How to get from Madrid to Bilbao
A real 2-leg route: bus. Door to door 4h 51m, from €28.
We compared the ways to travel from Madrid to Bilbao. The most useful door-to-door route takes 4h 51m by bus, 1 transfer. The two cities are about 322 km apart in a straight line. The price and operators below come from a real route search.
This is the lowest fare we have recorded for this route in the last 14 days.
This fare comes from a search on September 1, 2026 and has not been refreshed since. Run a live search for today's price.
Madrid to Bilbao: 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.
- 1Madrid → Madrid BarajasbusCity transit·10m
- 2Madrid Barajas → Bilbaobus
FlixBus·4h 21m
The best balance of price and time we found on this route.
2 ways from Madrid to Bilbao: train, bus
How the trip from Madrid to Bilbao works
Start with a City transit bus from Madrid to Madrid Barajas, about 10 min. Transfer in Madrid Barajas and continue by FlixBus bus on to Bilbao (4h 21m). In total it's roughly €28 over 4h 51m, 1 transfer.
Along the way to Bilbao
DepartureMadridChange hereMadrid BarajasWhat Omio sells on this route
Omio's own lowest fares, one per mode. These are starting prices for the route in general, not for a date you picked, and they are refreshed once a day.
Omio last refreshed these on Fri, Sep 4
Who runs Madrid to Bilbao
On this route you travel with City transit, FlixBus; Routavio does not add a booking fee.
Madrid to Bilbao: common questions
How long does it take to get from Madrid to Bilbao?+−
The most useful route takes about 4h 51m by bus, 1 transfer.
How far is Bilbao from Madrid?+−
About 322 km in a straight line. The real route on the ground or in the air is longer.
How much does Madrid to Bilbao cost?+−
The best price in our latest search was €28. The exact fare depends on your travel date.
Which operators run Madrid to Bilbao?+−
On this route you travel with City transit, FlixBus.
What is the cheapest way to get from Madrid to Bilbao?+−
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.
Where to next
Other ways people search Madrid to Bilbao
- how to get from Madrid to Bilbao
- Madrid to Bilbao travel time
- Madrid to Bilbao distance
- cheapest way from Madrid to Bilbao