- Must visit
Museo del Prado
World-class art museum with masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, and Bosch; essential for Spanish and European painting.
Cheapest price
$30
Average price
$34
Fastest journey
4 h 15 m
Average duration
4 h 27 m
Buses per day
15
Distance
338 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Ponferrada to Madrid is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Ponferrada to Madrid will cost around $34 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $30.
Of the 15 buses that leave Ponferrada for Madrid on Thu, Jul 23, 15 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Thu, Jul 23 the direct buses cover the 338 km distance in an average of 4 h 27 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 4 h 15 m .
On Thu, Jul 23 the slowest buses will take 4 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.
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NormalOmio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from Ponferrada to Madrid among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $30. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 5h 2m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.3kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $30, and a train costs an average of $19.
Distance: 210 miles (338 km)
Most popular Bus | Train | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$38 Average price Cheapest | $51 Average price | $64 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
5h 44m Average total duration 5h 14m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 32m Average total duration Fastest 5h 2m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 59m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.3 - 0.8kg CO2 emissions | 0.1 - 0.3kg CO2 emissions Lowest | - CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular train company | Your own car or car rental |
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 Ponferrada to Madrid:
A bus is $12 (€12) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Ponferrada to Madrid costing on average $51 (€51).
Other travel options to Madrid take longer:
Bus takes on average 5h 14m.
Tickets start at around $38 (€38) compared to roughly $64 (€64) in fuel and tolls — a saving of about $26 (€26). The journey takes 5h 14m versus 3h 59m 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, 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 01:30AM | Arrival Time 06:40AM | Duration 5h10 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $37 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 07:30AM | Arrival Time 12:20PM | Duration 4h50 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $25 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 08:30AM | Arrival Time 01:00PM | Duration 4h30 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $36 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 09:00AM | Arrival Time 01:30PM | Duration 4h30 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $22 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 09:30AM | Arrival Time 02:15PM | Duration 4h45 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $30 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 09:50AM | Arrival Time 01:50PM | Duration 4h00 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $20 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 10:30AM | Arrival Time 02:30PM | Duration 4h00 | Departure days Thu, Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $27 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 11:20AM | Arrival Time 03:20PM | Duration 4h00 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $24 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 11:30AM | Arrival Time 03:50PM | Duration 4h20 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $20 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 12:10PM | Arrival Time 04:40PM | Duration 4h30 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $25 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 12:20PM | Arrival Time 04:50PM | Duration 4h30 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $22 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 02:10PM | Arrival Time 07:30PM | Duration 5h20 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $23 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 02:30PM | Arrival Time 07:30PM | Duration 5h00 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $30 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 02:30PM | Arrival Time 07:10PM | Duration 4h40 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $23 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 03:30PM | Arrival Time 07:10PM | Duration 3h40 | Departure days Thu, Sun | Cheapest price $19 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 03:30PM | Arrival Time 08:15PM | Duration 4h45 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $30 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 04:00PM | Arrival Time 07:50PM | Duration 3h50 | Departure days Mon, Fri | Cheapest price $25 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 04:30PM | Arrival Time 09:30PM | Duration 5h00 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $37 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 04:30PM | Arrival Time 09:00PM | Duration 4h30 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $27 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 04:50PM | Arrival Time 09:20PM | Duration 4h30 | Departure days Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $24 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:00PM | Arrival Time 08:40PM | Duration 3h40 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $22 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 05:30PM | Arrival Time 11:05PM | Duration 5h35 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $30 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:30PM | Arrival Time 10:10PM | Duration 4h40 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $24 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 05:55PM | Arrival Time 10:10PM | Duration 4h15 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $36 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 06:00PM | Arrival Time 10:00PM | Duration 4h00 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $23 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 06:50PM | Arrival Time 11:20PM | Duration 4h30 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $19 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 07:00PM | Arrival Time 11:20PM | Duration 4h20 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $25 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 08:10PM | Arrival Time 12:10AM | Duration 4h00 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $22 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 08:20PM | Arrival Time 12:20AM | Duration 4h00 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $29 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 08:50PM | Arrival Time 12:50AM | Duration 4h00 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $23 |
The table below shows live departures for Ponferrada to Madrid buses for tomorrow, Thursday, July 23. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Normal | 1:30 AM Ponferrada, Estación de Autobuses | 5h10 | 6:40 AM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 1:30 AM Ponferrada, Estación de Autobuses | 4h45 | 6:15 AM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 0 transfersDirect | |
Supra Economy | 8:30 AM Ponferrada, Estación de Autobuses | 4h15 | 12:45 PM Madrid, Calle de la Princesa / Paseo de Moret (Moncloa) | 0 transfersDirect | |
Supra Economy | 8:30 AM Ponferrada, Estación de Autobuses | 4h30 | 1:00 PM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 2:30 PM Ponferrada, Estación de Autobuses | 5h00 | 7:30 PM Madrid, Calle de la Princesa / Paseo de Moret (Moncloa) | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 2:30 PM Ponferrada, Estación de Autobuses | 5h15 | 7:45 PM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 3:30 PM Ponferrada, Estación de Autobuses | 4h45 | 8:15 PM Madrid, Calle de la Princesa / Paseo de Moret (Moncloa) | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 3:30 PM Ponferrada, Estación de Autobuses | 5h30 | 9:00 PM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 3:30 PM Ponferrada, Estación de Autobuses | 5h00 | 8:30 PM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 4:30 PM Ponferrada, Estación de Autobuses | 5h00 | 9:30 PM Madrid, Calle de la Princesa / Paseo de Moret (Moncloa) | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 4:30 PM Ponferrada, Estación de Autobuses | 5h15 | 9:45 PM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 5:30 PM Ponferrada, Estación de Autobuses | 5h35 | 11:05 PM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 5:30 PM Ponferrada, Estación de Autobuses | 5h15 | 10:45 PM Madrid, Calle de la Princesa / Paseo de Moret (Moncloa) | 0 transfersDirect | |
Supra Economy | 5:55 PM Ponferrada, Estación de Autobuses | 4h30 | 10:25 PM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Supra Economy | 5:55 PM Ponferrada, Estación de Autobuses | 4h15 | 10:10 PM Madrid, Calle de la Princesa / Paseo de Moret (Moncloa) | 0 transfersDirect | |
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train and bus 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 Ponferrada to Madrid run on average 11 times per day, taking around 5h 14m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $30 (€30) but you can travel from only $19 (€19) by train.
There are 11 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 00:30, the last at 23:45. The fastest bus covers the 210 miles (338 km) distance in 4h 30m.
Distance 210 miles (338 km) |
Average bus duration 5h 14m |
Cheapest ticket price $30 (€30) |
Buses per day 11 |
Direct buses 11 |
Fastest bus 4h 30m |
First bus 12:30 AM |
Last bus 11:45 PM |
Cheapest Month Sep |
Cheapest Day Sat |
High Season Jul - Sep |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Thu |
Least Busy Day Sun |
Best time to book 4 days |
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
The bus connection between Ponferrada and the Spanish capital is one of the most demanded in this locality. A total of 16 daily departures are programmed, although some of them have repeated schedules. It is possible to travel from 1:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m..
All connections are managed by Alsa, one of the most consolidated and valued companies in Spain. It has standard and supra Ponferrada Madrid buses, although in both cases they stand out for their impeccable image, comfort, spatial amplitude, the existence of a bathroom and, frequently, the presence of an individual screen in each seat.
There are 380 kilometres separating the capital of León from the capital of Spain. The minimum journey time of the Ponferrada Madrid non-stop buses is 4 hours and 30 minutes, while the longest connection, with a stop in León, lasts until 15 hours and 30 minutes. Half of the connections are direct and the rest with a scale in León.
There are 16 alternatives among which travelers can choose to make this journey. Their departures are concentrated between 1:30 and 17:30 in the afternoon. The truth is that several of the available schedules have double vehicle exits, so for practical purposes there are not as many time possibilities as it might seem.
Ponferrada Bus Station: is located in the central avenue of La Libertad and very well connected with the whole town, not in vain can be reached on foot in 15 minutes from Temple Park. It has simple, comfortable, functional and very pleasant facilities. In its surroundings it concentrates wonderful options of restoration, commerce and lodging.
Southern Bus Station of Madrid: located in Avenida Méndez Álvaro, connects with line 6 of the metro, Renfe Cercanías trains C5, C7 and C10 and buses 8, 102, 113, 148 and 152. It has 2 floors equipped with a great shopping area, which includes gastronomic premises and shops, luggage lockers, waiting room and a car park with almost 300 spaces.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Ponferrada 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 Ponferrada to Madrid buses use the Ponferrada, Estación de Autobuses to Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses station pair, with some services arriving at Madrid, Calle de la Princesa / Paseo de Moret (Moncloa). Use this guide to compare Ponferrada and Madrid bus stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like bus station facilities and services.
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, Calle de la Princesa / Paseo de Moret (Moncloa) is 2 km from Madrid city centre. Public transport options include:
Madrid, Calle de la Princesa / Paseo de Moret (Moncloa) has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, and Ticket Office.
Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located inside the station.
Ticket office support is available at Madrid, Calle de la Princesa / Paseo de Moret (Moncloa).
Available at Madrid, Calle de la Princesa / Paseo de Moret (Moncloa): Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Madrid, Calle de la Princesa / Paseo de Moret (Moncloa): 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.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need