How to get from Bilbao to Madrid
On Routavio you can compare the ways from Bilbao to Madrid by price and travel time.
- 322 km as the crow flies
- Fastest: flight, 1h
- 12 bus departures a day with ALSA
Compare the train, bus and flight options. Then check them for your own date.
At a glance
Fastest
1h
direct
Flight
€144
Cheapest
4h 10m
direct
Bus
€18
Calculated by Routavio, refreshed 18 Oct 2026
Start with the whole journey.
We compared the ways to travel from Bilbao to Madrid. The most useful option is a flight; the flight itself takes 1h 10m, not counting the trip to and from the airports. The two cities are about 322 km apart in a straight line. The price and operators below come from a real route search.
This fare comes from a search on October 18, 2026 and has not been refreshed since. Run a live search for today's price.
322 km
Which way suits you?
| Transport | Observed fare | Duration and scope | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | €27Checked Oct 18 | 1h 10mFlight only | See Flight details |
| Train | €28Omio catalogue, Oct 19 | 4h 52mdirect | See Train details |
| Bus | €34Omio catalogue, Oct 19 | 4h 10mdirect | See Bus details |
- Flight€27Checked Oct 181h 10m · Flight onlySee Flight details
- Train€28Omio catalogue, Oct 194h 52m · directSee Train details
- Bus€34Omio catalogue, Oct 194h 10m · directSee Bus details
These figures were observed on different days. This table is not a live price ranking for your date.
Bilbao to Madrid: cheapest or fastest?
Pick a tab: the legs, the timing and the difference from the others all change with it.
- 1Bilbao Airport → Madrid–Barajasflight
Iberia·1h 10m
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 Bilbao to Madrid
ALSA runs 12 scheduled departures a day, the first at 03:00 and the last at 22:30.
| Operator | Departures a day | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALSAbus | 12 | 03:00 | 22:30 |
| FlixBusbus | 9 | 00:20 | 10:25 |
| Renfetrain | 2 | 06:53 | 17:12 |
All departuresALSA
- 03:00
- 04:00
- 09:00
- 10:00
- 11:00
- 12:00
- 14:00
- 16:00
- 17:00
- 18:00
- 20:00
- 22:30
All departuresFlixBus
- 00:20
- 01:20
- 02:20
- 06:30
- 08:25
- 08:50
- 09:25
- 09:50
- 10:25
All departuresRenfe
- 06:53
- 17:12
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
IberiaBilbao Airport-Madrid–BarajasSee live options and dates →ALSABilbao-Madrid BarajasBook →
Air EuropaBilbao Airport-Madrid–BarajasSee live options and dates →
RenfeBilbao-MadridBook →On this route you travel with Iberia, ALSA, Air Europa, Renfe; Routavio does not add a booking fee.
How the trip from Bilbao to Madrid works
Start with a IB flight from Bilbao to Madrid, about 1h 10m. In total it's roughly €27 over 1h 10m, direct, no transfers.
Bilbao to Madrid: common questions
How long does it take to get from Bilbao to Madrid?
The most useful option is a flight; the flight itself takes about 1h 10m. Getting to and from the airports is on top of that.
When is the first bus from Bilbao to Madrid?
The first bus with ALSA leaves at 03:00 and the last at 22:30, according to the published timetable.
How many bus departures a day are there from Bilbao to Madrid?
12 a day with ALSA, between 03:00 and 22:30.
When is the first train from Bilbao to Madrid?
The first train with Renfe leaves at 06:53 and the last at 17:12, according to the published timetable.
How many train departures a day are there from Bilbao to Madrid?
2 a day with Renfe, between 06:53 and 17:12.
How far is Madrid from Bilbao?
About 322 km in a straight line. The real route on the ground or in the air is longer.
How much does Bilbao to Madrid cost?
On the upcoming dates we checked, the cheapest fare ranged from €18 to €28. Run a live search for your own date to see today's price.
Are there direct flights from Bilbao to Madrid?
Yes. The best option we found flies without a transfer and takes about 1h 10m.
How long is the flight from Bilbao to Madrid?
About 1h 10m, and that is the flight itself. Getting to and from the airports is on top of it.
What are the airport codes for Bilbao and Madrid?
Bilbao is BIO and Madrid is MAD, so this route is usually written BIO to MAD.
Which operators run Bilbao to Madrid?
On this route you travel with Iberia, ALSA, Air Europa, Renfe.
Can you get from Bilbao to Madrid without flying?
Yes. A ground route by bus takes about 3h 40m.
What is the cheapest way to get from Bilbao 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.
Other ways people search Bilbao to Madrid
- how to get from Bilbao to Madrid
- Bilbao to Madrid travel time
- Bilbao to Madrid distance
- cheapest way from Bilbao to Madrid
- Bilbao to Madrid flight time
- flights from Bilbao to Madrid
- Bilbao Madrid direct flights
- BIO to MAD
- Bilbao 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.
Operators: Iberia
Route calculated: 18 Oct 2026
Prices checked: 18 Oct 2026