4.9
4.6
Travel Information
Compare train, bus, 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 prices starting from €17. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 3h 8m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.2 - 0.5kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €17, and a flight costs an average of €27.
Distance: 504 km
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight |
|---|---|---|
€57 Average price | €48 Average price Cheapest | €122 Average price |
5h 20m Average total duration 4h 50m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 6h 1m Average total duration 5h 31m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 6h 8m Average total duration Fastest 3h 8m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* |
0.2 - 0.5kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.5 - 1.3kg CO2 emissions | 1.5 - 3.0kg CO2 emissions |
 Most popular train company |  Most popular bus company |  Most popular airline |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Travel optionsfrom Madrid to Barcelona
How to get from Madrid to Barcelona by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Madrid to Barcelona is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- Normal7:30 PM7h55Madrid, Intercambiador de Avenida de América3:25 AMBarcelona, Estación de Autobuses de Sants€241One-way0 transfers
Cheapest
- Normal7:30 PM7h55Madrid, Intercambiador de Avenida de América3:25 AMBarcelona, Estación de Autobuses de Sants€241One-way0 transfers
Fastest
- IB4237:05 PM1h15Madrid Barajas Airport8:20 PMBarcelona El Prat Airport€1951One-way0 transfers
Other options
- 060157:29 PM3h21Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes10:50 PMBarcelona Sants€531One-way0 transfers
- 061816:32 PM3h12Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes9:44 PMBarcelona Sants€561One-way0 transfers
032018:30 PM3h17Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes11:47 PMBarcelona Sants€601One-way0 transfers
- Normal7:30 PM8h10Madrid, Intercambiador de Avenida de América3:40 AMBarcelona, Estació d'Autobusos Nord€241One-way0 transfers
- Normal3:00 PM7h50Madrid, Intercambiador de Avenida de América10:50 PMBarcelona, Estación de Autobuses de Sants€331One-way0 transfers
- Normal3:00 PM8h05Madrid, Intercambiador de Avenida de América11:05 PMBarcelona, Estació d'Autobusos Nord€331One-way0 transfers
UX6049 · UX60069:45 PM10h10Madrid Barajas Airport7:55 AMBarcelona El Prat Airport€821One-way1 transfer- UX6097 · UX60067:00 PM12h55Madrid Barajas Airport7:55 AMBarcelona El Prat Airport€821One-way1 transfer
- UX6031 · UX60068:20 AM23h35Madrid Barajas Airport7:55 AMBarcelona El Prat Airport€861One-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 train, bus, 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.
Aug 24
Aug 25
Aug 26
Aug 27
Aug 28
Aug 29
Aug 30
Aug 31
Sep 01
Sep 02
Sep 03
Sep 04
Sep 05
Sep 06
Sep 07
Sep 08
Sep 09
Sep 10
Sep 11
Sep 12
Sep 13
General Information about the Journey from Madrid to Barcelona
Travelling the 624 kilometres from Madrid to Barcelona can be done quickly and conveniently by bus, train and plane. The plane offers the speediest choice reaching Barcelona in an hour and fifteen minutes. However, the fast AVE train offers a close second with a trip between city centres that takes under three hours. Passengers can also opt for the slower regional train or for the bus for a more leisurely journey.
Buses from Madrid to Barcelona
Direct buses leave Madrid throughout the day for the five and a half to seven and a half hour journey to Barcelona. Exclusively run by Alsa, the buses can be boarded at Aeropuerto Madrid, Barajas T4 bus station, Mendez Alvaro bus station or Avenida America bus station. Buses run from early morning to late evening and terminate at Barcelona (Nord).
Trains from Madrid to Barcelona
Getting to Barcelona from Madrid is a breeze on Spain's highly efficient railway system. Passengers have two options. The fastest is the AVE high-speed train which offers around two dozen daily departures from Madrid Puerta de Atocha station on weekdays and some 16 on the weekend. For a slower option, a regional express train - the Combinado - leaves the same station once a day in the late morning. It takes over six hours to reach Barcelona-Sants making many stops along the route.
Flights from Madrid to Barcelona
Passengers have a choice of around nine flights daily for the 75-minute hop from Barajas airport (MAD) Madrid to Barcelona Airport (BCN). Carriers Iberia, Air Europa and Vueling offer departures throughout the day with Air Iberia offering its Iberia Air Shuttle to Barcelona eight times daily.
More than 1,000 travel companies trust us to sell their tickets all in one place.
FAQs: Travel from Madrid to Barcelona
Travel to Barcelona 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 Madrid to Barcelona.
This is compared to other travel options from Madrid to Barcelona:
A bus is €9 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Madrid to Barcelona costing on average €57.
A bus is €74 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Madrid to Barcelona costing on average €122.
Other travel options to Barcelona take longer:
Train takes on average 4h 50m.
Bus takes on average 5h 31m.
- Around 40 buses per day.
- Around 37 trains per day.
- Around 35 flights per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Madrid and Barcelona as scheduled services by train, bus, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from Madrid Barajas Airport and arrive in Barcelona El Prat Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes and arrive in Barcelona Sants.
- Buses mostly depart from Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) and arrive in Barcelona, Estación de Autobuses de Sants.
- Travel with Iberia, Vueling, Air Europa, GetJet Airlines, Airhub Airlines, Iberia Express, Royal Air Maroc, ITA, CitizenPlane, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa to go to Barcelona by flight.
- Travel with Alsa, BlaBlaCar, FlixBus, Alsa Supra to go to Barcelona by bus.
- Travel with iryo, SNCF OUIGO, AVE, Renfe AVLO, Renfe, Renfe Viajeros, Ouigo to go to Barcelona by train.
- 11 direct flights per day with Iberia, Vueling, Air Europa, GetJet Airlines, Airhub Airlines, Iberia Express, CitizenPlane.
- 37 direct buses per day with Alsa, BlaBlaCar, FlixBus.
- 37 direct trains per day with iryo, SNCF OUIGO, AVE, Renfe AVLO, Renfe, Renfe Viajeros, Ouigo.
Travelling from Madrid to Barcelona: related information
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need
Travel to popular destinations by train, bus or flight
The Omio App Makes Travel Planning Easy
We’ll get you where you want to go. From live train updates to mobile tickets, our innovative app is the ideal way to plan and keep track of your travel.
