Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for Essen to Madrid
Omio recommends booking the flight as it is the most popular option from Essen to Madrid among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of $165 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 6h 32m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the bus is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 1.5 - 3.7kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $165, while a flight costs an average of $597.
Distance: 918 miles (1478 km)
Compare flight with
Most popular Flight | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$597 Average price | $165 Average price Cheapest | $490 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
6h 32m Average total duration Fastest 4h 32m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 27h 21m Average total duration 26h 51m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 18h 8m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
4.4 - 8.9kg CO2 emissions | 1.5 - 3.7kg CO2 emissions Lowest | - CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular airline | ![]() Most popular bus 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.
Compare ways to travel from Essen to Madrid
Compare the available ways to get from Essen to Madrid, with the key details around price, speed, convenience, and direct service.
This is compared to other travel options from Essen to Madrid:
A bus is $432 (€362) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Essen to Madrid costing on average $597 (€501).
Other travel options to Madrid take longer:
Bus takes on average 27h 21m.
You'll arrive about 13h 36m sooner (4h 32m by flight vs 18h 8m by car). Tickets start at around $597 (€501) compared to roughly $490 (€411) in fuel and tolls — a bit more, but you get time back and avoid a long drive.
Driving makes more sense if you're travelling as a group, want flexibility on timing, or plan to stop en route.
Travel optionsfrom Essen to Madrid
How to get from Essen to Madrid by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Essen to Madrid is by taking a flight because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
EW95103:00 PM 2h35 Dusseldorf Airport 5:35 PM Madrid Barajas Airport $172 1 One-way 0 transfers
Cheapest
EW95103:00 PM 2h35 Dusseldorf Airport 5:35 PM Madrid Barajas Airport $172 1 One-way 0 transfers
Fastest
EW95103:00 PM 2h35 Dusseldorf Airport 5:35 PM Madrid Barajas Airport $172 1 One-way 0 transfers
Other options
FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus6:55 AM 30h25 Essen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof) 1:20 PM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses $193 1 One-way 2 transfers
FlixBus · FlixBus6:50 AM 28h40 Essen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof) 11:30 AM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses $206 1 One-way 1 transfer
FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus9:40 PM 35h15 Essen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof) 8:55 AM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses $210 1 One-way 2 transfers
IB7567:35 PM 2h40 Dusseldorf Airport 10:15 PM Madrid Barajas Airport $214 1 One-way 0 transfers
LH2037+
LH41526:15 AM 4h55 Dusseldorf Airport 11:10 AM Madrid Barajas Airport $233 1 One-way 1 transfer
LH4055 · LH41545:20 PM 6h15 Dusseldorf Airport 11:35 PM Madrid Barajas Airport $233 1 One-way 1 transfer
Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .
Compare prices and tickets Prices for trains, buses and flights
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FAQs: Travel from Essen to Madrid
Travel to Madrid easily. Whether you want fast, cheap or something entirely different, our travel experts have collected everything you need to know so you can find the best option from Essen to Madrid.

This is compared to other travel options from Essen to Madrid:
A bus is $432 (€362) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Essen to Madrid costing on average $597 (€501).
Other travel options to Madrid take longer:
Bus takes on average 27h 21m.
- Around 59 flights per day.
- Around 9 buses per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Essen and Madrid as scheduled services by train, bus, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from Dusseldorf Airport and arrive in Madrid Barajas Airport.
- Buses mostly depart from Essen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof) and arrive in Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses.
- Travel with FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus to go to Madrid by bus.
- Travel with KLM, Air France, Iberia, Lot Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, TAP Portugal, Lufthansa City Airlines, British Airways, Qatar Airways, Swiss, Smartwings, Air Europa, Eurowings, Helvetic Airways, Vueling, ITA, BA Cityflyer, Air Baltic, Ryanair, Edelweiss Air to go to Madrid by flight.
- 3 direct flights per day with Iberia, Eurowings, Ryanair.
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