Cheapest
Average
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Madrid to Bilbao is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Fastest Journey
4 h 32 m
Average
9 h 32 m
Trains per day
15
Distance
323 km
Of the 15 trains that leave Madrid for Bilbao every day 2 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
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200 miles (322 km) | |
4 h 32 min | |
$59 (€52) | |
1 a day | |
Yes | |
Renfe Alvia, Renfe ALVIA, Renfe Intercity or Renfe |
Trains from Madrid to Bilbao cover the 200 miles (322 km) long route taking on average 4 h 32 min with our travel partners like Renfe Alvia, Renfe ALVIA, Renfe Intercity or Renfe. Normally, there is 1 train operating per day, including direct services available. You can get the cheapest train tickets for this trip for as low as $35 (€31), but the average price of train tickets is $59 (€52). Travelers depart most frequently from Madrid Atocha Cercanias and arrive in Bilbao-Abando.
Buy your official Renfe train tickets to Bilbao from Madrid from $35 (€31) with Omio. Find train times and tickets for over 1000 travel companies to compare and book the most popular route.
Renfe is Spain’s national train company operating freight and passenger trains on Spain’s extensive railway network as well as international routes to neighboring France and Portugal. Renfe has a wide range of ticket types to fit your budget like the Basic, Elige and Premium tickets. Renfe also offers discount cards like the Renfe Gold Card and +Renfe Youth Card 50 for qualified travelers. You can use these savings offers and discount cards on Omio when booking your Madrid to Bilbao trip. Renfe has a vast fleet of trains with different levels of comfort, amenities and speed. The Renfe AVE trains run at high speed and serve long-distance routes, Alvia trains combine high-speed and normal speed trains serving domestic routes, Altaria serves domestic routes into southern Spain, Euromed offers domestic routes along the Mediterranean coast, Avant trains serve regional commuter routes and Trenhotel offers night train routes.
Renfe from Madrid to Bilbao train information:
The rule of buying in advance to save money is not only valid when booking a flight but also for train travel. Train tickets are generally on sale 6 months before the departure date. Some train booking tips from us:
When departing from Madrid, you have various train station options to start your trip from including Madrid Atocha Cercanias, Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes and Madrid Chamartín. When arriving in Bilbao, you can end your route in train stations like Bilbao-Abando and Bilbao-Concordia.
Passengers board the train most frequently from Madrid Atocha Cercanias, which is located around 1.4 miles (2.3 km) away from the city centre, and they get off the train at Bilbao-Abando, located 0.4 miles (726 m) away from the city centre.
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