Alicante and Madrid are well connected by road, rail and air. But how far is Alicante from Madrid? The answer is 423 km (263 mi) by road. Let’s look at how much time and money each option takes.
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How to Go From Alicante to Madrid
Here is the summary of prices and times of each transport from Alicante to Madrid:
| Transport | Estimated Price | Time | Tickets | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-Speed Train | From 13€ | From 2:18h to 2:57h | renfe.com Iryo.eu Ouigo.com Avlorenfe.com | Price system similar to planes |
| Plane | From 40€ | about 1h 10min | skyscanner.net | Air Europa and Iberia (Air Nostrum) |
| Coach/Bus | From 7€ (promo); usually 39.05€–52.79€ | 4h 50min to 6h 05min | alsa.es | Alsa.es; 10-trip “Bono Comparte”: pay 6 trips, travel 10 |
| Car | About 49.10€ of petrol (6L/100km) | about 4h 15min | n/a | It is recommended to stop every 2h drive |
| Shared Car Blablacar | From about 27€ | At least about 4h 15min | Blablacar.es | Ride prices change a lot from driver to driver |
Alicante to Madrid by Train
The best service from Alicante to Madrid is by high-speed train. The companies operating the service are Renfe (AVE, Avlo and Alvia), Ouigo and Iryo (not every day). There are usually about 14 to 17 direct trains per day to Madrid.
But there is also another type of service on the route: Alvia.
Alvia
Alvia is the slowest train on this route, but it is a good option if its times and prices suit you. It takes about 2h 55min. Prices vary a lot with demand under Renfe’s pricing; on a weekday two weeks ahead, it started at 21.85€.
Alvia trains have an optional fee for travelling in first class. All passengers can use the cafeteria coach where you can buy some food and snacks. The trains are adapted for passengers with reduced mobility.
High-Speed Trains
There are several companies offering high-speed trains to Madrid: Renfe (AVE and Avlo), Ouigo and Iryo.
Renfe AVE
AVE is the most frequent train between Alicante and Madrid and runs the fastest services. Journeys on the route take 2:18h to 2:57h, depending on the stops and train traffic. AVE stands for Alta Velocidad Española or Spanish High Speed.
AVE trains have business class, and a cafeteria and are adapted for passengers with reduced mobility. AVE trains are the most frequent type of service during the day. Prices will vary highly on the route demand with Renfe’s prices algorithm. The way it works is similar to prices in flights. On a weekday two weeks ahead, AVE fares were 26.65€–56€, and the cheapest train on the route cost 13€.
Alicante to Madrid by Coach
Several companies operate the route Alicante-Madrid. All buses will start at Alicante Coach Station and finish the route at Madrid Bus Station Estación del Sur (South Station) where you can take the Metro or local trains.
The main company operating the route is ALSA. You can check and buy the tickets on their website. Promo fares can start at 7€, and the standard fare is 39.05€–52.79€. Again the price depends on demand and ALSA’s price algorithm. ALSA also sells a shareable 10-trip “Bono Comparte”: you pay for 6 trips and travel 10.
The buses feature comfortable seats. They have two places for luggage: the boot for big bags/suitcases and the space above the seat for hand luggage.
The buses have a toilet and they do one mandatory stop in a service area halfway. The stop is near the town of La Junquera and you can buy traditional food and desserts from Albacete province.
ALSA usually show two movies with Spanish subtitles that you can listen to using headphones.
Alicante to Madrid by Car
The motorway from Alicante to Madrid is free. Alicante is on the coast and Madrid sits high on Spain’s central plateau, so the road climbs most of the way. Some parts of the motorway near Madrid might be a bit steep and curvy as it is a kind of old mountain motorway. You might find some traffic depending on the dates and times you are driving.
In general, the motorways are well maintained in Spain and have nice wide shoulders. The drive takes about 4h 15min without stops, so plan for longer with a break. If you are driving an electric car you can use the app ElectroMaps to plan where to stop and charge. The charging network is expanding fast in Spain. Right now you should be able to use one of the few fast chargers available on the route. Very shortly, more chargers will be added giving you some more options. There are Superchargers in the middle of the route if you drive a Tesla car.
It is well signposted how to go to Madrid from Alicante. The main motorway you will be driving on is called A-31.
Travel from Alicante to Madrid using BlaBlaCar
BlaBlaCar is a company for sharing car rides between particular people. It is popular in several European countries including Spain.
If you are a passenger, you will divide with the driver the petrol price. The prices for this ride start at about 27€. The app has a booking and messaging system where you can speak with the driver. You can use that in-app chat to decide with the driver where to be picked up and left.
Alicante to Madrid by Plane
The last option to travel from Alicante to Madrid is taking a flight. The airlines flying from Alicante Airport to Madrid-Barajas Airport are Air Europa and Iberia (operated by Air Nostrum) (checked 10 October 2026). One-way fares start at about 40€.
If you want to book a flight you might want to use a flight search engine like, for example, Skyscanner, Momondo or Google Flights. Here is how to get from/to Alicante city centre to Alicante Airport by bus.
I hope this article gives you a better understanding of how to travel between Alicante and Madrid. If you have any questions, please, use the comments!