The cheapest and fastest buses from Madrid to Cartagena
Cheapest price
$26
Average price
$45
Fastest journey
4 h 30 m
Average duration
4 h 46 m
Buses per day
15
Distance
391 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Madrid to Cartagena is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Madrid to Cartagena will cost around $45 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $26.
Of the 15 buses that leave Madrid for Cartagena on Thu, Feb 26, 15 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Thu, Feb 26 the direct buses cover the 391 km distance in an average of 4 h 46 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 4 h 30 m .
On Thu, Feb 26 the slowest buses will take 4 h 50 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.










Travel Information
Compare bus, train, and flight for Madrid to Cartagena
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Madrid to Cartagena among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the train with prices starting from $11. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 24m. 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 $11, and a flight costs an average of $37.
Distance: 242 miles (391 km)
Compare bus with
| Bus | Most popular Train | Flight |
|---|---|---|
$50 Average price | $33 Average price Cheapest | $136 Average price |
6h 3m Average total duration 5h 33m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 27m Average total duration 3h 57m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 24m Average total duration Fastest 1h 24m 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.
Madrid to Cartagena Bus Timetables
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 12:30AM | Arrival Time 05:50AM | Duration 5h20 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $51 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:00AM | Arrival Time 09:20AM | Duration 4h20 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $32 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 06:50AM | Arrival Time 11:50AM | Duration 5h00 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $32 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 07:45AM | Arrival Time 01:50PM | Duration 6h05 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $51 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 08:00AM | Arrival Time 11:50AM | Duration 3h50 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $29 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 08:30AM | Arrival Time 01:50PM | Duration 5h20 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $40 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 08:30AM | Arrival Time 01:00PM | Duration 4h30 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $29 |
Operator iryo | Departure Time 08:45AM | Arrival Time 08:02PM | Duration 11h17 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $54 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 10:00AM | Arrival Time 02:10PM | Duration 4h10 | Departure days Mon, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $29 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 10:30AM | Arrival Time 03:20PM | Duration 4h50 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $29 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 11:00AM | Arrival Time 05:00PM | Duration 6h00 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $35 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 11:20AM | Arrival Time 03:50PM | Duration 4h30 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $37 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 11:45AM | Arrival Time 07:05PM | Duration 7h20 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $51 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 12:00PM | Arrival Time 04:50PM | Duration 4h50 | Departure days Mon, Tue | Cheapest price $29 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 12:30PM | Arrival Time 07:05PM | Duration 6h35 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $40 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 01:40PM | Arrival Time 06:40PM | Duration 5h00 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $39 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 02:50PM | Arrival Time 07:30PM | Duration 4h40 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $43 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 03:00PM | Arrival Time 07:30PM | Duration 4h30 | Departure days Mon, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $31 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 03:45PM | Arrival Time 09:50PM | Duration 6h05 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $72 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 03:50PM | Arrival Time 08:30PM | Duration 4h40 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $34 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 04:00PM | Arrival Time 08:50PM | Duration 4h50 | Departure days Mon, Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $31 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 04:20PM | Arrival Time 09:10PM | Duration 4h50 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $43 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 04:30PM | Arrival Time 09:50PM | Duration 5h20 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $57 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 04:30PM | Arrival Time 09:20PM | Duration 4h50 | Departure days Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $36 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 04:45PM | Arrival Time 11:15PM | Duration 6h30 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $51 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 05:30PM | Arrival Time 11:15PM | Duration 5h45 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $40 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 06:20PM | Arrival Time 11:10PM | Duration 4h50 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $34 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 06:30PM | Arrival Time 11:00PM | Duration 4h30 | Departure days Wed, Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $26 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 09:00PM | Arrival Time 01:20AM | Duration 4h20 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $43 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 09:10PM | Arrival Time 02:00AM | Duration 4h50 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $31 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 10:10PM | Arrival Time 03:00AM | Duration 4h50 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $36 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 11:45PM | Arrival Time 05:50AM | Duration 6h05 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $51 |
Live departures
Madrid to Cartagena bus times
The table below shows live departures for Madrid to Cartagena buses for today, Wednesday, February 25. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Normal | 10:45 AM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 7h20 | 6:05 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 11:30 AM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 6h35 | 6:05 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Supra Economy | 2:45 PM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 6h05 | 8:50 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Supra Economy | 3:30 PM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 5h20 | 8:50 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 3:45 PM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 6h30 | 10:15 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 4:30 PM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 5h45 | 10:15 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 10:45 PM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 6h05 | 4:50 AM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 11:30 PM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 5h20 | 4:50 AM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
| Thursday, February 26 | |||||
Normal | 6:45 AM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 6h05 | 12:50 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 7:30 AM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 5h20 | 12:50 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Madrid to Cartagena by bus, train, or flight
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.
Feb 25
Feb 26
Feb 27
Feb 28
Mar 01
Mar 02
Mar 03
Mar 04
Mar 05
Mar 06
Mar 07
Mar 08
Mar 09
Mar 10
Mar 11
Mar 12
Mar 13
Mar 14
Mar 15
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Mar 17
Why should you book Madrid to Cartagena buses with Omio?
Why book with Omio vs Alsa?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can not only buy tickets for Alsa, but also compare tickets for the likes of Alsa Supra or Infobus to find the best option for your trip from Madrid to Cartagena.
- Designed for International Travelers: Omio is in your language including 24/7 customer service and offers multiple payment options, including PayPal, credit cards, and bank transfer, in your preferred currency.
- Compare all your options: Omio allows you to compare Alsa with all available travel options, which are bus, train and flight to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from Madrid to Cartagena.
Why book with Omio over Checkmybus, Rome2rio or Busbud?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can also compare tickets for the likes of Alsa Supra or Infobus to find the best option for your trip from Madrid to Cartagena.
- Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including bus, train and flight to find the ideal travel option from Madrid to Cartagena.
Journey information
Overview: Bus from Madrid to Cartagena
Buses from Madrid to Cartagena run on average 13 times per day, taking around 5h 33m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $40 (€32) but you can travel from only $11 (€9) by train.
There are 13 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 5h 33m |
Cheapest ticket price $40 (€32) |
Buses per day 13 |
Direct buses 13 |
Fastest bus 5h 20m |
First bus 00:30 |
Last bus 23:45 |
Bus providers: Alsa, Alsa Supra, BlaBlaCar, Infobus from Madrid to CartagenaYou can travel by bus between Madrid to Cartagena with Alsa, Alsa Supra, BlaBlaCar, Infobus for as low as $11 (€9). When you search for schedules and tickets, Omio will show you the best journey
Alsa
Alsa Supra
Infobus
BlaBlaCar
FAQs: Bus from Madrid to Cartagena
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Madrid to Cartagena 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 Cartagena, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

- Alsa
- Assistance
- Priority boarding
- Accessible seating.
- Infobus
- Assistance
- Priority seating
- Transport for wheelchairs and mobility aids.
- Alsa Supra
- Assistance
- Priority boarding
- Accessible restrooms.
- Roman Theatre Museum, an ancient Roman theater with a museum showcasing archaeological finds
- Cartagena Naval Museum, a museum highlighting the city's naval history and maritime heritage
- Concepción Castle, a medieval fortress offering panoramic views of the city and its harbor
- National Museum of Underwater Archaeology, a museum dedicated to underwater archaeological discoveries and maritime history
- Calle Mayor, a bustling pedestrian street lined with modernist architecture, shops, and cafes.
- Explore the ancient Roman city of Carthago Nova, with guided tours revealing its historical significance
- Enjoy a boat tour of Cartagena's harbor, offering unique views of the city's coastline and landmarks
- Attend a local festival or cultural event, experiencing the vibrant traditions and community spirit of Cartagena
- Visit the Regional Park of Calblanque, a natural park with beautiful beaches and hiking trails
- Discover the local cuisine with a tapas tour, sampling traditional Spanish dishes in various eateries.
- Alsa
- You can cancel your ticket up to 48 hours before departure for a partial refund. Changes allowed for a fee.
- Infobus
- You can cancel your ticket up to 24 hours before departure for a partial refund. Cancellations within 24 hours may incur a fee.
- Alsa Supra
- You can cancel your ticket up to 48 hours before departure for a partial refund. Within 48 hours, a fee applies.
- Alsa
- One carry-on bag up to 10kg and one checked bag up to 25kg.
- Infobus
- One carry-on bag up to 5kg (40x20x25) and one checked bag up to 20kg (50x30x80).
- Alsa Supra
- One carry-on bag up to 10kg and one checked bag up to 25kg.
- Alsa
- Additional luggage can be purchased for a fee.
- Infobus
- 10€ per additional bag.
- Alsa Supra
- Additional luggage can be purchased for a fee.
- Alsa
- Small pets allowed in carriers
- larger pets must travel in the hold.
- Infobus
- Small pets allowed in carriers
- larger pets may require a separate ticket.
- Alsa Supra
- Small pets allowed in carriers
- guide dogs travel for free.
popular bus stations
Popular bus stations from Madrid to Cartagena
- 06:00-23:00
- Rodilla, Mahoudrid
- Step-free access, elevators, accessible toilets
- Located inside the terminal, well-signposted, accessible, and generally clean
- No public showers in the bus station area; showers available in airport lounges (approx. €15-€30 for lounge access)
- Metro Line 8, Aeropuerto T4, 12 km
- 06:00-23:00
- Free Wi-Fi
- Cafetería de la estación (in the station)
- Restaurante El Brillante (0.5 km)
- La Taberna de Domínguez (0.7 km).
- Available outside the main entrance.
- Elevators, ramps
- Available in the station.
- Bus: 8, 102, 148 Metro: L6 Train: C1, C5
- 06:00-22:00
- Free Wi-Fi
- Cafetería de la estación (in the station)
- Restaurante El Galeón (0.5 km)
- La Catedral (0.7 km).
- Available outside the main entrance.
- Elevators, ramps
- Available in the station.
- Bus: 2, 4, 6 Train: C-1
More options for your journey from Madrid to Cartagena
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