- Recommended
Museo del Mar de Santa Pola
Museum inside the castle explaining Santa Pola’s maritime, fishing and archaeological heritage. A practical first stop for context on the town.
Cheapest price on 18 Sept
£37
Average ticket price on 18 Sept
£39
Fastest journey on 18 Sept
5 h 5 m
Average journey duration on 18 Sept
5 h 40 m
Buses on 18 Sept
7
Distance
366 km
The best way to find a cheap coach ticket from Madrid to Santa Pola is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Madrid to Santa Pola will cost around £39 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap coach tickets today for only £37.
On Fri 18 Sept, we found 7 buses from Madrid to Santa Pola, including 4 direct services.
These direct buses cover the 366 km distance in an average of 5 h 40 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 5 h 5 m .
The slowest buses will take 6 h 10 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.
Normal
Normal
Normal
Normal
Normal · Normal
Normal
Normal
Supra Economy · Normal
Normal
Normal · NormalOmio recommends booking the coach as it is the most popular option from Madrid to Santa Pola among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the train, with an average ticket price of £19 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 2h 54m. 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 £19, while a flight costs an average of £56.
Distance: 366 km
Most popular Coach | Train | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
£34 Average Price | £19 Average Price Cheapest | £56 Average Price | £64 Average Price (fuel + tolls) |
5h 42m Average total duration 5h 12m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 2h 54m Average total duration Fastest 2h 24m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 13m Average total duration 1h 13m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 4h 16m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.4 - 0.9kg CO2 emissions | 0.1 - 0.3kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 1.1 - 2.2kg 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.
This is compared to other travel options from Madrid to Santa Pola:
A train is £15 less than a coach for this route with tickets for a coach from Madrid to Santa Pola costing on average £34.
A train is £37 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Madrid to Santa Pola costing on average £56.
Other travel options to Santa Pola take longer:
Train takes on average 2h 24m.
Coach takes on average 5h 12m.
Tickets start at around £34 compared to roughly £64 in fuel and tolls — a saving of about £30. The journey takes 5h 12m versus 4h 16m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can use the time productively rather than spending it behind the wheel. No parking to sort, no fuel stops, and most coaches have Wi-Fi and power outlets.
Direct services are operated by Alsa, BlaBlaCar.
Driving is worth considering if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), or want the flexibility to stop along the way.
The table below shows live departures for Madrid to Santa Pola coaches for today, Thursday 17 September. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated coach journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Supra Economy · Normal | 8:15 Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 5h50 | 14:05 Santa Pola | 1 change | |
Normal · Normal | 9:30 Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 6h20 | 15:50 Santa Pola | 1 change | |
Normal | 10:30 Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 5h05 | 15:35 Santa Pola | 0 changesdirect | |
Normal · Normal | 12:30 Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 6h10 | 18:40 Santa Pola | 1 change | |
Normal | 13:30 Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 5h20 | 18:50 Santa Pola | 0 changesdirect | |
Normal | 22:45 Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 6h40 | 5:25 Santa Pola | 0 changesdirect | |
Normal | 23:30 Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 5h55 | 5:25 Santa Pola | 0 changesdirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare coach, train 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.
Buses from Madrid to Santa Pola run on average 11 times per day, taking around 5h 12m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at £29 but you can travel from only £8 by train.
There are 8 coaches per day. The earliest coach runs at 00:30, the last at 23:45. The fastest coach covers the 366 km distance in 5h 5m.
Distance 366 km |
Average bus duration 5h 12m |
Cheapest ticket price £29 |
Buses per day 11 |
Direct buses 8 |
Fastest bus 5h 5m |
First bus 0:30 |
Last bus 23:45 |
Cheapest Month Aug |
Cheapest Day Sat |
High Season Jul - Sept |
Low Season Oct - Dec |
Busiest Day Sat |
Least Busy Day Sun |
Best time to book 28 days |
Discover the best of Santa Pola — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Santa Pola trip today.
Museum inside the castle explaining Santa Pola’s maritime, fishing and archaeological heritage. A practical first stop for context on the town.
A museum and conservation centre focused on the local salt flats and birdlife. Useful for understanding the nearby natural park before visiting.
Roman remains of a fish-salting factory and dwelling area at Portus Ilicitanus. Worth visiting for a clear view of Santa Pola’s ancient past.
Natural park of salt lagoons, dunes and bird habitats on the edge of town. Visit for flamingos, flat walking routes and wide open coastal scenery.
Cape viewpoint by the lighthouse with dramatic cliffs and broad views over the sea and Tabarca. A popular recent favourite for sunsets and photos.
Promenade and harbourfront area with fishing boats, ferries and sea views. Ideal for an easy walk and to feel Santa Pola’s everyday maritime character.
Rice cooked in rich fish stock with local rock fish and shellfish. A staple on the Santa Pola coast, reflecting the town’s fishing heritage.
Thin noodles cooked in seafood stock, often with squid, prawns or monkfish. Popular across Alicante and common in Santa Pola seafront restaurants.
Rice dish made with cuttlefish ink, giving it a black colour and deep marine flavour. A classic choice in local seafood restaurants.
Refined waterfront dining focused on Mediterranean rice dishes, fish and shellfish, with a polished but approachable atmosphere.
Established seafood restaurant near the port, known for rice dishes, shellfish and a traditional maritime atmosphere.
Popular harbour-side restaurant serving paella, fideuà and fresh fish in a relaxed setting with sea views.
Moderate for the Costa Blanca. Meals and coffee are reasonable, while summer accommodation rises. Local buses are fairly cheap, making it good value versus larger Spanish resort cities.
Tipping is modest. Round up or leave 5-10% in restaurants for good service. In cafés, small change is fine. For taxis, round up the fare.
Official public transport app
Estación de Autobuses de Santa Pola -> Castillo Fortaleza de Santa Pola
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Madrid to Santa Pola 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 Santa Pola, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Madrid to Santa Pola buses use the Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses to Santa Pola station pair. Use this guide to compare Madrid and Santa Pola bus stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like bus station facilities and services.
Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses is 3 km from Madrid city centre. Public transport options include:
Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC and Ticket Office.
Food options include: Cafetería de la estación (in the station), Restaurante El Brillante (0.5 km), La Taberna de Domínguez (0.7 km).
Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located near the main entrance and in the waiting area.
Ticket office support is available at Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses.
Available at Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses: Elevators, ramps.
Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) is 12 km from Madrid city centre. Public transport options include:
Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) has practical services for this route, including Dining, ATM, Accessibility, WC, Shower and Ticket Office.
Food options include: Rodilla, Mahoudrid
ATMs are aTMs located throughout T4, major cards accepted .
Ticket office support is available at Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid).
Available at Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid): WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid): Step-free access, elevators, accessible toilets.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need