Barcelona to Madrid: Transport Guide
After a relaxing trip to Barcelona, Marid is an excellent destination to visit next in Spain.
In this travel guide, you’ll find useful information about traveling from Barcelona to Madrid by flight, train, and bus, including timetable, ticket prices, and tips.
Getting from Barcelona to Madrid: Overview
The distance between Barcelona and Madrid is about 314 miles (506 km), and you can get to Madrid by flight, train, bus, and car.
While it takes less than 1.5 hours to fly, traveling by train takes 2.5 hours and by bus takes at least 7 and a half hours.
Type | Time | Cost | Tickets |
---|---|---|---|
Flight | 1 hour 25 minutes | From €37 | Check flight ticket |
Train | 2 hours 30 minutes | From €54 | Check train ticket |
Bus | 7.5 hours | From €42 | Check bus ticket |
Car | 2 hours 35 minutes | €80/3 days | Check car options |
Travel tips
- Things to do: Museo Nacional del Prado, Royal Palace of Madrid, and Plaza Mayor are excellent places to visit in Madrid. Watching a flamenco show is fun too.
- Accommodation: I recommend booking your hotel in Madrid in advance. Check availability and read reviews of hotels here.
- Tour: See Madrid’s most famous landmarks on the bike with this 3-hour tour. You’ll learn lots of historical facts and explore the city’s major highlights.
- Transport: Taking a hop-on-hop-off bus is a fun way to explore Madrid. Check out more details here.
Barcelona to Madrid flight
Flying is the fastest way to travel to Madrid.
AirEuropa, Iberia, and Vueling offer direct flights from Barcelona and Madrid, and the journey takes about 1 hour and 25 minutes.
Planes frequently depart from Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN) and arrive at Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD).
I always use Skyscanner to find cheap flights and get the best deals.
Flight info | |
---|---|
Journey time | 1h 25m |
Price | From €37 |
Distance | 314 miles (506 km) |
Frequency | 15 flights per day |
First flight | 7 am |
Last flight | 10 pm |
Departure | Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN) |
Arrival | Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD) |
Operators | AirEuropa, Iberia, and Vueling |
Barcelona to Madrid train
Renfe AVE and Renfe offer daily trains from Barcelona to Madrid, taking about 2.5 hours on average.
Around 15 trains operate daily, and you can choose direct trains from Barcelona Sants and arrive at Madrid-Puerta de Atocha. Both stations are located within 1 km of the center.
Train info | |
---|---|
Journey time | From 2h 30m |
Price | From $21 |
Distance | 314 miles (506 km) |
Frequency | 15 trains per day |
First train | 05:50 |
Last train | 20:00 |
Departure station | Barcelona Sants |
Arrival station | Madrid-Puerta de Atocha |
Changes | Direct trains available |
Operators | Renfe |
Provider | Departure | Arrival | Tickets |
Renfe | 5:50 am | 9:10 am | Book tickets |
Renfe | 6:20 am | 8:50 am | Book tickets |
Renfe | 7:00 am | 8:30 am | Book tickets |
Renfe | 7:40 am | 10:10 am | Book tickets |
Renfe | 8:00 am | 11:12 am | Book tickets |
Renfe | 8:25 am | 10:55 am | Book tickets |
Renfe | 9:00 am | 11:45 am | Book tickets |
How long is the train from Barcelona to Madrid?
The average travel time is 2 hours 45 minutes, covering a 314 miles (506 km) distance. If you take the fastest train, you can shorten the travel time to 2 hours 30 minutes.
How much is the train ticket from Barcelona to Madrid?
The cheapest train ticket for this route is $21 (€17.75), but the average price of train tickets is $63 (€54). You should book your train tickets early to get the best price.
Where are the departure and arrival stations?
All trains leave Barcelona Sants station and arrive at Madrid-Puerta de Atocha station. Both stations are located in the city center, so traveling around is convenient.
When is the first and last train depart from Barcelona to Madrid?
The first train leaves the station at 5:50 am, while the last train departs at 8 pm. However, train schedules may change between weekdays and weekends. Please check the latest schedule here.
Barcelona to Madrid bus
Taking a bus is another way to travel to Madrid.
Alsa offers daily buses between Barcelona and Madrid. The journey takes about 7.5 hours to 8 hours. The bus ticket costs $40 (€32).
Bus info | |
---|---|
Journey time | 7.5h |
Price | $40 (€32) |
Distance | 314 miles (506 km) |
Frequency | 15 buses per day |
First bus | 7 am |
Last bus | 11:59 pm |
Departure station | Barcelona, Estació d’Autobusos Nord |
Arrival station | Madrid |
Operators | Alsa |
Provider | Departure | Arrival | Tickets |
Alsa | 7:00 am | 2:35 am | Book tickets |
Alsa | 10:30 am | 6:10 pm | Book tickets |
Alsa | 1:00 pm | 8:20 pm | Book tickets |
Alsa | 2:30 pm | 10:05 pm | Book tickets |
Alsa | 10:00 pm | 5:35 am | Book tickets |
Alsa | 11:30 pm | 7:25 am | Book tickets |
Alsa | 11:59 pm | 7:34 am | Book tickets |
How long is the bus from Barcelona to Madrid?
Buses to Madrid take about 7 hours and 30 minutes to 8 hours. Please note that the bus travel schedule depends on specific dates, weekends, and holidays.
How much is the bus ticket from Barcelona to Madrid?
The bus ticket costs $40 (€32). However, prices may change depending on the time of day and are usually more expensive if you book on the day.
Where are the departure and arrival stations?
The buses depart from Barcelona or Estació d’Autobusos Nord station and arrive at Madrid station.
When is the first and last bus depart from Barcelona to Madrid?
The first bus leaves the station at 7 am, while the last departs at midnight.
Getting around Madrid
The best way to get around Madrid is by metro. There are 11 metro lines, and it operates from 6.05 am to 1.30 am.
When taking public transport in Madrid, you’ll need a Tarjeta Multi, a rechargeable card. You can top up your account at machines in all metro stations.
Single-journey ticket costs €1.50, while the 10-ride option (bus and metro) is €12.20.