Madrid to Lisbon overland: route, cost and stops
Madrid to Lisbon, overland all the way, across 2 countries, with every leg costed. This is the planner's own output for the corridor — 4 stops, 4 legs, 14h on the move.
Modelled estimates, not live fares. Last rebuilt 2026-09-23.
This is one version of the corridor. Change the budget, the pace, the dates or the bed type and the route rebuilds around them.
Open this route in the plannerThe route, leg by leg
Each row is the mode the planner picked as the best balance of time and money. Alternatives on every leg — including night trains and coaches — are in the planner itself.
| Leg | Mode | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madrid → Salamanca | Coach | 3.4h | €5–€10 |
| Salamanca → Porto | Coach | 4.6h | €5–€10 |
| Porto → Coimbra | Coach | 2.3h | €5–€5 |
| Coimbra → Lisbon | Coach | 3.4h | €5–€10 |
What it costs
| Component | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transport | €20 | €24 | €35 |
| Beds | €131 | €154 | €197 |
| Daily spending | €333 | €416 | €562 |
| Total per person | €538 | €654 | €863 |
Dorm beds, two people sharing where a room is cheaper than two dorm bunks. Daily spending is food and local transport, modelled per city rather than averaged across the trip.
Where you stop
Madrid, Spain
Worth the time: Prado, Retiro, Malasaña
Eating: Menú del día €12; free tapas in some bars
Beds near the centre:
Motion Chueca · hostelEl Catalán · hostelHostal Splendid · guest house
Markets and cheap eats:
Mercado San Anton · marketMercado de la Corredera · marketMercado San Miguel · market
Porto, Portugal
Worth the time: Ribeira, Livraria Lello, port cellars
Eating: Francesinha €9
Beds near the centre:
Fantasy Hostel Porto · hostelBombeiros Voluntários do Porto · hostelThe PortoBello - Charming Guesthouse · guest house
Markets and cheap eats:
Feira de Numismática, Filatelia e Colecionismo · marketMercado Porto Bello · marketMercadinho dos Clérigos · market
Coimbra, Portugal
Worth the time: University library, old town steps
Eating: Student menus €7
Beds near the centre:
Residencial Aviz · hostelChange the World Hostel · hostelResidencial Moeda · guest house
Markets and cheap eats:
António dos Leitões - Porta Larga · regionalMaria Sardinha · fishJoão dos Leitões · regional
Lisbon, Portugal
Worth the time: Alfama, tram 28, Belém, miradouros
Eating: Prato do dia €9
Beds near the centre:
We Hate F Tourists · hostelNext Hostel · hostelAirbnb · guest house
Markets and cheap eats:
Centro Commercial do Mouraria · marketPastelaria Castrense · marketMercado da Baixa · market
Worth a detour
Places just off the corridor, priced against the route you already have — the extra time and the extra money each one actually adds.
| Place | Fits | Extra time | Extra cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leiria, Portugal | after Coimbra | +38m | +€64 |
| Valladolid, Spain | after Madrid | +2.1h | +€78 |
| London, England | after Madrid | +2.3h | +€228 |
| Braga, Portugal | after Porto | +2.1h | +€65 |
Common questions
How long does the Madrid to Lisbon trip take?
Moving time is about 14h spread over 4 legs. Allowing 2 nights in each of the 4 stops, the whole corridor works as a 9-day trip. You can compress it by skipping stops, but the travelling time itself does not shrink much.
How much does it cost?
About €654 per person for 9 days in dorms, sharing with one other. That splits into roughly €24 of transport, €154 of beds and €416 of daily spending. The realistic range is €538 to €863 depending on how early you book and how much you eat out.
Can you do it without flying?
Yes. An all-surface version runs about 14h of travel and €654 in total — €-0 less than the version above. Switch on avoid flying in the planner to see it.
Which countries does it cross?
Spain, Portugal — 2 in total. Check visa requirements for your own passport before you commit to the route; this planner does not model them.
What transport does it use?
Coach. Every leg is costed with a walk-up fare and an advance fare, so the range on each row is the booking-window spread, not uncertainty about the route.
Adjust it for your own dates, budget and party size.
Plan Madrid → Lisbon