Landmarks
Chapel of Bones
A haunting chapel in Evora with walls and pillars constructed entirely from the bones and skulls of over 5,000 monks.
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Road trip route · Spain · Portugal
Madrid to Lisbon drive time, distance, costs & the best stops
- Drive time
- 6 hr 50 min
- Distance
- 629 km
- Fuel (est.)
- €74
- Tolls (est.)
- €27
The Madrid to Lisbon drive
The drive from Madrid to Lisbon covers 391 miles (629 km) and takes about 6 hr 50 min without stops. That's a long day, but doable in one go with a couple of proper breaks. If you'd rather split it, Mérida is about halfway.
It's split between the A-5R, the A-5 and the A6, with no single road carrying more than 38% of it. On the way you go past Móstoles, Talavera de la Reina and Navalmoral de la Mata, and you'll be near Mérida roughly 3 h 44 min in. The border from Spain into Portugal comes between Badajoz and Amora, about 509 km in.
There's real climbing in this one: the road gets up to roughly 671 m near Móstoles, with something like 771 m of ascent over the whole drive.
Expect fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) to cost around €74 one-way plus roughly €27 in motorway tolls. Prices shift monthly, so treat these as ballpark figures.
At 391 miles this is longer than 90% of the 144 routes covered here, so it is worth treating as a trip in itself rather than a transfer. Split across 2 days it works out at about 3.4 hours behind the wheel each day, which leaves most of the daylight for the places in between.
The road, kilometre by kilometre
Towns within a few kilometres of the fastest route, with the time it takes to reach them without stopping, plus where you cross the border.
- StartMadrid
- 22 kmMóstoles14 min in
- 125 kmTalavera de la Reina1 h 22 min in
- 187 kmNavalmoral de la Mata2 h 2 min ingood place to stop
- 344 kmMérida3 h 44 min ingood place to stop
- 407 kmBadajoz4 h 25 min in
- 509 kmInto Portugal
- 611 kmAmora6 h 39 min ingood place to stop
- 629 kmLisbon
How high it goes
Roads you'll be on
- A-5R236 km · 38%
- A-5160 km · 26%
- A6158 km · 25%
- A256 km · 9%
Best stops between Madrid and Lisbon
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
Ancient Ruins
Roman Temple of Evora
A remarkably preserved 1st-century Roman temple standing in the heart of the UNESCO-listed Alentejo capital.
Ancient Ruins
Roman Theatre of Merida
One of the most magnificent Roman theaters still standing, built in 15 BC in the former capital of Lusitania, still hosting performances in its 6,000-seat auditorium.
National Parks
Monfragüe & Salto del Gitano
Roadside viewpoint on the EX-208 facing the Peña Falcón crag, where dozens of griffon vultures, black storks and eagles ride the thermals above the Tagus. The signature stop of Monfragüe National Park, Spain's raptor capital.
Landmarks
Aqueduto da Amoreira, Elvas
A 16th-century aqueduct running 7km into the fortified border town of Elvas, visible from the road on approach.
What you need for this drive
Rules for each country on the route, in the order you meet them.
Spain
- Motorway
- 120 km/h · 50 in town
- Tolls
- Autopistas de peaje (AP roads)
- Must carry
- warning triangle, hi-vis vest
Low-emission zones: ZBE (Zonas de Bajas Emisiones) - national rollout.
Portugal
- Motorway
- 120 km/h · 50 in town
- Tolls
- Portagens
- Must carry
- warning triangle, hi-vis vest
Low-emission zones: Lisbon ZER (Zona de Emissoes Reduzidas).
Checked against national road authorities and the ECB reference rates. Rules change — confirm before you travel.
Madrid to Lisbon FAQs
How long is the drive from Madrid to Lisbon?
Driving from Madrid to Lisbon takes about 6 hr 50 min nonstop, covering 391 miles (629 km). Add time for breaks: most drivers stop every 2 hours.
How much does it cost to drive from Madrid to Lisbon?
Fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) costs roughly €74 one-way. Expect around €27 in motorway tolls. Estimates are indicative: prices change monthly.
Can I drive from Madrid to Lisbon in one day?
Yes, though it's a long day: about 6 hr 50 min of driving. Plenty of people do it in one go with two or three proper breaks; if you'd rather split it, Mérida is about halfway.
Which roads do you take from Madrid to Lisbon?
The fastest route uses the A-5R (about 236 km), the A-5 (about 160 km), the A6 (about 158 km), the A2 (about 56 km). It passes Móstoles, Talavera de la Reina, Navalmoral de la Mata, Mérida.
Where should I stop on the way from Madrid to Lisbon?
If you stop every couple of hours, Navalmoral de la Mata comes up about 2 h in, and Mérida comes up about 4 h in, and Amora comes up about 6 h in. All are just off the main road.
What other drives can I plan on Plan Your Road Trips?
We publish drive times, distances and fuel estimates for 144 routes across Europe and beyond, including 16 other drives in the same country. Browse them all on the routes index.
What are the best stops between Madrid and Lisbon?
Top-rated stops in the drive corridor include Chapel of Bones, Roman Temple of Evora, Roman Theatre of Merida: see the full list of 5 stops on this page.
More drives from Madrid & Lisbon
Lisbon → FaroLisbon → PortoLisbon → SevilleMadrid → BarcelonaMadrid → BilbaoMadrid → GranadaMadrid → MalagaMadrid → SevilleMadrid → Valencia
Planning a bigger trip? Try the free Spain road trip planner, browse every destination we cover or the Portugal planner, take it with you on the road, or read the driving in Portugal guide.