Alcorcon
Introduction
Alcorcón is a city and municipality of Spain, located in the Community of Madrid. It sits within the Madrid metropolitan area, making it a practical base for exploring the wider region while offering its own distinct character as a settled, working city.
Getting around
Alcorcón is stitched into Madrid's regional network, so the same tickets and travel passes work across metro, Cercanías suburban rail and urban buses. Metro Line 10 and Line 12 (the circular Metrosur line) give direct connections into Madrid and to neighbouring towns in the south-west, while Metro Ligero Line 3 and the C-5 Cercanías line add further rail options. For several journeys, a multi-day or rechargeable regional travel card is the simplest approach; single tickets can be bought at stations for one-off trips. Check the route and direction before you travel, since metro, light rail and Cercanías are separate systems even where they connect.
- Buses cover what rail does not, both inside the city and on routes to and from Madrid and neighbouring towns. Interurban lines include the 511, 512, 513, 514, 516, 518, 536, 541, 545, 546, 547, 548 and 551, plus night services N501, N502 and N504 if you are returning late from Madrid.
- Urban and suburban services are operated by Arriva, and the inner-city network runs entirely with electric buses, including battery-electric vehicles on the three inner-city lines and some intercity routes. Smart traffic management gives public transport priority at traffic lights, with a focus on intercity lines 511 and 513, so buses keep moving through junctions.
- Taxis and ride-hailing apps operate as elsewhere in the Madrid region, useful for awkward trips, late nights or when carrying luggage.
- The municipality is largely flat, and the historic centre keeps the compact layout of a small rural settlement, with shops, the parish church of Santa María la Blanca and other sights within a walk of each other. For longer hops to outlying districts, use the metro, light rail and buses.
- From Madrid's airport, connect into the regional metro and suburban rail system, then change onto Metro Line 10, Line 12 or Cercanías C-5. A bus or taxi can cover the whole journey with heavy luggage or a late arrival, and the night buses serve Alcorcón after the daytime network winds down. Buy a rechargeable regional travel card at the airport or a station, allow time for the change in Madrid, and confirm your final connection before setting out.
Three days in Alcorcon
Day one: Arrive in Alcorcón from Madrid. It is a city in the Community of Madrid, Spain. Get around by Cercanías, Metro Line, Metrosur, Metro Ligero Line, interurban and urban buses, Arriva, Smart, and taxis. Check the buses for your route.
Day two: Explore the neighbourhoods of Santa María and Blanca. From Madrid, buy what you need for the day.
Day three: Use the Metro Line and Metrosur to move between Santa María and Blanca. For your return, check the Cercanías, buses, and taxis.