Paris to Madrid is one of the busiest short-haul routes in Europe, with more than twenty nonstop flights a day and a flight time of barely two hours. Competition between full-service and low-cost carriers keeps fares low, so this is a route where a little flexibility on dates and airport is easily worth €50 or more. Here is who flies it, what a fair return costs in euros, and when to book.
Route: Paris (CDG / ORY) → Madrid–Barajas (MAD)
Distance: approximately 1,050 km (650 miles)
Non-stop flight time: about 2h 00m – 2h 10m
Direct flights: Yes — Air France, Iberia, Air Europa, Vueling, Transavia France and Ryanair all fly nonstop between Paris and Madrid, and Charles de Gaulle alone runs about 69 flights a week, with Iberia operating the most departures. Check which Paris airport your fare uses, though: 80 of the hundred cheapest fares we priced leave BEAUVAIS, about 85 km from the city, with 10 from Charles de Gaulle and 10 from Orly.
Fares from Paris to Madrid (EUR)
Madrid is a year-round city break, and fares reflect demand rather than weather. The cheapest months are the winter lulls of January, February and November (outside the Christmas and New Year peak); the highest are summer, Easter and the December holidays. The figures below are typical economy return fares in euros — the low end comes from the low-cost carriers on quiet weekdays.
| Month | Demand |
|---|---|
| January | low |
| February | low |
| March | medium |
| April | medium-high (Easter) |
| May | medium-high |
| June | high |
| July | high |
| August | high |
| September | medium-high |
| October | medium |
| November | low |
| December | high (holidays) |
Reference points from our own deal tracking: a genuinely good return lands around €46–€55, a typical fair price is roughly €57, and anything under about €60 is worth booking quickly. Above about €110 you have left the low-cost tier and are buying a full-service ticket. Barcelona-style one-way sale fares from the low-cost carriers occasionally dip below €30 each way if you catch them early.
Airlines on this route
Every option is nonstop — there is no reason to connect on a two-hour hop. The split is between full-service carriers (seat selection, often a bag included) and low-cost ones (lowest headline fares, extras charged separately):
- Iberia — the most frequent operator, with many daily departures from Paris; convenient for onward connections across Spain and Latin America.
- Air France — several nonstop flights a day from Charles de Gaulle; a checked bag is included on most fare types.
- Air Europa — competitive full-service fares and a Madrid hub for onward flights.
- Vueling — low-cost, mainly from Paris Orly. It did not appear among the hundred cheapest fares we priced, so compare it rather than assuming it leads on price.
- Transavia France — Air France–KLM’s low-cost arm, several flights a week from Orly.
- Ryanair — ultra-low-cost from Paris Beauvais, and the volume leader here by a wide margin: 77 of the hundred cheapest fares we priced, in a tight €46–€61 band. Best for headline fares if you travel light — but Beauvais is about 85 km out and the coach transfer eats much of the two-hour flight time you saved.
When to book & how to save
- Book 3–8 weeks ahead for short-haul like this; unlike long-haul, prices on quiet routes can occasionally soften, but summer and holiday dates only rise.
- Fly midweek. Tuesday to Thursday departures are usually the cheapest; Friday-out, Sunday-back is the most expensive combination.
- Compare all-in prices with bags. A low-cost headline fare plus a checked bag can end up dearer than Iberia or Air France with a bag already included — always add the extras before deciding.
- Be flexible on the Paris airport. Orly (Vueling, Transavia) and Beauvais (Ryanair) fares often undercut Charles de Gaulle; factor in the transfer time and cost to each.
- Avoid Easter and the first half of August if price is the priority — those are the busiest and dearest windows on Spanish routes.
Arriving in Madrid
Flights land at Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas (MAD), about 13 km northeast of the centre. The cheapest way in is Metro Line 8 from the airport to Nuevos Ministerios (around 30 minutes, roughly €4.50–€5 including the airport supplement), or the 24-hour Airport Express bus to Atocha and Cibeles for about €5. The Cercanías C-1 train links Terminal 4 to the city rail network. A taxi to the centre is a fixed flat rate of €33. Note the airport has four terminals spread out — check which one your airline uses, as T4 (Iberia and partners) is a shuttle ride from T1–T3.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the flight from Paris to Madrid?
The nonstop flight takes about 2 hours to 2 hours 10 minutes. With more than twenty departures a day, you can fly at almost any time; total door-to-door time from central Paris to central Madrid is usually around five hours once you allow for airport transfers and check-in.
Are there direct flights from Paris to Madrid?
Yes — this is one of Europe’s busiest nonstop routes. Iberia, Air France, Air Europa, Vueling, Transavia France and Ryanair all fly it directly, with over twenty flights each day between them. There is no need to connect on such a short hop.
How much does it cost to fly from Paris to Madrid?
There are two prices on this route. In the dates we could price, 80 of the hundred cheapest fares were low-cost non-stops at €46–€61 return, nearly all Ryanair from Beauvais, with a median of about €57; the full-service fares from Charles de Gaulle and Orly ran €111–€118. Summer and holiday dates sit toward the top of the range.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Paris to Madrid?
January, February and November are usually the cheapest (outside the Christmas and New Year peak). Our sample covers only August and September departures, so it cannot price those months — but it does show the route’s low-cost floor at €46 even in high summer, so treat that as the benchmark rather than anything higher. Summer, Easter and the December holidays are the busiest and most expensive.
Which airlines fly from Paris to Madrid?
Iberia operates the most flights, alongside Air France and Air Europa (full-service), plus low-cost carriers Vueling, Transavia France and Ryanair. What decides your fare is the airport: in the hundred cheapest we priced, Ryanair from Beauvais took 77 at €46–€61, while Iberia from Charles de Gaulle and Air Europa from Orly came in at €111–€118. Iberia and Air France usually include a checked bag; the low-cost carriers charge for bags and seats separately, so compare the all-in price.
Which airport do I fly into in Madrid?
All flights use Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas (MAD), the city’s only major airport, about 13 km from the centre. It has four terminals — Iberia and its partners use Terminal 4, which is a short shuttle ride from Terminals 1 to 3, so check your ticket before heading to the gate.
How far in advance should I book Paris to Madrid flights?
For most dates, booking 3 to 8 weeks ahead gives a good balance of price and choice. For summer, Easter and Christmas travel, book earlier — those peaks only get more expensive as seats sell, whereas a quiet January weekday can occasionally still be cheap close in.
Is it cheaper to fly on weekdays?
Usually, yes. Midweek departures (Tuesday to Thursday) are typically the cheapest, while a Friday-out and Sunday-back weekend trip is the most expensive combination. Shifting your dates by a day or two, or flying from Orly instead of Charles de Gaulle, is often the easiest way to cut the fare.
Fare guidance based on aifly.one deal tracking and current airline schedules; last reviewed July 2026. Indicative economy returns — always check the live fare before booking.
