- Must visit
Centro Botín
Leading modern and contemporary art center by Renzo Piano, renowned for exhibitions, architecture, and exceptional bay views.
Cheapest price on Sep 18
kr471
Average ticket price on Sep 18
kr550
Fastest journey on Sep 18
5 h 15 m
Average journey duration on Sep 18
5 h 20 m
Buses on Sep 18
3
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 kr550 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only kr471.
On Fri, Sep 18, we found 3 buses from Madrid Barajas Airport to Santander, including 3 direct services.
On Fri, Sep 18 the direct buses cover the 334 km distance in an average of 5 h 20 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 5 h 15 m .
On Fri, Sep 18 the slowest buses will take 5 h 30 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.
Normal
Normal
Supra Economy
Normal
Supra Economy
NormalOmio recommends booking the flight 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 an average ticket price of kr301 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 3h 11m. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a train costs an average of kr301, while a flight costs an average of kr2160.
Distance: 207 miles (334 km)
| Bus | Most popular Flight | Train | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
kr553 Average price | kr2160 Average price | kr301 Average price Cheapest | kr736 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
6h 57m Average total duration 6h 27m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 11m Average total duration Fastest 1h 11m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 5h 20m Average total duration 4h 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 kr252 less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Madrid Barajas Airport to Santander costing on average kr553.
A train is kr1859 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Madrid Barajas Airport to Santander costing on average kr2160.
Other travel options to Santander take longer:
Train takes on average 4h 50m.
Bus takes on average 6h 27m.
Tickets start at around kr553 compared to roughly kr736 in fuel and tolls — a saving of about kr183. The journey takes 6h 27m 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, Tue, Wed, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price kr579 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:30AM | Arrival Time 09:30AM | Duration 4h00 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price kr268 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 08:15AM | Arrival Time 01:50PM | Duration 5h35 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Sun | Cheapest price kr458 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 08:40AM | Arrival Time 01:50PM | Duration 5h10 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price kr298 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 09:10AM | Arrival Time 02:00PM | Duration 4h50 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price kr310 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 10:00AM | Arrival Time 02:00PM | Duration 4h00 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price kr294 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 10:20AM | Arrival Time 02:50PM | Duration 4h30 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price kr294 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 10:45AM | Arrival Time 04:15PM | Duration 5h30 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Sun | Cheapest price kr471 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 11:00AM | Arrival Time 03:30PM | Duration 4h30 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price kr294 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 11:50AM | Arrival Time 04:00PM | Duration 4h10 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price kr340 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 12:00PM | Arrival Time 04:40PM | Duration 4h40 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price kr294 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 12:20PM | Arrival Time 05:20PM | Duration 5h00 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price kr340 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 12:50PM | Arrival Time 05:00PM | Duration 4h10 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price kr326 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 01:15PM | Arrival Time 06:30PM | Duration 5h15 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Sat | Cheapest price kr471 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 01:30PM | Arrival Time 05:30PM | Duration 4h00 | Departure days Fri, Sat | Cheapest price kr310 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 01:40PM | Arrival Time 05:20PM | Duration 3h40 | Departure days Thu, Sat | Cheapest price kr282 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 02:30PM | Arrival Time 07:10PM | Duration 4h40 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price kr326 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 03:15PM | Arrival Time 08:30PM | Duration 5h15 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price kr552 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 03:20PM | Arrival Time 07:10PM | Duration 3h50 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price kr282 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 03:30PM | Arrival Time 08:30PM | Duration 5h00 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price kr354 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 04:20PM | Arrival Time 09:10PM | Duration 4h50 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price kr369 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 04:30PM | Arrival Time 09:20PM | Duration 4h50 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price kr282 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 04:45PM | Arrival Time 10:15PM | Duration 5h30 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price kr471 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:00PM | Arrival Time 09:10PM | Duration 4h10 | Departure days Fri, Sun | Cheapest price kr221 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:10PM | Arrival Time 09:50PM | Duration 4h40 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price kr294 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:30PM | Arrival Time 09:30PM | Duration 4h00 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price kr369 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 06:10PM | Arrival Time 10:30PM | Duration 4h20 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price kr354 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 06:30PM | Arrival Time 10:30PM | Duration 4h00 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price kr354 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 06:45PM | Arrival Time 12:00AM | Duration 5h15 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price kr471 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 07:00PM | Arrival Time 11:10PM | Duration 4h10 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price kr294 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 10:30PM | Arrival Time 02:40AM | Duration 4h10 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price kr369 |
The table below shows live departures for Madrid Barajas Airport to Santander buses for tomorrow, Friday, September 18. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Supra Economy | 3:15 PM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 5h15 | 8:30 PM Santander, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
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 | |
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 5 times per day, taking around 6h 27m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at kr446 but you can travel from only kr81 by train.
There are 5 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 06:15, the last at 22:45. The fastest bus covers the 207 miles (334 km) distance in 5h 15m.
Distance 207 miles (334 km) |
Average bus duration 6h 27m |
Cheapest ticket price kr446 |
Buses per day 5 |
Direct buses 5 |
Fastest bus 5h 15m |
First bus 6:15 AM |
Last bus 10:45 PM |
Cheapest Month Feb |
Cheapest Day Sun |
High Season Jul - Sep |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Sun |
Least Busy Day Sat |
Best time to book 21 days |
Discover the best of Santander — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Santander trip today.
Leading modern and contemporary art center by Renzo Piano, renowned for exhibitions, architecture, and exceptional bay views.
Excellent maritime museum covering Cantabrian seafaring, ecology, fishing, and naval history with aquariums and family-friendly displays.
Art museum focused on Cantabrian and Spanish painting, offering a compact but rewarding overview in a central historic setting.
Iconic peninsula park with palace grounds, beaches, mini-zoo area, and scenic walking routes. One of Santander’s essential outings.
Elegant seafront promenade linking gardens, monuments, and bay views. Ideal for a first walk through central Santander.
Dramatic headland viewpoint with cliffs, lighthouse scenery, and walking trails. A favorite for sunsets and Atlantic panoramas.
Cantabrian anchovies cured in salt or olive oil. Santander is famous for high-quality bocarte landed on this coast and served as a prized tapa.
Fresh hake with green sauce, usually with garlic, parsley, fish stock, peas and clams. A classic northern coastal dish tied to local fishing traditions.
Mountain stew from Cantabria with white beans, collard greens and pork products. Hearty inland cooking that is iconic across the region.
Refined Michelin-starred dining focused on seasonal Cantabrian products. Elegant setting and creative tasting menus with strong local identity.
Well-known dining room specializing in grilled fish and Cantabrian seafood. Smart but relaxed atmosphere with a strong local reputation.
Established seafood restaurant known for fresh fish, shellfish and classic Santander cooking. Traditional atmosphere near the seafront.
Moderate for Spain. Hotels and dining are usually cheaper than Madrid or Barcelona, while local transit and casual meals stay fairly affordable for tourists.
Tipping is modest. Round up or leave 5-10% in restaurants for good service, small change in cafes, and round up taxi fares.
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.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need