If you buy one, you can have unlimited use of all buses, the Metro and local trains within the province of Madrid for a very low price (about $20 if you're an adult, and $8 if you're under 24 or retired). In comparison, a single Metro ticket is about $2. I usually take about two to three Metro trips and one to two bus trips per day (sometimes up to five to six metro trips and three to four bus trips, if I'm really busy!), so this saves me a LOT of money!
Especially compared to buses or Metros in the U.S., public transportation in Madrid is very fancy! It's very clean (littering is viewed very negatively here--and people will call you out for it!), and there are usually padded seats, charging ports and fans at each seat on the bus. It's also very easy to navigate, even if you don't speak any Spanish. I use an app on my phone to see what buses and Metros to take. In addition, getting somewhere with public transit is almost always faster than driving. This is true for both short travel (like taking the Metro across town) and longer travel (like taking the train to another province).
The public transportation in Madrid is honestly one of my favorite things about the city because it makes it so easy to get around! I also find it much more relaxing than driving because I can use my phone or laptop and listen to music. It's very safe and quiet, so I will sometimes take a little nap on the Metro ride to or from work. I feel very lucky to live in a city with such great public transportation, and I hope that cities in America can take inspiration from Madrid's great strides in this area.
