How to get from Madrid to Barcelona
- 505 km as the crow flies
- Fastest: flight, 1h 20m
- 25 train departures a day with Renfe
Compare the train, bus and flight options. Then check them for your own date.
At a glance
Fastest
1h 15m
direct
Flight
€58
Cheapest
7h 10m
direct
Bus
€29
Calculated by Routavio, refreshed 30 Sept 2026
Start with the whole journey.
We compared the ways to travel from Madrid to Barcelona. The most useful option is a flight; the flight itself takes 1h 20m, not counting the trip to and from the airports. 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 €29, on Fri, Oct 2.
This fare comes from a search on September 30, 2026 and has not been refreshed since. Run a live search for today's price.
505 km
Which way suits you?
| Transport | Observed fare | Duration and scope | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | €44Checked Sep 30 | 1h 20mFlight only | See Flight details |
| Train | €35Omio catalogue, Oct 2 | 3h 22mdirect | See Train details |
| Bus | €21Omio catalogue, Oct 2 | 7h 10mdirect | See Bus details |
- Flight€44Checked Sep 301h 20m · Flight onlySee Flight details
- Train€35Omio catalogue, Oct 23h 22m · directSee Train details
- Bus€21Omio catalogue, Oct 27h 10m · directSee Bus details
These figures were observed on different days. This table is not a live price ranking for your date.
Madrid to Barcelona: 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.
- 1Madrid–Barajas → Barcelona El Pratflight
Vueling·1h 20m
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
- 3 Sat€29Cheapest found
- 4 Sun€29Cheapest found
- 5 Mon€29Cheapest found
- 6 Tue€29Cheapest found
- 7 Wed€29Cheapest found
- 8 Thu€29Cheapest found
- 9 Fri€29Cheapest found
- 10 Sat€29Cheapest found
- 11 Sun€29Cheapest found
- 12 Mon€29Cheapest found
- 13 Tue€29Cheapest found
- 14 Wed€30
- 15 Thu€30
- 16 Fri€30
- 17 Sat€29Cheapest found
- 24 Sat€29Cheapest found
- 26 Mon€29Cheapest found
- 27 Tue€29Cheapest found
- 28 Wed€29Cheapest found
- 29 Thu€29Cheapest found
- 30 Fri€30
Flight calendar
Flight prices by day, Madrid to Barcelona
The lowest fare we saw for each day over the next three months. Tap a day to search it live.
October 2026
€32November 2026
€31Departures from Madrid to Barcelona
Renfe runs 25 scheduled departures a day, the first at 06:16 and the last at 20:30.
| Operator | Departures a day | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renfetrain | 25 | 06:16 | 20:30 |
| ALSAbus | 11 | 01:30 | 21:30 |
| Ouigotrain | 5 | 06:22 | 20:10 |
| FlixBusbus | 1 | 19:05 | 19:05 |
| BlaBlaCar Busbus | 24 | — | — |
| 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 Fri, Oct 2
Operators seen on these journeys
VuelingMadrid–Barajas-Barcelona El PratSee live options and dates →
BlaBlaCar BusMadrid Barajas-BarcelonaBook →
IberiaMadrid–Barajas-Barcelona El PratSee live options and dates →
RenfeMadrid-BarcelonaBook →On this route you travel with Vueling, BlaBlaCar Bus, Iberia, Renfe; Routavio does not add a booking fee.
How the trip from Madrid to Barcelona works
Start with a Vueling flight from Madrid to Barcelona, about 1h 20m. In total it's roughly €44 over 1h 20m, direct, no transfers.
Madrid to Barcelona: common questions
How long does it take to get from Madrid to Barcelona?
The most useful option is a flight; the flight itself takes about 1h 20m. Getting to and from the airports is on top of that.
When is the first train from Madrid to Barcelona?
The first train with Renfe leaves at 06:16 and the last at 20:30, according to the published timetable.
How many train departures a day are there from Madrid to Barcelona?
25 a day with Renfe, between 06:16 and 20:30.
When is the first bus from Madrid to Barcelona?
The first bus with ALSA leaves at 01:30 and the last at 21:30, from Madrid Barajas, according to the published timetable.
How many bus departures a day are there from Madrid to Barcelona?
11 a day with ALSA, between 01:30 and 21:30.
Which station does the bus from Madrid to Barcelona leave from?
Madrid Barajas with ALSA, according to the published timetable.
How far is Barcelona from Madrid?
About 505 km in a straight line. The real route on the ground or in the air is longer.
How much does Madrid to Barcelona cost?
On the upcoming dates we checked, the cheapest fare ranged from €29 to €30. Run a live search for your own date to see today's price.
Are there direct flights from Madrid to Barcelona?
Yes. The best option we found flies without a transfer and takes about 1h 20m.
How long is the flight from Madrid to Barcelona?
About 1h 20m, and that is the flight itself. Getting to and from the airports is on top of it.
What are the airport codes for Madrid and Barcelona?
Madrid is MAD and Barcelona is BCN, so this route is usually written MAD to BCN.
Which operators run Madrid to Barcelona?
On this route you travel with Vueling, BlaBlaCar Bus, Iberia, Renfe.
Can you get from Madrid to Barcelona without flying?
Yes. A ground route by train takes about 3h 02m.
What is the cheapest way to get from Madrid to Barcelona?
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 Madrid to Barcelona
- how to get from Madrid to Barcelona
- Madrid to Barcelona travel time
- Madrid to Barcelona distance
- cheapest way from Madrid to Barcelona
- Madrid to Barcelona flight time
- flights from Madrid to Barcelona
- Madrid Barcelona direct flights
- MAD to BCN
- Madrid to Barcelona by bus
Sources and method
Routes are calculated by Routavio's multimodal engine from operator timetables and flight data. Durations come from timetables, and prices are the most recent observation, not a guarantee.
Operators: Vueling
Route calculated: 30 Sep 2026
Prices checked: 30 Sep 2026