How to get from Barcelona to Madrid
Compare the train, bus and flight options. Then check them for your own date.
Start with the whole journey.
We compared the ways to travel from Barcelona to Madrid. The most useful door-to-door route takes 3h 28m by train with no transfer. 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 €28, on Tue, Sep 8.
505 km
Which way suits you?
| Transport | Observed fare | Duration and scope | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train | €31Omio catalogue, Sep 9 | 3h 28mdirect | See Train details |
| Bus | €17Omio catalogue, Sep 9 | 6h 55mdirect | See Bus details |
- Train€31Omio catalogue, Sep 93h 28m · directSee Train details
- Bus€17Omio catalogue, Sep 96h 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 → Madridtrain
Renfe·3h 28m
The best balance of price and time we found on this route.
The observed fares belong to earlier dates.
Search my dateWhich 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.
All transport observations
Flight calendar
Flight prices by day, Barcelona to Madrid
The lowest fare we saw for each day over the next three months. Tap a day to search it live.
September 2026
€43October 2026
€25Departures from Barcelona to Madrid
Renfe runs 18 scheduled departures a day, the first at 05:50 and the last at 20:00.
| Operator | Departures a day | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renfetrain | 18 | 05:50 | 20:00 |
| BlaBlaCar Busbus | 1 | 19:15 | 19:15 |
| FlixBusbus | 1 | 03:10 | 03:10 |
| Renfe AVEtrain | 1 | — | — |
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 Wed, Sep 9
Operators seen on these journeys
On this route you travel with Renfe, BlaBlaCar Bus; Routavio does not add a booking fee.
How the trip from Barcelona to Madrid works
Start with a Renfe train from Barcelona to Madrid, about 3h 28m. In total it's roughly €44 over 3h 28m, direct, no transfers.
Barcelona to Madrid: common questions
How long does it take to get from Barcelona to Madrid?
The most useful route takes about 3h 28m by train, with no transfer.
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 €28 to €44. Run a live search for your own date to see today's price.
Which operators run Barcelona to Madrid?
On this route you travel with Renfe, BlaBlaCar Bus.
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.
Other 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 by bus