How to get from Madrid to Bilbao by train, bus or flight.
The best way to travel from Madrid to Bilbao is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .
Distance | 200 miles (322 km) | |
Available travel modes | Bus or flight | |
Ticket price range | $54 - $92 | |
Cheapest mode | Bus • $54 (€47) • 4 h 15 min | |
Fastest mode | Flight • $92 (€79) • 1 h 5 min | |
Popular travel companies | Alsa Supra or Air Europa |
Travel 200 miles (322 km) by bus or flight between Madrid and Bilbao. If speed is a priority, then a flight is the best option with an average duration of 1 h 5 min; whereas, if saving money is more important, then a bus is the best option with prices starting as low as $54 (€47). The most popular travel companies which serve this journey are Alsa Supra or Air Europa among others. Travelers can even take a direct bus or flight from Madrid to Bilbao.
You can travel by train, bus or flight for as low as $36 (€31). When you search for schedules and tickets, Omio will show you the best route.
Renfe is a Spanish train company that operates throughout the country including trains to Bilbao from Madrid. It offers a wide range of services, including high-speed AVE trains, regional trains, and night trains. The AVE trains are the fastest and most comfortable way to travel, with speeds of up to 300 km/h. Regional trains are slower but offer more stops and are ideal for shorter trips. Night trains are a great way to save money and time, as they allow you to travel overnight and arrive at your destination in the morning. Renfe offers several types of tickets, including single tickets, return tickets, and season tickets. Onboard facilities include comfortable seating, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and power outlets. The most popular routes for Renfe are Madrid-Barcelona, Madrid-Seville, and Madrid-Valencia. These routes offer travelers the chance to explore some of Spain's most beautiful cities in comfort and style.
Alsa is the main provider of travel travel in Spain. As a subsidiary of the UK travel company National Express, Alsa offers a plethora of regional, national and international routes and transports more than 300 million passengers per year. Alsa has an impressive fleet of travel with different levels of comfort and amenities on offer. Aside from the Alsa Normal travel with free WiFi, bathrooms, footrests and entertainment on board, the Alsa Supra, Alsa Eurobus and Alsa Premium travel provide more luxurious services when traveling by road, depending on the specific route. Apart from the Standard ticket, Alsa offers other travel tickets like Minimum, Reduced and Flexible fares on select routes.
Iberia is Spain’s leading airline, headquartered in Adolfo Suárez-Madrid Barajas in Madrid, offering flights around Europe and across the world. It offers different fares for your next travel from Madrid to Bilbao including: Basic Fare, Classic Fare, Flexible Fare and Business Club.
There are 2 options to travel from Madrid to Bilbao including taking a bus or flight.
The cheapest way to travel to Bilbao from Madrid is a bus with an average price of $54 (€47).
This is compared to other travel options from Madrid to Bilbao:
A bus is $37 (€32) less than a flight for this journey with tickets for a flight from Madrid to Bilbao costing on average $92 (€79).
The quickest way to travel to Bilbao from Madrid is by flight, which takes on average 1 h 5 min compared to other travel options that take longer:
Bus takes 4 h 15 min on average.
You should expect to travel around 200 miles (322 km) between Madrid and Bilbao.
These are the most popular departure and arrival points when traveling from Madrid to Bilbao:
The following travel companies offer services from Madrid to Bilbao:
Yes, there are direct services available from Madrid to Bilbao with the following travel companies:
Direct services tend to save you time and add more convenience in getting you to Bilbao as you won't need to transfer at another stop in between, so it's worth paying attention to before booking your tickets between Madrid and Bilbao.
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