Route guide

Madrid → Barcelona

505 km · Spain to Spain · Fastest: 3h by train · Cheapest: €22+ by bus

How to travel from Madrid to Barcelona

There are 4 ways to travel between Madrid and Barcelona — compare duration, price and operators below.

🚄Train

€45–131

Duration: 2h 48m

via Renfe (AVE)

~7.0 kg CO₂ per passenger

🚌Bus

€22–55

Duration: 7h 13m

via FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus

~14 kg CO₂ per passenger

✈️Flight

€55–181

Duration: 3h 10m

via Ryanair, easyJet, Iberia, Vueling

~79 kg CO₂ per passenger

🚗Car

€61–111

Duration: 5h 37m

~86 kg CO₂ per passenger

Where they are on the map

Madrid and Barcelona highlighted among the 50 European cities we cover. Map is schematic, not to scale.

Travel tips for this route

At 505 km this is a comfortable weekend trip — train or flight both work.
Both train and flight options exist. Trains often beat flights door-to-door under 600 km once you count airport overhead.
Both Madrid and Barcelona are in Spain — no border crossing, single currency, single rail network.
Long-distance coaches (FlixBus and similar) are typically 30–50% cheaper than train, but 2–3× slower.

Madrid to Barcelona — every option in detail

Madrid to Barcelona by train

Trains between Madrid and Barcelona run within the Spain national rail network. The typical end-to-end journey is around 2h 48m.

Operators on this corridor include Renfe (AVE).

Train fares are dynamic — typical range is €45 to €131. Advance-purchase tickets (1–2 months ahead) almost always beat walk-up prices.

On routes under 600 km like this one, train often beats flight door-to-door once you factor in airport check-in and transfers.

Climate footprint: about 7.0 kg CO₂ per passenger by train vs roughly 79 kg by flight — taking the train saves ~72 kg on this distance.

Madrid to Barcelona by bus

Long-distance coaches connect Madrid and Barcelona with a typical journey of 7h 13m. Buses are usually the slowest mode for this corridor but consistently the cheapest.

Operators include FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus.

Fares start from around €22 when booked in advance, rising to €55 for last-minute travel.

Most modern coaches offer Wi-Fi, USB charging and reclining seats. Overnight services exist on longer corridors and can save a hotel night.

Madrid to Barcelona by flight

Flights between Madrid and Barcelona take around 1h in the air, but plan on roughly 3h 10m door-to-door once you add airport transfers, check-in and security.

Airlines on this route include Ryanair, easyJet, Iberia, Vueling.

Typical fare range is €55–181. Low-cost carriers offer the cheapest base fares but charge separately for bags and seat selection.

Climate footprint: approximately 79 kg CO₂ per passenger for this flight.

Madrid to Barcelona by car

The driving distance from Madrid to Barcelona is approximately 581 km. At motorway speeds, plan on around 5h 37m of driving plus stops.

Fuel-only running cost is in the €61–111 range for a typical car. Toll roads may apply, especially in France, Italy, Spain, Austria and Switzerland — budget extra accordingly.

Climate footprint: approximately 86 kg CO₂ per passenger assuming 1.5 occupants per car.

About this route

The distance between Madrid and Barcelona is approximately 505 kilometres. Direct or connecting trains link the two cities through the European rail network. Both cities have international airports with regular flight service. Long-distance coaches offer a budget-friendly alternative on this route. Estimates below reflect typical operator schedules and fare ranges; book in advance for the best prices.

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