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About this journey from Barcelona to Madrid

The average journey time by train between Barcelona and Madrid is 2h 43m, with around 24 trains per day. The quickest journey time from Barcelona to Madrid is 2h 30m on a high-speed Renfe AVE train. The first train departs Barcelona Sants station at 05:50 and the last at 21:15, covering a distance of just over 500km and arriving into Madrid’s main railway station, Madrid Atocha. All trains between Barcelona and Madrid are run by Renfe, Spain’s national train company.

Whether you’re heading to Madrid to check out the world-famous Bernabéu Stadium or spend an afternoon wandering in the greenery of Retiro Park, travelling from Barcelona to Madrid by train is one of the easiest ways to get to the Spanish capital. A popular route with both locals and tourists, it’s quicker than flying and you will arrive right in the heart of the city at Madrid Atocha station. AVE trains will get you to Madrid in style, but if you feel like making the journey extra special, upgrade to a Preferente (First Class) ticket to enjoy complimentary snacks and reclining leather seats during your journey.

Keen to find out more? Start your search for train tickets from Barcelona to Madrid in the Journey Planner at the top of the page – we’ll show you train times and ticket prices. To help you find cheap tickets, we’ll highlight the cheapest fares on your travel date. Scroll down for more information about this journey, including ticket prices and FAQs.

Journey time	From 2h 30m
Price	€32.30 - €244.60
Distance	314 miles (506 km)
Frequency	23 trains per day
Departure station	Barcelona
Arrival station	Madrid
Changes	Direct trains available
Train and bus operators	ALSA, Renfe

Departs	Arrives	Train	Duration
13:25 Barcelona Sants	16:10 Madrid Atocha	AVE 3132 Renfe Get tickets	2h 45m, direct
14:00 Barcelona Sants	17:10 Madrid Atocha	AVE 3142 Renfe Get tickets	3h 10m, direct
15:00 Barcelona Sants	17:45 Madrid Atocha	AVE 3152 Renfe Get tickets	2h 45m, direct
15:25 Barcelona Sants	17:55 Madrid Atocha	AVE 3150 Renfe Get tickets	2h 30m, direct
16:00 Barcelona Sants	19:10 Madrid Atocha	AVE 3162 Renfe Get tickets	3h 10m, direct
17:00 Barcelona Sants	19:45 Madrid Atocha	AVE 3172 Renfe Get tickets	2h 45m, direct
17:25 Barcelona Sants	19:55 Madrid Atocha	AVE 3170 Renfe Get tickets	2h 30m, direct
18:25 Barcelona Sants	20:55 Madrid Atocha	AVE 3180 Renfe Get tickets	2h 30m, direct
19:25 Barcelona Sants	21:55 Madrid Atocha	AVE 3190 Renfe Get tickets	2h 30m, direct
20:00 Barcelona Sants	23:14 Madrid Atocha	AVE 3202 Renfe Get tickets	3h 14m, direct

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Renfe
AVE

Renfe is the national train operator in Spain. It has the widest network of high-speed trains in Europe, linking major cities with AVE, AV-City, Avant, Alvia, and Euromed trains. Long-distance routes are served by Altaria and Talgo trains, while regional routes are operated by Media Distancia, Regional and Express Regional trains. Renfe also operates on international routes to France and Portugal. Renfe trains offer four different travel classes, depending on the train you’re travelling on – Turista (Standard), Turista Plus (Premium Economy), Preferente (Business Class) and Club (First Class).

More information

AVE is Renfe's flagship high-speed service, with trains capable of reaching up to 193 mph (310 km/h). It’s one of the fastest trains in Europe and connects the main cities of Spain. Most AVE trains offer four comfort classes – Turista (standard class), Turista Plus (wider, more comfortable seats), Preferente (lounge access, wide leather seats, food and drink service) and Club (First Class equivalent, with 1-1 configuration, ultra-wide seats, gourmet food and drink and lounge access). All AVE trains have air conditioning, power sockets, free WiFi and a buffet carriage serving a selection of food and drinks.

More information

lowest price found^‡: from€32.30
4 weeksin advance^‡: avg. single price€95.88
2 weeksin advance^‡: avg. single price€98.39
on the day^‡: avg. single price€106.41

Book in advance

Most of the train companies across Europe release their tickets around three to six months in advance, many of which can be cheaper the earlier you book. If you know the dates you want to travel, you may be able to find some cheaper train tickets from Barcelona to Madrid by booking early.^§

Be flexible with your travel times

Many of the train services in Europe are also popular commuter services, lots of train companies increase ticket prices during “peak hours” (generally between 06:00 – 10:00 and 15:00 – 19:00 on weekdays). If you can, consider travelling outside of peak hours to find lower priced tickets.

Choose a slower or connecting train

On some of the busier routes, you might also have the option to take a slower or connecting train. It may take a little longer than some high-speed or direct services, but if you have a little extra time on your hands, you might find a cheaper fare. Plus, you'll have more time to enjoy the view of the countryside!

Look out for special deals

Take a look at our handy guide to check when European train operators release their special deals and offers to see if you can find cheap tickets for your journey.

For specific information about how to get your hands on cheap tickets, check out our European train tickets hub.

^§Some train companies may not offer any Advance ticket types or cheaper deals for early bookings. On rare occasions, train companies may choose to release special offers closer to the date on last-minute or late-release tickets. This is dependent on the individual train operating company you travel with.

How long does the train from Barcelona to Madrid take?

The average journey time by train between Barcelona and Madrid is 2 hours and 44 minutes, with around 23 trains per day. The journey time may be longer on weekends and holidays, so use our Journey Planner on this page to search for a specific travel date.

How fast does the train from Barcelona to Madrid travel?

AVE high-speed trains from Barcelona to Madrid can travel at speeds of up to 193 mph (310 km/h). The fastest journey time by train from Barcelona to Madrid is 2 hours and 30 minutes.

How much does the train from Barcelona to Madrid cost?

The average train ticket price from Barcelona to Madrid usually costs around €98.39 two weeks before travel, but can start from as little as €32.30 when you book in advance. Prices also vary depending on the time of day, route and class you book.

Is there a direct train from Barcelona to Madrid?

Yes. There are 23 direct Ave trains from Renfe that travel from Barcelona to Madrid each day with an average journey time of 2 hours and 44 minutes.

What time does the first train from Barcelona to Madrid leave?

The first train from Barcelona to Madrid leaves at 05:50 from Barcelona Sants. Times and services may vary during weekends and holidays.

What time does the last train from Barcelona to Madrid leave?

The last train from Barcelona to Madrid leaves at 21:00 from Barcelona Sants. Trains that depart in the early morning hours or very late evening may be sleeper services, time and services may also vary during weekends and holidays.

What's the distance between Barcelona and Madrid by train?

Trains travelling from Barcelona to Madrid cover a distance of around 314 miles (506 km) during the journey.

Which train companies operate between Barcelona and Madrid?

All trains travelling from Barcelona to Madrid are operated by Renfe – the national train operator in Spain.

Are there security checks on trains from Barcelona to Madrid?

Yes. When boarding the train from Barcelona to Madrid, all passengers must pass through a security control point for a ticket and baggage check before departure. This is a requirement on all trains in Spain and the check-point usually closes two minutes before the train is due to depart.

Looking for more information?

If you’re looking for the return train journey, check out trains from Madrid to Barcelona. If you’re looking for other options, you can also catch the bus from Barcelona to Madrid.

Barcelona to Madrid by high speed train

Review by Jaime Campoamor Velasco

The AVE train from Barcelona to Madrid is one of the most important high-speed routes in Spain. Even if you can travel by plane, car or bus between the two cities, the train is definitely the best way to do so. Thanks to the AVE high-speed service, you can take a train from Barcelona city centre and get off in Madrid after only 2h 45m.

Barcelona Sants train station

Since its inauguration in 2008, this train has seen more than 35 million passengers between the two cities. About 25 Renfe trains run daily between Barcelona and Madrid, with possible variations based on the day and time of year.

Even if most of the AVE trains stop in cities like Guadalajara, Zaragoza, Lleida or Tarragona, some trains are direct and take 2h 45m rather 3h 10m to get to the final destination.

Located in the Sants-Montjuïc district, Barcelona Sants is the second most important train station in Spain both for connections and passenger traffic. The station is served by Renfe’s regional trains (Rodalies), long and middle-distance trains and high-speed trains that go to many Spanish cities as well as many international destinations, including Paris and Marseille.

My last journey from Barcelona to Madrid was very fast and comfortable. For work reasons, I had to go to Barcelona on a Tuesday and work from there for a couple of days. However, on Wednesday evening I was told to go to an important meeting in Madrid on Thursday early morning. Luckily I managed to find a quite cheap train ticket to Madrid with an AVE train departing from Barcelona at 07:00.

Since you need to go through security checks before boarding an AVE train, I got to Barcelona Sants at 06:30. After a nice coffee and security checks, I went to the platform from which my train was leaving. In my case, it was the AVE 3072 departing at 07:05.

As I bought a last-minute train ticket, I couldn’t choose the 07:00 train which goes directly from Barcelona to Madrid in only 2h 30m. For this reason, I had to pick the next available train and a Promo ticket in Second Class (Clase Turista), which doesn’t allow any refund or cancellation.

Once I got to my seat, I used the two available plug sockets to charge my cell phone and laptop. The seats had armrests, footrests, reclining tables, coat hooks and luggage racks.

Train stop in Zaragoza

The AVE train from Barcelona to Madrid can reach speeds of more than 300 km/h. While I was working, the staff came to offer coffee, tea and an a la carte breakfast. Unlike First Class (Clase Preferente), Second Class (Clase Turista) train tickets neither include meals nor free WiFi. If you want one of these services, you’ll need to pay an extra fee.

After travelling for 1h 17m, the train stopped at 08:28 for 3 minutes at Zaragoza-Delicias train station. I reached Madrid Atocha at 09:50.

About Jaime

Jaime is one of our trusted writers. The information for this review was obtained first-hand and is based on his own travel experience.

^‡Average prices for adult tickets in economy. Discount cards and coach journey excluded. Prices are based on searches made by our customers over the past 6 months. "14 days in advance" includes days 13 and 15. / The information provided is calculated based on scheduled train services for Barcelona to Madrid for a typical week day using timetable data for 27/05/2020. On weekends, holidays or other exceptional times, fewer services may be available. The fare range provided has been found by our customers on Trainline on 01/04/2019 for travel on 01/04/2019 and for adult tickets in economy, discount cards and coach journeys excluded.

About this journey from Barcelona to Madrid