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

Both buses and trains are available for traveling between these two cities. Either way you choose, you'll be sure to reach your destination in the most easy and eco-friendly way. Another option is using carpool services and riding with fellow travelers.

How long does it take to get to Barcelona from Madrid by bus?

Traveling from Madrid to Barcelona takes around 7h 50m on average, but you can get there in as little as 7h 20m with the fastest bus. This is the time it takes to travel the 313 miles (505 km) that separate the two cities.

What is the distance between Madrid and Barcelona?

Madrid and Barcelona are 313 miles (505 km) apart.

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

If you're headed to Barcelona from Madrid, chances are that your bus will depart from Estación Sur and arrive at Estació del Nord de Barcelona. These are the main pick-up and drop-off locations on this route, there are other pick-up and drop-off locations that could make it easier for you to reach your destination.

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

The bus ticket costs $50 on average. Over the last 30 days, the prices ranged between $49 and $280, so make sure to compare them to get the best option.

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

Once in Barcelona, you can start exploring the city and discover its surroundings. The top sights and things to do are National Art Museum of Catalonia, Parc del Laberint, Poble Espanyol Architectural Museum, Casa Batllo and La Rambla.

Madrid to Barcelona 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 $18

WedMay 7

from $18

ThuMay 8

Cheap buses leaving tomorrow

One passenger / one way

This trip is recommended because it is: Cheapest
Departure time: May 1 at 9:00am
Departure city: Madrid
Departure location: Avenida de América
Arrival time: May 1 at 5:05pm
Destination city: Barcelona
Destination location: Estació del Nord de Barcelona
Operated by: ALSA
Vehicle: BusDuration: 8h 5m
This trip is recommended because it is: Fastest
Departure time: May 1 at 11:45pm
Departure city: Madrid
Departure location: Aeropuerto Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, MAD T4
Arrival time: May 2 at 7:05am
Destination city: Barcelona
Destination location: Barcelona Sants
Operated by: ALSA
Vehicle: BusDuration: 7h 20m
Departure time: May 1 at 9:15am
Departure city: Madrid
Departure location: Aeropuerto Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, MAD T4
Arrival time: May 1 at 5:05pm
Destination city: Barcelona
Destination location: Estació del Nord de Barcelona
Operated by: ALSA
Vehicle: BusDuration: 7h 50m
Departure time: May 1 at 3:45pm
Departure city: Madrid
Departure location: Madrid (South)
Arrival time: May 2 at 1:25pm
Destination city: Barcelona
Destination location: Sants
Operated by: Flixbus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 21h 40m
Departure time: May 1 at 11:30am
Departure city: Madrid
Departure location: Estación Sur
Arrival time: May 1 at 7:25pm
Destination city: Barcelona
Destination location: Barcelona Sants
Operated by: ALSA
Vehicle: BusDuration: 7h 55m

Accepted payments

Compare 3 ways to go from Madrid to Barcelona.

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average Price$49 - $280	Average Duration7h 50m	CO₂ emissions 12kg CO₂e5 out of 5 stars	Most eco-friendly
Train	Average Price$24 - $264	Average Duration2h 52m	CO₂ emissions 12kg CO₂e5 out of 5 stars	CheapestFastest
Carpool	Average Price$26 - $83	Average Duration6h 30m	CO₂ emissions 21kg CO₂e4 out of 5 stars

Busbud recommends taking the train from Madrid to Barcelona

Among the sustainable travel choices, the train stands out as the good way to reach Barcelona. The journey takes about 2 hours 52 minutes and with fares starting at just $24, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

26train per day

2h 52mAverage Duration

$24Cheapest ticket

12kgCO₂ emissions

Bus Madrid to Barcelona: Trip Overview

Average ticket price$50

Average bus trip duration7h 50m

Number of daily buses25

Earliest bus departure12:14am

Distance310 miles (500 km)

Latest bus departure11:59pm

Compare bus companies

ALSA

4.5/559,089 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness4.4

Cleanliness4.7

Wifi3.5

ALSA is appreciated for its reliable service, as noted by several users who have had positive experiences and plan to use it again. However, some travelers mentioned discomfort due to issues like non-functioning seat screens during night travel and uncomfortable seating arrangements.

ALSA Madrid Barcelona recent customer reviews

My experience was uncomfortable. There were cockroaches on the bus and my seat recliner was broken. Other than that, the lights were dimmed and it was overnight, but it just wasn’t pleasant. The WiFi also wasn’t functioning.

Kaela M.

May 25, 2024

Bien. Sin embargo, la pantalla de la silla no se apago lo cual fue bastante molesto para viajar toda la noche. No podia dormir de lo que dependia para poder estar despierto para el dia siguiente.

Paul S.

June 4, 2023

Not a night bus, just normal bus at night time. No comfort at all, no legroom, staff unfriendly.

Quentin G.

May 22, 2022

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

Madrid to Barcelona Bus

Busbud helps you find a bus from Madrid to Barcelona. Get the best fare and schedule, book a round trip ticket or find buses with WiFi and electrical outlets.

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

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

Where are the popular stops in Madrid and Barcelona?

Stops in Madrid

A - Madrid-Barajas Airport

B - Avenida de América Metro

C - Estación Sur

D - Moncloa

E - Príncipe Pío

F - Madrid Interc. Plaza Castilla

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

Frequently asked questions for your trip Madrid - Barcelona

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

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

$23

Today

$46

05/01

$46

05/02

$46

05/03

$23

05/04

$46

05/05

$26

The cheapest trip from Madrid to Barcelona 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 Madrid to Barcelona, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $23 to $213 for a bus ticket from Madrid to Barcelona 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

Make friends with the driver. They usually know a lot about your destination and may even recommend which side of the bus to sit on to get the best views on the road between Madrid and Barcelona!

Much more than a mere vehicle taking you from Madrid to Barcelona, 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 Madrid to Barcelona.

Make a music playlist for your bus ride from Madrid to Barcelona, and enjoy the scenery to tunes from your own personal soundtrack.

Did you know?

Did you know there are on average 4,400 intercity bus departures every day in the US only? This number has been growing for 9 years in a row, yay!

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

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

Will you be returning to Madrid by bus?

Bus from Madrid to Barcelona

You can also go to Barcelona by train

Train from Madrid to Barcelona

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

Busbud helps you easily search, compare and book intercity bus tickets on a worldwide scale with our comprehensive list of bus routes and schedules. With several language and currency options available, Busbud seeks to cater to international bus travelers no matter where they are in the world. Busbud partners with safe and reliable bus companies throughout the world such as Greyhound, Eurolines, ALSA, OUIBUS (BlaBlaBus), National Express and many others so you can buy tickets without a worry.

Bus Tickets from Madrid to Barcelona

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 Madrid to Barcelona.

Bus Madrid to Barcelona: Trip Overview

Compare bus companies

ALSA Madrid Barcelona recent customer reviews

Madrid to Barcelona Bus

Where are the popular stops in Madrid and Barcelona?

Frequently asked questions for your trip Madrid - Barcelona

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

How long does it take to get to Barcelona from Madrid by bus?

What is the distance between Madrid and Barcelona?

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

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

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

Find cheapest prices for buses

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Did you know?

Will you be returning to Madrid by bus?

You can also go to Barcelona 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 Madrid

Buses Leaving from Madrid

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Popular Buses Connecting Barcelona

Buses Leaving from Barcelona

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