The cheapest and fastest buses from Madrid to Cartagena
Cheapest price
€31
Average price
€41
Fastest journey
3 h 40 m
Average duration
4 h 20 m
Buses per day
15
Distance
391 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Madrid to Cartagena is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Madrid to Cartagena will cost around €41 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only €31.
Of the 15 buses that leave Madrid for Cartagena on Sun, Dec 21, 15 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Sun, Dec 21 the direct buses cover the 391 km distance in an average of 4 h 20 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 3 h 40 m .
On Sun, Dec 21 the slowest buses will take 5 h 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.










Travel Information
Compare bus, train, and flight for Madrid to Cartagena
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Madrid to Cartagena among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the train with prices starting from €7. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 24m. 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 €7, and a flight costs an average of €30.
Distance: 391 km
Compare bus with
| Bus | Most popular Train | Flight |
|---|---|---|
€41 Average price | €31 Average price Cheapest | €146 Average price |
6h 3m Average total duration 5h 33m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 25m Average total duration 3h 55m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 24m Average total duration Fastest 1h 24m 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
Madrid to Cartagena bus times
The table below shows live departures for Madrid to Cartagena buses for today, Saturday, December 20. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Normal | 6:45 AM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 6h05 | 12:50 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 7:30 AM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 5h20 | 12:50 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
06084+ Normal | 7:45 AM Madrid Chamartín | 11h17 | 7:02 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 1 transfer | |
Normal | 10:45 AM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 7h20 | 6:05 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 11:30 AM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 6h35 | 6:05 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Supra Economy | 2:45 PM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 6h05 | 8:50 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Supra Economy | 3:30 PM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 5h20 | 8:50 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 3:45 PM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 6h30 | 10:15 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 4:30 PM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 5h45 | 10:15 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 10:45 PM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 6h05 | 4:50 AM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 11:30 PM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 5h20 | 4:50 AM Cartagena, Estación 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 Madrid to Cartagena 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.
Dec 20
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Dec 25
Dec 26
Dec 27
Dec 28
Dec 29
Dec 30
Dec 31
Jan 01
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Journey information
Overview: Bus from Madrid to Cartagena
Buses from Madrid to Cartagena run on average 12 times per day, taking around 5h 33m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at €29 but you can travel from only €7 by train.
There are 12 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 5h 33m |
Cheapest ticket price €29 |
Buses per day 12 |
Direct buses 12 |
Fastest bus 5h 20m |
First bus 00:30 |
Last bus 23:45 |
Bus providers: Alsa, Alsa Supra, BlaBlaCar, Infobus from Madrid to CartagenaYou can travel by bus between Madrid to Cartagena with Alsa, Alsa Supra, BlaBlaCar, Infobus for as low as €7. When you search for schedules and tickets, Omio will show you the best journey
Alsa
Alsa Supra
Infobus
BlaBlaCar
FAQs: Bus from Madrid to Cartagena
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Madrid to Cartagena 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 Cartagena, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Passengers board the coach most frequently from Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses, which is located around 3.1 miles (5 km) away from the city centre, and they get off the coach at Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses, located 1.1 miles (1.7 km) away from the city centre.
To find the cheapest bus tickets for your trip from Madrid to Cartagena, follow these tips:
Start your search now and compare ticket prices to find the best deal!
popular bus stations
Popular bus stations from Madrid to Cartagena
- 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
- 06:00-22:00
- 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
Most popular bus connections from Madrid
More options for your journey from Madrid to Cartagena
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