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Travel Information
Compare coach, train and flight for Madrid to Barcelona
Omio recommends booking the flight as it is the most popular option from Madrid to Barcelona among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the coach, with an average ticket price of £34 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 3h 33m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.2 - 0.5kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £34, while a flight costs an average of £171.
Distance: 504 km
Compare flight with
Most popular Flight | Train | Coach | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
£171 Average Price | £57 Average Price | £34 Average Price Cheapest | £91 Average Price (fuel + tolls) |
4h 20m Average total duration 2h 20m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 3h 33m Average total duration Fastest 3h 3m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 9h 8m Average total duration 8h 38m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 6h 22m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
1.5 - 3.0kg CO2 emissions | 0.2 - 0.5kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.5 - 1.3kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
 Most popular airline |  Most popular train company |  Most popular bus company | 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 Barcelona:
A coach is £23 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Madrid to Barcelona costing on average £57.
A coach is £138 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Madrid to Barcelona costing on average £171.
Other travel options to Barcelona take longer:
Flight takes on average 4h 20m.
Coach takes on average 9h 8m.
You'll arrive about 4h 2m sooner (2h 20m by flight vs 6h 22m by car). Tickets start at around £171 compared to roughly £91 in fuel and tolls — a bit more, but you get time back and avoid a long drive.
Driving makes more sense if you're travelling as a group, want flexibility on timing, or plan to stop en route.
Travel optionsfrom Madrid to Barcelona
How to get to Barcelona from Madrid by train, bus, flight or ferry.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Madrid to Barcelona is by taking a coach because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- Normal0:147h35Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid)7:49Barcelona, Estación de Autobuses de Sants£361One-way0 changes
Cheapest
- Normal0:147h35Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid)7:49Barcelona, Estación de Autobuses de Sants£361One-way0 changes
Fastest
IB42319:251h15Madrid Barajas Airport20:40Barcelona El Prat Airport£2171One-way0 changes
Other options
064716:223h23Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes9:45Barcelona Sants£881One-way0 changes
0602114:423h31Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes18:13Barcelona Sants£901One-way0 changes- 060818:223h02Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes11:24Barcelona Sants£961One-way0 changes
- Normal13:157h35Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid)20:50Barcelona, Estación de Autobuses de Sants£361One-way0 changes
- Normal15:157h35Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid)22:50Barcelona, Estación de Autobuses de Sants£361One-way0 changes
- Normal12:157h35Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid)19:50Barcelona, Estación de Autobuses de Sants£361One-way0 changes
- IB42520:001h20Madrid Barajas Airport21:20Barcelona El Prat Airport£2071One-way0 changes
- IB42721:351h15Madrid Barajas Airport22:50Barcelona El Prat Airport£2581One-way0 changes
- UX6049 · UX606021:4516h35Madrid Barajas Airport14:20Barcelona El Prat Airport£2931One-way1 change
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
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.
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How to Travel from Madrid to Barcelona?
Travelling from Madrid to Barcelona can be done using train, bus and flight forms of transport. Barcelona is known for its beautiful beaches, festive parties and mouth-watering dishes. This city is filled with culture and history, making it one of the country’s most popular destinations. Barcelona is a great day trip from Madrid, due to it being a short train or flight away. However, longer stays are also recommended as this city has much to offer. Travelling to Barcelona from Madrid can be made using flights, trains and buses; all of these modes of transport can be used every day, as many routes are available.
What is the Cheapest Way To Get from Madrid to Barcelona?
The cheapest way to get from Madrid to Barcelona is by taking the bus or the train. If you choose to take the bus, you can be sure to get an affordable ticket. Buses take around 7 to 8h to reach Barcelona from Madrid. Bus tickets can range in price depending on the travel duration and time you travel. All buses from Madrid to Barcelona travel directly. An affordable bus company you can use is Alsa. If you want to take the train, your travel duration will be 2 to 3h. If you want to get a train ticket to this destination, you should take a slower train. All the trains from Madrid to Barcelona are direct. An affordable train company that you can use is Renfe. It is always advisable to book your travel tickets well in advance as prices increase closer to your departure date. If you can, try to be flexible with your dates, as some days of the week will be cheaper than others.
What is the Fastest Way to Travel from Madrid to Barcelona?
The fastest way to travel from Madrid to Barcelona is flying. Flight time from Madrid to Barcelona takes around 1h 20min. Some airlines that run a route to Barcelona from Madrid include Iberia, AirEuropa, and Vueling. There are no flights that include a stopover; all flights fly directly. It is always good to remember that you must arrive at the airport at least 90min before your flight is due to depart when choosing to fly. It would be best if you arrived this early so that you could check-in and get through customs without having to rush through the airport. Flights from Madrid to Barcelona depart around 15 times a day, with flights in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Your departure airport in Madrid is Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD), and your arrival airport in Barcelona will be Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN).
Tourists at El Retiro park in Madrid. Source: Shutterstock
Find the best tickets from Madrid to Barcelona and book withOmio
Choosing to find your ticket withOmio means you are guaranteed to find the best prices and have the most user-friendly experience.Omio allows you to compare multiple types of transport options to find what is best for you. Whether you want to look at flights by departure time or buses by lowest price,Omio can sort this for you at the click of a button.Omio also has many languages available to pick your tickets in your language. Customer service is also available in a multitude of languages. Don’t have a printer? Don’t worry about it,Omio offers mobile tickets for your convenience. If you want to learn some useful tips on travelling, check outOmio’s magazine Window Seat.
Trains from Madrid to Barcelona
Taking the train from Madrid to Barcelona is a convenient way to travel as it is fast and affordable. Renfe is the only train company that offers train travel to Barcelona to Madrid. There are many daily connections to choose from. The earliest train departs from Madrid-Puerta de Atocha train station at approximately 6:30 a.m. and arrives in Barcelona at around 9:20 a.m. into Barcelona Sants train station. The last train departs from Madrid-Puerta de Atocha train station at around 8:00 p.m. and arrives in Barcelona at 10:30 p.m. at Barcelona Sants train station. The train is a very affordable and quick method of travel, making it convenient for everyone. All trains travel directly to Barcelona from Madrid
Train travel from Madrid to Barcelona with Renfe
Renfe has many daily trains from Madrid to Barcelona. On average, there are around 20 trains each day to choose from. Your departure station in Madrid will always be Madrid-Puerta de Atocha train station, and your arrival train station in Barcelona will always be Barcelona Sants train station. Some of the services and facilities you can enjoy Renfe trains are food and drink options, first-class seats, seats with plug points, and luggage storage areas.
Night trains train travel from Madrid to Barcelona with Renfe
There are currently no night trains that you can take to Barcelona from Madrid.
Buses from Madrid to Barcelona
Taking the bus is a super affordable way to travel from Madrid to Barcelona. Alsa is the only bus company that operates routes from Madrid to Barcelona. There are multiple buses each day between these destinations. The earliest bus to Barcelona from Madrid departs at around 12:14 a.m. from Madrid Aeropuerto Barajas T4 and arrives in Barcelona at around 7:49 a.m. at Barcelona Estación de Autobuses de Sants. The last bus departs from Madrid Interc. Av América at around 11:59 p.m. and arrives in Barcelona at around 8:04 a.m. at Barcelona Estació d'Autobusos Nord. Bus stations you may depart from in Madrid include Madrid Estación Sur/Gare routière Méndez Alvaro – 83, Madrid Interc. Av América, Madrid Aeropuerto Barajas T4, and Madrid Interc. Plaza Castilla. Bus stations you may arrive at in Barcelona include Estació d'Autobusos Nord, Aeropuerto Josep Tarradellas-El Prat, and Estación de Autobuses de Sants. All buses travel directly to Barcelona from Madrid.
Traveling by bus from Madrid to Barcelona with Alsa
Choosing to travel on an Alsa means that you can enjoy affordable and comfortable service. Some of the great services and amenities they offer onboard include seats with extra legroom, air conditioning, a bathroom, plug points at every seat, and disability assistance. Multiple Alsa buses depart throughout the day.
Flights from Madrid to Barcelona
Taking a flight to Barcelona from Madrid means that you will get to Barcelona very quickly. The average flight time is around 1h 20min. Airlines that travel from Madrid to Barcelona include Iberia, AirEuropa, and Vueling. Flights from Madrid to Barcelona depart around 15 times a day, with flights in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Your departure airport in Madrid is Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD), and your arrival airport in Barcelona will be Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN). Most of the flights are direct; only a couple of flights require a stopover.
Flying from Madrid to Barcelona with Iberia
Iberia operates the most flights to Barcelona from Madrid. On average, they have around ten flights a day. Their earliest flight departs at around 7:00 a.m. from Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD) and arrives in Barcelona at around 8:20 a.m. at Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN). The last flight departs from Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD) at around 9:00 p.m. and arrives in Barcelona at 10:20 p.m. at Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN).
Montserrat Monastery in Barcelona. Source: Shutterstock
To Barcelona by train/ bus/ flight—travel tips
Barcelona is a fabulous city for a holiday. If you want to see some historical tourism, one of the cities most popular attractions is seeing the beautiful architecture of Sagrada Família. This building is one of the most famous church buildings, mainly known for its bazaar architecture, designed by Antoni Gaudí. While in Barcelona, you can’t miss out on a sunny day at the beach. Some of the best beaches in the city include Sant Sebastià and Barceloneta. Another great day out is going to the market. La Boqueria has been around since Medieval times and is highly popular, especially if you want to get some local food.
- Watch a game at Camp Nou stadium
- Learn some historical knowledge at Barcelona City History Museum
- Find your muse from Fundació Joan Miró
- Watch a Spanish opera at Palau de la Música Catalana
- Enjoy a full palate of seafood at some of Barcelona’s best restaurants
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FAQs: Madrid to Barcelona
Travel to Barcelona 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 Madrid to Barcelona.
This is compared to other travel options from Madrid to Barcelona:
A coach is £23 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Madrid to Barcelona costing on average £57.
A coach is £138 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Madrid to Barcelona costing on average £171.
Other travel options to Barcelona take longer:
Flight takes on average 4h 20m.
Coach takes on average 9h 8m.
- Around 43 coaches per day.
- Around 41 flights per day.
- Around 40 trains per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Madrid and Barcelona as scheduled services by coach, train and flight can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from Madrid Barajas Airport and arrive in Barcelona El Prat Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes and arrive in Barcelona Sants.
- Coaches mostly depart from Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) and arrive in Barcelona, Estación de Autobuses de Sants.
- Travel with Alba Star, Air Algerie, CitizenPlane, Air Europa, Swiss, Iberia Express, BA Cityflyer, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa City Airlines, Lufthansa, Vueling, Air Baltic, Royal Air Maroc, Helvetic Airways, ITA, British Airways, Edelweiss Air, Iberia to go to Barcelona by flight.
- Travel with Alsa Supra, FlixBus, Alsa to go to Barcelona by coach.
- Travel with AVE, SNCF OUIGO, iryo, Renfe AVLO to go to Barcelona by train.
- 13 direct flights per day with CitizenPlane, Air Europa, Iberia Express, Vueling, Iberia.
- 41 direct coaches per day with Alsa.
- 40 direct trains per day with AVE, SNCF OUIGO, iryo, Renfe AVLO.
Travelling from Madrid to Barcelona: related information
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