How to get from Madrid to Lisbon by train, bus or flight.
The best way to travel from Madrid to Lisbon is by taking a flight because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .
311 miles (502 km) | |
Bus | |
Bus • $97 (€84) • 8 h | |
Alsa |
Travel 311 miles (502 km) by bus to Lisbon from Madrid. Alsa is the main travel company operating this journey. Travelers can even take a direct bus from Madrid to Lisbon.
To get to Madrid from Lisbon, travelers have the option of either bus or flight. Your mode of transport is highly dependent on a variety of factors with budget and convenience being the top two. Madrid to Lisbon is a very popular route especially considering the close distance as well as the myriad of interesting things to do and see in Lisbon. The Belem Tower is undoubtedly one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city alongside Castelo de S. Jorge which attracts millions of tourists from different corners of the globe every year. Known for its collection of stunning beaches, the beautiful city is a popular destination for summer holidays. As mentioned earlier, the two cities are within proximity to each other so travel is usually quite short. When flying, expect to spend about 1h 30min while it can take about eight hours on average if you’re traveling by bus. Due to the popularity of the route, there are multiple trains and flights on that route every day.
As you would expect, the bus provides the cheapest way to get between the two cities. Most companies offer direct trips with zero transfer making the average duration between eight to nine hours depending on the company service provider. The companies servicing this route include Eurolines and Alsa with about four buses each departing at different times from different stations. Aeropuerto Barajas T4 and Interc Av America are the two departing stations in Madrid while Lisboa Sete Rios, Aeropuerto Lisboa and Lisboa Oriente are the arriving stations in Lisbon.If you’re looking for ways to save more money you should consider booking your tickets days or even weeks in advance. Demand increases as the date of travel approaches so nat urally, prices are usually higher when the travel date is closer. You should also try and be flexible with your travel dates because tickets for certain days such as Friday have a higher demand compared to other days like say Tuesday or Wednesday.
Flying would be the fastest way to get to Lisbon from Madrid with the average flight duration being around 1h 20min. Madrid Barajas Airport and Lisbon Portela Airport are the two airports serving this route. Both airports are the busiest in their respective countries offering flights to different destinations all over the world. You should, therefore, expect an element of passenger traffic so remember to factor that during your flight arrangements to avoid any inconveniences. There are a good number of airlines that offer flights along this route with Air Portugal and EasyJet being the two most popular ones with at least two flights along that route each day.
One of the easiest and most convenient ways to get your tickets is through Omio. This is an online booking platform that provides travelers with all the available modes of transport for a particular route including planes, buses, and ferries. The site allows you to compare travel times as well as prices given by different companies so that you can choose the one that works for you best. In addition to these perks, you also get mobile tickets which are easy to use and more convenient compared to conventional tickets.
There are about three companies that provide bus services from Madrid to Lisbon. The companies include Eurolines, Alsa, and Avanza. Eurolines and Alsa are the most popular ones with each having at least four daily trips between the two cities. Avanza on the other hand only has one daily bus between the two cities. If you’re looking for the cheapest service, Alsa has to be the one while Eurolines is the quickest one. In terms of transfers, both companies provide direct buses from Madrid to Lisbon.
Eurolines is the most popular bus company servicing this route with an average of ten buses every day. They depart from three different stations in Madrid namely Estación Sur/Gare routière Méndez Alvaro – 83, Aeropuerto Barajas T4, and Av America. When traveling with Eurolines, mobile tickets aren’t available so it would be wise to print out your ticket in advance.
Flights provide the fastest way to get to Lisbon from Madrid with the major airline companies servicing this route being Air Portugal, Iberia, and easyJet. The three airlines each offer a flight every day with some days, especially weekends having two or more flights. The onboard amenities on each flight differ with Air Portugal providing passengers with snacks while Iberia doesn’t. In the same spirit, Iberia has wireless internet that passengers can use for their entertainment while Air Portugal doesn’t. Therefore, when traveling with Air Portugal, you’re better off with a book or some TV shows saved offline on your devices if you don’t want to be bored to death during your flight. There are only two airports that facilitate travel between the two cities, with Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD) being the departure airport and Lisbon Portela Airport (LIS) the arrival airport. To get to the city center of Lisbon once you’ve landed in the city, the road is the quickest way. It is only a short drive of under 30min via Av. Alm. Gago Coutinho and Av. Alm. Reis. Here you could either take a cab or taxi at the airport or hire a rental car from one of the many rental locations at the airport.
Air Portugal is the most popular airline servicing this route along with Iberia with multiple flights every day. Both airlines use the same airports, Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD) and Lisbon Portela Airport (LIS) with the only difference being the departure times. Both airlines offer amazing service but with differing onboard amenities so it is up to you to find out which one is most convenient for you.
There are plenty of reasons to travel to Lisbon with the number one being its beautiful sites. The city is ranked as one of the most beautiful cities in Western Europe with some amazing attractions such as Belem Tower and Castelo de S Jorge. The former is a 16th-century fortification that served as a point of departure and arrival for Portuguese explorers and as a ceremonial gateway to the city while the latter is a historic castle that served as residence dating back to as early as the 8th century. Other stand out places that you have to visit while in Lisbon include Lisbon Oceanarium, the largest indoor aquarium in Europe, and Padrão dos Descobrimentos, a wonderful monument that celebrates and pays tribute to Portuguese explorers and the Portuguese Age of discovery in general. The food scene in Lisbon is also worth exploring out as the city has a very vibrant food culture. Many regard it as one of the best in Western Europe and it is easy to see why. From local authentic Portuguese cuisine to the best Italian, Cuban, Mediterranean, Asian and American dishes, they’ve simply got it all.
The journey across the Iberian peninsula from Madrid to Lisbon can be made by bus, train or plane. The quickest and most frequent way to travel from Madrid to Lisbon is by taking a flight, while the slowest route is by train with just one departure leaving Madrid per day.
Trains from Madrid to Lisbon | Buses from Madrid to Lisbon | Flights from Madrid to Lisbon
Average Price |
Travel Time |
Cheapest Time to Book |
|
---|---|---|---|
€27 |
8:00 h |
1 Day Ahead |
|
€49 |
10:40 h |
2 Weeks Ahead |
|
€45 |
4:00 h |
2 Weeks Ahead |
Taking the bus is the cheapest way to travel from Madrid to Lisbon. Buses traveling from Madrid to Lisbon depart from Madrid's Estacion Sur and take at least 8 hours to arrive at Lisbon's Oriente bus station. Over 15 buses travel from Madrid to Lisbon everyday with the earliest departing at 9:15 a.m. Bus companies that travel from Madrid to Lisbon include Avanza, Alsa, and Eurolines.
Taking a flight is the fastest way to travel from Madrid to Lisbon. Flights depart from Madrid-Barajas Airport and arrive at Lisbon's Portela Airport after approximately 4 hours of travel time. Airlines that travel directly from Madrid to Lisbon include TAP Portugal, Iberia, Air Europa and EasyJet. Approximately 15 direct flights travel from Madrid to Lisbon everyday with the earliest departing at 4:45 a.m.
Taking a flight is the most popular way to travel from Madrid to Lisbon. Taking a flight is almost 4 hours faster than traveling from Madrid to Lisbon by bus and at least 6 hours faster than taking the train. The convenient public transportation options from both Madrid and Lisbon's airports to their respective city centers also help reduce the total travel time when flying between Madrid and Lisbon.
You can travel by train, bus or flight for as low as $15 (€13). When you search for schedules and tickets, Omio will show you the best journey.
Renfe is a Spanish train company that operates throughout the country including trains to Lisbon from Madrid. It offers a wide range of services, including high-speed AVE trains, regional trains, and night trains. The AVE trains are the fastest and most comfortable way to travel, with speeds of up to 300 km/h. Regional trains are slower but offer more stops and are ideal for shorter trips. Night trains are a great way to save money and time, as they allow you to travel overnight and arrive at your destination in the morning. Renfe offers several types of tickets, including single tickets, return tickets, and season tickets. Onboard facilities include comfortable seating, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and power outlets. The most popular routes for Renfe are Madrid-Barcelona, Madrid-Seville, and Madrid-Valencia. These routes offer travelers the chance to explore some of Spain's most beautiful cities in comfort and style.
Avanza is one of Spain biggest bus companies and offers only one type of ticket for your next travel between Madrid and Lisbon: Standard Ticket.
Air Europa is Spain's 3rd most popular airline with flights around Europe and the rest of the world and a choice between Economy or Business fares for your travel between Madrid and Lisbon.
Travel Madrid to Lisbon by bus.
Traveling by bus is also the quickest way from Madrid to Lisbon. It takes on average 8 h to travel this journey.
The Madrid to Lisbon distance is around 311 miles (502 km).
The average frequency per day from Madrid to Lisbon is:
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your journey between Madrid and Lisbon as scheduled services by bus can vary by season or day of the week.
These are the most popular departure and arrival points when traveling from Madrid to Lisbon:
The following travel company offer services from Madrid to Lisbon:
Yes, there is a direct route available from Madrid to Lisbon:
Direct services tend to save you time and add more convenience in getting you to Lisbon as you won't need to transfer at another stop in between, so it's worth paying attention to before booking your tickets to Lisbon from Madrid.
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