Salamanca and Madrid are popular tourist destinations in Europe, and since it is relatively easy to travel between them by bus, train, or rental car, you can experience both on your trip to Spain.
With a transit time of more than two hours each way, you may want to stay overnight, but Salamanca can be a good day trip from Madrid. Either way, be sure to plan enough time to see Salamanca’s top attractions, such as Salamanca Old and New Cathedrals, Casa Lis, and the University of Salamanca.
When traveling from Madrid, each form of transit takes about the same amount of time, but taking the train or bus is significantly cheaper than renting a car. However, if you want to stop and visit other large Spanish cities, renting a car is the best way to get around the country on your own schedule.
Transportation options
There are only three forms of transport between Salamanca and Madrid. Depending on your itinerary and budget, you can rent a car or take a train or bus.
The train from Madrid to Salamanca takes about two and a half hours and costs less than 20 euros, which is similar to the bus. There is also a direct train that takes about an hour and a half. However, Madrid train station, Chamartín station and Salamanca station are closer to city centers than the bus stations in each city.
Alternatively, there are regular buses throughout the day between Madrid and Salamanca. However, tickets can only be booked on the Avanza Bus website or in person at the Méndez Álvaro bus station, where all buses leave.
If you rent a car, the 133-mile (215 km) trip will take about the same amount of time. You can take the A-6 towards the AP-6, then change to the AP-51 and AP-50 to access Salamanca from Madrid. It is best to extend this trip for a whole day, stopping in other cities and towns along the way.
Other stops
If you have a little extra time on your trip to Spain, there are several places you can stop on the way between Madrid and Salamanca, including Segovia, Ávila, and El Escorial.
Accessible by car, train or bus from Madrid, Ávila takes about an hour and a half to get there, then another hour to get to Salamanca. If you add this stop, you can have lunch in Madrid and then stop by Avila to see the medieval walls, the Polentinos Palace, and the Avila Museum before stopping in Salamanca for the night.
Segovia is also about an hour and a half from Madrid by car, train or bus, and could be even more worth exploring than Salamanca. Consider going to Segovia early, spending the night in one of the hotels there, and then going to Salamanca the next morning.
El Escorial is also accessible by train, bus and car, but it is a bit more difficult to get to the Spanish Catholic basilica and the monument called El Valle de los Caídos. It is much easier to access El Escorial and El Valle de los Caídos by car, so consider this trip only if you are renting a vehicle.
