- Must visit
Centro Botín
Major contemporary art center on Santander’s waterfront, known for international exhibitions, cultural programming, and its striking Renzo Piano design.
Cheapest price
$48
Average price
$53
Fastest journey
5 h 15 m
Average duration
5 h 24 m
Buses per day
4
Distance
334 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Madrid Barajas Airport to Santander is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Madrid Barajas Airport to Santander will cost around $53 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $48.
Of the 4 buses that leave Madrid Barajas Airport for Santander on Sat, Jun 20, 4 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Sat, Jun 20 the direct buses cover the 334 km distance in an average of 5 h 24 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 5 h 15 m .
On Sat, Jun 20 the slowest buses will take 5 h 35 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 Economy
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NormalOmio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from Madrid Barajas Airport to Santander among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the train with prices starting from $45. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 2h 39m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a train costs an average of $45, and a flight costs an average of $37.
Distance: 207 miles (334 km)
Most popular Bus | Flight | Train | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$50 Average price | $146 Average price | $45 Average price Cheapest | $77 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
6h 38m Average total duration 6h 8m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 39m Average total duration Fastest 2h 39m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 4h 20m Average total duration 3h 50m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 5m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular airline | ![]() Most popular train company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Madrid Barajas Airport to Santander:
A train is $5 (€4) less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Madrid Barajas Airport to Santander costing on average $50 (€41).
A train is $100 (€82) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Madrid Barajas Airport to Santander costing on average $146 (€119).
Other travel options to Santander take longer:
Train takes on average 3h 50m.
Bus takes on average 6h 8m.
Tickets start at around $50 (€41) compared to roughly $77 (€63) in fuel and tolls — a saving of about $27 (€22). The journey takes 6h 8m versus 4h 5m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can use the time productively rather than spending it behind the wheel. No parking to sort, no fuel stops, and most coaches have Wi-Fi and power outlets.
Direct services are operated by Alsa, Alsa Supra, BlaBlaCar.
Driving is worth considering if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), or want the flexibility to stop along the way.
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 12:45AM | Arrival Time 06:30AM | Duration 5h45 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $54 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:00AM | Arrival Time 10:10AM | Duration 5h10 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $25 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 06:15AM | Arrival Time 11:50AM | Duration 5h35 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $49 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 07:00AM | Arrival Time 11:10AM | Duration 4h10 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $35 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 07:15AM | Arrival Time 12:50PM | Duration 5h35 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $47 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 08:15AM | Arrival Time 01:50PM | Duration 5h35 | Departure days Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $48 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 08:30AM | Arrival Time 01:00PM | Duration 4h30 | Departure days Thu, Sat | Cheapest price $27 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 08:40AM | Arrival Time 02:20PM | Duration 5h40 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $50 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 08:45AM | Arrival Time 02:15PM | Duration 5h30 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $57 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 08:50AM | Arrival Time 01:10PM | Duration 4h20 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $32 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 09:00AM | Arrival Time 01:20PM | Duration 4h20 | Departure days Mon, Sat | Cheapest price $23 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 09:30AM | Arrival Time 01:40PM | Duration 4h10 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $28 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 10:00AM | Arrival Time 02:20PM | Duration 4h20 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $30 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 10:20AM | Arrival Time 03:00PM | Duration 4h40 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $30 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 10:45AM | Arrival Time 04:15PM | Duration 5h30 | Departure days Wed, Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $50 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 12:20PM | Arrival Time 04:30PM | Duration 4h10 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $55 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 12:30PM | Arrival Time 05:00PM | Duration 4h30 | Departure days Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $20 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 12:50PM | Arrival Time 06:00PM | Duration 5h10 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $33 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 01:00PM | Arrival Time 05:20PM | Duration 4h20 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $35 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 01:15PM | Arrival Time 06:30PM | Duration 5h15 | Departure days Wed, Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $50 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 01:30PM | Arrival Time 05:50PM | Duration 4h20 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $31 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 02:10PM | Arrival Time 06:30PM | Duration 4h20 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $42 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 02:50PM | Arrival Time 07:40PM | Duration 4h50 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $32 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 03:00PM | Arrival Time 07:10PM | Duration 4h10 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $33 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 03:15PM | Arrival Time 08:30PM | Duration 5h15 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $61 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 03:20PM | Arrival Time 07:40PM | Duration 4h20 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $23 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 04:00PM | Arrival Time 08:20PM | Duration 4h20 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $30 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 04:30PM | Arrival Time 09:20PM | Duration 4h50 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $33 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 04:45PM | Arrival Time 10:15PM | Duration 5h30 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $50 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:00PM | Arrival Time 09:10PM | Duration 4h10 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $28 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:40PM | Arrival Time 09:50PM | Duration 4h10 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $37 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 06:45PM | Arrival Time 12:00AM | Duration 5h15 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $50 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 09:20PM | Arrival Time 01:20AM | Duration 4h00 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $35 |
The table below shows live departures for Madrid Barajas Airport to Santander buses for today, Friday, June 19. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Normal | 4:45 PM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 5h30 | 10:15 PM Santander, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 6:45 PM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 5h15 | 12:00 AM Santander, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
| Saturday, June 20 | |||||
Normal | 8:15 AM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 5h35 | 1:50 PM Santander, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Supra Economy | 3:15 PM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 5h15 | 8:30 PM Santander, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train, bus, 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 Madrid Barajas Airport to Santander run on average 9 times per day, taking around 6h 8m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $47 (€39) but you can travel from only $37 (€30) by flight.
There are 8 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 06:15, the last at 15:45. The fastest bus covers the 207 miles (334 km) distance in 5h 30m.
Distance 207 miles (334 km) |
Average bus duration 6h 8m |
Cheapest ticket price $47 (€39) |
Buses per day 9 |
Direct buses 8 |
Fastest bus 5h 30m |
First bus 6:15 AM |
Last bus 3:45 PM |
Cheapest Month Feb |
Cheapest Day Fri |
High Season Jul - Sep |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Sun |
Least Busy Day Tue |
Discover the best of Santander — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Santander trip today.
Major contemporary art center on Santander’s waterfront, known for international exhibitions, cultural programming, and its striking Renzo Piano design.
Important archaeological museum presenting prehistoric cave culture, Roman material, and key finds from across Cantabria.
Leading maritime museum covering Cantabrian Sea ecology, fishing, naval history, and aquariums; a strong family-friendly cultural stop.
Scenic headland combining gardens, sea views, beaches, and the palace grounds; ideal for walking and one of the city’s top experiences.
Santander’s best-known beach area, famous for its elegant promenade, broad sands, and lively atmosphere in good weather.
Grand waterfront promenade lined with historic buildings, sculptures, and access to the bay; essential for a first walk through Santander.
Lightly battered and fried squid rings, one of Santander’s most iconic tapas, especially popular for aperitif time by the bay.
High-quality Cantabrian anchovies, usually served in olive oil on bread or as a tapa; a flagship product of the region.
White tuna from the Cantabrian Sea, prized for its delicate texture and often served grilled, stewed, or preserved in olive oil.
Michelin-starred restaurant known for contemporary tasting menus rooted in Cantabrian products, with polished service and elegant ambiance.
Well-known Santander restaurant and tapas bar, famous for refined Cantabrian cuisine, seafood, and a lively central atmosphere.
Historic and established dining room serving classic Cantabrian dishes in a traditional setting with strong local character.
Moderate by Spanish standards: tapas and set lunches are affordable, while waterfront dining and summer stays cost more.
Tipping is modest. Round up or leave 5-10% in restaurants for good service. Small change in cafes is enough. Taxis are usually rounded up, and hotel tips are appreciated but not expected.
Official public transport app
Santander, Estación de Autobuses -> Santander Centro
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Madrid Barajas Airport to Santander 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 Santander, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Madrid Barajas Airport to Santander buses use the Madrid, Avenida de América to Santander, Estación de Autobuses station pair. Use this guide to compare Madrid Barajas Airport and Santander bus stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like bus station facilities and services.
Madrid, Avenida de América is 3 km from Madrid city centre. Public transport options include:
Madrid, Avenida de América 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 Rincón (0.5 km), La Vaca Argentina (0.7 km).
Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located near the main entrance and on the second floor.
Ticket office support is available at Madrid, Avenida de América.
Available at Madrid, Avenida de América: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Madrid, Avenida de América: 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.
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.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need