How to travel from Madrid to Cartagena, Spain

The distance between Madrid and Cartagena is around 447km (278 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 4h 5m.

5 routes found

We've found 5 different ways to get from Madrid to Cartagena by bus, train, car and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out CartagenaMadrid if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
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train
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Train

Take the train to Orihuela and then to Cartagena.

  • Duration4h 5m
  • Departs6 times a week
  • Typical cost
    €66($66)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

1 similiar route

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

2
plane
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bus
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bus
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Plane and Bus

Fly from Madrid (MAD) to Almeria (LEI) then take the bus to Murcia and then to Cartagena.

  • Duration4h 50m
  • Flight time1h 10m
  • Typical cost
    €220($220)
Operated by

Multiple operators

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Cartagena.

  • Duration5h 20m
  • Departsevery 4 hours
  • Typical cost
    €40($40)
4
car
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Drive

Drive to Cartagena.

  • Duration4h 25m
  • Distance447km (278 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Madrid and Cartagena

There are several options for getting from Madrid to Cartagena by bus, train, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around €40 ($40) and will take around 5h 20m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 4h 5m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately €66 ($66).

The distance between Madrid and Cartagena is around 447km (278 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 388km (241 miles)

It takes around 5h 20m to get from Madrid and Cartagena by bus. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4h 25m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Madrid to Cartagena is to take the train which takes around 4h 5m and will set you back approx €66 ($66).

The cheapest way to travel between Madrid and Cartagena, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around €40 ($40) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Madrid and Cartagena. It typically takes around 4h 5m and departs 6 times a week.

There are no direct train services that runs from Madrid to Cartagena. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Chamartín and Orihuela. These services run 6 times a week and will take a minimum of 4h 5m.

Renfe AVE and Renfe run train services between Madrid and Cartagena. Trains depart 6 times a week and will take around 4h 5m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Madrid and Cartagena. It typically takes around 5h 20m and departs every 4 hours.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Madrid and Cartagena with no changeovers required. The bus runs every 4 hours and takes 5h 20m.

ALSA run regular bus services between Madrid and Cartagena. Buses run every 4 hours and take around 5h 20m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Madrid to Cartagena. We recommend that you fly from Madrid (MAD) to Almeria (LEI) then take the bus to Murcia and then to Cartagena. instead which will take 4h 50m.

The closest major airport to Cartagena is Alicante Airport (ALC) (ALC) which is approximately 83km (52 miles) from Cartagena. Almeria Airport (LEI) (LEI) and Valencia Airport (VLC) (VLC) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Madrid and Cartagena. The distance is around 447km (278 miles) by road and it will take around 4h 25m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Madrid to Cartagena is to take the bus which takes, on average, 5h 20m and will usually cost around €40 ($40).

How do I get from Madrid to Cartagena

Compare travel optionsbetween Madrid and Cartagena

Transport options from Madrid to Cartagena
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train + 1 similar
4h 5m
€66($66)
6 times a week566km (352 miles)
Train via Albacete5h 35m
€63($63)
twice daily561km (348 miles)
Plane and Bus
4h 50m
€220($220)
every 4 hours720km (448 miles)
Bus
5h 20m
€40($40)
every 4 hours453km (281 miles)
Drive
4h 25m
€82($82)
on demand447km (278 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Madrid and Cartagena

Bus companies

Train operators

Airports near Cartagena

The following major airports near Cartagena offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Spain and internationally.

ALC
Alicante Airport (ALC)
International Airport
Distance
83km (52 miles) from Cartagena
LEI
Almeria Airport (LEI)
Domestic Airport
Distance
149km (93 miles) from Cartagena
VLC
Valencia Airport (VLC)
International Airport
Distance
212km (132 miles) from Cartagena