This guide on how to get to Cuenca from Madrid will show you the most comfortable options to make the transfer to this impressive World Heritage city.
Keep in mind that the most common way to get to know this city is by public transport from Madrid, which is located 160 kilometers southeast. In case you go in your own car, we recommend you to park in the free parking lot that is near the Castle area, to make the city tour downwards.
If you have more time you can spend the night in the city to walk quietly through the old town and the lower part of the city as well as complete the visit approaching the incredible natural landscapes of the Enchanted City.
Based on the experience of our visit to this city, in which we write this list of places to visit in Cuenca, we show you how to get from Madrid to Cuenca by train and bus, so you can choose the one that best suits your needs. We start!
How to get to Cuenca from Madrid by train
The fastest and most comfortable way to get to Cuenca from Madrid is to take the high-speed AVE train that leaves from Atocha Station and leaves you at the Fernando Zóbel Cuenca station in less than an hour.
If you are not staying near the Atocha Station you can easily get there by subway with line 1 (blue color), which crosses the entire center of the capital.
The first train from Madrid to Cuenca departs a little before 7 in the morning and the last train back is at 22: 15h, with a frequency of approximately one hour, so you can get to know the city perfectly in one day, if you don't want to spend the night.
The price depends on the schedule and the day of the week but it is around 25 euros the journey, taking into account that there are other types of trains that take more than three hours and leave at half the price.
Remember that although there are usually places available you can book tickets in advance here and secure the place.
Once you arrive at the Fernando Zóbel station in Cuenca, you have to take the bus on line 1, with a stop in front of the station, which will take you to the Plaza Mayor in half an hour for just over 2 euros.
Fernando Zóbel Station
Bus from Madrid to Cuenca
Another cheaper option for get to Cuenca from Madrid is to take a bus of the Avanza company that leaves from the Méndez Alvaro South Bus Station.
To get to the Méndez Alvaro subway stop, the closest to the bus station, you can take line 1 (blue color) and change at the Pacific stop to take subway line 6 (gray color). From the subway station you will arrive directly at the South Bus station, going up the escalators.
Once at the station you can take one of the buses that leave every hour and a half and leave you at the Fermín Caballero de Cuenca station. The price of the trip is 13 euros and the duration varies between 2 hours and 2 hours and you can also book it from here.
From the Cuenca bus station you can get on the local bus line 1 to reach the Plaza Mayor in 15 minutes.
Another very interesting option, to know the history of the city by the hand of an expert guide, is to book this excursion to Cuenca by bus that includes the visit to the natural formations of the Enchanted City.
Main Square of Cuenca
Where to sleep in Cuenca
Once you are clear how to get to Cuenca from Madrid and if you want to spend the night, we recommend you to look for an accommodation located in the upper part of the city.
A magnificent option is the Posada San José, located in a restored 17th-century monastery near the Plaza Mayor.
In addition to its magnificent location, the hotel has spacious and comfortable rooms, overlooking the sickle of Huécar, 24-hour reception and a traditional restaurant.
To plan the route through the city you can follow this guide of Cuenca in one day.
Do you want to organize a trip from Madrid to Cuenca?
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The best hotels at the best prices in Cuenca here
Book the best tours and excursions in Cuenca in Spanish here
What to do in Cuenca in one day
Rent your car in Madrid at the best price here
Book your travel insurance with a 5% discount here
The best offers of Flights to Madrid here
The best hotels at the best prices in Cuenca here
Book the best tours and excursions in Cuenca in Spanish here
What to do in Cuenca in one day
Rent your car in Madrid at the best price here
Book your travel insurance with a 5% discount here
