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4.6
Travel Information
Compare bus, train, and flight for Barcelona to Madrid
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Barcelona to Madrid among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the train with prices starting from $28. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 4h 27m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.2 - 0.5kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a train costs an average of $28, and a flight costs an average of $34.
Distance: 313 miles (504 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight |
|---|---|---|
$60 Average price Cheapest | $64 Average price | $197 Average price |
5h 33m Average total duration 5h 3m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 6h 40m Average total duration 6h 10m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 7h 27m Average total duration Fastest 4h 27m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* |
0.2 - 0.5kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.5 - 1.3kg CO2 emissions | 1.5 - 3.0kg CO2 emissions |
 Most popular train company |  Most popular bus company |  Most popular airline |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Travel optionsfrom Barcelona to Madrid
How to get from Barcelona to Madrid by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Barcelona to Madrid is by taking a train because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
0650010:40 AM3h17Barcelona Sants1:57 PMMadrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes$501One-way0 transfers
Cheapest
- Normal9:30 AM7h35Barcelona, Estació d'Autobusos Nord5:05 PMMadrid, Intercambiador de Avenida de América$421One-way0 transfers
Fastest
- IB4069:45 AM1h25Barcelona El Prat Airport11:10 AMMadrid Barajas Airport$2541One-way0 transfers
Other options
033049:55 AM3h49Barcelona Sants1:44 PMMadrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes$501One-way0 transfers- 065401:50 PM3h02Barcelona Sants4:52 PMMadrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes$461One-way0 transfers
- 0602011:25 AM3h17Barcelona Sants2:42 PMMadrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes$511One-way0 transfers
- Normal9:30 AM8h00Barcelona, Estació d'Autobusos Nord5:30 PMMadrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses$421One-way0 transfers
- Normal10:30 AM8h05Barcelona, Estació d'Autobusos Nord6:35 PMMadrid, Intercambiador de Avenida de América$421One-way0 transfers
- Normal11:30 AM7h45Barcelona, Estació d'Autobusos Nord7:15 PMMadrid, Intercambiador de Avenida de América$421One-way0 transfers
UX770611:50 AM1h30Barcelona El Prat Airport1:20 PMMadrid Barajas Airport$1701One-way0 transfers- UX6103 · UX601210:00 PM11h25Barcelona El Prat Airport9:25 AMMadrid Barajas Airport$1371One-way1 transfer
- UX6103 · UX604810:00 PM15h50Barcelona El Prat Airport1:50 PMMadrid Barajas Airport$1421One-way1 transfer
Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .
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How to Travel from Barcelona to Madrid
The journey from Barcelona to Madrid is popular with both business and leisure travelers in Spain. Direct journeys between Barcelona and Madrid are available by plane, train, and bus. Key departure points include Barcelona Sants train station, Barcelona Nord Bus station, and Barcelona Prat airport.
Cheapest way to travel from Barcelona to Madrid
Taking the bus is the cheapest way to travel from Barcelona to Madrid. Alsa is the main bus company in Spain and operates all the buses from Barcelona to Madrid. Alsa buses take approximately 7:20 h to travel from Barcelona to Madrid and depart 16 times per day. Alsa's buses depart from Barcelona Nord bus station and arrive at Madrid's Intercambiador Avenida de America.
Fastest way to travel from Barcelona to Madrid
Flying is the fastest way to travel from Barcelona to Madrid and is 6 hours faster than taking the bus. Flights traveling from Barcelona to Madrid depart from Barcelona's El Prat airport and arrive at Madrid's Barajas airport. Airlines that travel directly from Barcelona to Madrid include Iberia, Air Europa, and Vueling. Another fast option to get from these cities is to take a high-speed AVE train, taking about 2 hours 30 minutes.
Most popular way to travel from Barcelona to Madrid
Taking the train is the most popular way to travel from Barcelona to Madrid. While the train is often more expensive than taking the bus or flying, the time saved avoiding traveling to and from the airport makes up for the additional cost for most travelers. Some of the train ticket cost can be offset by planning ahead and booking your Barcelona to Madrid travel as far ahead of time as possible. All trains traveling from Barcelona to Madrid are operated by Renfe, and depart from Barcelona Sants train station, and arrive at Madrid Puerta de Atocha. There is at least one departure every hour throughout the day, seven days a week. High-speed trains traveling from Barcelona to Madrid take approximately two and a half hours.
How to get from Barcelona to Madrid
The Best Way According to our Users
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FAQs: Travel from Barcelona to Madrid
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This is compared to other travel options from Barcelona to Madrid:
A train is $4 (€4) less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Barcelona to Madrid costing on average $32 (€26).
A train is $6 (€5) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Barcelona to Madrid costing on average $34 (€27).
Other travel options to Madrid take longer:
Train takes on average 2h 36m.
Bus takes on average 7h 20m.
- Around 37 trains per day.
- Around 30 flights per day.
- Around 20 buses per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Barcelona and Madrid as scheduled services by bus, train, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from Barcelona El Prat Airport and arrive in Madrid Barajas Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Barcelona Sants and arrive in Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes.
- Buses mostly depart from Barcelona, Estació d'Autobusos Nord and arrive in Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid).
- Travel with Iberia, Vueling Airlines, Air Europa, GetJet Airlines, Airhub Airlines, Royal Air Maroc to go to Madrid by flight.
- Travel with iryo, SNCF OUIGO, AVE, Renfe AVLO, Renfe, Renfe Viajeros, Ouigo to go to Madrid by train.
- Travel with Alsa, BlaBlaCar, Infobus, FlixBus to go to Madrid by bus.
- 11 direct flights per day with Iberia, Vueling Airlines, Air Europa.
- 37 direct trains per day with iryo, SNCF OUIGO, AVE, Renfe AVLO, Renfe, Renfe Viajeros, Ouigo.
- 19 direct buses per day with Alsa, BlaBlaCar, FlixBus.
Travelling from Barcelona to Madrid: related information
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