- Must visit
Museo del Prado
World-class art museum with masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, and Bosch; essential for Spanish and European painting.
Cheapest price on Oct 17
$50
Average ticket price on Oct 17
$55
Fastest journey on Oct 17
5 h 20 m
Average journey duration on Oct 17
5 h 28 m
Buses on Oct 17
8
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 $55 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $50.
On Sat, Oct 17, we found 8 buses from Cartagena to Madrid, including 8 direct services.
On Sat, Oct 17 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 Sat, Oct 17 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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NormalBuses from Cartagena to Madrid run on average 9 times per day, taking around 5h 44m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $35 (€29) but you can travel from only $7 (€6) by train.
There are 8 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 4h 25m.
Distance 242 miles (391 km) |
Average bus duration 5h 44m |
Cheapest ticket price $35 (€29) |
Buses per day 9 |
Direct buses 8 |
Fastest bus 4h 25m |
First bus 12:30 AM |
Last bus 11:45 PM |
Cheapest Month Apr |
Cheapest Day Sat |
High Season Jul - Sep |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Thu |
Least Busy Day Mon |
Best time to book 91 days |
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:00AM | Arrival Time 09:10AM | Duration 4h10 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $37 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 06:00AM | Arrival Time 10:20AM | Duration 4h20 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $34 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 06:10AM | Arrival Time 10:30AM | Duration 4h20 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $36 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 06:30AM | Arrival Time 10:50AM | Duration 4h20 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $45 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 06:45AM | Arrival Time 12:25PM | Duration 5h40 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $69 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 07:30AM | Arrival Time 11:30AM | Duration 4h00 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $33 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 08:00AM | Arrival Time 12:10PM | Duration 4h10 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $33 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 09:00AM | Arrival Time 01:40PM | Duration 4h40 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $37 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 09:45AM | Arrival Time 04:30PM | Duration 6h45 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $43 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 11:00AM | Arrival Time 04:10PM | Duration 5h10 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $33 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 12:00PM | Arrival Time 04:10PM | Duration 4h10 | Departure days Mon, Sat | Cheapest price $31 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 01:00PM | Arrival Time 06:10PM | Duration 5h10 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $35 |
Operator Bus BAM | Departure Time 01:30PM | Arrival Time 10:39PM | Duration 9h09 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $68 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 02:00PM | Arrival Time 06:20PM | Duration 4h20 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $37 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 03:00PM | Arrival Time 08:00PM | Duration 5h00 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $30 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 03:15PM | Arrival Time 08:55PM | Duration 5h40 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $43 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 03:30PM | Arrival Time 08:30PM | Duration 5h00 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $33 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 04:00PM | Arrival Time 08:30PM | Duration 4h30 | Departure days Tue, Thu | Cheapest price $37 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 04:30PM | Arrival Time 08:40PM | Duration 4h10 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $39 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:00PM | Arrival Time 09:20PM | Duration 4h20 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Sun | Cheapest price $22 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 05:00PM | Arrival Time 10:35PM | Duration 5h35 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $43 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:30PM | Arrival Time 10:10PM | Duration 4h40 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $33 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 06:20PM | Arrival Time 10:30PM | Duration 4h10 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $30 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 06:30PM | Arrival Time 11:30PM | Duration 5h00 | Departure days Thu, Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $34 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 06:50PM | Arrival Time 10:50PM | Duration 4h00 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $41 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 07:00PM | Arrival Time 11:00PM | Duration 28h00 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $34 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 08:10PM | Arrival Time 01:10AM | Duration 5h00 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $51 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 11:15PM | Arrival Time 04:40AM | Duration 5h25 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $50 |
The table below shows live departures for Cartagena to Madrid buses for today, Friday, October 16. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Normal | 11:15 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 5h50 | 5:05 AM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 11:15 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 5h25 | 4:40 AM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
| Saturday, October 17 | |||||
Supra Economy | 6:45 AM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 5h20 | 12:05 PM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Supra Economy | 6:45 AM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 5h40 | 12:25 PM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 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 | 5h40 | 8:55 PM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 3:15 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 5h20 | 8:35 PM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 5:00 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 5h35 | 10:35 PM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Discover the best of Madrid — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Madrid trip today.
World-class art museum with masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, and Bosch; essential for Spanish and European painting.
Leading modern art museum best known for Picasso’s Guernica, plus major works by Dalí and Miró.
Celebrated collection of European masters from Van Eyck to Hopper in a refined palace setting.
Madrid’s most famous park offers gardens, a boating lake, monuments, and relaxed walks in the city center.
Lively grand avenue known for architecture, shopping, theaters, and nonstop energy from day to night.
Elegant boulevard linking major museums and landmarks, ideal for a classic central Madrid walk.
A hearty chickpea stew with meats, vegetables, and broth, especially traditional in Madrid and often served in stages.
Crisp fried squid rings served in a baguette roll. This iconic Madrid street food is especially linked to bars around Plaza Mayor.
Tripe stew with chorizo and morcilla in a rich sauce. A classic old Madrid tavern dish with deep local roots.
Refined two-Michelin-star dining focused on seasonal Spanish produce, with elegant modern cooking in a polished fine-dining room.
Traditional Madrid restaurant known for cocido madrileño served in stages, with an old-school dining room and loyal local following.
Historic century-old tavern famed for roast suckling pig and Castilian dishes in a classic, wood-lined setting near Plaza Mayor.
Moderate for Western Europe: hotels vary, dining is reasonable, and public transport is good value for tourists.
Tipping is modest: round up or leave 5-10% in restaurants for good service. Taxis are usually rounded up. In cafés, small change is enough.
Official public transport app
Madrid Estación Sur de Autobuses -> Puerta del Sol
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.

Most Cartagena to Madrid buses use the Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses to Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses station pair, with some services arriving at Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid). Use this guide to compare Cartagena and Madrid bus stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like bus station facilities and services.
Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, and Ticket Office.
Food options include: Cafetería de la estación (in the station), Restaurante El Galeón (0.5 km), La Catedral (0.7 km).
Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located near the main entrance.
Ticket office support is available at Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses.
Available at Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses: Elevators, ramps.
Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses is 3 km from Madrid city centre. Public transport options include:
Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, and Ticket Office.
Food options include: Cafetería de la estación (in the station), Restaurante El Brillante (0.5 km), La Taberna de Domínguez (0.7 km).
Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located near the main entrance and in the waiting area.
Ticket office support is available at Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses.
Available at Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses: Elevators, ramps.
Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) is 12 km from Madrid city centre. Public transport options include:
Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) has practical services for this route, including Dining, ATM, Accessibility, WC, Shower, and Ticket Office.
Food options include: Rodilla, Mahoudrid
ATMs are aTMs located throughout T4, major cards accepted .
Ticket office support is available at Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid).
Available at Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid): WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid): Step-free access, elevators, accessible toilets.
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