- Must visit
Museu Nacional de Machado de Castro
Major fine arts and archaeology museum set above a remarkable Roman cryptoporticus. One of Coimbra’s key cultural institutions and a top museum visit.
Cheapest price
$37
Average price
$48
Fastest journey
6 h 15 m
Average duration
9 h 35 m
Buses per day
6
Distance
401 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Madrid to Coimbra is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Madrid to Coimbra will cost around $48 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $37.
Of the 6 buses that leave Madrid for Coimbra on Thu, May 28, 2 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Thu, May 28 the direct buses cover the 401 km distance in an average of 9 h 35 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 6 h 15 m .
On Thu, May 28 the slowest buses will take 12 h 45 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
Normal · Normal
FlixBus · FlixBus
FlixBus
FlixBus
FlixBus
FlixBus
FlixBus · FlixBus
Normal · Normal
Normal · NormalOmio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from Madrid to Coimbra among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $13. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 36m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the bus is your best bet as it emits only 0.4 - 1.0kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $13, and a flight costs an average of $23.
Distance: 249 miles (401 km)
Most popular Bus | Flight | Train | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$30 Average price Cheapest | $113 Average price | $113 Average price | $103 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
9h 12m Average total duration 8h 42m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 36m Average total duration Fastest 1h 36m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 7h 14m Average total duration 6h 44m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 37m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.4 - 1.0kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 1.2 - 2.4kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
![]() 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 |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
This is compared to other travel options from Madrid to Coimbra:
A bus is $82 (€66) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Madrid to Coimbra costing on average $113 (€91).
A bus is $83 (€67) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Madrid to Coimbra costing on average $113 (€92).
Other travel options to Coimbra take longer:
Train takes on average 6h 44m.
Bus takes on average 8h 42m.
Tickets start at around $30 (€25) compared to roughly $103 (€83) in fuel and tolls — a saving of about $73 (€59). The journey takes 8h 42m versus 5h 37m 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, FlixBus, BlaBlaCar, Rede Expressos.
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 12:05AM | Arrival Time 10:29AM | Duration 11h24 | Departure days Mon, Sat | Cheapest price $36 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 12:15AM | Arrival Time 11:30AM | Duration 12h15 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $49 |
Operator Internorte | Departure Time 12:15AM | Arrival Time 10:29AM | Duration 11h14 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $49 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 12:30AM | Arrival Time 10:29AM | Duration 10h59 | Departure days Mon, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $28 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 12:45AM | Arrival Time 11:44AM | Duration 11h59 | Departure days Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $79 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 12:55AM | Arrival Time 11:30AM | Duration 11h35 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $49 |
Operator Internorte | Departure Time 12:55AM | Arrival Time 10:29AM | Duration 10h34 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $49 |
Operator BlaBlaCar Bus | Departure Time 12:55AM | Arrival Time 12:45PM | Duration 12h50 | Departure days Mon, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $28 |
Operator BlaBlaCar Bus | Departure Time 09:15AM | Arrival Time 07:35PM | Duration 11h20 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $26 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 09:25AM | Arrival Time 06:05PM | Duration 9h40 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $37 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 09:45AM | Arrival Time 10:00PM | Duration 13h15 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $28 |
Operator BlaBlaCar Bus | Departure Time 10:00AM | Arrival Time 07:35PM | Duration 10h35 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $19 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 10:30AM | Arrival Time 10:00PM | Duration 12h30 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $28 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 03:00PM | Arrival Time 07:10PM | Duration 4h10 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $41 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 03:45PM | Arrival Time 09:44PM | Duration 6h59 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $19 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 04:15PM | Arrival Time 09:44PM | Duration 6h29 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $19 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 11:00PM | Arrival Time 09:59AM | Duration 11h59 | Departure days Mon, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $38 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 11:00PM | Arrival Time 04:45AM | Duration 6h45 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $34 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 11:05PM | Arrival Time 05:05AM | Duration 7h00 | Departure days Mon, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $37 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 11:30PM | Arrival Time 04:45AM | Duration 6h15 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $34 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 11:35PM | Arrival Time 05:05AM | Duration 6h30 | Departure days Mon, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $40 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 11:45PM | Arrival Time 09:59AM | Duration 11h14 | Departure days Mon, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $38 |
Operator BlaBlaCar Bus | Departure Time 11:45PM | Arrival Time 11:44AM | Duration 12h59 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Fri | Cheapest price $35 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 11:59PM | Arrival Time 11:44AM | Duration 12h45 | Departure days Thu, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $28 |
The table below shows live departures for Madrid to Coimbra buses for today, Wednesday, May 27. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FlixBus · FlixBus | 9:25 AM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 9h40 | 6:05 PM Coimbra, Rua do Padrao (Rodoviária) | 1 transfer | |
Normal · Normal | 9:45 AM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 13h15 | 10:00 PM Coimbra | 1 transfer | |
Normal · Normal | 10:30 AM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 12h30 | 10:00 PM Coimbra | 1 transfer | |
Normal | 3:45 PM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 6h59 | 9:44 PM Coimbra | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 4:15 PM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 6h29 | 9:44 PM Coimbra | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 11:00 PM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 6h45 | 4:45 AM Coimbra, Rua do Padrao (Rodoviária) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 11:30 PM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 6h15 | 4:45 AM Coimbra, Rua do Padrao (Rodoviária) | 0 transfersDirect | |
3415 · 4761 | 11:45 PM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 12h59 | 11:44 AM Coimbra, Rua do Padrao (Rodoviária) | 1 transfer | |
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 to Coimbra run on average 16 times per day, taking around 8h 42m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $13 (€10) if you book in advance.
There are 4 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 00:05, the last at 23:55. The fastest bus covers the 249 miles (401 km) distance in 5h 30m.
Distance 249 miles (401 km) |
Average bus duration 8h 42m |
Cheapest ticket price $13 (€10) |
Buses per day 16 |
Direct buses 4 |
Fastest bus 5h 30m |
First bus 12:05 AM |
Last bus 11:55 PM |
Cheapest Month Mar |
Cheapest Day Mon |
High Season Jul - Sep |
Low Season Oct - Dec |
Busiest Day Wed |
Least Busy Day Fri |
Best time to book 91 days |
Discover the best of Coimbra — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Coimbra trip today.
Major fine arts and archaeology museum set above a remarkable Roman cryptoporticus. One of Coimbra’s key cultural institutions and a top museum visit.
University museum covering scientific instruments, natural history and academic collections. Good choice for visitors interested in Coimbra’s scholarly heritage.
Modern archaeological museum in nearby Condeixa interpreting Roman Portugal and Conímbriga. Worth considering for visitors exploring greater Coimbra.
The traditional downtown district with lively pedestrian streets, shops, historic façades and easy access to major monuments.
Historic upper town around the university, known for steep lanes, old colleges and classic viewpoints over the city.
Historic botanical garden with shaded paths, exotic plant collections and one of the city’s best peaceful walks.
Roast suckling pig with very crisp skin, a classic specialty of the nearby Bairrada region and one of the most famous meals around Coimbra.
Goat stewed slowly in red wine, garlic, and spices in black clay pots. A rustic Beira dish strongly associated with the Coimbra area.
Traditional goat offal rolls seasoned with garlic and herbs, linked to old festive cooking in the villages around Coimbra.
Small, iconic traditional tavern famous for hearty regional dishes and a very characterful, old Coimbra atmosphere.
Refined restaurant at Museu Nacional Machado de Castro, known for polished Portuguese cuisine, city views, and an elegant setting.
Popular rustic restaurant serving classic central Portuguese food, petiscos, and local specialties in a warm, casual space.
Generally cheaper than Lisbon and Porto. Good value for cafes and casual dining; central hotels cost more in peak season.
Service is usually included. Leaving 5-10% in restaurants is appreciated for good service. Round up in cafes and taxis; tipping is not mandatory.
Official public transport app
Coimbra-B -> Baixa de Coimbra
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Madrid to Coimbra 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 Coimbra, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

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