How to travel from Santander to Cartagena, Spain

The distance between Santander and Cartagena is around 842km (523 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly and then take the train which takes around 4h 55m.

8 routes found

We've found 8 different ways to get from Santander to Cartagena by train, bus, car and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

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

🚀 Fastest
1
plane
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train
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Plane and Train

Fly from Santander (SDR) to Alicante (ALC) then take the train to Cartagena.

  • Duration4h 55m
  • Flight time2h 15m
  • Typical cost
    €190($190)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2 similiar routes

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

2
3 x train
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Train

Take the train to Madrid-Chamartin then Orihuela and then to Cartagena.

  • Duration7h 55m
  • Departs6 times a week
  • Typical cost
    €100($100)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

1 similiar route

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

3
bus
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bus
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Bus via Madrid

Take the bus to Madrid and then to Cartagena.

  • Duration10h 50m
  • Departsevery 4 hours
  • Typical cost
    €80($80)

1 similiar route

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

4
car
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Drive

Drive to Cartagena.

  • Duration8h 40m
  • Distance892km (554 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Santander and Cartagena

There are several options for getting from Santander to Cartagena by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around €62 ($62) and will take around 14h 45m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and then take the train and arrive in approximately 4h 55m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately €190 ($190).

The distance between Santander and Cartagena is around 842km (523 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 691km (429 miles)

It takes around 7h 55m to get from Santander and Cartagena by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 8h 40m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Santander to Cartagena is to fly and then take the train which takes around 4h 55m and will set you back approx €190 ($190).

The cheapest way to travel between Santander and Cartagena, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around €62 ($62) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Santander and Cartagena. It typically takes around 7h 55m and departs 6 times a week.

There are no direct train services that runs from Santander to Cartagena. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Madrid-Chamartin and Orihuela. These services run 6 times a week and will take a minimum of 7h 55m.

Renfe and Renfe AVE run train services between Santander and Cartagena. Trains depart 6 times a week and will take around 7h 55m, 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 Santander and Cartagena. It typically takes around 14h 45m and departs once daily.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Santander and Cartagena with no changeovers required. The bus runs once daily and takes 14h 45m.

Bilman and ALSA run regular bus services between Santander and Cartagena. Buses run once daily and take around 14h 45m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Santander to Cartagena. We recommend that you fly from Santander (SDR) to Alicante (ALC) then take the train to Cartagena. instead which will take 4h 55m.

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 Santander and Cartagena. The distance is around 892km (554 miles) by road and it will take around 8h 40m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Santander to Cartagena is to take the train which takes, on average, 7h 55m and will usually cost around €100 ($100).

How do I get from Santander to Cartagena

Compare travel optionsbetween Santander and Cartagena

Transport options from Santander to Cartagena
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Plane and Train + 2 similar
4h 55m
€190($190)
twice daily842km (523 miles)
Bus, Plane and Train5h 55m
€125($125)
twice daily860km (535 miles)
Bus to Bilbao, plane and train8hrs
€115($115)
once daily915km (569 miles)
Train + 1 similar
7h 55m
€100($100)
6 times a week1,003km (623 miles)
Train via Alicante-Termino9h 35m
€80($80)
once daily1,087km (675 miles)
Bus via Madrid + 1 similar
10h 50m
€80($80)
every 4 hours877km (545 miles)
Bus14h 45m
€62($62)
once daily1,016km (631 miles)
Drive
8h 40m
€165($165)
on demand892km (554 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Santander and Cartagena

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