How to travel from Madrid to Tarragona, Spain

The distance between Madrid and Tarragona is around 544km (338 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly and then take the bus which takes around 2h 50m.

5 routes found

We've found 5 different ways to get from Madrid to Tarragona 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 TarragonaMadrid if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
plane
+
bus
+

Plane and Bus

Fly from Madrid (MAD) to Barcelona (BCN) then take the bus to Tarragona.

  • Duration2h 50m
  • Flight time1h 15m
  • Typical cost
    €90($90)
Operated by

Multiple operators

1 similiar route

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

2
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Tarragona.

  • Duration7h 15m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    €60($60)
Operated byALSA+ 1 others
💰 Cheapest
3
train
+

Train

Take the train to Tarragona.

  • Duration8h 15m
  • Departs5 times a week
  • Typical cost
    €45($45)
4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Tarragona.

  • Duration5h 15m
  • Distance544km (338 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Madrid and Tarragona

There are several options for getting from Madrid to Tarragona by bus, train, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the train which costs around €45 ($45) and will take around 8h 15m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and then take the bus and arrive in approximately 2h 50m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately €90 ($90).

The distance between Madrid and Tarragona is around 544km (338 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 425km (264 miles)

It takes around 7h 15m to get from Madrid and Tarragona by bus. If you are travelling by car it will take around 5h 15m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Madrid to Tarragona is to fly and then take the bus which takes around 2h 50m and will set you back approx €90 ($90).

The cheapest way to travel between Madrid and Tarragona, if you exclude driving, is to take the train which will typically cost around €45 ($45) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Madrid and Tarragona. It typically takes around 8h 15m and departs 5 times a week.

There are no direct train services that runs from Madrid to Tarragona. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Chamartin. These services run 5 times a week and will take a minimum of 8h 15m.

Renfe run train services between Madrid and Tarragona. Trains depart 5 times a week and will take around 8h 15m, 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 Tarragona. It typically takes around 7h 15m and departs once daily.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Madrid and Tarragona with no changeovers required. The bus runs once daily and takes 7h 15m.

ALSA and HIFE S.A. run regular bus services between Madrid and Tarragona. Buses run once daily and take around 7h 15m 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 Tarragona. We recommend that you fly from Madrid (MAD) to Barcelona (BCN) then take the bus to Tarragona. instead which will take 2h 50m.

The closest major airport to Tarragona is Reus Airport (REU) (REU) which is approximately 9km (6 miles) from Tarragona. Josep Tarradellas Airport Barcelona-El Prat (BCN) (BCN) and Castellon-Costa Azahar Airport (CDT) (CDT) 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 Tarragona. The distance is around 544km (338 miles) by road and it will take around 5h 15m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Madrid to Tarragona is to take the bus which takes, on average, 7h 15m and will usually cost around €60 ($60).

How do I get from Madrid to Tarragona

Compare travel optionsbetween Madrid and Tarragona

Transport options from Madrid to Tarragona
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Plane and Bus + 1 similar
2h 50m
€90($90)
hourly594km (369 miles)
Plane and Train4h 15m
€110($110)
4 times a day577km (359 miles)
Bus
7h 15m
€60($60)
once daily566km (351 miles)
Train
8h 15m
€45($45)
5 times a week589km (366 miles)
Drive
5h 15m
€65($65)
on demand544km (338 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Madrid and Tarragona

Airports near Tarragona

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

REU
Reus Airport (REU)
Domestic Airport
Distance
9km (6 miles) from Tarragona
BCN
Josep Tarradellas Airport Barcelona-El Prat (BCN)
International Airport
Distance
72km (45 miles) from Tarragona
CDT
Castellon-Costa Azahar Airport (CDT)
Domestic Airport
Distance
141km (88 miles) from Tarragona