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Travel Information
Compare coach, 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 £20. 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 £20, and a flight costs an average of £25.
Distance: 504 km
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Coach | Flight |
|---|---|---|
£44 Average Price Cheapest | £47 Average Price | £144 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 to Madrid from Barcelona by train, bus, flight or ferry.
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.
030808:253h02Barcelona Sants11:27Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes£431One-way0 changes
Cheapest
- Normal10:308h05Barcelona, Estació d'Autobusos Nord18:35Madrid, Intercambiador de Avenida de América£341One-way0 changes
Fastest
- IB41818:151h25Barcelona El Prat Airport19:40Madrid Barajas Airport£2051One-way0 changes
Other options
- 0315215:003h17Barcelona Sants18:17Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes£371One-way0 changes
074107:353h30Barcelona Sants11:05Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes£611One-way0 changes- 064107:353h30Barcelona Sants11:05Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes£611One-way0 changes
- Normal10:307h40Barcelona, Estació d'Autobusos Nord18:10Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid)£421One-way0 changes
- Normal7:007h35Barcelona, Estació d'Autobusos Nord14:35Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid)£421One-way0 changes
- Normal13:007h35Barcelona, Estació d'Autobusos Nord20:35Madrid, Intercambiador de Plaza de Castilla£381One-way0 changes
UX6007 · UX60308:403h25Barcelona El Prat Airport12:05Madrid Barajas Airport£1131One-way1 change- UX6007 · UX60488:405h10Barcelona El Prat Airport13:50Madrid Barajas Airport£1131One-way1 change
- UX770820:301h30Barcelona El Prat Airport22:00Madrid Barajas Airport£1831One-way0 changes
Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .
Compare prices and tickets Prices for trains, coaches, flights and ferries
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How to Travel from Barcelona to Madrid
It is possible to make a direct journey between the two cities by plane train or bus. Journey times are between 3.5 and 9 hours approximately. Travelling by train is the quickest route, as although actual flight times are short, journey times to and from airports and security checks add to the time taken when flying. The slowest journey time between the two cities is by bus.
Barcelona to Madrid Travel Comparison
Average Price |
Travel Time |
Cheapest Time to Book |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
£29 |
7:50 h |
1 Week Before |
|
£80 |
2:30 h |
2 Months Before |
|
£40 |
1:25 h |
2 Months Before |
What is the best way to travel from Barcelona to Madrid?
Cheapest way to travel from Barcelona to Madrid
Buses are definitely the cheapest option for travel from Barcelona to Madrid, however, it’s also the slowest by some distance. ALSA operates a route from Barcelona which takes around 7.5 hours to reach Madrid. Buses leave from Barcelona Nord Coach Station, arriving at Madrid Intercambiador Avenida de America. There are around 16 departures a day, seven days a week.
Fastest way to travel from Barcelona to Madrid
The Spanish provider RENFE operates its high-speed AVE route between the two cities, leaving from Barcelona Sants Train Station and arriving at Madrid Puerta de Atocha. There is at least one departure an hour throughout the day, seven days a week. The journey time is approximately 3 hours. There are also two slower early morning trains which take around 9 hours. When Check-In and Journeys to and from the airport are included, the train proves the quickest option between the two cities.
Most popular way to travel from Barcelona to Madrid
The total flight time between Barcelona Prat Airport and Madrid Barajas Airport is around 1 hour 15 mins, with three airlines offering a direct service, seven days a week. Iberia has 7 departures a day, Vueling and Air Europa have 3 departures each. The frequency of departures and low cost of the flights mean that they remain a popular choice.
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FAQs: Barcelona 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 Barcelona to Madrid.
This is compared to other travel options from Barcelona to Madrid:
A train is £3 less than a coach for this route with tickets for a coach from Barcelona to Madrid costing on average £23.
A train is £4 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Barcelona to Madrid costing on average £25.
Other travel options to Madrid take longer:
Train takes on average 2h 36m.
Coach takes on average 7h 20m.
- Around 37 trains per day.
- Around 30 flights per day.
- Around 20 coaches per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Barcelona and Madrid as scheduled services by coach, 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.
- Coaches 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 coach.
- 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 coaches per day with Alsa, BlaBlaCar, FlixBus.
Travelling from Barcelona to Madrid: related information
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