Bilbao to Madrid bus with Alsa

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.