How much is a ticket from Bilbao to Madrid?

The cheapest tickets from Bilbao to Madrid start from R 420. The average price for this route is around R 833. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.

How long is the ride from Bilbao to Madrid?

The average trip duration from Bilbao to Madrid is 4h 42m, covering a distance of 197 miles (317 km). The quickest vehicle can get you there in 4h 5m and is operated by ALSA .

Which companies service the Bilbao to Madrid route?

Several major companies operate on this route with 13 trips available per day, including services from ALSA , FlixBus , Renfe .

What is the earliest and latest departure time from Bilbao to Madrid?

The earliest trip departs from Bilbao to Madrid at 1:00am. And the latest trip departs at 11:30pm.

What are the CO₂ emissions for the trip from Bilbao to Madrid?

A trip from Bilbao to Madrid generates an estimated 7.914875000000001 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and recommended mode of travel by Busbud.

What is the best company from Bilbao to Madrid?

According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated company on this route is ALSA , with an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars based on 61807 reviews.

Which company has the best Wi-Fi from Bilbao to Madrid?

Based on reviews on Busbud, the company ALSA has the best Wi-Fi rating with a score of 3.5.

Which company has the most timely service from Bilbao to Madrid?

According to Busbud traveler reviews, the most timely company on this route is ALSA , with a punctuality rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars.

Which company has the cleanest vehicles from Bilbao to Madrid?

According to Busbud traveler reviews, the company with the cleanest vehicles on this route is ALSA , with a cleanliness rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.

Bus and Train Bilbao to Madrid from R 797 | Refundable Tickets

Next available departures

Next departures for Bilbao to Madrid on May 6
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
5:28pm	Bilbao-Abando	4h 52m	10:20pm	Madrid-Chamartin	Cheapest
2:00am	Estación Autobuses	4h 5m	6:05am	Aeropuerto Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, MAD T4	Fastest
1:00am	Estación Autobuses	4h 30m	5:30am	Aeropuerto Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, MAD T4	No tags
5:28pm	Bilbao-Abando	4h 52m	10:20pm	Madrid-Chamartin	No tags
1:00am	Estación Autobuses	4h 45m	5:45am	Avenida de América Metro	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Today at 5:14 PM CEST.

Compare 2 ways to go from Bilbao to Madrid

We recommend taking the train

Among the sustainable travel choices, the Train stands out as a good way to reach Madrid. The journey takes about 4 hours 45 minutes and with fares starting at just R 420, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

1train per day

4h 45mAverage Duration

197 milesDistance

8kgCO₂ emissions

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average PriceR 878 - R 1 408	Average Duration4h 40m	CO₂ emissions 8kg CO₂e
Train	Average PriceR 420 - R 1 870	Average Duration4h 45m	CO₂ emissions 8kg CO₂e

Where are the popular stops in Bilbao and Madrid?

Stops in Bilbao

A
Estación Autobuses
Calle Gurtubay, 1 - 48013 Bilbao
Visit page
B
Zorroza, Abaro Estrata
Abaro Estrata, 2, 48013 Bilbo, Bizkaia, Spain
Visit page
C
Basurtu Kastrexana Errepidea
Basurtu Kastrexana Errepidea, 48013 Bilbo, Bizkaia, Spain
D
Buenos Aires Kalea, 2
Buenos Aires Kalea, 2, 48001 Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain
E
Hotel Carlton
Federico Moyúa Plaza 11, 48009 Bilbo, Bizkaia Spain
F
Bilbao-Abando Geltokia
Bilbao-Abando Geltokia, 48003 Bilbo, Bizkaia, Spain

Stops in Madrid

A
Madrid-Chamartin
C. de la Hiedra, 5, 28036 Madrid, Spain
Visit page
B
Madrid Puerta De Atocha
Madrid Atocha railway station, Plaza del Emperador Carlos V, 28045 Madrid, Spain
Visit page
C
Madrid-Príncipe Pio
Príncipe Pío, 28008 Madrid, Spain
Visit page
D
Madrid-Barajas Airport
Visit page
E
Nuevos Ministerios
Estación de Nuevos Ministerios, 28046 Madrid, Spain
F
Estación Sur
Mendez Alvaro, 83, , Madrid, 28045, Spain
Visit page

Compare companies

ALSA

4.3/561,866 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness4.3

Cleanliness4.7

Wifi3.5

Users have shared positive experiences with the service, highlighting smooth and comfortable journeys. The availability of entertainment options like movies, audiobooks, and podcasts at each seat is appreciated. Additionally, communication from drivers in English about arrival times has been noted as helpful for passengers.

ALSA Bilbao Madrid recent customer reviews

The ALSA Bilbao to Madrid airport bus I was scheduled to take at 01:00 on december 23 2025 did not arrive and/or announce itself. I was waiting at the intermodal bus station since 20:00 the previous evening and watching all of the other buses arrive and announce which gate and destination. There were no staff to help and the other ALSA bus drivers claimed to not know anything about the other bus. When I inquired about getting on the next airport bus at 02:00 the bus driver would not speak with me until boarding time and was not interested in helping. Even when other passengers verified my story (they had seen me waiting) the bus driver only sold me another ticket at 1.5x the price of my original ticket.

Daudi B.

December 24, 2025

The journey was just as it should be,smooth and comfortable!! Don’t forget to take your headphones cause there are displays in each seat, full of movies, audiobooks and podcasts!! Amazing!!

Christina K.

December 14, 2024

It would have been good to know the bus was stopping for 25 mins during the journey. I appreciated the stop

William M.

September 16, 2019

Renfe

4.1/5994 reviews

Staff4.6

Timeliness4.2

Cleanliness4.5

Wifi3.0

FlixBus

3.5/512,590 reviews

Staff4.2

Timeliness4.0

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.7

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.

Companies in ES:FlixBus, Renfe, BlaBlaCar Bus, FlixTrain, ALSA, Iryo, Rede Expressos, Avanza, Sindbad, Itabus

Frequently asked questions about traveling from Bilbao to Madrid by bus or train

Please note that schedules, routes, or operator details shown here may be updated or vary at the time of your trip.

How much is a ticket from Bilbao to Madrid?
The cheapest tickets from Bilbao to Madrid start from R 420. The average price for this route is around R 833. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.
How long is the ride from Bilbao to Madrid?
The average trip duration from Bilbao to Madrid is 4h 42m, covering a distance of 197 miles (317 km). The quickest vehicle can get you there in 4h 5m and is operated by ALSA.
Which companies service the Bilbao to Madrid route?
Several major companies operate on this route with 13 trips available per day, including services from ALSA, FlixBus, Renfe.
What is the earliest and latest departure time from Bilbao to Madrid?
The earliest trip departs from Bilbao to Madrid at 1:00am. And the latest trip departs at 11:30pm.
What are the CO₂ emissions for the trip from Bilbao to Madrid?
A trip from Bilbao to Madrid generates an estimated 7.914875000000001 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and recommended mode of travel by Busbud.
What is the best company from Bilbao to Madrid?
According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated company on this route is ALSA, with an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars based on 61807 reviews.
Which company has the best Wi-Fi from Bilbao to Madrid?
Based on reviews on Busbud, the company ALSA has the best Wi-Fi rating with a score of 3.5.
Which company has the most timely service from Bilbao to Madrid?
According to Busbud traveler reviews, the most timely company on this route is ALSA, with a punctuality rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars.
Which company has the cleanest vehicles from Bilbao to Madrid?
According to Busbud traveler reviews, the company with the cleanest vehicles on this route is ALSA, with a cleanliness rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.

Find cheapest prices for buses and trains

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

Best price found

05/03

R 800

05/04

R 689

Today

R 554

05/06

R 554

05/07

R 554

05/08

R 554

05/09

R 797

05/10

R 797

The cheapest trip from Bilbao to Madrid was searched and found on May 5, 2026 with a price of R 554

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

You can expect to pay from R 554 to R 1 932 for a bus or train ticket from Bilbao to Madrid based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at R 554 which is on 2026-05-06.

Usually ALSA 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.