All Articles 3 ways to get from Madrid to Barcelona

3 ways to get from Madrid to Barcelona

See the best of Spain by plane, train, and car.

Kate Templin Stahl
By Kate Templin Stahl26 Jan 2023 3 minutes read
Park Guell on a sunny day in Barcelona, Spain
Park Guell on a sunny day in Barcelona, Spain
Image: Alexander Spatari/Getty Images

The trip from Madrid, Spain’s artistic and culturally rich capital, to Barcelona, the Catalan capital known for its beautiful architecture and equally impressive Mediterranean beaches, is 380 miles. With some savvy planning, you can make the most of your travels between the two famous hubs. Whether you decide to take a direct flight, a high-speed train, or a scenic drive to the Spanish coast, you’ll undoubtedly find pleasure in both the journey and the destination. Ahead, the details you need to plot your trip, plus trip times, costs, and the very best stops along the way, should you decide to drive.

Madrid to Barcelona by train

Puerta de Atocha station in Madrid
Puerta de Atocha station in Madrid
Image: Wirestock/Getty Images

The fastest and most convenient travel option, the train between Madrid and Barcelona takes between two-and-a-half to three-and-a-quarter hours, with trains leaving Madrid’s Puerta de Atocha station, located in the city center, and arriving at the Barcelona-Sants station every hour.

Spain's national railway system, Renfe, offers two types of high-speed trains between Madrid and Barcelona: the standard AVE train and the low-cost Avlo, with the only differences between the two being the amenities offered and the price. AVE tickets can be found for as low as $35 when purchased in advance but can jump to $150 closer to your travel date. Depending on your class of ticket, amenities can include an onboard media center, Wi-Fi, and even a playground for children. More affordable Avlo tickets start at about $12 and max out at about $55, but the Avlo train limits passengers to one carry-on sized bag and doesn't offer seat selection or a cafeteria car. Because of their affordability, Avlo tickets often sell out, so plan ahead.

For the best deals on train tickets, travel midweek and outside popular travel periods like summer vacation, the week before Easter, and major holidays. If possible, travel during the spring or fall shoulder seasons, when the weather is good, travel is less expensive, and crowds are limited. During the summer months, an overwhelming number of beachgoers and tourists head to Barcelona, and ticket prices reflect the demand.

Madrid to Barcelona by car

Gothic Quarter in Barcelona, Spain
Gothic Quarter in Barcelona, Spain
Image: Alexander Spatari/Getty Images

Renting a car in Spain isn't difficult, but most cars in Spain use manual transmissions, so expect to pay more to rent an automatic. Also, you’ll need an IDP, or International Driving Permit, which allows you to drive a car legally in 174 countries, including Spain, as long as you also carry a valid U.S. driver’s license.

With car and license in tow, you’re ready for your trip on the A-2 highway, the quickest and most direct route from Madrid to Barcelona, clocking in at around six hours. Prepare yourself for tolls, which add about $50 to the trip cost.

To make a fun trip out of the A-2 trek, here are our suggestions. Make the first stop on your journey halfway through in Zaragoza, the capital of northeastern Spain's Aragon region. Visit the baroque Basilica Nuestra Señora del Pilar, a famous pilgrimage site with a shrine to the Virgin Mary and multiple domes overlooking the Ebro River, along with Mudéjar-style landmarks including the Palacio de la Aljafería, an 11th-century Moorish palace. Then indulge in some celebrated Spanish cuisine at one of the city’s 10 Michelin-starred restaurants, including Restaurante Cancook and La Prensa.

Before you make your way to Barcelona, detour an hour south to Salou, a resort town along the northeastern Costa Daurada in the Tarragona province. Salou’s beaches range from small rocky coves to populated main strips like Llevant and Ponent. Don’t miss the Coastal Path, a three-mile paved walkway offering amazing views of the beaches, shoreline, and ocean.

Finally, make your way into Barcelona, a city jam-packed with architectural and culinary delights, from the works of Antoni Gaudí, including the famous landmark Basilica of the Sagrada Familia, to the Catalonian cuisine at tapas bars and the beloved Mercat de la Boqueria food market. Note that traffic and difficult parking are also city staples, so consider ditching the car rental once you arrive in Barcelona.

Madrid to Barcelona by plane

Madrid Barajas airport
Madrid Barajas airport
Image: Dmitro2009/Getty Images

Flights between Madrid and Barcelona are quick and inexpensive, with Vueling, Air Europa, and Iberia offering direct service between the two cities. Flights take about 65 to 90 minutes and are often cheaper than train tickets. During the off-season (approximately November to March), you can regularly find one-way flights for as low as $25.

However, it takes at least 30 minutes to reach Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport from the city and another 20 to 40 minutes to reach Barcelona's city center from Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport. Factor in those commute times, plus airport check-in, security, and waiting at your gate, and the total travel time can jump to more than four hours.

Once you arrive in Barcelona, the trip to the city is fairly easy. For around $6, the Aerobus picks up passengers from both airport terminals and drops them in the city center about 35 minutes later, while the Renfe train is even cheaper (less than $5) and takes about 25 minutes to make the journey from Terminal 2 to the central Barcelona-Sants station. Alternatively, a taxi ride from the airport to the city center is about 20-30 minutes and costs around $30-$35. Ride-sharing apps, including Uber and Cabify, are also available.

Kate Templin Stahl
Kate Stahl is a Chicago-based journalist and essayist who has written for POPSUGAR, Chicago Tribune, and various Modern Luxury publications, among others. She also co-hosts and produces a podcast called My Mom Always Says.