The cheapest and fastest buses from Cartagena to Madrid
Cheapest price
€26
Average price
€42
Fastest journey
5 h 20 m
Average duration
5 h 28 m
Buses per day
11
Distance
391 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Cartagena to Madrid is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Cartagena to Madrid will cost around €42 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only €26.
Of the 11 buses that leave Cartagena for Madrid on Fri, May 15, 8 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Fri, May 15 the direct buses cover the 391 km distance in an average of 5 h 28 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 5 h 20 m .
On Fri, May 15 the slowest buses will take 5 h 40 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
Normal+
062051:30 PM9h09Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses10:39 PMMadrid Chamartín€261One-way1 transfer
Normal+
062051:30 PM9h09Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses10:39 PMMadrid Chamartín€281One-way1 transfer
Normal11:15 PM5h25Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses4:40 AMMadrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses€421One-way0 transfers
Normal5:00 PM5h35Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses10:35 PMMadrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses€421One-way0 transfers
Normal11:15 PM5h50Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses5:05 AMMadrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid)€421One-way0 transfers
Supra Economy6:45 AM5h20Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses12:05 PMMadrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses€571One-way0 transfers
Normal3:15 PM5h20Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses8:35 PMMadrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses€421One-way0 transfers
Normal11:15 PM5h25Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses4:40 AMMadrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses€421One-way0 transfers
Normal5:00 PM5h35Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses10:35 PMMadrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses€421One-way0 transfers
Normal3:15 PM5h40Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses8:55 PMMadrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid)€421One-way0 transfers
Travel Information
Compare bus, train, and flight for Cartagena to Madrid
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Cartagena to Madrid among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the train with prices starting from €13. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 44m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.4kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a train costs an average of €13, and a flight costs an average of €22.
Distance: 391 km
Compare bus with
| Bus | Most popular Train | Flight |
|---|---|---|
€41 Average price | €22 Average price Cheapest | €62 Average price |
5h 27m Average total duration 4h 57m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 40m Average total duration 4h 10m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 44m Average total duration Fastest 1h 44m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* |
0.4 - 1.0kg CO2 emissions | 0.1 - 0.4kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 1.2 - 2.3kg CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular airline |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Live departures
Cartagena to Madrid bus times
The table below shows live departures for Cartagena to Madrid buses for today, Thursday, May 14. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Normal | 3:15 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 5h40 | 8:55 PM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 3:15 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 5h20 | 8:35 PM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 5:00 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 5h35 | 10:35 PM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal · Normal | 5:00 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 6h30 | 11:30 PM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 1 transfer | |
Normal | 11:15 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 5h50 | 5:05 AM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 11:15 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 5h25 | 4:40 AM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
| Friday, May 15 | |||||
Supra Economy | 6:45 AM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 5h20 | 12:05 PM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Supra Economy | 6:45 AM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 5h40 | 12:25 PM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 9:45 AM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 6h45 | 4:30 PM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Cartagena to Madrid by bus, train, or flight
Compare bus, train, and flight prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
May 14
May 15
May 16
May 17
May 18
May 19
May 20
May 21
May 22
May 23
May 24
May 25
May 26
May 27
May 28
May 29
May 30
May 31
Jun 01
Jun 02
Jun 03
Why should you book Cartagena to Madrid buses with Omio?
Why book with Omio vs Alsa?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can not only buy tickets for Alsa, but also compare tickets for the likes of Alsa Supra to find the best option for your trip from Cartagena to Madrid.
- Designed for International Travelers: Omio is in your language including 24/7 customer service and offers multiple payment options, including PayPal, credit cards, and bank transfer, in your preferred currency.
- Compare all your options: Omio allows you to compare Alsa with all available travel options, which are bus, train and flight to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from Cartagena to Madrid.
Why book with Omio over Checkmybus, Rome2rio or Busbud?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can also compare tickets for the likes of Alsa Supra to find the best option for your trip from Cartagena to Madrid.
- Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including bus, train and flight to find the ideal travel option from Cartagena to Madrid.
Journey information
Overview: Bus from Cartagena to Madrid
Buses from Cartagena to Madrid run on average 11 times per day, taking around 4h 57m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at €32 but you can travel from only €13 by train.
There are 11 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 00:30, the last at 23:45. The fastest bus covers the 391 km distance in 5h 20m.
Distance 391 km |
Average bus duration 4h 57m |
Cheapest ticket price €32 |
Buses per day 11 |
Direct buses 11 |
Fastest bus 5h 20m |
First bus 12:30 AM |
Last bus 11:45 PM |
Cheapest Month Jul |
Cheapest Day Sat |
High Season Jul - Sep |
Low Season Apr - Jun |
Busiest Day Wed |
Least Busy Day Mon |
Best time to book 84 days |
Bus providers: Alsa, Alsa Supra, BlaBlaCar from Cartagena to MadridYou can travel by bus between Cartagena to Madrid with Alsa, Alsa Supra, BlaBlaCar for as low as €13. When you search for schedules and tickets, Omio will show you the best journey
Alsa
Alsa Supra
BlaBlaCar
FAQs: Bus from Cartagena to Madrid
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Cartagena to Madrid by bus. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest bus, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Madrid, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

- Alsa
- Assistance
- Priority boarding
- Accessible seating.
- Alsa Supra
- Assistance
- Priority boarding
- Accessible restrooms.
- Alsa
- You can cancel your ticket up to 48 hours before departure for a partial refund. Changes allowed for a fee.
- Alsa Supra
- You can cancel your ticket up to 48 hours before departure for a partial refund. Within 48 hours, a fee applies.
- Alsa
- One carry-on bag up to 10kg and one checked bag up to 25kg.
- Alsa Supra
- One carry-on bag up to 10kg and one checked bag up to 25kg.
- Alsa
- Additional luggage can be purchased for a fee.
- Alsa Supra
- Additional luggage can be purchased for a fee.
- Alsa
- Small pets allowed in carriers
- larger pets must travel in the hold.
- Alsa Supra
- Small pets allowed in carriers
- guide dogs travel for free.
popular bus stations
Popular bus stations from Cartagena to Madrid
- 06:00-22:00
- Free Wi-Fi
- Cafetería de la estación (in the station)
- Restaurante El Galeón (0.5 km)
- La Catedral (0.7 km).
- Available outside the main entrance.
- Elevators, ramps
- Available in the station.
- Bus: 2, 4, 6 Train: C-1
- 06:00-23:00
- Free Wi-Fi
- Cafetería de la estación (in the station)
- Restaurante El Brillante (0.5 km)
- La Taberna de Domínguez (0.7 km).
- Available outside the main entrance.
- Elevators, ramps
- Available in the station.
- Bus: 8, 102, 148 Metro: L6 Train: C1, C5
- 06:00-23:00
- Rodilla, Mahoudrid
- Step-free access, elevators, accessible toilets
- Located inside the terminal, well-signposted, accessible, and generally clean
- No public showers in the bus station area; showers available in airport lounges (approx. €15-€30 for lounge access)
- Metro Line 8, Aeropuerto T4, 12 km
Most popular bus connections from Cartagena
More options for your journey from Cartagena to Madrid
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