Travel options
from Barcelona to Madrid

You can get from Barcelona to Madrid by train, bus or flight.

Our recommendation

To get from Barcelona to Madrid on Dec 4 we recommend taking a flight because it’s the best combination of price and speed.

08:30PMBarcelona El Prat Airport1h30 10:00PMMadrid Barajas Airport
0 changes
$1171One-way
Cheapest
09:03AMBarcelona Sants9h04 06:07PMMadrid Chamartín
0 changes
$521One-way
Other options
09:15PMBarcelona El Prat Airport1h25 10:40PMMadrid Barajas Airport
0 changes
$1531One-way
04:15PMBarcelona El Prat Airport1h20 05:35PMMadrid Barajas Airport
0 changes
$1581One-way
12:00PMBarcelona Sants3h12 03:12PMMadrid-Puerta de Atocha
0 changes
$1391One-way

Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, and flight, .

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Compare prices and tickets Prices for trains, buses and flights

Fri
Dec 3
$184Renfe AVE
$40Alsa
$287Air Europa
Sat
Dec 4
$52Renfe Regional Expres
$40Alsa
$117Air Europa
Sun
Dec 5
$52Renfe Regional Expres
$40Alsa
$115Vueling
Mon
Dec 6
$52Renfe Regional Expres
$40Alsa
$68Vueling
Tue
Dec 7
$52Renfe Regional Expres
$40Alsa
$81Air Europa
Wed
Dec 8
$52Renfe Regional Expres
$40Alsa
$68Vueling
Thu
Dec 9
$52Renfe Regional Expres
$40Alsa
$69Air Europa
Fri
Dec 10
$52Renfe Regional Expres
$40Alsa
$59Air Europa
Sat
Dec 11
$52Renfe Regional Expres
$40Alsa
$52Air Europa
Sun
Dec 12
$46Renfe AVE
$40Alsa
$60Vueling
Mon
Dec 13
$26Renfe AVE
$40Alsa
$46Vueling
Tue
Dec 14
$46Renfe AVE
$40Alsa
$30Air Europa
Wed
Dec 15
$46Renfe AVE
$40Alsa
$30Vueling
Thu
Dec 16
$52Renfe Regional Expres
$40Alsa
$46Vueling
Fri
Dec 17
$52Renfe Regional Expres
$40Alsa
$80Vueling
Sat
Dec 18
$52Renfe Regional Expres
$40Alsa
$60Vueling
Sun
Dec 19
$52Renfe Regional Expres
$40Alsa
$46Vueling
Mon
Dec 20
$52Renfe Regional Expres
$40Alsa
$46Vueling
Tue
Dec 21
$52Renfe Regional Expres
$40Alsa
$46Vueling
Wed
Dec 22
$46Renfe AVE
$40Alsa
$60Vueling
Thu
Dec 23
$52Renfe Regional Expres
$40Alsa
$74Vueling

Travel Information from Barcelona to Madrid

distanceDistance312 miles (504 km)
modeAvailable travel modesBus, flight or train
priceTicket price range$20 - $56
cheapestCheapest modeTrain • $20 (€16) • 2 h 30 min
fastestFastest modeFlight • $56 (€45) • 1 h 25 min
carriersPopular travel companiesAlsa, Vueling or Renfe AVE

Take a bus, flight or train to travel 312 miles (504 km) from Barcelona to Madrid. If speed is a priority, then a flight is the best option with an average duration of 1 h 25 min; whereas, if saving money is more important, then a train is the best option with prices starting as low as $20 (€16). The most popular travel companies which serve this journey are Alsa, Vueling or Renfe AVE among others. Travelers can even take a direct from Barcelona to Madrid.

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

Whether it is for business or leisure, in order to travel from Barcelona to Madrid, 64,59% of our customers choose the train as their preferred mode of transportation. By traveling by train on this route, you can enjoy the comfort of spacious seats, spectacular views—and in some cases free Wi-Fi—in both second and first class. Our customers have decided that the train is the best way to get from Barcelona to Madrid and have chosen to enjoy this fast, safe and efficient way to arrive at their destination. Taking the train also avoids long lines or potential expenses for transfers to/from the station—especially since most main railway stations are located in the city center. Train companies in Europe vary from country to country, but most of them offer high-speed train routes, therefore when you add up at the end-to-end journey time, the train is often also the fastest way to get to your destination.

Search on Omio to find cheap tickets from Barcelona to Madrid. It’s easy to find the most attractive prices and choose your preferred route for your journey. Book on web or app, and travel with your mobile ticket —without the stress of printing your ticket.