- Must visit
Museo Nacional del Prado
Madrid’s premier art museum, famed for masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, El Greco, Rubens, and Bosch. A cornerstone of the city’s Golden Triangle of Art.
Cheapest price
$52
Average price
$59
Fastest journey
5 h 20 m
Average duration
5 h 28 m
Buses per day
9
Distance
391 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Cartagena to Madrid is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Cartagena to Madrid will cost around $59 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $52.
Of the 9 buses that leave Cartagena for Madrid on Wed, Jun 03, 8 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Wed, Jun 03 the direct buses cover the 391 km distance in an average of 5 h 28 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 5 h 20 m .
On Wed, Jun 03 the slowest buses will take 5 h 40 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.
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Supra Economy
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Supra EconomyOmio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Cartagena to Madrid among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the train with prices starting from $16. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 44m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.4kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a train costs an average of $16, and a flight costs an average of $27.
Distance: 242 miles (391 km)
| Bus | Most popular Train | Flight |
|---|---|---|
$51 Average price | $27 Average price Cheapest | $77 Average price |
5h 27m Average total duration 4h 57m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 40m Average total duration 4h 10m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 44m Average total duration Fastest 1h 44m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* |
0.4 - 1.0kg CO2 emissions | 0.1 - 0.4kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 1.2 - 2.3kg CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular airline |
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 Cartagena to Madrid:
A train is $23 (€19) less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Cartagena to Madrid costing on average $51 (€41).
A train is $50 (€40) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cartagena to Madrid costing on average $77 (€62).
Other travel options to Madrid take longer:
Train takes on average 4h 10m.
Bus takes on average 4h 57m.
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 04:00AM | Arrival Time 08:10AM | Duration 4h10 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $41 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 06:45AM | Arrival Time 12:05PM | Duration 5h20 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $78 |
Operator Bus BAM | Departure Time 07:00AM | Arrival Time 02:23PM | Duration 7h23 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $102 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 07:00AM | Arrival Time 11:10AM | Duration 4h10 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $27 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 07:20AM | Arrival Time 12:20PM | Duration 5h00 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $42 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 08:00AM | Arrival Time 12:10PM | Duration 4h10 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $32 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 09:00AM | Arrival Time 02:00PM | Duration 5h00 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $41 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 09:20AM | Arrival Time 02:20PM | Duration 5h00 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $40 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 09:30AM | Arrival Time 02:10PM | Duration 4h40 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $32 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 09:45AM | Arrival Time 04:30PM | Duration 6h45 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $44 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 09:50AM | Arrival Time 03:00PM | Duration 5h10 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $35 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 10:00AM | Arrival Time 03:00PM | Duration 5h00 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $40 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 11:00AM | Arrival Time 03:50PM | Duration 4h50 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $32 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 12:00PM | Arrival Time 05:10PM | Duration 5h10 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $35 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 12:20PM | Arrival Time 05:00PM | Duration 4h40 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $27 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 01:00PM | Arrival Time 05:50PM | Duration 4h50 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $40 |
Operator Bus BAM | Departure Time 01:30PM | Arrival Time 10:39PM | Duration 9h09 | Departure days Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $67 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 02:00PM | Arrival Time 06:10PM | Duration 4h10 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $25 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 02:30PM | Arrival Time 06:40PM | Duration 4h10 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $29 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 03:00PM | Arrival Time 08:00PM | Duration 5h00 | Departure days Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $30 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 03:15PM | Arrival Time 08:55PM | Duration 5h40 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $44 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 04:00PM | Arrival Time 09:10PM | Duration 5h10 | Departure days Mon, Tue | Cheapest price $41 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 04:30PM | Arrival Time 10:20PM | Duration 5h50 | Departure days Tue, Sun | Cheapest price $27 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:00PM | Arrival Time 10:10PM | Duration 5h10 | Departure days Mon, Tue | Cheapest price $32 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 05:00PM | Arrival Time 11:30PM | Duration 6h30 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $44 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:20PM | Arrival Time 09:20PM | Duration 4h00 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $41 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:30PM | Arrival Time 10:20PM | Duration 4h50 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $30 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 06:00PM | Arrival Time 10:00PM | Duration 4h00 | Departure days Tue, Thu, Sun | Cheapest price $29 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 06:20PM | Arrival Time 11:30PM | Duration 5h10 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $30 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 07:00PM | Arrival Time 12:00AM | Duration 5h00 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $42 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 11:15PM | Arrival Time 05:05AM | Duration 5h50 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $52 |
The table below shows live departures for Cartagena to Madrid buses for tomorrow, Wednesday, June 3. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Supra Economy | 6:45 AM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 5h40 | 12:25 PM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 0 transfersDirect | |
Supra Economy | 6:45 AM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 5h20 | 12:05 PM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 9:45 AM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 6h45 | 4:30 PM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 3:15 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 5h20 | 8:35 PM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 3:15 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 5h40 | 8:55 PM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 5:00 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 5h35 | 10:35 PM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal · Normal | 5:00 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 6h30 | 11:30 PM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 1 transfer | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare bus, 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 Cartagena to Madrid run on average 11 times per day, taking around 4h 57m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $40 (€32) but you can travel from only $16 (€13) by train.
There are 11 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 00:30, the last at 23:45. The fastest bus covers the 242 miles (391 km) distance in 5h 20m.
Distance 242 miles (391 km) |
Average bus duration 4h 57m |
Cheapest ticket price $40 (€32) |
Buses per day 11 |
Direct buses 11 |
Fastest bus 5h 20m |
First bus 12:30 AM |
Last bus 11:45 PM |
Cheapest Month Jul |
Cheapest Day Sat |
High Season Jul - Sep |
Low Season Apr - Jun |
Busiest Day Wed |
Least Busy Day Mon |
Best time to book 84 days |
Discover the best of Madrid — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Madrid trip today.
Madrid’s premier art museum, famed for masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, El Greco, Rubens, and Bosch. A cornerstone of the city’s Golden Triangle of Art.
Spain’s national museum of 20th-century and contemporary art, best known for Picasso’s Guernica and strong collections by Dalí and Miró.
A major art museum spanning Old Masters to modern works, complementing the Prado and Reina Sofía with an exceptionally broad private collection.
Madrid’s grand historic square, lined with arcades and elegant façades, and a classic starting point for exploring the old center.
The symbolic heart of Madrid, known for Kilometer Zero, the clock tower, and constant energy day and night.
Madrid’s most famous park, ideal for walks, boating, monuments, gardens, and popular photo spots such as the Crystal Palace area.
Madrid’s signature chickpea stew, served in courses with broth, vegetables, and assorted meats. It is one of the city’s most traditional comfort dishes.
A classic Madrid sandwich of fried squid rings in crusty bread, especially associated with bars around Plaza Mayor. It is simple, iconic, and widely loved.
A rich stew of tripe, chorizo, and morcilla cooked with paprika. It is a historic Madrid tavern dish with bold, hearty flavors.
Historic restaurant founded in the eighteenth century, famous for roast meats and classic Castilian cooking in an atmospheric old setting.
Legendary traditional restaurant best known for huevos rotos, with a polished yet classic tavern feel and strong local reputation.
Iconic spot for churros con chocolate, open long hours and known for a lively, historic atmosphere near the city center.
Moderate for Western Europe. Museums and transport are reasonable, while central hotels and fine dining cost more.
Service is usually included. Round up or leave EUR 1-2 in cafés; 5-10% in restaurants for very good service. Taxis are often rounded up, but tipping is not obligatory.
Official public transport app
Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses -> Puerta del Sol, Madrid
Every day the travellers have at their disposal numerous buses that depart from the Murcian locality of Cartagena with destiny to Madrid, all of them direct. Buses depart from the Cartagena bus station and, depending on the timetable, end their journey at the Sur station in Madrid or at terminal 4 at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport. Cartagena Madrid buses cover a distance of 441 kilometers and are equipped with the latest Avanzas in safety and comfort.
Cartagena Madrid buses are managed by Alsa, the company with the largest fleet in Spain. For this itinerary operates with the Normal Service and Supra Service, consisting of buses with leather seats, free wifi connection and screens in each seat with audiovisual content.
The fastest Cartagena Madrid buses complete their itinerary in 5 hours and 20 minutes, while the slowest have a duration of 6 hours and 45 minutes. However, most buses last no more than 5 hours and 50 minutes.
From Monday to Friday there are 8 daily buses that cover the journey between Cartagena and the capital of Spain. On the other hand, on weekends the frequency of programmed trips decreases to 6. The timetables of the Cartagena Madrid buses are morning, afternoon and night.
Cartagena bus station : located south of the city, on Avenida Trovero Marín 3. Bus line 8 leads from downtown Cartagena to the bus station in about 10 minutes. The building houses 37 platforms, cafeteria, bank agencies, escalators, lockers and offices.
South station and terminal 4 of Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport : the South station of Madrid is located in the same complex of the Méndez Álvaro station, to the south of the city. From there it is possible to get to the centre of Madrid in 10 minutes by metro line 3. If the journey ends at Airport Terminal 4, travellers can travel to the city centre by taking Metro Line 8, with an estimated travel time of 15 minutes. The South station has a restaurant, cafeteria, shops, parking, free wifi, cloakroom, etc.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Cartagena to Madrid by bus. 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 bus, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Madrid, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

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