There are 4 ways to get from Bilboa to Madrid by bus, plane, car, car ferry, or train
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Bus to Dublin Airport, fly
best- Take the bus from Carlow Bus Station to Red Cow Luasbus
- Fly from Dublin Airport (DUB) to Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD)plane DUB - MAD
8h 15m€63–177Drive, car ferry
- Drive from Bilboa to Rosslare Harbourcar
- Take the car ferry from Rosslare Harbour to Bilbaocarferry
- Drive from Bilbao to Madridcar
33h 6m€121–668Train, train to Shannon Airport, fly
- Take the train from Carlow to Kildaretrain
- Take the train from Kildare to Limericktrain
- Fly from Shannon Airport (SNN) to Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD)plane SNN - MAD
11h 2m€70–236Bus, car ferry, train
- Take the bus from Bunclody to Rosslare Europortbus 132
- Take the car ferry from Rosslare Harbour to Bilbaocarferry
- Take the train from Bilbao-Abando to Madrid Chamartíntrain Alv
36h 21m€163–700
Dublin Airport (DUB) to Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Bilboa to Madrid is to bus and fly which costs €60 - €180 and takes 8h 15m.
The fastest way to get from Bilboa to Madrid is to bus and fly which takes 8h 15m and costs €60 - €180.
The distance between Bilboa and Madrid is 1580 km.
The best way to get from Bilboa to Madrid without a car is to bus and car ferry and train which takes 36h 21m and costs €160 - €700.
It takes approximately 8h 15m to get from Bilboa to Madrid, including transfers.
Madrid is 1h ahead of Bilboa. It is currently 3:35 PM in Bilboa and 4:35 PM in Madrid.
There are 6880+ hotels available in Madrid.
What companies run services between Bilboa, Ireland and Madrid, Spain?
There is no direct connection from Bilboa to Madrid. However, you can take the line 487 bus to Carlow Fairgreen, walk to Carlow Bus Station, take the bus to Red Cow Luas, take the line 726 bus to Dublin Airport Zone 16, walk to Dublin Airport (DUB) airport, fly to Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD), walk to Madrid-Aeropuerto T4, then take the train to Madrid Chamartín. Alternatively, you can take a vehicle from Bilboa to Madrid via Rosslare Harbour and Bilbao in around 33h 6m.
- Website
- ryanair.com
Flights from Dublin Airport to Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €40–130
Flights from Dublin Airport to Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport via Liverpool
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 20m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- €40–130
Flights from Shannon Airport to Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 15m
- When
- Tuesday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- €35–150
- Website
- iberia.com
Flights from Dublin Airport to Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 38m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €40–130
- Website
- aerlingus.com
Flights from Dublin Airport to Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 38m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €40–130
- Phone
- +353 1 836 6222
- info@irishrail.ie
- Website
- irishrail.ie
Train from Carlow to Kildare
- Ave. Duration
- 31 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €4–7
- Website
- https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/
- Flexible
- €4–7
Train from Kildare to Limerick
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 47m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €14–20
- Website
- https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/
- Flexible
- €14–20
- Phone
- +34 91 232 03 20
- Website
- renfe.com
Train from Bilbao-Abando to Madrid Chamartín
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 35m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €40–55
- Website
- https://www.renfe.com/es/en
- Phone
- +353 818 333 222
- info@jjkavanagh.ie
- Website
- jjkavanagh.ie
Bus from Carlow Bus Station to Red Cow Luas
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €9–14
- Website
- https://jjkavanagh.ie/
- Phone
- +353 1 836 6111
- Website
- buseireann.ie
Bus from Bunclody to Rosslare Europort
- Ave. Duration
- 59 min
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- €8–12
- Website
- https://www.buseireann.ie/
- Phone
- +353 21 427 7801
- reservations@brittanyferries.ie
- Website
- brittanyferries.ie
Car ferry from Rosslare Harbour to Bilbao
- Ave. Duration
- 27h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- €45–550
- Website
- Brittany Ferries
- Single Ticket
- €45–210
- Car Single Ticket
- €140–550
Want to know more about travelling around Spain
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Train travel in Spain: A guide to Renfe
Read the travel guide
What are the different types of Renfe trains in Spain?
Read the travel guide








