Infanta Sofía, 22 minutes to Reyes Católicos and 25 to the end of the line. From Sol, the full trip with changes at Tribunal and Tres Olivos is 42 minutes on board.
The Metro runs from 6am to 1.30am every day. The three Sanse stations each suit a different plan: Baunatal for the town theatre, Reyes Católicos for the old town and bullring, and Hospital Infanta Sofía for The Style Outlets, a 16-minute walk.
When is the last train or bus back?
The last Cercanías from Sanse to Sol leaves at 11.34pm on weekdays and 11.33pm at weekends; from Sol to Sanse, the last one is 11.29pm on weekdays and 11.20pm at weekends. After the Metro closes at 1.30am, the only link is night bus N102.
The N102 leaves Plaza de Castilla at midnight, 1am, 2am, 3am, 4am, 5am and 6am, reaches Sanse in about 15 minutes and loops through town, passing Baunatal about 26 minutes after leaving, before heading back. What else runs at night is in Madrid Metro closing time and night buses.
Where are the stations and stops?
The map shows the four rail and Metro stations and the most useful bus stops: Cercanías to the south-west on the Alcobendas border, Reyes Católicos and the 152C and 154C stops around the old town, Baunatal to the north-west, and Hospital Infanta Sofía and the 152C terminus to the north-east.
Frequently asked questions about getting to San Sebastián de los Reyes
How do I get from Madrid airport to San Sebastián de los Reyes?
By train: Cercanías C-1 from Barajas Terminal 4 to Chamartín takes 15 minutes, then the C-4a from Chamartín to Alcobendas-San Sebastián de los Reyes takes 18 more. There is no direct intercity bus from Barajas to San Sebastián de los Reyes, so the train is the public-transport route.
How long is the train from Madrid to San Sebastián de los Reyes?
The Cercanías C-4a takes 27 to 28 minutes from Sol, 32 to 33 from Atocha and 18 from Chamartín to Alcobendas-San Sebastián de los Reyes station. On weekdays there is a train every 20 minutes around midday. Board trains showing Alcobendas-San Sebastián de los Reyes as the destination, not Colmenar Viejo.
Can I use the Madrid tourist travel pass to San Sebastián de los Reyes?
Only the zone T version. Sanse is fare zone B1, outside the zone A tourist pass, which costs €10.30 for one day. The zone T pass, at €15.40 for one day, covers the whole Madrid region, including Metro Line 10, Cercanías and the intercity buses.
What time is the last train back to Madrid from San Sebastián de los Reyes?
The last Cercanías C-4a from Alcobendas-San Sebastián de los Reyes to Sol leaves at 11.34pm on weekdays and 11.33pm at weekends. The Metro runs until 1.30am, with a change at Tres Olivos. After that, night bus N102 links Plaza de Castilla and San Sebastián de los Reyes once an hour until 6am.
How much is the Metro ticket to San Sebastián de los Reyes?
A single combined Metro ticket from the city to San Sebastián de los Reyes costs €3.00, and a 10-trip combined ticket €10.90. The €1.50 MetroNorte single only works between La Granja and Hospital Infanta Sofía. Tickets are loaded on the Multi transport card, sold at station machines.
Which Metro station is closest to The Style Outlets?
Hospital Infanta Sofía, the last station of Metro Line 10, is the closest to The Style Outlets in San Sebastián de los Reyes, about a 16-minute walk. Bus 152C from Plaza de Castilla is more direct: it ends on Calle Salvador de Madariaga, by the outlet, after about 35 minutes.
For Sanse, the right ticket matters more than the right train.