--- title: "Trains from Bilbao to Madrid | EveryRail" description: "Direct Renfe Alvia from Bilbao Abando to Madrid Chamartín in about 4.5 to 5 hours, usually twice a day; some days have only one direct train." image: "https://everyrail.com/api/route-image/bilbao-to-madrid/" --- [Home]()[Europe by train]()[Spain]()Bilbao to Madrid by train [Home]()[Europe by train]()[Spain]()Bilbao to Madrid by train **Share** - - [Share on WhatsApp]() - [Share on X]() - [Share on Facebook]() - [Share by email]() **On this page** - [About Bilbao to Madrid by train]() - [Where to book]() - [Find places to stay in Madrid]() - [Frequently asked questions]() - [More routes]() [Book now]() Last updated November 2026 # Bilbao to Madrid by train Direct Renfe Alvia from Bilbao Abando to Madrid Chamartín in about 4.5 to 5 hours, usually twice a day; some days have only one direct train. ![Madrid's Gran Via street at dusk with the Metropolis Building]() Origin [Bilbao]() Destination [Madrid]() Main stations Bilbao Abando to Madrid-Chamartín-Clara Campoamor Country [Spain]() Direct [Renfe]() Alvia trains take about 4 hours 35 minutes to 5 hours from Bilbao Abando to Madrid Chamartín-Clara Campoamor, usually twice a day. ## Morning or afternoon Alvia Two direct Alvia trains leave Bilbao Abando for [Madrid]() on most days. Take the morning one if you can. At about 4 hours 35 minutes it is the faster of the two and reaches Madrid before lunch. The late-afternoon train takes about 5 hours and gets in late in the evening. Until 12 December 2026 both run Monday to Friday, with only the morning train on Saturdays and only the afternoon train on Sundays. From the 13 December 2026 timetable change, as scheduled into January 2027, both trains run at weekends, but Thursdays have only the morning train and Fridays only the afternoon train. Some public holidays also lose a train, so make sure your train runs on your date before you build plans around it. On the way the Alvia calls at Llodio, Miranda de Ebro, Burgos Rosa de Lima, Valladolid Campo Grande and Segovia Guiomar. Connections with one or two changes exist, but they are slower. ## Arriving at Madrid Chamartín The trains end at Madrid Chamartín-Clara Campoamor, not Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes. Book any onward train from the right terminal. Getting across Madrid costs nothing extra. Your long-distance ticket includes Combinado Cercanías, a free ride on Cercanías local trains for up to 4 hours after arrival, and in Madrid you just scan the ticket barcode at the gates. It works at the [Bilbao]() end too, from up to 4 hours before departure, if you reach Abando by Cercanías. There you collect it at a ticket machine or desk first. ## Tickets and fare types Renfe fares rise and fall with demand. Booking early gets the lowest prices. For travel before 25 January 2027 you choose between four fare types: | Fare | Seat | Changes | Cancellation | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Básico | Standard | One change for €10 | Not included | | Elige Estándar | Standard | First change free | 70% refund | | Elige Confort | XL Confort | First change free | 70% refund | | Prémium | XL Confort | Unlimited free changes | Refund up to 100% | Miss your train on Básico and the ticket is gone. On Elige you can move to a new train for 30% of the new fare, which matters when the next direct Alvia may be the following day. Choosing a seat costs €5 extra, except on Prémium. Tickets are in your name, so carry photo ID. New ticket conditions apply to journeys from 25 January 2027. ## Interrail pass holders The pass covers the Alvia, but a reservation is compulsory. Through Interrail it costs €10 in second class (Elige Estándar) or €13 in first (Elige Confort). Ticket desks at Spanish long-distance stations also sell pass reservations. ## Where to book ![]() ### Book with Omio Find times and prices for Bilbao → Madrid. [Check times & prices]() ### Other places to book Ticket websites - [Rail Europe]() - [Trainline]() These links open the provider’s website. Search for your journey there. ### Train service - [Renfe]() Renfe serves Spain with AVE, Avlo, Alvia and regional trains. AVE tickets are named and reserved, while Interrail and Eurail passes need reservations. [Official website]() [Check times & prices]() ## Find places to stay in Madrid [![Bright bedroom with white bedding and a breakfast tray on the bed]()**Browse stays in Madrid**Hotels and apartments via Booking.com]() ## Frequently asked questions ### Are there direct trains from Bilbao to Madrid? Yes. Renfe Alvia trains run direct from Bilbao Abando to Madrid Chamartín-Clara Campoamor, usually twice a day. Until 12 December 2026 Saturdays and Sundays have one train each; from 13 December 2026 the single-train days are Thursdays and Fridays. ### How long does the train from Bilbao to Madrid take? About 4 hours 35 minutes on the morning Alvia and about 5 hours on the late-afternoon train. ### Which Madrid station does the train from Bilbao arrive at? Madrid Chamartín-Clara Campoamor, not Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes. Your ticket includes a free Cercanías ride for up to 4 hours after arrival. ### Can I change my train ticket from Bilbao to Madrid? Yes, on every fare type, at different costs. For travel before 25 January 2027, a change costs €10 on Básico, the first change is free on Elige and Prémium includes unlimited free changes; on any fare you also pay the difference if the new train costs more. ### Do I need a reservation with an Interrail pass? Yes, the Alvia requires one. Through Interrail it costs €10 in second class or €13 in first class. ## More routes [![Madrid's Gran Via street at dusk with the Metropolis Building]()![SNCF Voyageurs]()![Renfe]()![Ouigo]()Alicante to Madrid by trainDirect high-speed trains link Alicante and Madrid in around 2 hours 25 minutes, with fares from €9. Trains arrive at either Atocha or Chamartín.]()[![View of Bilbao, Spain]()![Renfe]()Barcelona to Bilbao by trainOne direct Renfe Alvia a day links Barcelona and Bilbao in around 7 hours, with weekend engineering works and no full high-speed line.]()[![Madrid's Gran Via street at dusk with the Metropolis Building]()![SNCF Voyageurs]()![Renfe]()![Ouigo]()Barcelona to Madrid by trainDirect high-speed trains from Barcelona to Madrid take about 2.5 to 3.5 hours, departing Barcelona Sants for Atocha or Chamartín.]()[![Temple of the Sacred Heart on Tibidabo hill in Barcelona at sunset]()![Renfe]()Bilbao to Barcelona by trainRenfe Alvia trains take 6 to 7 hours from Bilbao Abando to Barcelona Sants; one-way tickets range from €35 to €85.]()[![La Concha Bay and beach in San Sebastian, Spain]()![Euskotren]()Bilbao to San Sebastian by trainDirect Euskotren E1 trains run from Matiko in Bilbao to Amara in San Sebastian about hourly, taking about 2 hours 45 minutes. The bus is faster.]()[![Madrid's Gran Via street at dusk with the Metropolis Building]()![Renfe]()![Ouigo]()![iryo]()Cordoba to Madrid by trainDirect high-speed trains from Cordoba to Madrid take as little as 1 hour 54 minutes, with around 40 daily services and fares from €7.]()[![Madrid cityscape, the destination for this Granada to Madrid train journey]()![Renfe]()Granada to Madrid by trainTravel Granada to Madrid on Renfe's AVE, direct four times a day in around 3 hours 30 minutes, with no low-cost operator currently on this corridor.]()[![Madrid's Gran Via street at dusk with the Metropolis Building]()![Renfe]()![CP - Comboios de Portugal]()Lisbon to Madrid by trainNo direct train connects Lisbon and Madrid: expect around 9 to 11 hours, three trains, and two bookings for the journey via Badajoz and Entroncamento.]() ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#organization", "name": "EveryRail", "url": "https://everyrail.com/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://everyrail.com/_astro/everyrail-logomark-2026.VJ4vNX1T.webp", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#organization-logo-1" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.instagram.com/everyrailtravel/", "https://www.facebook.com/everyrail", "https://www.threads.com/@everyrailtravel" ] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#website", "name": "EveryRail", "url": "https://everyrail.com/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#organization" }, "inLanguage": "en" }, { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/trains/bilbao-to-madrid/#webpage", "name": "Trains from Bilbao to Madrid | EveryRail", "description": "Train travel information for Bilbao to Madrid. 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Renfe Alvia trains run direct from Bilbao Abando to Madrid Chamartín-Clara Campoamor, usually twice a day. Until 12 December 2026 Saturdays and Sundays have one train each; from 13 December 2026 the single-train days are Thursdays and Fridays.", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/trains/bilbao-to-madrid/#faqpage-mainEntity-1-acceptedAnswer-1", "inLanguage": "en" }, "@id": "https://everyrail.com/trains/bilbao-to-madrid/#faqpage-mainEntity-1", "inLanguage": "en" }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How long does the train from Bilbao to Madrid take?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "About 4 hours 35 minutes on the morning Alvia and about 5 hours on the late-afternoon train.", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/trains/bilbao-to-madrid/#faqpage-mainEntity-2-acceptedAnswer-2", "inLanguage": "en" }, "@id": "https://everyrail.com/trains/bilbao-to-madrid/#faqpage-mainEntity-2", "inLanguage": "en" }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Which Madrid station does the train from Bilbao arrive at?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Madrid Chamartín-Clara Campoamor, not Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes. 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