Open interactive map →Cheap flights from Bilbao to Madrid
Fares on the Bilbao to Madrid route vary noticeably by season and demand. Right now the lowest available price is €18. Non-stop flights are available, making it a convenient option if you want to skip layovers. Booking further in advance typically unlocks lower prices, especially around school holidays and peak travel months. The calendar below maps out the cheapest and most expensive months so you can plan before committing to dates.
Prices to Madrid are typically lowest in the shoulder months shown in the calendar above. Searching for mid-week flights and avoiding school holiday windows can meaningfully cut costs on this route. If you're open on destination, use the interactive map from Bilbao to compare Madrid against nearby alternatives - you may find a cheaper fare to a similar destination.
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Cheapest month to fly
- October 2026€18DirectCheapest
Based on tracked fares, October is the cheapest month to fly this route at around €18.
Prices last updated: September 2026
October in Madrid
Avg 17°C~11 rainy days
Historical averages from Open-Meteo. Shown for the cheapest travel month.
Entry requirements for Spain
EU passportFree movement (EU/Schengen)
US passportVisa-free, 90 days
Requirements vary by nationality and change without notice. Check requirements for your nationality →
Barajas Airport (MAD) — 13 km from city centre
Metro Line 8around 30-35 min
Taxi/ridesharearound 20-35 min
About Madrid
Madrid sits at 667 metres above sea level — the highest capital in the European Union — which gives it dramatically clear light in summer and genuinely cold winters that many visitors do not expect. The Paseo del Arte boulevard connects the Prado Museum (Velazquez, Goya, El Greco, Rubens), the Reina Sofia (Picasso's Guernica, Dali, Miro), and the Thyssen-Bornemisza (Van Gogh, Monet, Hopper) within 15 minutes' walk — one of the highest concentrations of world-class art on a single street in the world. The Retiro Park, Madrid's answer to Central Park, contains the Crystal Palace, a boat lake, and shaded paths that make it the city's primary public space on weekend afternoons. Madrid's late schedule — dinner after 9pm, clubs open until 6am — is not a cliche but a genuine structural feature of the city's social life. Barajas Airport (MAD) is Spain's largest hub with Iberia and Vueling as the dominant carriers, well connected to Latin America and across Europe. For intra-European flights, January-March and November are when Madrid fares drop most sharply; summer (July-August) brings a 30-40% premium driven by both inbound tourism and Spanish domestic demand. Toledo (25 min by AVE), Segovia (30 min by AVE), and Avila (90 min) are the three strongest day trips by high-speed rail, with Toledo being the most rewarding for its El Greco paintings and medieval Muslim-Christian-Jewish architectural synthesis.
Where to stay in Madrid
How the main neighbourhoods compare, based on trip type.
- La LatinaBest for first visit
The oldest residential neighbourhood in central Madrid is a strong base for a first visit. The Sunday El Rastro flea market fills the streets around Calle Ribera de Curtidores, and the tapas circuit along Cava Baja and Cava Alta runs from early evening until well past midnight. La Latina is within walking distance of the Prado, the Thyssen, and the Royal Palace, making it possible to cover most of the main sights without using the metro on a 3-night trip.
Metro: Line 5 (La Latina) · Airport: Around 35-40 min by metro from Barajas · Historic, tapas culture, lively evenings
- MalasanaBest for nightlife
The neighbourhood around Plaza del Dos de Mayo was the epicentre of the Movida Madrileña in the 1980s and has retained one of the city's most active late-night scenes. Independent bars, vinyl shops, and concert venues concentrate along Calle Fuencarral and the surrounding streets. The area is also close to Chueca to the east, which has an active LGBTQ+ nightlife scene. Most venues don't fill until midnight and stay open until 5 or 6 in the morning - not a neighbourhood suited to early-morning departures.
Metro: Lines 1, 5 (Tribunal, Noviciado) · Indie bars, late nights, creative scene
- SalamancaBest for longer stays
The upscale district east of the Retiro Park is a comfortable base for a stay of a week or more. Calle Serrano is the main shopping street, and the neighbourhood has a reliable network of restaurants, cafes, and food markets. The Retiro Park is a 5-minute walk from most addresses and provides one of the city's best urban park experiences. Access to the Prado and Thyssen is a 15-minute walk through the park. Quieter than the old town in the evenings without feeling distant.
Alternative routes
Other ways to reach Madrid
Frequently asked questions
How much does a flight from Bilbao to Madrid cost?
The cheapest fare currently available from Bilbao to Madrid is €18. Prices on this route vary by season, day of week, and how far in advance you book. The month-by-month price calendar on this page shows exactly when fares are highest and lowest, so you can pick the most cost-effective window before searching for specific dates. Fares are refreshed regularly as our flight partners publish new availability.
Are there direct flights from Bilbao to Madrid?
Yes - non-stop flights are currently available from Bilbao to Madrid. The cheapest direct fare starts at €18, making it a convenient option if you want to avoid layover time. Direct flights are generally quicker and less stressful, especially for shorter trips to Spain. Click through to the booking site to check live availability and schedules for your dates.
When is the cheapest time to fly from Bilbao to Madrid?
Prices on this route typically dip during shoulder-season months, away from school holidays and public holiday windows. Mid-week departures - particularly Tuesday to Thursday - tend to be cheaper than flights on Fridays and Sundays from Bilbao. The month-by-month price calendar above is the fastest way to identify the cheapest window - look for the months with the lowest fares before committing to travel dates. Booking 3-6 weeks in advance generally offers the best balance of price and seat availability on this route.