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4.6
Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for Madrid to Bilbao
Omio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from Madrid to Bilbao among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the train, with an average ticket price of €10 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 4h 10m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.1 - 0.3kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a train costs an average of €10, while a flight costs an average of €195.
Distance: 323 km
Compare bus with
Most popular Bus | Train | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
€46 Average price | €10 Average price Cheapest | €195 Average price | €67 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
5h 51m Average total duration 5h 21m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 29m Average total duration 4h 59m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 10m Average total duration Fastest 2h 10m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 4h 5m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.3 - 0.8kg CO2 emissions | 0.1 - 0.3kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 1.0 - 1.9kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
 Most popular bus company |  Most popular train 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.
Compare ways to travel from Madrid to Bilbao
Compare the available ways to get from Madrid to Bilbao, with the key details around price, speed, convenience, and direct service.
This is compared to other travel options from Madrid to Bilbao:
A train is €37 less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Madrid to Bilbao costing on average €46.
A train is €185 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Madrid to Bilbao costing on average €195.
Other travel options to Bilbao take longer:
Train takes on average 5h 29m.
Bus takes on average 5h 51m.
Travel optionsfrom Madrid to Bilbao
How to get from Madrid to Bilbao by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Madrid to Bilbao is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- Normal
3:30 PM 4h15 Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) 7:45 PM Bilbao, Estación de Autobuses €39 1 One-way 0 transfers
Cheapest
- Normal
3:30 PM 4h15 Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) 7:45 PM Bilbao, Estación de Autobuses €39 1 One-way 0 transfers
Fastest
- UX7157
10:45 AM 1h00 Madrid Barajas Airport 11:45 AM Bilbao Airport €106 1 One-way 0 transfers
Other options
- Normal
7:15 PM 4h30 Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) 11:45 PM Bilbao, Estación de Autobuses €39 1 One-way 0 transfers - Normal
10:00 AM 4h40 Madrid, Intercambiador de Avenida de América 2:40 PM Bilbao, Estación de Autobuses €39 1 One-way 0 transfers - Normal
3:00 PM 4h45 Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses 7:45 PM Bilbao, Estación de Autobuses €39 1 One-way 0 transfers
IB44110:10 PM 1h05 Madrid Barajas Airport 11:15 PM Bilbao Airport €76 1 One-way 0 transfers- IB439
7:45 PM 1h05 Madrid Barajas Airport 8:50 PM Bilbao Airport €76 1 One-way 0 transfers - IB429
7:25 AM 1h05 Madrid Barajas Airport 8:30 AM Bilbao Airport €81 1 One-way 0 transfers
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
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FAQs: Travel from Madrid to Bilbao
Travel to Bilbao 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 Bilbao.
This is compared to other travel options from Madrid to Bilbao:
A train is €37 less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Madrid to Bilbao costing on average €46.
A train is €185 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Madrid to Bilbao costing on average €195.
Other travel options to Bilbao take longer:
Train takes on average 5h 29m.
Bus takes on average 5h 51m.
- Around 36 trains per day.
- Around 24 buses per day.
- Around 14 flights per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Madrid and Bilbao 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 Bilbao Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Madrid Chamartín and arrive in Bilbao-Abando.
- Buses mostly depart from Madrid, Intercambiador de Avenida de América and arrive in Bilbao, Estación de Autobuses.
- Travel with Alsa, FlixBus, Alsa Supra to go to Bilbao by bus.
- Travel with Renfe ALVIA, Renfe MD, Renfe INTERCITY, Renfe to go to Bilbao by train.
- Travel with Air Europa, Iberia, CitizenPlane, Vueling, Royal Air Maroc, British Airways to go to Bilbao by flight.
- 22 direct buses per day with Alsa, Alsa Supra.
- 2 direct trains per day with Renfe ALVIA.
- 8 direct flights per day with Air Europa, Iberia, CitizenPlane.
Travelling from Madrid to Bilbao: related information
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