How to get from Madrid to Bilbao
- 322 km as the crow flies
- Fastest: flight, 1h 05m
- 12 bus departures a day with ALSA
Compare the train, bus and flight options. Then check them for your own date.
At a glance
Fastest
1h
direct
Flight
€72
Cheapest
4h 10m
direct
Bus
€18
Calculated by Routavio, refreshed 5 Oct 2026
Start with the whole journey.
We compared the ways to travel from Madrid to Bilbao. The most useful option is a flight; the flight itself takes 1h 05m, not counting the trip to and from the airports. The two cities are about 322 km apart in a straight line. The price and operators below come from a real route search.
This fare comes from a search on October 5, 2026 and has not been refreshed since. Run a live search for today's price.
322 km
Which way suits you?
| Transport | Observed fare | Duration and scope | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | €56Checked Oct 5 | 1h 05mFlight only | See Flight details |
| Train | €28Omio catalogue, Oct 6 | 5h 12mdirect | See Train details |
| Bus | €36Omio catalogue, Oct 6 | 4h 10mdirect | See Bus details |
- Flight€56Checked Oct 51h 05m · Flight onlySee Flight details
- Train€28Omio catalogue, Oct 65h 12m · directSee Train details
- Bus€36Omio catalogue, Oct 64h 10m · directSee Bus details
These figures were observed on different days. This table is not a live price ranking for your date.
Madrid to Bilbao: cheapest or fastest?
Pick a tab: the legs, the timing and the difference from the others all change with it.
- 1Madrid–Barajas → Bilbao Airportflight
Air Europa·1h 05m
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
Flight calendar
Flight prices by day, Madrid to Bilbao
The lowest fare we saw for each day over the next three months. Tap a day to search it live.
October 2026
€29November 2026
€34Departures from Madrid to Bilbao
ALSA runs 12 scheduled departures a day, the first at 04:00 and the last at 22:30.
| Operator | Departures a day | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALSAbus | 12 | 04:00 | 22:30 |
| FlixBusbus | 11 | 14:50 | 23:59 |
| Renfetrain | 2 | 06:55 | 17:48 |
All departuresALSA
- 04:00
- 09:00
- 11:00
- 12:00
- 13:00
- 14:30
- 16:00
- 17:00
- 18:00
- 19:30
- 21:00
- 22:30
All departuresFlixBus
- 14:50
- 17:45
- 18:45
- 20:55
- 21:55
- 21:59
- 22:35
- 22:55
- 22:59
- 23:35
- 23:59
All departuresRenfe
- 06:55
- 17:48
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 Tue, Oct 6
Operators seen on these journeys
Air EuropaMadrid–Barajas-Bilbao AirportSee live options and dates →ALSAMadrid Barajas-BilbaoBook →
RenfeMadrid-BilbaoBook →On this route you travel with Air Europa, ALSA, Renfe; Routavio does not add a booking fee.
How the trip from Madrid to Bilbao works
Start with a Air Europa flight from Madrid to Bilbao, about 1h 5m. In total it's roughly €56 over 1h 5m, direct, no transfers.
Madrid to Bilbao: common questions
How long does it take to get from Madrid to Bilbao?
The most useful option is a flight; the flight itself takes about 1h 05m. Getting to and from the airports is on top of that.
When is the first bus from Madrid to Bilbao?
The first bus with ALSA leaves at 04:00 and the last at 22:30, from Madrid Barajas, according to the published timetable.
How many bus departures a day are there from Madrid to Bilbao?
12 a day with ALSA, between 04:00 and 22:30.
Which station does the bus from Madrid to Bilbao leave from?
Madrid Barajas with ALSA, according to the published timetable.
When is the first train from Madrid to Bilbao?
The first train with Renfe leaves at 06:55 and the last at 17:48, according to the published timetable.
How many train departures a day are there from Madrid to Bilbao?
2 a day with Renfe, between 06:55 and 17:48.
How far is Bilbao from Madrid?
About 322 km in a straight line. The real route on the ground or in the air is longer.
How much does Madrid to Bilbao cost?
Our latest search put the route we recommend at €56. Other options on this page can cost less, and the exact fare depends on your travel date.
Are there direct flights from Madrid to Bilbao?
Yes. The best option we found flies without a transfer and takes about 1h 05m.
How long is the flight from Madrid to Bilbao?
About 1h 05m, 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 Bilbao?
Madrid is MAD and Bilbao is BIO, so this route is usually written MAD to BIO.
Which operators run Madrid to Bilbao?
On this route you travel with Air Europa, ALSA, Renfe.
Can you get from Madrid to Bilbao without flying?
Yes. A ground route by bus takes about 3h 45m.
What is the cheapest way to get from Madrid to Bilbao?
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 Bilbao
- how to get from Madrid to Bilbao
- Madrid to Bilbao travel time
- Madrid to Bilbao distance
- cheapest way from Madrid to Bilbao
- Madrid to Bilbao flight time
- flights from Madrid to Bilbao
- Madrid Bilbao direct flights
- MAD to BIO
- Madrid to Bilbao 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: Air Europa
Route calculated: 5 Oct 2026
Prices checked: 5 Oct 2026