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4.6
Travel Information
Compare bus, train, and flight for Barcelona to Madrid
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Barcelona to Madrid among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of €41 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 3h 34m. 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 €41, while a flight costs an average of €189.
Distance: 504 km
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
€65 Average price | €41 Average price Cheapest | €189 Average price | €102 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
3h 34m Average total duration Fastest 3h 4m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 9h 49m Average total duration 9h 19m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 20m Average total duration 2h 20m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 6h 16m 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 Barcelona to Madrid:
A bus is €24 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Barcelona to Madrid costing on average €65.
A bus is €149 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Barcelona to Madrid costing on average €189.
Other travel options to Madrid take longer:
Flight takes on average 4h 20m.
Bus takes on average 9h 49m.
Travel optionsfrom Barcelona to Madrid
How to get from Barcelona to Madrid by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Barcelona to Madrid is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- Normal9:00 PM7h50Barcelona, Estació d'Autobusos Nord4:50 AMMadrid, Intercambiador de Avenida de América€281One-way0 transfers
Cheapest
- Normal9:00 PM7h50Barcelona, Estació d'Autobusos Nord4:50 AMMadrid, Intercambiador de Avenida de América€281One-way0 transfers
Fastest
- UX77088:30 PM1h25Barcelona El Prat Airport9:55 PMMadrid Barajas Airport€771One-way0 transfers
Other options
- 031907:25 PM3h02Barcelona Sants10:27 PMMadrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes€441One-way0 transfers
066108:20 PM3h28Barcelona Sants11:48 PMMadrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes€451One-way0 transfers
062007:40 PM3h02Barcelona Sants10:42 PMMadrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes€471One-way0 transfers
- Normal3:00 PM7h50Barcelona, Estació d'Autobusos Nord10:50 PMMadrid, Intercambiador de Avenida de América€301One-way0 transfers
- Normal4:30 PM7h50Barcelona, Estació d'Autobusos Nord12:20 AMMadrid, Intercambiador de Avenida de América€301One-way0 transfers
- Normal10:00 PM7h50Barcelona, Estació d'Autobusos Nord5:50 AMMadrid, Intercambiador de Avenida de América€361One-way0 transfers
- UX6103 · UX603010:00 PM14h05Barcelona El Prat Airport12:05 PMMadrid Barajas Airport€801One-way1 transfer
- UX6073 · UX60306:45 PM17h20Barcelona El Prat Airport12:05 PMMadrid Barajas Airport€941One-way1 transfer
- UX6071 · UX60303:30 PM20h35Barcelona El Prat Airport12:05 PMMadrid Barajas Airport€941One-way1 transfer
Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .
Compare prices and tickets Prices for trains, buses and flights
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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How to Travel from Barcelona to Madrid
It is possible to make a direct journey between the two cities by plane train or bus. Journey times are between 3.5 and 9 hours approximately. Travelling by train is the quickest route, as although actual flight times are short, journey times to and from airports and security checks add to the time taken when flying. The slowest journey time between the two cities is by bus.
Barcelona to Madrid Travel Comparison
Average Price |
Travel Time |
Cheapest Time to Book |
|
|---|---|---|---|
£29 |
7:50 h |
1 Week Before |
|
£80 |
2:30 h |
2 Months Before |
|
£40 |
1:25 h |
2 Months Before |
What is the best way to travel from Barcelona to Madrid?
Cheapest way to travel from Barcelona to Madrid
Buses are definitely the cheapest option for travel from Barcelona to Madrid, however, it’s also the slowest by some distance. ALSA operates a route from Barcelona which takes around 7.5 hours to reach Madrid. Buses leave from Barcelona Nord Coach Station, arriving at Madrid Intercambiador Avenida de America. There are around 16 departures a day, seven days a week.
Fastest way to travel from Barcelona to Madrid
The Spanish provider RENFE operates its high-speed AVE route between the two cities, leaving from Barcelona Sants Train Station and arriving at Madrid Puerta de Atocha. There is at least one departure an hour throughout the day, seven days a week. The journey time is approximately 3 hours. There are also two slower early morning trains which take around 9 hours. When Check-In and Journeys to and from the airport are included, the train proves the quickest option between the two cities.
Most popular way to travel from Barcelona to Madrid
The total flight time between Barcelona Prat Airport and Madrid Barajas Airport is around 1 hour 15 mins, with three airlines offering a direct service, seven days a week. Iberia has 7 departures a day, Vueling and Air Europa have 3 departures each. The frequency of departures and low cost of the flights mean that they remain a popular choice.
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FAQs: Travel from Barcelona to Madrid
Travel to Madrid easily. Whether you want fast, cheap or something entirely different, our travel experts have collected everything you need to know so you can find the best option from Barcelona to Madrid.
This is compared to other travel options from Barcelona to Madrid:
A bus is €24 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Barcelona to Madrid costing on average €65.
A bus is €149 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Barcelona to Madrid costing on average €189.
Other travel options to Madrid take longer:
Flight takes on average 4h 20m.
Bus takes on average 9h 49m.
- Around 40 flights per day.
- Around 40 trains per day.
- Around 23 buses per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Barcelona and Madrid as scheduled services by bus, train, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from Barcelona El Prat Airport and arrive in Madrid Barajas Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Barcelona Sants and arrive in Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes.
- Buses mostly depart from Barcelona, Estació d'Autobusos Nord and arrive in Madrid, Intercambiador de Avenida de América.
- Travel with Alsa, FlixBus to go to Madrid by bus.
- Travel with Iberia, Vueling, Air Europa, Iberia Express, ITA, CitizenPlane, Royal Air Maroc, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, Alba Star, Swiss, BA Cityflyer, Lufthansa City Airlines, Air Baltic, Helvetic Airways, British Airways, Edelweiss Air to go to Madrid by flight.
- Travel with iryo, AVE, SNCF OUIGO, Renfe AVLO to go to Madrid by train.
- 21 direct buses per day with Alsa.
- 13 direct flights per day with Iberia, Vueling, Air Europa, Iberia Express, CitizenPlane.
- 40 direct trains per day with iryo, AVE, SNCF OUIGO, Renfe AVLO.
Travelling from Barcelona to Madrid: related information
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