How to get from Santander to Madrid
On Routavio you can compare the ways from Santander to Madrid by price and travel time.
- 335 km as the crow flies
- Fastest: flight, 1h 10m
- 6 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 10m
direct
Flight
€73
Cheapest
5h 15m
direct
Bus
€22
Calculated by Routavio, refreshed 18 Oct 2026
Start with the whole journey.
We compared the ways to travel from Santander 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 335 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.
335 km
Which way suits you?
| Transport | Observed fare | Duration and scope | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | €73Checked Oct 18 | 1h 10mFlight only | See Flight details |
| Train | €26Omio catalogue, Oct 19 | 4h 14mdirect | See Train details |
| Bus | €35Omio catalogue, Oct 19 | 5h 15mdirect | See Bus details |
- Flight€73Checked Oct 181h 10m · Flight onlySee Flight details
- Train€26Omio catalogue, Oct 194h 14m · directSee Train details
- Bus€35Omio catalogue, Oct 195h 15m · directSee Bus details
These figures were observed on different days. This table is not a live price ranking for your date.
Santander to Madrid: cheapest or fastest?
Pick a tab: the legs, the timing and the difference from the others all change with it.
- 1Seve Ballesteros-Santander 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 Santander to Madrid
ALSA runs 6 scheduled departures a day, the first at 02:45 and the last at 19:30.
| Operator | Departures a day | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALSAbus | 6 | 02:45 | 19:30 |
| Renfetrain | 3 | 07:05 | 19:00 |
All departuresALSA
- 02:45
- 03:00
- 10:00
- 14:00
- 17:30
- 19:30
All departuresRenfe
- 07:05
- 13:55
- 19:00
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
IberiaSeve Ballesteros-Santander Airport-Madrid–BarajasSee live options and dates →ALSASantander-Madrid BarajasBook →
RenfeSantander-MadridBook →On this route you travel with Iberia, ALSA, Renfe; Routavio does not add a booking fee.
How the trip from Santander to Madrid works
Start with a Iberia flight from Santander to Madrid, about 1h 10m. In total it's roughly €73 over 1h 10m, direct, no transfers.
Santander to Madrid: common questions
How long does it take to get from Santander 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 Santander to Madrid?
The first bus with ALSA leaves at 02:45 and the last at 19:30, according to the published timetable.
How many bus departures a day are there from Santander to Madrid?
6 a day with ALSA, between 02:45 and 19:30.
When is the first train from Santander to Madrid?
The first train with Renfe leaves at 07:05 and the last at 19:00, according to the published timetable.
How many train departures a day are there from Santander to Madrid?
3 a day with Renfe, between 07:05 and 19:00.
How far is Madrid from Santander?
About 335 km in a straight line. The real route on the ground or in the air is longer.
How much does Santander to Madrid cost?
On the upcoming dates we checked, the cheapest fare ranged from €21 to €29. Run a live search for your own date to see today's price.
Are there direct flights from Santander to Madrid?
Yes. The best option we found flies without a transfer and takes about 1h 10m.
How long is the flight from Santander 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 Santander and Madrid?
Santander is SDR and Madrid is MAD, so this route is usually written SDR to MAD.
Which operators run Santander to Madrid?
On this route you travel with Iberia, ALSA, Renfe.
Can you get from Santander to Madrid without flying?
Yes. A ground route by bus takes about 4h 10m.
What is the cheapest way to get from Santander 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 Santander to Madrid
- how to get from Santander to Madrid
- Santander to Madrid travel time
- Santander to Madrid distance
- cheapest way from Santander to Madrid
- Santander to Madrid flight time
- flights from Santander to Madrid
- Santander Madrid direct flights
- SDR to MAD
- Santander 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