Barcelona to Madrid bus with Alsa

Buses from Barcelona to Madrid

Travelling from Barcelona to Madrid is a lovely way to see the country and explore the beauty of Spain. With two buses leaving on average every 3 hours from Barcelona, don't miss your opportunity to visit the wonderful city of Madrid while you are in the country. The bus drive from Barcelona to Madrid usually take 7h 30min to complete the journey covering a total of 312 miles (504 km) until you reach your final destination.

Barcelona to Madrid Bus Time: Daily Departures

There are on average a total of eleven buses that leave Barcelona each day, of those eleven there are two buses that depart Barcelona and arrive in Madrid every three hours. The first scheduled bus leaves Estació d'Autobusos Nord Station at 7:00 a.m and the last bus to leave the station departs at 11:59 p.m.

How long is the journey by bus from Barcelona to Madrid?

Taking the bus from Barcelona to Madrid can be a rather lengthy journey taking on average 7h 30min to complete your trip and you will be covering a distance of 312 miles (504 km) through Spain. When taking the bus from Barcelona to Madrid there are no stops or layovers needed meaning that all buses through the day and night are completely direct.

Madrid Tourists Palacio Real. Source: Shutterstock

What is/are the departure and arrival stations for buses from Barcelona to Madrid?

Departure station: Estació d'Autobusos Nord Station was converted to an operational bus station in 1972. This station used to be the main railway station of Barcelona in 1862 servicing train routes to the rest of Spain. It now offers multiple Buses to Madrid everyday as well as servicing Barcelona's Inter-city bus routes. Aeropuerto Josep Tarradellas-El Prat Station is one of the main operating stations for buses leaving Barcelona and heading to Madrid. It is located next to the cities biggest international airport in the city and offers passengers of the airport a chance after their flight to take a bus anywhere in Spain, as well as operating Intercity buses for Barcelona's local bus lines.

Arrival station: Estación Sur Station, which is also known as Méndez Alvaro Station is one of the busiest bus stations in Madrid offering a multitude of regional and international bus lines and is operated by many different bus providers. This station was given a major renovation and reopened in July of 1997 as the biggest and most modern bus station in the city and also offers Metro and train services out of the station. Aeropuerto Barajas T4 Station is not as big a Station as Estación Sur/Méndez Álvaro Station but it also is connected to the metro line of Madrid as well as being attached to Madrid's international airport offering people who have just flown in to Madrid the opportunity to visit other parts of Madrid or take a bus to their next destination in Spain.

Which bus companies travel from Barcelona to Madrid?

There are multiple buses in Spain that operate around the country but for the route from Barcelona to Madrid there is only one main provider of buses, Alsa. Alsa offers affordable bus fares between Barcelona and Madrid and depending on the route will have different types of buses to choose from as well as having multiple buses departing Barcelona every three hours. Alsa is a subsidiary of National Express which is the leading bus provider for all bus routes in Great Britain and the entirety of the UK.

Alsa buses from Barcelona to Madrid

Alsa is the main provider of buses from Barcelona to Madrid, with an impressive fleet of vehicles from single-decker to double-decker buses, they have everything you need to have a good journey to the beautiful city of Madrid. These buses are all long distance buses which have useful amenities for the long journey, almost all the buses travel direct to Madrid

Bus Barcelona to Madrid: Services on Board

When travelling with Alsa you can board one of three types of buses with different price ranges, the cheapest option is an Alsa Supra which is a single-decker bus, this is the smallest bus available to take. It has standard features such as leather seats with footrests, a paid Wi-Fi service as well as a communal media system for entertainment while you travel.

The second option is an Alsa Comfort which is a double-decker bus that has many of the same amenities as the supra except for the chairs having more space, the wifi is available for free and there are individual media displays for every seat.

The final option is the Alsa Premium which is the largest bus in the fleet which offers a very comfortable and roomy seat, free Wi-Fi for all passengers, individual media systems as well as custom food menus as well as some advanced amenities such as special attention for children, older people and those with disabilities, baby chairs and bottle warmers, space for pets and door to door collection service at an additional cost.

How to find cheap bus tickets from Barcelona to Madrid?

When trying to find the cheapest bus tickets from Barcelona to Madrid, there are a few key factors to consider. First of all you should always do your best to book at least three weeks before you travel, time is your friend and preparing early to book your tickets will usually reward you with better deals or even reduced prices.

Secondly, timing is extremely important if you are planning to travel on days when there may be events or perhaps vacations, buses may be almost fully booked and therefore prices will go up, so it is always a good idea to look at the prices a few days before or after the date you intended to travel to see if the prices fluctuate.

Third, taking a longer route or a route with more stops can sometimes be cheaper than trying to get there faster. When a bus is slower or has to stop often, bus providers will cut back on prices to compensate for the delays of commuters. Finally, one of your best friends when looking for the cheapest prices would be to use Omio which organises all the prices to find the right option for you.

Madrid Terrace Plaza Mayor. Source: Shutterstock

To Madrid by bus—travel tips

Madrid is a town with a wealthy history, stunning architecture, boutique shopping, and a colourful nightlife. It's a European capital full of excellent art, great wine, scrumptious tapas, and the varieties of impromptu alleyway performances that only this city can provide.

Madrid has so much to offer it will leave you speechless. The town's bars and nightlife generally tend to hit their stride after midnight. An afternoon nap is necessary if you want to transition from an afternoon of sightseeing to a night time of music and dance.

Madrid is an inland town and has been the Spanish capital since the seventeenth century. English is not as extensively spoken in Madrid as it is in its sister city of Barcelona, making it a great opportunity to test out your Spanish in restaurants, cafes, and shops. You may need to stop for a mid-morning snack as you are exploring, however. Lunch and dinner are commonly eaten later than in other countries, where siestas simply do break up the day.