Bus tickets to Spain | Tickets & Prices

Buses in Spain

Buses are the most popular form of public transportation for traveling around Spain. They provide an affordable way to reach every major city and region, usually with journey times comparable to those of trains and flights. And it's not really surprising that this should be the case. With its mountainous terrain and excellent road network, Spain is ideally suited to bus transportation.

Additionally, from a passenger perspective, buses provide some sublime experiences, from following the Galician coast to cresting the Pyrenees. Every year, around 16 million intercity bus journeys are made in Spain. Whether travelers want to head from Barcelona to Madrid, from Seville to Granada, or from Valencia to Barcelona, bus travel is always worth considering.

The same applies to shorter-distance, regional routes. For instance, buses make it easy to get around the Basque region or to tour Andalucia's Moorish sights. Major companies operating in Spain, including ALSA, Avanza, Socibus, and Daibus, usually offer budget fares. Whatever route travelers need to book, doing so with Omio makes perfect sense. The platform brings together all of the cheapest fares, and makes it simple to choose a departure time that suits any schedule.

Booking with Omio

Omio provides a simple, comprehensive booking service for anyone who needs to book buses in Spain. The whole process is completely seamless. Customers search for the route they want to book, and Omio will provide a complete list of current and future departure times. Prices are listed for every journey, ensuring that passengers can buy cheap tickets with ease. These prices are displayed in all major currencies, and language preferences can be changed as well, making the platform even simpler to navigate. Mobile tickets can be purchased, too, allowing for rapid, stress-free boarding, while any special offers will be clearly shown. The results will be the cheapest possible fares, and they can be purchased hassle-free.

Bus companies in Spain

Spain has a competitive bus travel sector, with numerous popular providers. Routes will all of the major operators of buses in Spain can be booked via the Omio platform, where search results include the relevant companies for the routes customers want to book. It all adds up to a diverse choice of services, with multiple options for almost any journey travelers want to make.

The largest Spanish bus company by far, ALSA is owned by UK-based National Express Group. ALSA covers most major routes in the country, with hubs in Madrid, Zaragoza, Barcelona, Valencia, Sevilla, Bilbao, and Granada. It offers a premium onboard experience, providing WiFi and entertainment during long-distance journeys.

Socibus, another popular company operating buses in Spain, offers plenty of connections in Andalucia and the Basque region, along with links to Madrid. Daibus also operates across Spain, with many services to and from Madrid. The company is ideal for organizing city breaks if you're based in the Spanish capital. Avanza focuses on Castilla y Leon in north-central Spain and the region around Valencia, offering regular discounts across all of its routes. Then there's Infobus. The Czech operator has expanded into Spain, providing comfortable connections from stops ranging from Elche to Vigo.

Popular international routes by bus

Bus travel offers a convenient and very affordable way to reach Spain from a range of European nations. For example, travelers could head from Lisbon to Madrid. The Portuguese capital is 400 miles west of Madrid, and buses are a great travel option for the journey. Omio allows customers to book fares with Eurolines and ALSA, and journey times will usually total just under 12 hours. Buses run to both Barajas Airport and Madrid's Estacion Sur, and a change will be needed, usually in Conex Aveiro.

Paris to Barcelona, another hugely popular route, suits those arriving from the UK via Eurostar or travelers touring Europe. Eurolines offers a daily direct service between the two cities, usually from Paris's Gare Routière Gallieni to Barcelona's Estacio de Autobuses, which isn't far from the city center. Journeys total about 15 hours, and prices are almost always far cheaper than trains or flights.

When arriving in Spain by bus

When traveling by buses in Spain, try to book daytime services as much as possible, especially for routes through the country's famous beauty spots. For instance, the scenery in the Picos de Europa in Asturias is breathtaking, and nighttime buses won't allow visitors to appreciate the setting. Vocabulary-wise, travelers should know some key terms. Autobus is obviously important, as is horario (schedule), salida (departure), and destino (destination).

It's a good idea to pack a blanket or a sweater for many journeys, as the aircon in buses and elevation changes can make carriages chilly. Stashing some snacks and water also makes sense, particularly on routes spanning Spain's scorching hot plains or sun-soaked coasts.