4.9
4.6The cheapest and fastest trains from Madrid to Barcelona
Cheapest price on Sep 04
€39
Average ticket price on Sep 04
€78
Fastest journey on Sep 04
3 h 2 m
Average journey duration on Sep 04
3 h 2 m
Trains on Sep 04
31
Distance
504 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Madrid to Barcelona is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Madrid to Barcelona will cost around €78 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only €39.
On Fri, Sep 04, we found 31 trains from Madrid to Barcelona, including 31 direct services.
On Fri, Sep 04 the direct trains cover the 504 km distance in an average of 3 h 2 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 3 h 2 m .
On Fri, Sep 04 the slowest trains will take 3 h 2 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.
074158:10 PM3h18Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes11:28 PMBarcelona Sants€391One-way0 transfers- 064258:10 PM3h18Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes11:28 PMBarcelona Sants€391One-way0 transfers
062018:22 PM3h17Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes11:39 PMBarcelona Sants€431One-way0 transfers- 065411:42 PM3h02Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes4:44 PMBarcelona Sants€451One-way0 transfers
- 060717:22 AM3h02Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes10:24 AMBarcelona Sants€481One-way0 transfers
031815:57 PM3h02Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes8:59 PMBarcelona Sants€1501One-way0 transfers- 062818:50 AM3h02Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes11:52 AMBarcelona Sants€491One-way0 transfers
- 061614:37 PM3h02Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes7:39 PMBarcelona Sants€551One-way0 transfers
- 060818:22 AM3h02Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes11:24 AMBarcelona Sants€491One-way0 transfers
- 061513:52 PM3h02Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes6:54 PMBarcelona Sants€661One-way0 transfers
Travel Information
Compare bus, train, and flight for Madrid to Barcelona
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Madrid to Barcelona among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of €51 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 5h 8m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.2 - 0.5kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €51, while a flight costs an average of €117.
Distance: 504 km
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
€59 Average price | €51 Average price Cheapest | €117 Average price | €102 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
5h 20m Average total duration 4h 50m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 6h 1m Average total duration 5h 31m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 8m Average total duration Fastest 3h 8m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 6h 22m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.2 - 0.5kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.5 - 1.3kg CO2 emissions | 1.5 - 3.0kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
Most popular train company |  Most popular bus company |  Most popular airline | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
This is compared to other travel options from Madrid to Barcelona:
A bus is €8 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Madrid to Barcelona costing on average €59.
A bus is €67 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Madrid to Barcelona costing on average €117.
Other travel options to Barcelona take longer:
Train takes on average 4h 50m.
Bus takes on average 5h 31m.
Live departures
Madrid to Barcelona train times
The table below shows live departures for Madrid to Barcelona trains for today, Thursday, September 3. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03301 | Delayed 6:16 AM Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes | 3h08 | 7:24 AM 7:24 AMBarcelona Sants | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 03063 | On time 6:27 AM Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes | 3h23 | 9:50 AM Barcelona Sants | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 06071 | Delayed 7:22 AM Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes | 3h02 | 8:24 AM 8:24 AMBarcelona Sants | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 03073 | Delayed 7:27 AM Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes | 3h44 | 9:11 AM 9:11 AMBarcelona Sants | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 06081 | On time 8:22 AM Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes | 3h02 | 11:24 AM Barcelona Sants | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 03083 | Delayed 8:27 AM Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes | 3h17 | 9:44 AM 9:44 AMBarcelona Sants | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 06281 | On time 8:50 AM Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes | 3h02 | 11:52 AM Barcelona Sants | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 03093 | On time 9:27 AM Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes | 3h37 | 1:04 PM Barcelona Sants | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 06011 | Delayed 9:57 AM Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes | 3h24 | 11:21 AM 11:21 AMBarcelona Sants | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 03303 | Delayed 10:27 AM Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes | 3h17 | 11:44 AM 11:44 AMBarcelona Sants | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 06111 | Delayed 11:22 AM Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes | 3h17 | 12:39 PM 12:39 PMBarcelona Sants | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 03113 | Delayed 11:27 AM Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes | 3h44 | 1:11 PM 1:11 PMBarcelona Sants | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 06121 | On time 12:22 PM Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes | 3h17 | 3:39 PM Barcelona Sants | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 03123 | Delayed 12:27 PM Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes | 3h42 | 2:09 PM 2:09 PMBarcelona Sants | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 09725 | On time 12:50 PM Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes | 3h29 | 4:19 PM Barcelona Sants | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 06021 | On time 2:42 PM Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes | 3h31 | 6:13 PM Barcelona Sants | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 06151 | Delayed 3:52 PM Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes | 3h02 | 4:54 PM 4:54 PMBarcelona Sants | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 06571 | Delayed 4:22 PM Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes | 3h02 | 5:24 PM 5:24 PMBarcelona Sants | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 06161 | Delayed 4:37 PM Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes | 3h02 | 5:39 PM 5:39 PMBarcelona Sants | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 06171 | Delayed 5:22 PM Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes | 3h20 | 6:42 PM 6:42 PMBarcelona Sants | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 06181 | Delayed 6:32 PM Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes | 3h12 | 7:44 PM 7:44 PMBarcelona Sants | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 03191 | Delayed 6:51 PM Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes | 3h08 | 7:59 PM 7:59 PMBarcelona Sants | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 06015 | Delayed 7:29 PM Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes | 3h21 | 8:50 PM 8:50 PMBarcelona Sants | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 03309 | On time 7:34 PM Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes | 3h46 | 11:20 PM Barcelona Sants | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 06201 | Delayed 8:22 PM Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes | 3h17 | 9:39 PM 9:39 PMBarcelona Sants | 0 transfersDirect | |
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Madrid to Barcelona 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.
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Why should you book Madrid to Barcelona trains with Omio?
Why book with Omio vs iryo?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can not only buy tickets for iryo, but also compare tickets for the likes of SNCF OUIGO, AVE, Renfe AVLO or Renfe to find the best option for your trip from Madrid to Barcelona.
- 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 iryo with all available travel options, which are bus, train and flight to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from Madrid to Barcelona.
Why book with Omio over Wanderu, Rome2rio or Raileurope?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can also compare tickets for the likes of SNCF OUIGO, AVE, Renfe AVLO or Renfe to find the best option for your trip from Madrid to Barcelona.
- Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including bus, train and flight to find the ideal travel option from Madrid to Barcelona.
How far in advance should I book train tickets from Madrid to Barcelona?
Journey information
Overview: Train from Madrid to Barcelona
SpainSpain
Trains from Madrid to Barcelona run on average 37 times per day, taking around 4h 50m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at €13 if you book in advance.
There are 37 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 00:14, the last at 21:15. The fastest train covers the 504 km distance in 3h 2m.
Distance 504 km |
Average train duration 4h 50m |
Cheapest ticket price €13 |
Trains per day 37 |
Direct trains 37 |
Fastest train 3h 2m |
First train 12:14 AM |
Last train 9:15 PM |
Cheapest Month Mar |
Cheapest Day Sat |
High Season Apr - Jun |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Tue |
Least Busy Day Sun |
Best time to book 91 days |
Train companies: iryo, SNCF OUIGO, AVE, Renfe AVLO, Renfe, Renfe Viajeros, Ouigo from Madrid to Barcelona trainsiryo, SNCF OUIGO, AVE, Renfe AVLO, Renfe, Renfe Viajeros, Ouigo trains will get you between Madrid and Barcelona from €13. With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.
iryo
AVE
Renfe
SNCF OUIGO
Renfe AVLO
Renfe Viajeros
Ouigo
Trains from Madrid to Barcelona
RENFE Spain operate AVE high-speed trains from Madrid to Barcelona seven days a week. This direct route takes around 2.5 hours. The first departure is just before 6:00 a.m., with trains then leaving roughly half-hourly until 8:00 p.m.
Return journeys for trains from Madrid to Barcelona are also available.
Trains from Madrid to Barcelona; not what you were looking for?
Here are some pages that might be more in line with the information you need:
Trains from Madrid to Barcelona: Departing
Madrid Puerta de Atocha Station is centrally located within easy walking distance of the historic Madrid centre and its major art galleries. This attractive old station, with its soaring façade, contains a tropical garden and a pond full of terrapins. Madrid has one of the best public transport systems in the world and the second largest Underground network after London, so getting around the city by Metro, bus or Cercania train is easy. Puerta de Atocha is on Line 1 of the Metro and well served by local buses and taxis. Night buses, known as Búhos (owls), run every twenty minutes.
Trains from Madrid to Barcelona: Arriving
Trains from Madrid to Barcelona arrive at Barcelona Sants Station, which is to the South-West of the city and a ten-minute Metro ride on Lines 5 or 3 into the historic centre. Barcelona has an efficient and well-integrated transport system, with tickets that cover trains, buses and Metros. There is a night bus service and taxi ranks are located outside Sants Station.
Barcelona with its distinct barrios is full of history, architecture and culture, as well as having a lively night-life. The stunning architecture of Gaudí can be seen around the town, while The Rambla, a famous thoroughfare, is the place to meet and enjoy a drink with friends, or simply to sit and watch the world go by.
FAQs: Trains from Madrid to Barcelona
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Madrid to Barcelona by train. 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 train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Barcelona, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.
popular train stations
Popular train stations from Madrid to Barcelona
Most Madrid to Barcelona trains use the Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes to Barcelona Sants station pair. Use this guide to compare Madrid and Barcelona train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Which Madrid station do trains to Barcelona leave from?
Getting to Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes from Madrid city centre
Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes is 1 km from Madrid city centre. Public transport options include:
Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes train station facilities and services
Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental, and Information Desk.
Food and drink
Food options include: Passion Food, La Barrila, Enrique Tomás, Pic Nic, Foodissimo!, PureGusto, Burger King
Wi-Fi and ATMs
Free WiFi in the station and on all Renfe trains. ATMs are in various points at the station.
Tickets and information
The ticket office is open Mon - Sun: 10:00 - 20:00. Information desks are on the ground floor of the main concourse.
Luggage and lost property
Luggage storage is open daily from 05:30 to 22:00. Lost and found is available at the station.
Parking, taxis and toilets
Available at Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Bike and car services
Available at Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility
Accessibility facilities are available at Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes: Wheelchair parking, adapted elevators, adapted platforms, lobby shopping area.
Shops, hotels and contact
Nearby hotels include 60 Balconies Urban Stay, Only YOU Hotel Atocha, SLEEP’N Atocha.
Which Barcelona station do trains from Madrid arrive at?
Getting to Barcelona Sants from Barcelona city centre
Barcelona Sants is 1 km from Barcelona city centre. Public transport options include:
Barcelona Sants train station facilities and services
Barcelona Sants has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental, and Information Desk.
Food and drink
Food options include: McDonald’s, Caffe di Fiore, Ars Café, Café de l'Estació, Café de l’Estació Deli, Lavazza, Como, Peter's, Tutti Frutti, Enrique Tomás, & many more
Wi-Fi and ATMs
Hotspots in and near restaurants. ATMs are in the central part of the station.
Tickets and information
The ticket office is open Mon - Sun: 06:00 - 22:00. Information desks are located in various locations inside the station.
Luggage and lost property
Luggage storage is staffed and automatic. Open daily from 05:30 to 21:00. Lost and found is available at the station.
Parking, taxis and toilets
Available at Barcelona Sants: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Bike and car services
Available at Barcelona Sants: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility
Accessibility facilities are available at Barcelona Sants: All areas of the station have full disability access facilities.
Shops, hotels and contact
Nearby hotels include Apartments Eixample, Apartment Guell, Sweet Inn Callao.
Most popular train connections from Madrid
More options for your journey from Madrid to Barcelona
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need
Most popular trains to and from Barcelona and Madrid
Most popular train connections to Barcelona
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