Flights to Madrid from the US: Nonstop Routes, Flight Times and When to Go

Quick answer: Madrid Barajas (MAD) has nonstop flights from about a dozen US cities on Iberia, American, Delta, United and Air Europa. A nonstop from New York takes about 7 to 8 hours, from Los Angeles about 11 to 12. US citizens need no visa for short stays, and spring and autumn are most comfortable.

Madrid flights at a glance

Nonstop flights to Madrid from US cities

Airlines are as of recent schedules (November 2026) and change by season; several routes run only in summer, and Iberia's San Francisco and Newark flights are seasonal, so check with the airline for your dates. Times are eastbound, and flights back to the US take 1 to 1.5 hours longer. Iberia, American and British Airways sell each other's flights as oneworld partners, so many one-stop trips from other US cities connect in Miami, New York, Chicago, Dallas or London on one ticket. Iberia also flew from Orlando in winter 2025-26; check with Iberia whether it runs for your dates.

Airlines flying to Madrid from the US

Iberia, Spain's flag carrier, has the widest US network to Madrid, with nonstops from Boston, New York JFK, Washington Dulles, Miami, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth and Los Angeles, plus Newark and San Francisco in season, as of recent schedules (November 2026). American flies from New York JFK, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Miami and Dallas/Fort Worth, and from Chicago in summer.

Delta flies from Atlanta and New York JFK, and from Boston in season. United flies from Newark and Washington Dulles, and Air Europa, a Spanish SkyTeam airline, flies from New York JFK and Miami. JetBlue adds a seasonal Boston flight.

On a one-stop trip, keep the whole journey on one ticket. Your bags are checked through, and the airline must rebook you if the first flight is late.

Best time to visit Madrid

April to June and September to October are the most comfortable months, warm and sunny with long evenings. Madrid sits on a high plateau, so summers are hot and dry: July and August often pass 95°F, and in August many shops and family restaurants close while residents take their holidays.

Winter is cool and mostly sunny, with cold nights, and it is the quietest time for museums such as the Prado and the Reina Sofía. Holy Week before Easter and the San Isidro festival in mid-May are busy times in the city.

Madrid Barajas terminals

Barajas has four terminals. Terminal 4 and its satellite, T4S, are the home of Iberia and its oneworld partners, including American and British Airways; most long-haul Iberia flights arrive at T4S, which is linked to T4 by an underground train. Most other airlines, including the SkyTeam and Star Alliance carriers, use Terminals 1, 2 and 3, which sit together about two miles from T4.

A free shuttle bus links T4 with Terminals 1 to 3. If you are connecting between airlines in different terminals, allow extra time, especially if you have to pass a passport check between non-Schengen and Schengen flights.

Entry rules: Schengen, EES and ETIAS

Spain is in the Schengen Area. US citizens can visit without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, counted across all Schengen countries together. Your passport should be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen Area and should have been issued within the past ten years.

The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) has been in operation since October 2025. On your first entry the border officer registers your fingerprints and a photo, which can make the first passport check slower. ETIAS, the EU's planned travel authorization, is not yet required as of November 2026; check the official EU travel site before you fly.

Getting from Barajas into the city

Metro Line 8 runs from stations at Terminal 2 and Terminal 4 to Nuevos Ministerios, where it connects with other Metro lines, in about 15 to 25 minutes. Cercanías commuter line C-1 runs from Terminal 4 to Chamartín and Atocha, the main rail stations for high-speed trains to the rest of Spain.

The Airport Express bus runs 24 hours a day, to Atocha during the day and to Plaza de Cibeles at night. Taxis charge a fixed fare between the airport and the central area inside the M-30 ring road, and the trip takes about 25 to 40 minutes.

Time difference and jet lag

Madrid is 6 hours ahead of US Eastern time, 7 ahead of Central and 9 ahead of Pacific for most of the year. For a few weeks in March and around the end of October the gap is one hour shorter, because the US and Europe change their clocks on different dates.

Most flights from the US are overnight and land in Madrid in the morning. Spaniards eat late, with lunch around 2 p.m. and dinner after 9 p.m., which can help you stay up until a local bedtime on the first day.

Frequently asked questions

Travel guide

April to June and September to October are the most comfortable months. July and August are very hot, and in August many locals leave the city on holiday.

Lounge access

• Iberia Velázquez Lounge, Terminal 4S
• Iberia Dalí Lounge, Terminal 4

Airport transfers

Metro Line 8 runs from Terminals 2 and 4 to Nuevos Ministerios in about 15 to 25 minutes, and Cercanías line C-1 runs from Terminal 4 to Chamartín and Atocha. The Airport Express bus runs around the clock to Atocha by day and Cibeles at night, and taxis charge a fixed fare to the city center.

Flight route guides to Madrid

Each guide covers the airlines on that route, typical connections, the best months to fly and baggage rules, with live fares fetched when the page loads.

• Atlanta to Madrid flights
• Boston to Madrid flights
• Detroit to Madrid flights
• Honolulu to Madrid flights
• Houston to Madrid flights
• New York to Madrid flights
• Miami to Madrid flights
• Portland to Madrid flights
• San Francisco to Madrid flights

All route guides to Madrid