How to get from Barcelona to Madrid
On Routavio you can compare the ways from Barcelona to Madrid by price and travel time.
- 505 km as the crow flies
- Fastest: flight, 1h 24m
- 26 train departures a day with Renfe
Compare the train, bus and flight options. Then check them for your own date.
At a glance
Fastest
1h 24m
direct
Flight
€39
Cheapest
6h 55m
direct
Bus
€28
Calculated by Routavio, refreshed 19 Oct 2026
Start with the whole journey.
We compared the ways to travel from Barcelona to Madrid. The most useful option is a flight; the flight itself takes 1h 24m, not counting the trip to and from the airports. The two cities are about 505 km apart in a straight line. The price and operators below come from a real route search.
The lowest we recorded in the last 14 days was €17, on Sat, Oct 17.
505 km
Which way suits you?
| Transport | Observed fare | Duration and scope | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | €49Checked Oct 17 | 1h 25mFlight only | See Flight details |
| Train | €29Omio catalogue, Oct 19 | 3h 17mdirect | See Train details |
| Bus | €18Omio catalogue, Oct 19 | 6h 55mdirect | See Bus details |
- Flight€49Checked Oct 171h 25m · Flight onlySee Flight details
- Train€29Omio catalogue, Oct 193h 17m · directSee Train details
- Bus€18Omio catalogue, Oct 196h 55m · directSee Bus details
These figures were observed on different days. This table is not a live price ranking for your date.
Barcelona to Madrid: cheapest or fastest?
All from the same recent search. Pick a tab: the legs, the timing and the difference from the others all change with it.
- 1Barcelona El Prat → Madrid–Barajasflight1h 24m
The best balance of price and time we found on this route.
Which date should you go?
The amounts on each day are fares seen earlier, not live offers. A day with no figure is one we have not priced, not one without a service.
Departures from Barcelona to Madrid
Renfe runs 26 scheduled departures a day, the first at 05:40 and the last at 20:00.
| Operator | Departures a day | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renfetrain | 26 | 05:40 | 20:00 |
| ALSAbus | 11 | 01:30 | 23:00 |
| Ouigotrain | 5 | 07:35 | 20:20 |
| BlaBlaCar Busbus | 1 | 19:15 | 19:15 |
| FlixBusbus | 1 | 03:10 | 03:10 |
| Renfe AVEtrain | 1 | — | — |
All departuresRenfe
- 05:40
- 05:50
- 06:20
- 06:35
- 07:00
- 07:27
- 08:00
- 08:25
- 09:00
- 09:55
- 11:00
- 12:00
- 12:50
- 13:27
- 14:00
- 15:00
- 15:25
- 16:00
- 16:25
- 16:58
- 17:25
- 18:00
- 18:25
- 18:40
- 19:25
- 20:00
All departuresALSA
- 01:30
- 01:59
- 03:00
- 09:00
- 11:30
- 12:30
- 13:30
- 15:00
- 17:00
- 18:30
- 23:00
All departuresOuigo
- 07:35
- 10:40
- 13:50
- 17:40
- 20:20
All departuresBlaBlaCar Bus
- 19:15
All departuresFlixBus
- 03:10
Departure times come from operator timetables and are local time at the origin. Where a row shows no times, the frequency is the operator's own and the timetable is not published to us. Times can change on holidays and at short notice; confirm with the operator before you travel.
Departure and arrival
Ticket prices on this route
What each way of travelling costs, as the operator publishes it. These describe the route rather than a date you pick, and they refresh once a day. Booking opens at our partner Omio.
Omio last refreshed these on Mon, Oct 19
Operators seen on these journeys
BlaBlaCar BusBarcelona-Madrid BarajasBook →
Air EuropaBarcelona El Prat-Madrid–BarajasSee live options and dates →
RenfeBarcelona-MadridBook →On this route you travel with BlaBlaCar Bus, Air Europa, Renfe; Routavio does not add a booking fee.
How the trip from Barcelona to Madrid works
Start with a flight from Barcelona to Madrid, about 1h 24m. In total it's roughly €39 over 1h 24m, direct, no transfers.
Barcelona to Madrid: common questions
How long does it take to get from Barcelona to Madrid?
The most useful option is a flight; the flight itself takes about 1h 24m. Getting to and from the airports is on top of that.
When is the first train from Barcelona to Madrid?
The first train with Renfe leaves at 05:40 and the last at 20:00, according to the published timetable.
How many train departures a day are there from Barcelona to Madrid?
26 a day with Renfe, between 05:40 and 20:00.
When is the first bus from Barcelona to Madrid?
The first bus with ALSA leaves at 01:30 and the last at 23:00, according to the published timetable.
How many bus departures a day are there from Barcelona to Madrid?
11 a day with ALSA, between 01:30 and 23:00.
How far is Madrid from Barcelona?
About 505 km in a straight line. The real route on the ground or in the air is longer.
How much does Barcelona to Madrid cost?
On the upcoming dates we checked, the cheapest fare ranged from €21 to €28. Run a live search for your own date to see today's price.
Are there direct flights from Barcelona to Madrid?
Yes. The best option we found flies without a transfer and takes about 1h 24m.
How long is the flight from Barcelona to Madrid?
About 1h 24m, and that is the flight itself. Getting to and from the airports is on top of it.
What are the airport codes for Barcelona and Madrid?
Barcelona is BCN and Madrid is MAD, so this route is usually written BCN to MAD.
Which operators run Barcelona to Madrid?
On this route you travel with BlaBlaCar Bus, Air Europa, Renfe.
Can you get from Barcelona to Madrid without flying?
Yes. A ground route by train takes about 3h 02m.
What is the cheapest way to get from Barcelona to Madrid?
Usually a flexible date, or leaving from a nearby airport. A live search puts every option for your dates side by side.
Can I book directly?
Yes. Routavio sends you straight to the operator or an independent third-party provider. We never add a booking fee. The final fare and availability are confirmed by that provider.
Related links
Flying instead? Barcelona to Madrid flight prices€26Other ways people search Barcelona to Madrid
- how to get from Barcelona to Madrid
- Barcelona to Madrid travel time
- Barcelona to Madrid distance
- cheapest way from Barcelona to Madrid
- Barcelona to Madrid flight time
- flights from Barcelona to Madrid
- Barcelona Madrid direct flights
- BCN to MAD
- Barcelona to Madrid by bus
Sources and method
Routes are calculated by Routavio's multimodal engine from operator timetables and flight data. Durations come from timetables, and prices are the most recent observation, not a guarantee.
Route calculated: 19 Oct 2026
Prices checked: 19 Oct 2026