How to get around on a trip from Madrid to Lisbon

In 2022, I took a multi-leg trip from Barcelona to Lisbon, passing through Madrid and, during the planning phase, I realized how little public transportation is available to move between the capitals of Spain and Portugal. Typically, the train is the most convenient option because it allows you to move quickly between one city and another with a certain degree of comfort and efficiency. Those who are used to this means of transport, especially when traveling, will be disappointed as there is no high-speed line connecting the two cities (about 500 km apart) and no direct rail connection. This guide aims to explain the main methods for moving from one city to another and also to describe my experience.

Getting Around by Train

Before 2020, there was a direct train connection between the two cities but it was suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic and has not been restored. For this reason, those who want to travel by train between two cities will encounter many difficulties.

Currently the best strategy is to take a train from Madrid Atocha station to Badajoz, a Spanish city located a few kilometers from the border with Portugal. Once you arrive in Badajoz, you can take a cross-border train to Entroncamento in Portugal and, finally, arrive in Lisbon (Santa Apolonia).

From Madrid to Badajoz

You can buy train tickets using two services:

• Renfe: Spanish transport company. By purchasing on their website you are guaranteed to be purchasing a ticket from an official website. To purchase a ticket, go to this link. In "Origen" type "Madrid (todas)" and in "Destino" type "Badajos". You can also select the departure date ("Fecha ida") and return date ("Fecha vuelta") and the number of passengers ("Pasajeros"). If your trip is a one-way trip, you can select "Viaje solo ida" in the drop-down menu. Click on "Buscar Billete" and the various options will be shown. Select the time, the type of ticket (there are several options, note that "Básico" does not allow for ticket changes) and proceed to payment.
• Omio: Another alternative is to book tickets from Omio, at this link. The website is no more than a ticket reseller. The procedure is the same and requires selecting the departure station "Madrid", the return station "Badajos", the outward and return date and the number of passengers.

I don't feel like recommending one platform over the other. Typically I prefer to buy tickets from official sites because they often offer discounts or greater guarantees but I admit that sometimes they can be uncomfortable to use due to layouts stuck in 2005 (although this is not the case with Renfe).

Tickets start from 20 euros and will allow you to reach Badajoz from Madrid.

From Badajoz to Entroncamento

Here you have two options:

• Comboios de Portugal (CP): Portuguese transport company. Go to this site and you will be able to enter the departure station ("Badajoz"), arrival station ("Entroncamento"), departure date and return date. You will be shown several results with different timetables. Once you have selected your preferred timetable, select it and you will be able to select the number of passengers, class and other travel options. Please note that registration on the site is required in order to purchase a ticket.
• Omio: You can use the same approach described above.

Tickets start at 13 euros. The train takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes to arrive.

From Entroncamento to Lisbon

You can use the same platforms described in the previous point (From Badajoz to Entroncamento). In this case the tickets cost about 10 euros and the train takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to arrive.

Possible route with timetables

Depart at 8:50 from Madrid Atocha to Badajoz. Expected arrival is at 13:34. At 14:09 leave Badajoz for Entroncamento and you will arrive at 15:52. At 15:59 leave Entroncamento for Lisbon Santa Apolonia. The journey takes approximately 9 hours and should cost between 35 and 40 euros. Beware of possible delays! You will only have a few minutes to change between trains. A small delay and you could miss your train.

Possible Alternative

Instead of going through Entroncamento, you can also head from Badajoz to Abrantes in Portugal and then head towards Lisbon.

Getting Around by Bus

Another way to travel between the two cities is by bus. In this case there are various companies that offer a direct connection between the two cities:

• Flixbus: Offers several direct connections at various times of the day starting at 9:05 in the morning (arriving in Lisbon at 17:35) until 23:55 (arriving in Lisbon at 06:45 the next day). The journey time ranges from 7.30 hours to 9.30 depending on the departure time. Tickets start at around 15 euros. You can book at this link.
• Alsa: Again there are several direct connections, both day and night with a similar travel time and starting from 35 euros. You can book at this link.

In both cases, buses depart from Madrid Estación Sur and arrive at Lisbon Oriente, both easily accessible by public transport (metro and bus).

Getting Around by Car

Another option is to use a car. It is certainly not the most convenient option, especially if you pick it up in Madrid and leave it in Lisbon (without returning to Spain). There are several car rental sites that you can check online.

Getting Around by Plane

Another option is to use the plane. This is definitely the most practical option as it will allow you to reach the two cities in 1 hour and a half. Costs start from around 40 euros in low season. You can check the airlines that operate this route and the relative prices on platforms such as Google Flight and Skyscanner.

Conclusions

In short, the choice of transport depends on the traveler's priorities: comfort, cost, speed or flexibility. While the train may disappoint those looking for a simple and direct connection, the bus is a reliable and economical option. The car offers freedom, but at a price, while the plane is unbeatable in terms of speed. Considering my personal experiences and the options available, I recommend using the bus. In any case, I recommend carefully evaluating your needs and planning your trip in advance to avoid surprises and maximize the efficiency and comfort of the trip from Madrid to Lisbon.

For further questions and clarifications, you can leave a comment in the section below.

Thank you for reading,

Explorer's Tale.