How to get to Madrid from Barcelona

Sun, 20 Apr
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Travel Information from Barcelona to Madrid

distanceDistance312 miles
modeAvailable travel modesTrain, coach or flight
priceTicket price range£17 - £18
cheapestCheapest modeCoach • £17 • 7 h 5 min
fastestFastest modeFlight • £18 • 1 h 20 min
carriersPopular travel companiesAlsa, Iberia or Ouigo

Travel 312 miles by train, coach or flight between Barcelona and Madrid. The most popular travel providers which serve this route are Alsa, Iberia or Ouigo among others. Travellers can even take a direct coach, flight or train from Barcelona to Madrid.

Travel options
from Barcelona to Madrid

How to get to Madrid from Barcelona by train, bus, flight or ferry.

Our recommendation
bus

The best way to travel from Barcelona to Madrid is by taking a coach because it’s the best combination of price and speed.

AlsaNormal
09:307h35
Barcelona, Estació d'Autobusos Nord
17:05Madrid
£391One-way
0 changes
Cheapest
AlsaNormal · Normal
14:008h20
Barcelona, Estació d'Autobusos Nord
22:20Madrid
£391One-way
1 change
Fastest
IberiaIB426
07:001h25
Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN)
08:25Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD)
£1531One-way
0 changes
Other options
iryo06110
10:452h37
Barcelona Sants
13:22Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes
£721One-way
0 changes
iryo06010
09:502h52
Barcelona Sants
12:42Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes
£761One-way
0 changes
iryo06130
13:052h52
Barcelona Sants
15:57Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes
£681One-way
0 changes
AlsaNormal
10:307h40
Barcelona, Estació d'Autobusos Nord
18:10Madrid
£391One-way
0 changes
AlsaNormal
09:308h00
Barcelona, Estació d'Autobusos Nord
17:30Madrid
£391One-way
0 changes
AlsaNormal
10:308h05
Barcelona, Estació d'Autobusos Nord
18:35Madrid
£391One-way
0 changes
IberiaIB404
09:151h25
Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN)
10:40Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD)
£1801One-way
0 changes
IberiaIB408
10:351h25
Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN)
12:00Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD)
£1921One-way
0 changes
IberiaIB412
13:351h25
Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN)
15:00Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD)
£1921One-way
0 changes

Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .

Compare prices and tickets Prices for trains, coaches, flights and ferries

Sat
19 Apr
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20 Apr
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21 Apr
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How to Travel from Barcelona to Madrid

It is possible to make a direct journey between the two cities by plane train or bus. Journey times are between 3.5 and 9 hours approximately. Travelling by train is the quickest route, as although actual flight times are short, journey times to and from airports and security checks add to the time taken when flying. The slowest journey time between the two cities is by bus.

Barcelona to Madrid Travel Comparison

Average Price

Travel Time

Cheapest Time to Book

buses

£29

7:50 h

1 Week Before

trains

£80

2:30 h

2 Months Before

flight

£40

1:25 h

2 Months Before



What is the best way to travel from Barcelona to Madrid?

Cheapest way to travel from Barcelona to Madrid


cheap

Buses are definitely the cheapest option for travel from Barcelona to Madrid, however, it’s also the slowest by some distance. ALSA operates a route from Barcelona which takes around 7.5 hours to reach Madrid. Buses leave from Barcelona Nord Coach Station, arriving at Madrid Intercambiador Avenida de America. There are around 16 departures a day, seven days a week.


Fastest way to travel from Barcelona to Madrid


fast

The Spanish provider RENFE operates its high-speed AVE route between the two cities, leaving from Barcelona Sants Train Station and arriving at Madrid Puerta de Atocha. There is at least one departure an hour throughout the day, seven days a week. The journey time is approximately 3 hours. There are also two slower early morning trains which take around 9 hours. When Check-In and Journeys to and from the airport are included, the train proves the quickest option between the two cities.


Most popular way to travel from Barcelona to Madrid


popular

The total flight time between Barcelona Prat Airport and Madrid Barajas Airport is around 1 hour 15 mins, with three airlines offering a direct service, seven days a week. Iberia has 7 departures a day, Vueling and Air Europa have 3 departures each. The frequency of departures and low cost of the flights mean that they remain a popular choice.


More than 1,000 travel companies trust us to sell their tickets all in one place.

Trenitalia
Easyjet
Deutsche Bahn
SNCF

All travel companies: All Airlines, Train and Coach Companies from Barcelona to Madrid

Travel on Renfe, Vueling Airlines and Alsa travel to Madrid from Barcelona at great prices. Omio finds you travel times and tickets for over 1000 travel companies all in one place.

Renfe is a Spanish train company that operates throughout the country including trains from Barcelona to Madrid. It offers a wide range of services, including high-speed AVE trains, regional trains, and night trains. The AVE trains are the fastest and most comfortable way to travel, with speeds of up to 300 km/h. Regional trains are slower but offer more stops and are ideal for shorter trips. Night trains are a great way to save money and time, as they allow you to travel overnight and arrive at your destination in the morning. Renfe offers several types of tickets, including single tickets, return tickets, and season tickets. Onboard facilities include comfortable seating, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and power outlets. The most popular routes for Renfe are Madrid-Barcelona, Madrid-Seville, and Madrid-Valencia. These routes offer travelers the chance to explore some of Spain's most beautiful cities in comfort and style.

    Alsa is the main provier of travel travel in Spain. As a subsidiary of the UK travel operator National Express, Alsa offers a plethora of regional, national and international routes and transports more than 300 million passengers per year. Alsa has an impressive fleet of travel with different levels of comfort and amenities on offer. Aside from the Alsa Normal travel with free WiFi, toilets, footrests and entertainment on board, the Alsa Supra, Alsa Eurobus and Alsa Premium travel provide more luxurious services when travelling by road, depending on the specific route. Apart from the Standard ticket, Alsa offers other travel tickets like Minimum, Reduced and Flexible fares on select routes.

      Vueling is one of Spain’s leading low-cost airlines where you can choose between Basic, Optima or Time Flex tickets for your next travel to Madrid from Barcelona.

        FAQs: Barcelona to Madrid

        FAQs: Travel to Madrid easily. Whether you want fast, cheap or something entirely different, our travel experts have collected everything you need to know so you can find the best option from Barcelona to Madrid.
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