How to get to Barcelona from Madrid

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

Buses from Madrid to Barcelona

Direct buses leave Madrid throughout the day for the five and a half to seven and a half hour journey to Barcelona. Exclusively run by Alsa, the buses can be boarded at Aeropuerto Madrid, Barajas T4 bus station, Mendez Alvaro bus station or Avenida America bus station. Buses run from early morning to late evening and terminate at Barcelona (Nord).

Trains from Madrid to Barcelona

Getting to Barcelona from Madrid is a breeze on Spain's highly efficient railway system. Passengers have two options. The fastest is the AVE high-speed train which offers around two dozen daily departures from Madrid Puerta de Atocha station on weekdays and some 16 on the weekend. For a slower option, a regional express train - the Combinado - leaves the same station once a day in the late morning. It takes over six hours to reach Barcelona-Sants making many stops along the route.

Flights from Madrid to Barcelona

Passengers have a choice of around nine flights daily for the 75-minute hop from Barajas airport (MAD) Madrid to Barcelona Airport (BCN). Carriers Iberia, Air Europa and Vueling offer departures throughout the day with Air Iberia offering its Iberia Air Shuttle to Barcelona eight times daily.