Is there a way to reach Madrid from Barcelona without flying?

You can travel between these two cities by bus or train. The two options are convenient and sustainable ways to reach Madrid. Another option you should consider is using carpooling services, which allow you to share a car ride with other travelers.

How long is the bus ride from Barcelona to Madrid?

Traveling from Barcelona to Madrid takes about 7h 50m on average, but the quickest bus can get you there in about 7h 5m. This is the time it takes to travel the 313 miles (505 km) that separate the two cities.

What is the distance between Barcelona and Madrid?

The distance between the two cities is 313 miles (505 km).

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Barcelona to Madrid?

If you're headed to Madrid from Barcelona, chances are that your bus will depart from Estació del Nord de Barcelona and arrive at Madrid-Barajas Airport. These are the most popular departure and arrival locations on this route, but you can also find other options that could better fit your plans.

What is the ticket price for the bus trip from Barcelona to Madrid?

The average bus ticket price from Barcelona to Madrid is $50. In the past 30 days, prices have fluctuated between $49 and $332, so it's best to compare them to make sure you get the best deal.

What are the best sights and things to do in Madrid?

Once in Madrid, you can start exploring the city and discover its surroundings. The top sights and things to do are San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Palacio Real, Flamenco, Plaza Mayor and Faro de Moncloa.

Barcelona to Madrid Bus Tickets

TomorrowMay 1

from $46

FriMay 2

from $46

SatMay 3

from $23

SunMay 4

from $46

MonMay 5

from $26

TueMay 6

from $23

WedMay 7

from $23

ThuMay 8

Cheap buses leaving tomorrow

One passenger / one way

This trip is recommended because it is: Cheapest
Departure time: May 1 at 9:30am
Departure city: Barcelona
Departure location: Estació del Nord de Barcelona
Arrival time: May 1 at 5:05pm
Destination city: Madrid
Destination location: Aeropuerto Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, MAD T4
Operated by: ALSA
Vehicle: BusDuration: 7h 35m
This trip is recommended because it is: Fastest
Departure time: May 1 at 1:00pm
Departure city: Barcelona
Departure location: Estació del Nord de Barcelona
Arrival time: May 1 at 8:20pm
Destination city: Madrid
Destination location: Aeropuerto Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, MAD T4
Operated by: ALSA
Vehicle: BusDuration: 7h 20m
Departure time: May 1 at 9:30am
Departure city: Barcelona
Departure location: Estació del Nord de Barcelona
Arrival time: May 1 at 5:30pm
Destination city: Madrid
Destination location: Avenida de América
Operated by: ALSA
Vehicle: BusDuration: 8h
Departure time: May 1 at 11:10pm
Departure city: Barcelona
Departure location: Sants
Arrival time: May 3 at 8:00am
Destination city: Madrid
Destination location: Madrid (South)
Operated by: Flixbus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 1d 8h
Departure time: May 1 at 10:30am
Departure city: Barcelona
Departure location: Estació del Nord de Barcelona
Arrival time: May 1 at 6:10pm
Destination city: Madrid
Destination location: Aeropuerto Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, MAD T4
Operated by: ALSA
Vehicle: BusDuration: 7h 40m

Accepted payments

Compare 3 ways to go from Barcelona to Madrid.

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average Price$49 - $332	Average Duration7h 50m	CO₂ emissions 12kg CO₂e5 out of 5 stars	Most eco-friendly
Train	Average Price$21 - $283	Average Duration2h 52m	CO₂ emissions 12kg CO₂e5 out of 5 stars	CheapestFastest
Carpool	Average Price$26 - $112	Average Duration6h 30m	CO₂ emissions 21kg CO₂e4 out of 5 stars

Busbud recommends taking the train from Barcelona to Madrid

Among the sustainable travel choices, the train stands out as the good way to reach Madrid. The journey takes about 2 hours 52 minutes and with fares starting at just $21, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

25train per day

2h 52mAverage Duration

$21Cheapest ticket

12kgCO₂ emissions

Bus Barcelona to Madrid: Trip Overview

Average ticket price$50

Average bus trip duration7h 50m

Number of daily buses13

Earliest bus departure1:00am

Distance307 miles (495 km)

Latest bus departure11:59pm

Compare bus companies

ALSA

4.5/559,089 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness4.4

Cleanliness4.7

Wifi3.5

According to 827 reviews, ALSA received a 4.2-star rating for this journey. Travelers were especially satisfied with the timeliness and the departure location, but some complained about the power outlets. ALSA ticket prices on this trip start at $49.00

ALSA Barcelona Madrid recent customer reviews

Very poor communication for Aussies re all stops especially food and restroom stops.

Selwyn L.

December 28, 2023

Şöförler hiç yardımsever değil.bagaj yukarı konulacak ilgilenmiyorlar.koktuk bozuk.arkadaki yolcu kızıyor bana.soğuk havada sürekli klima çalıştı hasta oldum.koltuklar dar ve şarj cihazı bile yoktu

Pervin Ç.

December 19, 2023

Everything perfect, from the information desk, the driver and the journey itself.

Juniwati G.

March 8, 2020

FlixBus

3.5/58,447 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness4

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.6

Flixbus is a European bus operator that offers intercity and bus travel in over 38 countries. Known for their easy-to-spot lime green buses and for offering affordable transportation between cities in Europe and the Americas, Flixbus is a good option for those looking for an affordable, reliable bus company. In their buses, you'll find free WiFi, bathrooms, and power outlets. You can also pay extra to choose your seat and get extra legroom, or even buy a snack or drink onboard directly from the driver. You can reschedule your ticket for a small fee, which varies from $1 to $5, depending on how close you are to the departure date.

ES bus companies: FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, ALSA, Rede Expressos, Sindbad, Grupo Samar, Infobus

Barcelona to Madrid Bus

Busbud shows you the best bus ticket fares and bus schedules so you can easily plan and book a trip by bus from Barcelona to Madrid.

Bus service from Barcelona to Madrid will be provided by the most trusted bus companies.

Whether it is cheap bus tickets or more luxurious buses going to Madrid from Barcelona, we help you find what you're looking for based on how much of a budget you have.

Where are the popular stops in Barcelona and Madrid?

Stops in Barcelona

A - Estació del Nord de Barcelona

B - Barcelona Sants

C - Barcelona Airport

D - Carrer de Numància, 165

E - Zona Universitaria

F - Passeig de Gràcia, 36

Stops in Madrid

A - Madrid-Barajas Airport

B - Avenida de América Metro

C - Estación Sur

D - Madrid Interc. Plaza Castilla

E - Moncloa

F - Príncipe Pío

Frequently asked questions for your trip Barcelona - Madrid

Is there a way to reach Madrid from Barcelona without flying?
How long is the bus ride from Barcelona to Madrid?
What is the distance between Barcelona and Madrid?
What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Barcelona to Madrid?
What is the ticket price for the bus trip from Barcelona to Madrid?
What are the best sights and things to do in Madrid?

Find cheapest prices for buses

Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.

Best price found

04/28

$46

04/29

$46

Today

$185

05/01

$46

05/02

$46

05/03

$23

05/04

$46

05/05

$26

The cheapest trip from Barcelona to Madrid was searched and found on May 3, 2025 with a price of $23

To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your bus tickets from Barcelona to Madrid, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $23 to $272 for a bus ticket from Barcelona to Madrid based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $23 which is on 2025-05-03.

Usually Flixbus (ES) will charge you higher prices for tickets closer to the departure date. To find the best prices, you should be flexible on your date of travel.

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

If you're abroad, study some local language. Not only could it get you out of a pickle during your bus trip from Barcelona to Madrid but it'll also be endearing to native speakers who will surely appreciate your effort.

Much more than a mere vehicle taking you from Barcelona to Madrid, riding the bus will expose you to some of the most stunning panoramas while enroute to your final bus stop.

Buses are energy-efficient. Carrying a passenger over 100 kms by coach only takes 0.6-0.9 liters of gas. Compare that to the 2.6 liters required by high-speed train, 6.6 liters by airplane and 7.6 liters by gas-powered car, and it's clear that the bus is a more environmentally-conscious option for your bus transportation from Barcelona to Madrid.

Tune out to the fine sounds of your best music playlist on your bus trip from Barcelona to Madrid while indulging in miles on end of beautiful scenic views.

Did you know?

The average number of passengers on a coach bus is 32 meaning that a bus could replace a minimum of at least 30 cars!

Did you know some bus companies in Germany offer to their passenger low-costs snacks and regional beer based on their destination? Prosit!

The word 'bus' is an abbreviation of 'omnibus" which means 'for all' in Latin as buses were meant to be transportation for everybody.

Will you be returning to Barcelona by bus?

Bus from Barcelona to Madrid

You can also go to Madrid by train

Train from Barcelona to Madrid

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

Busbud.com makes it easy for you to find, compare and book city-to-city bus tickets, all over the world. We save you the extra trip to the bus station. With several language and currency options available, Busbud seeks to cater to international bus travelers no matter where they are in the world. Busbud prides itself on its worldwide partnerships. We make it possible for you to buy tickets with its large network of trustworthy bus partners like Greyhound, Eurolines, ALSA, OUIBUS (BlaBlaBus), National Express and many others.

Bus Tickets from Barcelona to Madrid

Cheap buses leaving tomorrow

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

Compare 3 ways to go from Barcelona to Madrid.

Bus Barcelona to Madrid: Trip Overview

Compare bus companies

ALSA Barcelona Madrid recent customer reviews

Barcelona to Madrid Bus

Where are the popular stops in Barcelona and Madrid?

Frequently asked questions for your trip Barcelona - Madrid

Is there a way to reach Madrid from Barcelona without flying?

How long is the bus ride from Barcelona to Madrid?

What is the distance between Barcelona and Madrid?

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Barcelona to Madrid?

What is the ticket price for the bus trip from Barcelona to Madrid?

What are the best sights and things to do in Madrid?

Find cheapest prices for buses

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Did you know?

Will you be returning to Barcelona by bus?

You can also go to Madrid by train

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

People from around the world trust Busbud

Popular Buses Connecting Barcelona

Buses Leaving from Barcelona

Buses Going to Barcelona

Popular Buses Connecting Madrid

Buses Leaving from Madrid

Buses Going to Madrid

Popular routes in this country

Popular airport transfers