4.9
4.6The cheapest and fastest coaches from Bilbao to Madrid
Cheapest price
£20
Average price
£47
Fastest journey
3 h 50 m
Average duration
4 h 20 m
Buses per day
7
Distance
323 km
The best way to find a cheap coach ticket from Bilbao to Madrid is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Bilbao to Madrid will cost around £47 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap coach tickets today for only £20.
Of the 7 buses that leave Bilbao for Madrid every day 5 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
These direct buses cover the 323 km distance in an average of 4 h 20 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 3 h 50 m .
The slowest buses will take 4 h 40 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
Travel Information
Compare train, coach and flight for Bilbao to Madrid
Omio recommends booking the coach as it is the most popular option from Bilbao to Madrid among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the coach with prices starting from £21. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 2h 21m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.3kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £21, and a flight costs an average of £27.
Distance: 323 km
Compare bus with
Most popular Coach | Train | Flight |
|---|---|---|
£41 Average Price Cheapest | £45 Average Price | £133 Average Price |
5h 46m Average total duration 5h 16m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 22m Average total duration 3h 52m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 21m Average total duration Fastest 2h 21m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* |
0.3 - 0.8kg CO2 emissions | 0.1 - 0.3kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 1.0 - 1.9kg CO2 emissions |
 Most popular bus company |  Most popular train company |  Most popular airline |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Live departures
Bilbao to Madrid bus times
The table below shows live departures for Bilbao to Madrid coaches for today, Monday 16 February. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated coach journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 FlixBus · FlixBus | 07:10 Bilbao, Calle Luis Briñas / Basurtuko Kaputxinoen kalea | 23h35 | 06:45 Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 1 change | |
| FlixBus · FlixBus | 13:35 Bilbao, Calle Luis Briñas / Basurtuko Kaputxinoen kalea | 17h35 | 07:10 Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 1 change | |
| Tuesday 17 February | |||||
| 00:00 Bilbao | 4h30 | 04:30 Madrid | 0 changesdirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Bilbao to Madrid by train, coach or flight
Compare train, coach 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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Journey information
Overview: Bus from Bilbao to Madrid
SpainSpain
Buses from Bilbao to Madrid run on average 28 times per day, taking around 5h 15m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at £21 if you book in advance.
There are 24 coaches per day. The earliest coach runs at 00:05, the last at 23:55. The fastest coach covers the 323 km distance in 4h 15m.
Distance 323 km |
Average bus duration 5h 15m |
Cheapest ticket price £21 |
Buses per day 28 |
Direct buses 24 |
Fastest bus 4h 15m |
First bus 00:05 |
Last bus 23:55 |
Bus providers: Alsa, Alsa Supra, BlaBlaCar, Infobus, FlixBus, Autobuses La Unión, Alava Bus from Bilbao to MadridYou can travel by bus between Bilbao to Madrid with Alsa, Alsa Supra, BlaBlaCar, Infobus, FlixBus, Autobuses La Unión, Alava Bus for as low as £18. When you search for schedules and tickets, Omio will show you the best journey
Alsa
Alsa Supra
Infobus
FlixBus
Autobuses La Unión
BlaBlaCar
Alava Bus
Coach from Bilbao to Madrid
Coaches from Bilbao to Madrid are the next best alternative to taking a flight as no direct trains operate between these two cities. An average of 26 different connections are active every day and departure times are staggered throughout most of the day. All services are direct with the fastest taking four hours and five minutes to arrive at its destination.
How long is the journey by bus from Bilbao to Madrid?
There are no changeovers required for any of the coaches from Bilbao to Madrid. However, there is some disparity in terms of journey time. The fastest services take just over four hours, while the longest can take as long as five hours and ten minutes. While there is no absolute rule for why this is the case, journeys from the less usual start point, Cruz Roja Ereaga, tend to involve a longer journey time.
How many coaches are there from Bilbao to Madrid?
On average, there are 26 coaches from Bilbao to Madrid to choose from each day. While services do not depart around the clock, most are staggered throughout the day starting from the latter hours of the morning. Departures usually continue until just before midnight, with more connection times clustered during the afternoon hours than any other period.
What are the departure and arrival stations for buses from Bilbao to Madrid?
Departure bus station: There are two start points for coaches from Bilbao to Madrid. The first is the main bus station, Bilbao Intermodal (formerly called Termibus), from which the majority of coaches to Madrid depart. It is just under one mile from the city center and trams and metro stops are nearby as well as food services and hostels. The second start point is Cruz Roja Ereaga, a pick up point in the town of Getxo, which is located eight miles outside of Bilbao.
Arrival bus station: The majority of connections terminate in Madrid Interc. Av América or Avenida de America station. This station houses both trains and buses and is located very near the city center. As first and foremost a transport hub, it does not offer many services but passengers can take a variety of metro lines, buses or taxi services from here. The second termination point is terminal 4 of Barajas Airport, where buses, taxis, currency exchange and a pharmacy are all available.
Which coach providers travel from Bilbao to Madrid?
All coaches from Bilbao to Madrid are operated by Alsa, a provider that operates throughout Europe with a large number of routes covered in Portugal, France and Germany. It also offers connections between most Spanish cities. Alsa also connect to a number of important airports and indeed some connections from Bilbao to Madrid disembark at one of the city's major airports, Barajas.
Alsa Bilbao to Madrid
Alsa buses depart from Bilbao for Madrid throughout the day. While the vast majority of these services are considered by the company to be 'normal' buses with limited onboard facilities, a number of what are called 'Premium' routes are also available. These offer a significantly extended list of facilities on-board.
Bilbao to Madrid Coach: Services on Board
Alsa coaches from Bilbao to Madrid are divided into normal and premium routes. Normal services are standard buses that offer free WiFi and an onboard toilet. Premium buses offer more comfortable seats, a touch-activated tv screen, tables, power sockets and other service options. Luggage allowances on Alsa buses extends to a maximum of 30kg per passenger with overhead storage for small bags and undercarriage storage compartments for larger items. There are usually four bike storage spots on each bus that must be booked in advance. Pets that weigh less than 10kg can also travel but must be kept an appropriate carrier and booked in advance. Guide dogs are exempt from this but passengers must bring suitable paperwork for the dog and keep it on a leash. For those requiring special assistance, Alsa has in place what they call their Accessibility Plan. This is a comprehensive service designed to make their coaches as accessible as possible. Options include the reservation of seats near doors where necessary and a dedicated phone service for locating buses with lifting platforms for those confined to or in need of a wheelchair.
FAQs: Bilbao to Madrid coach
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Bilbao to Madrid by coach. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest coach, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Madrid, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.
- Alsa
- Assistance
- Priority boarding
- Accessible seating.
- Infobus
- Assistance
- Priority seating
- Transport for wheelchairs and mobility aids.
- Alsa Supra
- Assistance
- Priority boarding
- Accessible restrooms.
- Alsa
- You can cancel your ticket up to 48 hours before departure for a partial refund. Changes allowed for a fee.
- Infobus
- You can cancel your ticket up to 24 hours before departure for a partial refund. Cancellations within 24 hours may incur a fee.
- Alsa Supra
- You can cancel your ticket up to 48 hours before departure for a partial refund. Within 48 hours, a fee applies.
- Alsa
- One carry-on bag up to 10kg and one checked bag up to 25kg.
- Infobus
- One carry-on bag up to 5kg (40x20x25) and one checked bag up to 20kg (50x30x80).
- Alsa Supra
- One carry-on bag up to 10kg and one checked bag up to 25kg.
- Alsa
- Additional luggage can be purchased for a fee.
- Infobus
- 10€ per additional bag.
- Alsa Supra
- Additional luggage can be purchased for a fee.
- Alsa
- Small pets allowed in carriers
- larger pets must travel in the hold.
- Infobus
- Small pets allowed in carriers
- larger pets may require a separate ticket.
- Alsa Supra
- Small pets allowed in carriers
- guide dogs travel for free.
popular bus stations
Important Stations and Airports in Bilbao and Madrid
Wifi
Parking
Dining
ATM
Taxis
Accessibility
WC
Ticket Office
- 06:00-22:00
- Free Wi-Fi
- Café de la Estación (in the station)
- Fast Food Express (in the station).
- Available outside the main entrance.
- Elevators, ramps
- Available in the station.
- Bus: 58, 62, 77 Metro: L1, L2 Train: C1, C2
WifiParkingDiningATMTaxisAccessibilityWCTicket Office- 06:00-23:00
- Free Wi-Fi
- Cafetería de la estación (in the station)
- Restaurante El Rincón (0.5 km)
- La Vaca Argentina (0.7 km).
- Available outside the main entrance.
- Elevators, ramps
- Available in the station.
- Bus: 200, 114, 115, 122 Metro: 4, 6, 7, 9
DiningATMAccessibilityWCShowerTicket Office- 06:00-23:00
- Rodilla, Mahoudrid
- Step-free access, elevators, accessible toilets
- Located inside the terminal, well-signposted, accessible, and generally clean
- No public showers in the bus station area; showers available in airport lounges (approx. €15-€30 for lounge access)
- Metro Line 8, Aeropuerto T4, 12 km
WifiParkingDiningATMTaxisAccessibilityWCTicket Office- 06:00-23:00
- Free Wi-Fi
- Cafetería de la estación (in the station)
- Restaurante El Brillante (0.5 km)
- La Taberna de Domínguez (0.7 km).
- Available outside the main entrance.
- Elevators, ramps
- Available in the station.
- Bus: 8, 102, 148 Metro: L6 Train: C1, C5
Most popular bus connections from Bilbao
More options for your journey from Bilbao to Madrid
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need
Most popular buses to and from Madrid and Bilbao
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