Bucharest to Madrid by train
Travel from Bucharest (Romania) to Madrid (Spain) by train (2474km): schedule and information to the train connection. Compare fares and buy your ticket.
To travel by train from Bucharest in Romania to Madrid in Spain, the main route leads via Hungary and Austria, Germany or Switzerland and France. Please read the following information and blog posts.
There are two main routes. Compare them and decide which one feeds your needs best.
- 1Bucharest (Romania) - Budapest (Hungary) - Zurich (Switzerland) - Barcelona (Spain) - Madrid (Spain)
- 2Bucharest (Romania) - Budapest (Hungary) - Munich (Germany) - Paris (France) - Barcelona (Spain) - Madrid (Spain)
2474 km
How to use the following information: railcc shows you the best routes and where to buy tickets. On longer routes you may need more than one ticket. Book your tickets step by step as explained. If you have questions about the route from Bucharest to Madrid, please ask in the Raildude forum. Of course, sometimes there are as well other travel routes possible.
The following links could be interesting for you.
train connections : popular connections travelled by other users
Madrid - Bucharest / Bucharest - Seville / Bucharest - Valencia / Bucharest - Santiago de Compostela / Cluj-Napoca - Barcelona / Cluj-Napoca - Madrid / Timișoara - Barcelona / Brașov - Barcelona / Brașov - Madrid1 Bucharest (Romania) - Budapest (Hungary) - Zurich (Switzerland) - Barcelona (Spain) - Madrid (Spain)
The route consist of more than one step. You have to buy several train tickets.
1a Travelling from Bucharest (Romania) to Budapest (Hungary)
Travel from Bucharest to Budapest by overnight train or by day train. The journey time is 15 hours. Train tickets start from 29 EUR.
The overnight train is comfortable and the recommended way of travel. It offers couchettes for 4 or 6 persons per compartment with ticket fares from 39 EUR. And sleeper compartments for one to three travellers with ticket fares from 55 EUR. The departure time in Bucharest is 17:45 and the arrival time in Budapest is 08:50.
Beside the overnight train there is a comfortable air-conditioned Intercity train which run at daytime. Ticket fares start from 29 EUR. The departure time in Bucharest is at 05:45 and the arrival time in Budapest is 19:50.
As third option there is the overnight train "Dacia Express". It offers sleeper compartments as well with shower and toilet. Its travel destination is Vienna (Austria), therefore the arrival time in Budapest is very early at 04:50. The departure time in Bucharest is 14:00. The ticket fares are the same like mentioned above.
All in all it is a recommended rail trip trough the beautiful scenery of the Carpathian mountains and into Transylvania.
Find the exact train schedules and buy your ticket via the given booking links.
Where to buy a ticket from Bucharest to Budapest?
Check times&prices 
The following links could be interesting for you.
night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip.
EN 346 Bucharest - Vienna / EN 472 Bucharest - Budapest
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Budapest - Bucharest
1b Travelling from Budapest (Hungary) to Zurich (Switzerland)
There are direct train connections from Budapest to Zurich. During the day with the Railjet and overnight with the Nightjet night-train.
The travel time from Budapest to Zurich by train is just 10.5 hours.
Ticket prices for the Railjet start at 44 euros. For the nightjet night train, ticket fares start at 29 euros in the seating car, 49 euros in the couchette car and 69 euros in the sleeping car.
We personally recommend the train connection with the night-train. It saves you a hotel stay and is very convenient and comfortable.
It is worth booking early so that you can get saver-fares. You can find the current ticket prices and the timetable via our booking links.
Where to buy a ticket from Budapest to Zurich?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
Railjet (RJ) / ÖBB Nightjet (NJ)
night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip.
EN 40467 Zurich - Budapest / EN 40462 Budapest - Zurich
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Zurich - Budapest
1c Travelling from Zurich (Switzerland) to Barcelona (Spain)
Travel from Switzerland to Spain by train. There are three main travel routes available from Switzerland to Barcelona: via Paris, via Lyon and via Geneva. From Barcelona continue to your travel destination in Spain.
Usually you have to book two train tickets. Sometimes it is possible to book your hole journey just in one ticket. Just try.
1. One train ticket from Switzerland to Barcelona. Calculate with a journey time of about 10 hours and ticket fares from 65 EUR.
2. One train ticket to travel from Barcelona to your travel destination in Spain.
Find the exact train schedules and buy your ticket via the given booking-links.
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
TGV Lyria France - Switzerland (Lyria) / TGV Elipsos France - Spain (TGV Elipsos)
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Barcelona - Zurich / Zurich - Madrid / Zurich - Seville / Basel - Barcelona / Basel - Madrid / Geneva - Barcelona / Geneva - Madrid / St. Moritz - Barcelona / Bern - Barcelona / Bern - Madrid
search for train schedules here: Online timetable information, on which you can find relevant, up-to-date connections.
rail.cc Deutsche Bahn
1d Travelling from Barcelona (Spain) to Madrid (Spain)
The fastest way to travel from Barcelona to Madrid is by AVE high-speed-train of RENFE. The journey time is only 2,5 hours for the distance of 620 kilometres. Second class tickets are available from 40 EUR and first class tickets from 55 EUR. There are frequent connections available, at least one every hour. The departure station in Barcelona is called "Barcelona Sants". The arrival station in Madrid is called "Madrid Atocha".
You find the exact schedules and ticket fares via our booking links. The ticket prices depends on your travel date.
Where to buy a ticket from Barcelona to Madrid?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
Alta Velocidad Española (AVE)
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Madrid - Barcelona
search for train schedules here: Online timetable information, on which you can find relevant, up-to-date connections.
rail.cc Deutsche Bahn
2 Bucharest (Romania) - Budapest (Hungary) - Munich (Germany) - Paris (France) - Barcelona (Spain) - Madrid (Spain)
The route consist of more than one step. You have to buy several train tickets.
2a Travelling from Bucharest (Romania) to Budapest (Hungary)
Travel from Bucharest to Budapest by overnight train or by day train. The journey time is 15 hours. Train tickets start from 29 EUR.
The overnight train is comfortable and the recommended way of travel. It offers couchettes for 4 or 6 persons per compartment with ticket fares from 39 EUR. And sleeper compartments for one to three travellers with ticket fares from 55 EUR. The departure time in Bucharest is 17:45 and the arrival time in Budapest is 08:50.
Beside the overnight train there is a comfortable air-conditioned Intercity train which run at daytime. Ticket fares start from 29 EUR. The departure time in Bucharest is at 05:45 and the arrival time in Budapest is 19:50.
As third option there is the overnight train "Dacia Express". It offers sleeper compartments as well with shower and toilet. Its travel destination is Vienna (Austria), therefore the arrival time in Budapest is very early at 04:50. The departure time in Bucharest is 14:00. The ticket fares are the same like mentioned above.
All in all it is a recommended rail trip trough the beautiful scenery of the Carpathian mountains and into Transylvania.
Find the exact train schedules and buy your ticket via the given booking links.
Where to buy a ticket from Bucharest to Budapest?
The following links could be interesting for you.
night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip.
EN 346 Bucharest - Vienna / EN 472 Bucharest - Budapest
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Budapest - Bucharest
2b Travelling from Budapest (Hungary) to Munich (Germany)
To travel from Budapest to Munich by train use one of the direct Railjet trains. Train tickets are available as "Sparpreis Europa" (saver price) from 39 EUR. The journey times is about seven hours. The Railjet trains offer at least five direct connections per day.
Beside the day trains there is a night train offering seats from 29 EUR. There are first class sleepers available as well. The journey time of the night train is about 9:30 hours.
Find ticket prices and schedules via our booking links. The ticket price depends on your travel date.
Where to buy a ticket from Budapest to Munich?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
Railjet (RJ)
night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip.
EN 463 Munich - Budapest / EN 462 Budapest - Munich
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Munich - Budapest
search for train schedules here: Online timetable information, on which you can find relevant, up-to-date connections.
rail.cc Deutsche Bahn
2c Travelling from Munich (Germany) to Paris (France)
Travel from Munich to Paris by ICE and TGV high-speed-trains. Ticket fares start at EUR 39. The journey time is 5 hours 40 minutes. There is a direct daily connection between Munich and Paris without changing trains. Departure is at 06:51 from Munich Central Station (‘München Hbf’). Arrival at "Paris Est" at 12:32. In addition, there are at least five more daily connections with only one change.
If you want to travel comfortably overnight, book a train ticket for the "ÖBB nightjet" night train from Munich to Paris. Departure is at 23:17 from "München Ost" railway station. Arrival is at 09:39 in the morning at "Paris Est" railway station. This night train does not run daily.
Find the exact train schedule and buy your ticket via the given booking links.
Where to buy a ticket from Munich to Paris?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
Intercity (IC) / IntercityExpress (ICE) / ICE Alleo Germany - France (ICE Alleo) / TGV Alleo France - Germany (TGV Alleo)
night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip.
ÖBB nightjet NJ468 Vienna - Paris / ÖBB nightjet NJ469 Paris - Vienna
train company:
DB Deutsche Bahn
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Paris - Munich
2d Travelling from Paris (France) to Barcelona (Spain)
To travel from Paris to Barcelona, the fastest option is by direct TGV high-speed train. There are two direct trains with a journey time of about 6,5 hours. Train tickets are available from 49 EUR. You find the exact schedule and saver-fares via our booking links. We recommend to book early as otherwise the ticket prices are high.
The direct night train does not exist anymore. To travel overnight, travel first by night train from Paris to Latour de Carol (ticket via our booking links). There you change to a local train directly to Barcelona. The so called "Rodalies Barcelona" costs 12 EUR. The ticket is available at a ticket machine and inside of the train.
Where to buy a ticket from Paris to Barcelona?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
Cercanias (CER) / TGV Elipsos France - Spain (TGV Elipsos)
night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip.
ICN 3981|83 Paris - Latour-de-Carol
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Barcelona - Paris
search for train schedules here: Online timetable information, on which you can find relevant, up-to-date connections.
rail.cc Deutsche Bahn
2e Travelling from Barcelona (Spain) to Madrid (Spain)
The fastest way to travel from Barcelona to Madrid is by AVE high-speed-train of RENFE. The journey time is only 2,5 hours for the distance of 620 kilometres. Second class tickets are available from 40 EUR and first class tickets from 55 EUR. There are frequent connections available, at least one every hour. The departure station in Barcelona is called "Barcelona Sants". The arrival station in Madrid is called "Madrid Atocha".
You find the exact schedules and ticket fares via our booking links. The ticket prices depends on your travel date.
Where to buy a ticket from Barcelona to Madrid?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
Alta Velocidad Española (AVE)
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Madrid - Barcelona
search for train schedules here: Online timetable information, on which you can find relevant, up-to-date connections.
rail.cc Deutsche Bahn
Need a cheap place to sleep? railcc recommends booking.com
Find a cheap flight! Compare prices on Kiwi.com
Do you have questions about the connection between Bucharest and Madrid? Does something not work as it should? Just ask in the Raildude forum and get competent answers from rail travel experts.
Eurail: if you want to travel this route by Eurail instead of train tickets, have a look here for reservation fees and further information.
