The cheapest and fastest trains from Madrid to Santander
Cheapest price
£44
Average price
£66
Fastest journey
4 h 27 m
Average duration
5 h 23 m
Trains per day
29
Distance
339 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Madrid to Santander is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Madrid to Santander will cost around £66 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £44.
Of the 29 trains that leave Madrid for Santander every day 1 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
These direct trains cover the 339 km distance in an average of 5 h 23 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 4 h 27 m .
The slowest trains will take 5 h 47 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.
18063+
1810512:2510h04Madrid Príncipe Pío22:29Santander station£441One-way1 change
18011+
181059:3612h53Madrid Príncipe Pío22:29Santander station£441One-way1 change
18061+
181059:0613h23Madrid Príncipe Pío22:29Santander station£441One-way1 change
05817+
1810514:168h13Madrid Chamartín22:29Santander station£441One-way1 change
08179+
1810516:535h36Madrid Chamartín22:29Santander station£501One-way1 change
0419319:014h27Madrid Chamartín23:28Santander station£721One-way0 changes
08389+
0419318:085h20Madrid Chamartín23:28Santander station£691One-way1 change
08179+
1810516:535h36Madrid Chamartín22:29Santander station£501One-way1 change
04267 · 0419317:415h47Madrid Chamartín23:28Santander station£841One-way1 change
04167 · 0419317:415h47Madrid Chamartín23:28Santander station£791One-way1 change
Travel Information
Compare train, coach and flight for Madrid to Santander
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Madrid to Santander among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the train with prices starting from £15. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 2h 35m. 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 train costs an average of £15, and a flight costs an average of £32.
Distance: 339 km
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Coach | Flight |
|---|---|---|
£35 Average Price Cheapest | £38 Average Price | £208 Average Price |
4h 45m Average total duration 4h 15m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 6h 23m Average total duration 5h 53m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 35m Average total duration Fastest 2h 35m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* |
0.1 - 0.3kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.3 - 0.8kg CO2 emissions | 1.0 - 2.0kg CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular bus 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
Madrid to Santander train times
The table below shows live departures for Madrid to Santander trains for today, Saturday 18 July. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
18061+ 35205 | On time 9:06 Madrid Príncipe Pío | 15h41 | 0:47 Santander station | 1 change | |
05763+ 35205 | On time 9:18 Madrid Chamartín | 15h29 | 0:47 Santander station | 1 change | |
18011+ 35205 | On time 9:36 Madrid Príncipe Pío | 15h11 | 0:47 Santander station | 1 change | |
05071+ 35205 | Delayed 7:49 9:49Madrid Chamartín | 14h58 | 0:47 Santander station | 1 change | |
08109+ 35205 | 10:08 Madrid Chamartín | 14h39 | 0:47 Santander station | 1 change | |
04121+ 35205 | 11:16 Madrid Chamartín | 13h31 | 0:47 Santander station | 1 change | |
08129+ 35205 | 11:58 Madrid Chamartín | 12h49 | 0:47 Santander station | 1 change | |
18063+ 35205 | On time 12:25 Madrid Príncipe Pío | 12h22 | 0:47 Santander station | 1 change | |
04143+ 35205 | Delayed 11:33 13:33Madrid Chamartín | 11h14 | 0:47 Santander station | 1 change | |
05817+ 35205 | 14:16 Madrid Chamartín | 10h31 | 0:47 Santander station | 1 change | |
08359+ 35205 | 15:33 Madrid Chamartín | 9h14 | 0:47 Santander station | 1 change | |
08179+ 35205 | 16:53 Madrid Chamartín | 7h54 | 0:47 Santander station | 1 change | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Madrid to Santander 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.
18 Jul
19 Jul
20 Jul
21 Jul
22 Jul
23 Jul
24 Jul
25 Jul
26 Jul
27 Jul
28 Jul
29 Jul
30 Jul
31 Jul
01 Aug
02 Aug
03 Aug
04 Aug
05 Aug
06 Aug
07 Aug
Why should you book Madrid to Santander trains with Omio?
Why book with Omio vs Renfe ALVIA?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can not only buy tickets for Renfe ALVIA, but also compare tickets for the likes of Renfe, Renfe INTERCITY, Renfe MD or Renfe Viajeros to find the best option for your trip from Madrid to Santander.
- Designed for International Travelers: Omio is in your language including 24/7 customer service and offers multiple payment options, including PayPal, credit cards, and bank transfer, in your preferred currency.
- Compare all your options: Omio allows you to compare Renfe ALVIA with all available travel options, which are train, bus and flight to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from Madrid to Santander.
How far in advance should I book train tickets from Madrid to Santander?
Journey information
Overview: Train from Madrid to Santander
Trains from Madrid to Santander run on average 3 times per day, taking around 4h 15m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £15 if you book in advance.
There are 3 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 06:36, the last at 19:20. The fastest train covers the 339 km distance in 4h 20m.
Distance 339 km |
Average train duration 4h 15m |
Cheapest ticket price £15 |
Trains per day 3 |
Direct trains 3 |
Fastest train 4h 20m |
First train 6:36 |
Last train 19:20 |
Cheapest Month Mar |
Cheapest Day Sat |
High Season Jul - Sept |
Low Season Oct - Dec |
Busiest Day Tue |
Least Busy Day Sun |
Best time to book 63 days |
Train companies: Renfe ALVIA, Renfe, Renfe INTERCITY, Renfe MD, Renfe Viajeros, Ouigo from Madrid to Santander trainsRenfe ALVIA, Renfe, Renfe INTERCITY, Renfe MD, Renfe Viajeros, Ouigo trains will get you between Madrid and Santander from £15. With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.
Renfe ALVIA
Renfe
Renfe INTERCITY
Renfe MD
Renfe Viajeros
Ouigo
FAQs: Madrid to Santander train
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Madrid to Santander by train. 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 train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Santander, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

popular train stations
Important Stations and Airports in Madrid and Santander
Most Madrid to Santander trains use the Madrid Chamartín to Santander station pair. Use this guide to compare Madrid and Santander train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Which Madrid station do trains to Santander leave from?
Getting to Madrid Chamartín from Madrid city centre
Madrid Chamartín is 6 km from Madrid city centre. Public transport options include:
Madrid Chamartín train station facilities and services
Madrid Chamartín has practical services for this route, including Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental and Information Desk.
Food and drink
Food and drink options are available at Madrid Chamartín.
Wi-Fi and ATMs
ATMs are available at Madrid Chamartín.
Tickets and information
Ticket office support is available at Madrid Chamartín. Information desks are available at Madrid Chamartín.
Luggage and lost property
Lost and found is available at the station.
Parking, taxis and toilets
Available at Madrid Chamartín: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Bike and car services
Available at Madrid Chamartín: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility
Accessibility facilities are available at Madrid Chamartín.
Which Santander station do trains from Madrid arrive at?
Santander train station facilities and services
Santander has practical services for this route, including Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental and Information Desk.
Food and drink
Food and drink options are available at Santander.
Wi-Fi and ATMs
ATMs are available at Santander.
Tickets and information
Ticket office support is available at Santander. Information desks are available at Santander.
Luggage and lost property
Lost and found is available at the station.
Parking, taxis and toilets
Available at Santander: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Bike and car services
Available at Santander: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility
Accessibility facilities are available at Santander.
More options for your journey from Madrid to Santander
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need



