San Francisco International to Madrid Barajas
5799 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 12h 04m with 10 airlines operating direct service from San Francisco International (SFO) to Madrid Barajas (MAD). Cheapest fares are usually in January (around $699 return), with peak prices in August (around $2097). Departures on a Tuesday tend to undercut weekend prices on this corridor.
Flying from San Francisco International
San Francisco International is United's main Pacific hub and Alaska Airlines' largest non-Seattle base. Four terminals form a single ring connected by the AirTrain shuttle, with BART running from the dedicated airport station directly to Powell Street downtown in around 30 minutes for $10. Heavy fog from May through August causes chronic morning delays — book mid-day departures during summer where possible. International long-haul to Asia and Europe is the deepest on the West Coast.
Arriving in Madrid
Madrid Barajas is the largest airport in Spain and Iberia's main hub, 12 km northeast of the city. Metro Line 8 reaches Nuevos Ministerios in 16 minutes for €5. Iberia, American, Delta and United operate the US-Madrid corridor. Madrid is one of the cheapest European long-haul destinations from the US East Coast; January and February deliver the best fares year-round.
Who flies SFO to MAD?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| United Airlines | UA | 12h 04m | Economy |
| Singapore Airlines | SQ | 12h 04m | Economy |
| Cathay Pacific | CX | 12h 04m | Economy |
| ANA | NH | 12h 04m | Economy |
| Japan Airlines | JL | 12h 04m | Economy |
| Air France | AF | 12h 04m | Economy |
| Lufthansa | LH | 12h 04m | Economy |
| British Airways | BA | 12h 04m | Economy |
| Qantas | QF | 12h 04m | Economy |
| Emirates | EK | 12h 04m | Economy |
10 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Best time to fly SFO→MAD
Synthesised from 12-month price aggregates. Cheapest months in green, peak in red.
Estimated baseline. Prices update on a 30-day cadence as Travelpayouts data refreshes. Cheapest day-of-week typically Tuesday.
San Francisco to Madrid FAQs
Direct flights from San Francisco International (SFO) to Madrid Barajas (MAD) take approximately 12h 04m for the 5799-mile journey, plus 30–60 minutes of taxi, climb and descent. Total airport-to-airport time depends on cruise winds and air-traffic queueing on approach.
January is typically the cheapest month on this route, with one-way fares from $699. August is the peak — expect prices 2–3× higher. Book 4–8 weeks ahead for best fares; last-minute prices on this corridor rise sharply inside two weeks of departure.
10 carriers operate direct service from San Francisco International (SFO) to Madrid Barajas (MAD): United Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, ANA, Japan Airlines and 5 more. Frequencies vary by season and carrier — United Airlines typically operates the highest weekly count on this corridor.
Visa-free Schengen for US passport holders up to 90 days in any 180-day period. ETIAS authorisation will be required from late 2026. Always check travel.state.gov for the latest entry requirements before booking.
Madrid Barajas (MAD) is the primary international airport for Madrid. Allow 30–60 minutes for the ground transfer by train, express bus, taxi or rideshare depending on traffic and time of day. See the airport's official website for current train and shuttle timetables.