- Must visit
National Museum of Underwater Archaeology (ARQVA)
Spain’s flagship museum for underwater archaeology, with Phoenician, Roman, and shipwreck finds from the Mediterranean. A top cultural stop on Cartagena’s waterfront.
Cheapest price
$43
Average price
$52
Fastest journey
5 h 20 m
Average duration
5 h 34 m
Buses per day
10
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 $52 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $43.
Of the 10 buses that leave Madrid for Cartagena on Sat, Jun 20, 10 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 391 km distance in an average of 5 h 34 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 5 h 20 m .
On Sat, Jun 20 the slowest buses will take 6 h 5 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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NormalOmio 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 $16. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 52m. 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 $16, and a flight costs an average of $40.
Distance: 242 miles (391 km)
| Bus | Most popular Train | Flight |
|---|---|---|
$50 Average price | $34 Average price Cheapest | $172 Average price |
5h 41m Average total duration 5h 11m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 29m Average total duration 3h 59m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 52m Average total duration Fastest 1h 52m 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.
This is compared to other travel options from Madrid to Cartagena:
A train is $15 (€13) less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Madrid to Cartagena costing on average $50 (€41).
A train is $138 (€113) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Madrid to Cartagena costing on average $172 (€141).
Other travel options to Cartagena take longer:
Train takes on average 3h 59m.
Bus takes on average 5h 11m.
| 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, Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $51 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 07:30AM | Arrival Time 01:15PM | Duration 5h45 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $51 |
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 01:00PM | Duration 5h00 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $33 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 08:30AM | Arrival Time 01:50PM | Duration 5h20 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $39 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 08:30AM | Arrival Time 01:40PM | Duration 5h10 | Departure days Mon, Thu, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $33 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 09:00AM | Arrival Time 01:20PM | Duration 4h20 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $28 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 10:00AM | Arrival Time 02:50PM | Duration 4h50 | Departure days Mon, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $31 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 10:20AM | Arrival Time 03:40PM | Duration 5h20 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $41 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 11:00AM | Arrival Time 03:20PM | Duration 4h20 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $33 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 11:30AM | Arrival Time 04:20PM | Duration 4h50 | Departure days Sat | 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 05:10PM | Duration 5h10 | Departure days Wed, Sun | Cheapest price $20 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 12:30PM | Arrival Time 07:05PM | Duration 6h35 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $39 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 01:30PM | Arrival Time 06:20PM | Duration 4h50 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $42 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 02:00PM | Arrival Time 05:50PM | Duration 3h50 | Departure days Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $27 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 02:30PM | Arrival Time 07:00PM | Duration 4h30 | Departure days Tue, Wed | Cheapest price $33 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 02:50PM | Arrival Time 08:00PM | Duration 5h10 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $28 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 03:00PM | Arrival Time 07:20PM | Duration 4h20 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $33 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 03:10PM | Arrival Time 08:00PM | Duration 4h50 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $31 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 03:20PM | Arrival Time 07:20PM | Duration 4h00 | Departure days Tue, Wed | Cheapest price $31 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 03:30PM | Arrival Time 07:50PM | Duration 4h20 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $39 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 03:45PM | Arrival Time 09:50PM | Duration 6h05 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $71 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 04:00PM | Arrival Time 08:40PM | Duration 4h40 | Departure days Mon, Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $31 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 04:20PM | Arrival Time 08:30PM | Duration 4h10 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $33 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 04:30PM | Arrival Time 09:50PM | Duration 5h20 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $51 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:10PM | Arrival Time 10:00PM | Duration 4h50 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $30 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 05:30PM | Arrival Time 11:15PM | Duration 5h45 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $39 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:30PM | Arrival Time 10:20PM | Duration 4h50 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $35 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 09:00PM | Arrival Time 02:00AM | Duration 5h00 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $39 |
Operator Alsa | Departure Time 11:45PM | Arrival Time 05:50AM | Duration 6h05 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $51 |
The table below shows live departures for Madrid to Cartagena 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 | 7:45 AM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 6h05 | 1:50 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 8:30 AM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 5h20 | 1:50 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 11:45 AM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 7h20 | 7:05 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 12:30 PM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 6h35 | 7:05 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Supra Economy | 3:45 PM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 6h05 | 9:50 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Supra Economy | 4:30 PM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 5h20 | 9:50 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 4:30 PM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 6h45 | 11:15 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 5:30 PM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 5h45 | 11:15 PM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Normal | 11:45 PM Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) | 6h05 | 5:50 AM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
| Saturday, June 20 | |||||
Normal | 12:30 AM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 5h20 | 5:50 AM Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
Find all the dates and times for this journey
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.
Buses from Madrid to Cartagena run on average 13 times per day, taking around 5h 11m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $36 (€29) but you can travel from only $16 (€13) 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 11m |
Cheapest ticket price $36 (€29) |
Buses per day 13 |
Direct buses 13 |
Fastest bus 5h 20m |
First bus 12:30 AM |
Last bus 11:45 PM |
Cheapest Month May |
Cheapest Day Sun |
High Season Jul - Sep |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Tue |
Least Busy Day Sun |
Best time to book 70 days |
Discover the best of Cartagena — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Cartagena trip today.
Spain’s flagship museum for underwater archaeology, with Phoenician, Roman, and shipwreck finds from the Mediterranean. A top cultural stop on Cartagena’s waterfront.
Museum and access complex for Cartagena’s spectacular Roman theatre, combining archaeological galleries with the restored ancient performance space.
A naval history museum with ship models, maritime collections, and the well-known Isaac Peral submarine exhibit, reflecting the city’s strong military port identity.
Cartagena’s principal historic shopping street, lined with Modernist architecture, balconies, and some of the city’s most photographed façades.
The regenerated waterfront promenade with marina views, cruise activity, museums, and easy access to several of the city’s top attractions.
The grand square by the city hall and port, ideal for appreciating Cartagena’s civic architecture and starting a walk through the old centre.
The area’s signature rice dish, cooked in fish stock with ñora pepper and traditionally served with fish and alioli. It is closely tied to nearby Mar Menor fishing culture.
A hearty stew of dried broad beans simmered with ham, chorizo and spices. It is a classic regional tapa in Cartagena and Murcia.
A very Murcian tapa made with a rusks-style bread ring topped with Russian salad and an anchovy. It is one of the most typical bar snacks in Cartagena.
A Michelin-starred restaurant led by chef María Gómez, known for refined contemporary cooking rooted in Cartagena and Murcia products. Elegant but welcoming atmosphere.
A famous old-school tapas bar known for authentic local snacks, marinera-style tapas and a bustling informal atmosphere. A strong choice for traditional Cartagena flavors.
An established traditional restaurant and tapas spot popular for Murcian dishes, seafood and hearty local specialties. Lively, classic dining room.
Moderate by Spanish standards. Meals and coffee are reasonable, while tourist-area dining and summer stays cost more.
Tipping is modest. Round up or leave 5-10% in restaurants for good service. Small change for cafes is enough. Taxis are usually rounded up; hotel tips are optional.
Official public transport app
Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses -> Cartagena City Center
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.

Most Madrid to Cartagena buses use the Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses to Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses station pair. Use this guide to compare Madrid and Cartagena 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, 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.
Cartagena, Estación 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 Galeón (0.5 km), La Catedral (0.7 km).
Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located near the main entrance.
Ticket office support is available at Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses.
Available at Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Cartagena, Estación de Autobuses: Elevators, ramps.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need