Driving from Madrid to Seville takes 5 to 6 hours for about 530 kilometers (330 miles), mostly on the A-4 motorway across the plains of La Mancha. The high-speed train covers the same trip in about 2 hours 35 minutes. Seville to Lisbon is about 460 kilometers, roughly 4 hours 30 minutes by road through the Algarve. A rental car works for confident drivers who want to stop in small villages, but for most of our travelers the train to Seville and a private driver on to Lisbon is the faster, calmer choice.
We live in Spain and have routed 17,000+ travelers through these cities since 2002. Here is what we tell friends who ask.
How long is the drive, leg by leg?
| Leg | Distance | Time by car | Fastest alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madrid to Seville | about 530 km (330 mi) | 5 to 6 hours | AVE train, about 2 hours 35 minutes |
| Seville to Lisbon | about 460 km (285 mi) | about 4 hours 30 minutes | private driver, with a stop in the Algarve or Évora |
| Madrid to Lisbon direct | about 630 km (390 mi) | about 6 hours | flight, about 1 hour 20 minutes |
Portugal runs one hour behind Spain, so you gain an hour driving west.
What should you know before renting a car?
- A car rented in Spain and returned in Portugal usually carries a one-way international fee, often several hundred euros. Quotes vary widely by company and date.
- Most Portuguese motorway tolls are electronic. Ask the rental company for a toll device before you leave.
- Seville’s old center, like Toledo’s and Córdoba’s, is largely closed to cars, and hotel parking is tight. Plan to leave the car at the hotel garage.
- Summer afternoons on the plains between Madrid and Seville often pass 100°F, so an early start makes the drive easier.
What do we recommend instead?
Take the high-speed train from Madrid to Seville, with a licensed driver taking you to the station and another meeting you on arrival. Our AVE vs Alvia guide explains which train and class to book. From Seville, a licensed driver takes you to Lisbon in a comfortable vehicle, with a stop for lunch in the Algarve or in the walled town of Évora in the Alentejo. You arrive rested, and the day becomes part of the trip.
Would you rather not drive at all? Tell your planner which stops matter to you, and we plan the trains, drivers and lunches between them. See all our Spain and Portugal journeys.
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