So far, we’ve used Madrid’s airport four times—once to fly out to Asunción in Paraguay, once arriving from Santa Cruz in Bolivia, and twice flying in and out of Vienna. We’re talking about Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD), one of Europe’s larger, more modern airports.
The airport has just about everything you might need—every kind of shop, a range of restaurants, and counters for most major airlines and car rental companies. That said, it’s easy to lose your bearings if you’re not paying attention. Transfers between terminals can be long, distances are large, and it’s almost always busy.
Arriving in Madrid from Vienna
We flew direct from Vienna with Iberia. Because we were traveling within the European Union, there were no lengthy formalities—for us or for our dog, Ibo. No veterinary check was required, either.
The airport has dedicated belts for oversized and non-standard luggage, where we initially expected Ibo’s crate to show up. After waiting a while, we checked with staff and learned that animals transported in the hold typically go to the Lost and Found counter (sometimes also labeled Baggage Claim). That’s exactly where we found Ibo—thankfully in perfect shape.
We only let Ibo out of his crate after clearing customs; in general, the airport doesn’t allow it before then.
Arriving in Madrid from Santa Cruz (Bolivia)
Arriving from Bolivia was very similar, with the addition of a brief veterinary check. An officer looked at Ibo’s passport and scanned his microchip. To our surprise, they didn’t ask for any of the additional documents we’d obtained in Bolivia.
The whole check was quick and uncomplicated.
Departing Madrid for Asunción (Paraguay)
For our flight to Paraguay we arrived about 2.5 hours early, which we strongly recommend to anyone traveling with a dog. That buffer turned out to be very wise.
Even though we had all the required veterinary documents, including an official Spanish translation, the Air Europa check-in agent still suggested something was missing. In the end, she handed us a simple form with questions that were already answered in our paperwork.
We filled out the form on the spot, and once we handed it in, everything proceeded smoothly. It’s worth planning for the possibility that the airline may add a bit of extra paperwork even when your documentation is complete.
Wi‑Fi, facilities, and dog relief areas
The airport offers reasonably good, free Wi‑Fi available in most areas. There are also outdoor dog relief areas. We recommend checking terminal maps before you arrive or depart so you can find these quickly—as well as the taxi ranks.
Getting from the airport
For ground transport, ride-hailing platforms like Uber work well. Expect longer waits, especially after late-night or early-morning arrivals, and be aware that taxi queues can be long.
If you’re traveling with lots of luggage, consider booking a larger car—ideally a van—or be prepared to take two taxis.
Attitudes toward transporting dogs
One minor downside is that some staff and taxi drivers have limited English. We also found that bringing a dog in a taxi or airport shuttle isn’t always welcome. The relatively cool—even negative—reactions from some drivers surprised us a couple of times. Still, we always managed to work something out.
Overall verdict
Overall, we rate Madrid’s airport positively. It offers everything you need for travel—with or without a dog. It’s modern, clean, and functional. The downsides are long distances, big crowds, and the occasional language barrier, but with a little preparation you can get through it without much stress.
If you’re traveling with a dog, Madrid is among the airports well set up for this kind of trip—it just helps to know what to expect.
Interested in this destination? Would you like to visit it with your dog? Check the entry requirements directly in BorderCooler®.