How much is the train ticket from Madrid to Santander?

The cheapest train tickets from Madrid to Santander start from R 562. The average price for this train route is around R 817. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance for a better chance to secure the lowest possible price.

How long is the train journey from Madrid to Santander?

The average train journey time from Madrid to Santander is 4h 21m, covering a distance of 333 km. The quickest train can get you there in 4h 20m and is operated by Renfe .

Which train operators serve the Madrid to Santander route?

Several major train operators run on this route, with 2 trains available per day.

What are the earliest and latest departure times for the train from Madrid to Santander?

The earliest train from Madrid to Santander departs at 07:45. And the latest train departs at 19:08.

Train Madrid to Santander from R 496

Next train departures

Next departures from Madrid to Santander on 24 March
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
	Train	19:08	Madrid-Chamartin	4h 20m	23:28	Santander	CheapestFastest
	Train	19:08	Madrid-Chamartin	4h 20m	23:28	Santander	No tags

Next departures from Madrid to Santander on 25 March
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	07:45	Madrid-Chamartin	4h 21m	12:06	Santander	Cheapest
Train	19:08	Madrid-Chamartin	4h 20m	23:28	Santander	Fastest
Train	07:45	Madrid-Chamartin	4h 21m	12:06	Santander	No tags
Train	13:40	Madrid-Chamartin	4h 24m	18:04	Santander	No tags
Train	13:40	Madrid-Chamartin	4h 24m	18:04	Santander	No tags

Next departures from Madrid to Santander on 26 March
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
	Train	07:45	Madrid-Chamartin	4h 21m	12:06	Santander	CheapestFastest
	Train	07:45	Madrid-Chamartin	4h 21m	12:06	Santander	No tags

Next departures from Madrid to Santander on 27 March
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	15:20	Madrid-Chamartin	4h 53m	20:13	Santander	Cheapest
Train	19:08	Madrid-Chamartin	4h 20m	23:28	Santander	Fastest
Train	07:45	Madrid-Chamartin	4h 21m	12:06	Santander	No tags
Train	07:45	Madrid-Chamartin	4h 21m	12:06	Santander	No tags

Next departures from Madrid to Santander on 28 March
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	19:08	Madrid-Chamartin	4h 27m	23:35	Santander	Cheapest
Train	07:45	Madrid-Chamartin	4h 21m	12:06	Santander	Fastest
Train	07:45	Madrid-Chamartin	4h 21m	12:06	Santander	No tags
Train	13:40	Madrid-Chamartin	4h 32m	18:12	Santander	No tags
Train	13:40	Madrid-Chamartin	4h 32m	18:12	Santander	No tags

Next departures from Madrid to Santander on 29 March
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
	Train	19:08	Madrid-Chamartin	4h 20m	23:28	Santander	CheapestFastest

Next departures from Madrid to Santander on 30 March
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	19:08	Madrid-Chamartin	4h 20m	23:28	Santander	CheapestFastest
Train	07:45	Madrid-Chamartin	4h 21m	12:06	Santander	No tags
Train	07:45	Madrid-Chamartin	4h 21m	12:06	Santander	No tags
Train	13:40	Madrid-Chamartin	4h 24m	18:04	Santander	No tags
Train	13:40	Madrid-Chamartin	4h 24m	18:04	Santander	No tags

Next departures from Madrid to Santander on 31 March
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	07:45	Madrid-Chamartin	4h 21m	12:06	Santander	Cheapest
Train	19:08	Madrid-Chamartin	4h 20m	23:28	Santander	Fastest
Train	07:45	Madrid-Chamartin	4h 21m	12:06	Santander	No tags
Train	13:40	Madrid-Chamartin	4h 24m	18:04	Santander	No tags
Train	13:40	Madrid-Chamartin	4h 24m	18:04	Santander	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Today at 5:10 PM CET.

Compare 2 ways to travel from Madrid to Santander

We recommend taking the train

Among the sustainable travel choices, the Train stands out as a good way to reach Santander. The journey takes about 4 hours 21 minutes and with fares starting at just R 562, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

2train per day

4h 21mAverage duration

333 kmDistance

8kgCO₂ emissions

	Average price	Average duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average priceR 869 - R 1 925	Average duration5h 30m	CO₂ emissions 8kg CO₂e
Train	Average priceR 562 - R 2 011	Average duration4h 21m	CO₂ emissions 8kg CO₂e

Where are the popular train stations and stops in Madrid and Santander?

Madrid

A
Madrid-Chamartin
C. de la Hiedra, 5, 28036 Madrid, Spain
Visit page
B
Madrid Puerta De Atocha
Madrid Atocha railway station, Plaza del Emperador Carlos V, 28045 Madrid, Spain
Visit page
C
Madrid-Príncipe Pio
Príncipe Pío, 28008 Madrid, Spain
Visit page
D
Madrid-Barajas Airport
Visit page
E
Nuevos Ministerios
Estación de Nuevos Ministerios, 28046 Madrid, Spain

Santander

A
Calle Navas de Tolosa, 2
Calle Navas de Tolosa, 2, 39002 Santander, Cantabria, Spain
Visit page

Train Companies

Renfe

4/5969 reviews

Staff4.6

Timeliness4.2

Cleanliness4.5

WiFi3.1

Based on 969 reviews, the company was rated 4.1 stars on Busbud. Travellers were especially satisfied with the staff and the temperature but often complained about the Wi-Fi. Renfe ticket prices on this trip start at R 562

ES train companies: Amtrak, Trenitalia, Renfe, VIA Rail Canada, Amtrak Acela, FlixTrain, NS Nederlandse Spoorwegen

Frequently asked questions about travelling from Madrid to Santander by train

Please note that timetables, routes, or operator details shown here may be updated or differ at the time of your trip.

How much is the train ticket from Madrid to Santander?
The cheapest train tickets from Madrid to Santander start from R 562. The average price for this train route is around R 817. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance for a better chance to secure the lowest possible price.
How long is the train journey from Madrid to Santander?
The average train journey time from Madrid to Santander is 4h 21m, covering a distance of 333 km. The quickest train can get you there in 4h 20m and is operated by Renfe.
Which train operators serve the Madrid to Santander route?
Several major train operators run on this route, with 2 trains available per day.
What are the earliest and latest departure times for the train from Madrid to Santander?
The earliest train from Madrid to Santander departs at 07:45. And the latest train departs at 19:08.

Find cheapest prices for trains

Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.

Best price found

22/03

R 1 601

23/03

No data

Today

R 738

25/03

R 496

26/03

R 621

27/03

R 1 221

28/03

R 738

29/03

R 1 966

The cheapest trip from Madrid to Santander was searched and found on 25 Mar 2026 with a price of R 496

To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your train tickets from Madrid to Santander as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from R 496 to R 1 966 for a train ticket from Madrid to Santander based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at R 496, which is on 2026-03-25.