Immigrating to Spain and then studying abroad in Spain, taking the metro daily to commute between home and school is not only fast, but also a very environmentally friendly and economical way to travel. For this reason, more people in Spain prefer to take the metro to school or work. So, what are the things you need to pay attention to when taking the metro?
When you see the red "M" sign from afar on the street, that is the metro sign. Once you walk past the "M" sign, you will see the metro entrance. Every metro station has automatic ticket machines; you just need to buy a ticket, validate it, and board the train.
Regarding metro tickets, there are different types such as single-trip tickets, 10-trip tickets, and monthly passes (which allow 50 trips within 30 days). In addition, metro tickets are divided into zones: Zone 1, Zone 2, Zone 3, etc. (for example, if you travel from the city center to the suburbs, you might need to use a Zone 2 or Zone 3 ticket, depending on the distance).
The type of metro ticket you should purchase depends on your work and study needs. If you are an office worker who commutes every day, buying a monthly pass is more cost-effective. If you are a student who only needs to go to school two days a week for a master's course, buying a 10-trip ticket is more economical.
In large cities like Madrid and Barcelona, there were not many ticket inspections in the past, so many people evaded fares. However, in the last two years, the government has increased the intensity of inspections and raised the penalty amounts year by year. For example, in Barcelona, if you are caught evading a fare now, the fine is 25 euros if paid in cash on the spot. If you do not have cash and are issued a ticket to pay at a bank, the fine is 50 euros. Therefore, we remind students studying abroad not to try to be clever; it is embarrassing and you will be fined!