(Last updated on 18/08/2024)
Situated by the Portuguese border, Badajoz is Extremadura’s largest city and one of the region’s main tourist destinations. It’s a good place for a weekend city break or as an overnight stay on a Portugal-Spain road trip.
This article, aimed at travellers looking to get to Badajoz from Lisbon, covers everything you need to know about the journey – from the transport options available to the advantages of each means of transport, a detailed car journey description, practical info and links for you to buy your tickets.
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Getting to Badajoz from Lisbon by car
Badajoz is 223 kilometres away from Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport. A typical car journey takes about 2h 20min, making it the fastest way (road traffic permitting) to get to Badajoz from Lisbon, both from Oriente station and from the airport.
Reasons for driving to Badajoz from Lisbon:
You can hire a car at the airport. f you fly into Lisbon, hiring a car at the airport is very convenient. You avoid having to cross the city in the metro or getting a taxi to the bus station.
You can leave when you want. You don’t need to kill time while waiting for a coach. As soon as you land, you can go get your car and leave straight away.
It can be the cheapest option. Unless you travel on your own, sharing a hired car is normally cheaper than bus tickets.
It’s the fastest option.
It gives you the most flexibility. Driving allows you to stop whenever and wherever you want. You might need regular quick rest stops, or you may want to take it slowly and visit a place or two on the way, such as Évora or Elvas.
Picking up your car at Lisbon Airport
Hiring a car is the most convenient way to travel to Badajoz from Lisbon Airport. Enterprise is my go-to car hire company when I travel and the one I’ve used in the past to drive across to Extremadura. To find the car hire counter simply follow the signs for ‘Guerin/Enterprise’ in the arrivals hall. The car hire process is mostly automated and easy to follow. Make sure you mention your cross-border travel plans. The car park is located on the second floor.
The car journey to Badajoz from Lisbon
The airport is located to the north of the city, in Alameda das Comunidades Portuguesas.
Leave the car hire pick-up point and join the Alameda das Comunidades Portuguesas. At the roundabout, take the fifth exit (A1 Norte) on to the E1 road. Get off at exit 14 towards the A12 (Sul P.te V. Gama) motorway and continue on the A12 road (later called IP1) and look out for the A2 signs (Algarve, Évora). The road then merges onto the A2/E90 road. Get off at exit 7 (Espanha) onto the A6 – IP7/E90 Spain-bound motorway. The A6/E90 motorway will take you across to Spain. Get off at exit 407 and follow the signs for Badajoz’ city centre.
Parking in Badajoz
Finding a good place to leave your car in a new city is not always easy.
For an overnight stay, I would personally try to book accommodation in Badajoz which includes parking.
If parking isn’t included or you’re just stopping in Badajoz for the day, choose a secure car park. My personal experience with car parks in central Badajoz has not been fantastic. You may want to check whether Parking Plaza Conquistadores suits you and your vehicle (I have not parked there myself, but it’s the best-reviewed 24-hour car park in Badajoz and is only 10-12 minutes away on foot from the historical centre).
Getting to Badajoz from Lisbon by coach
Alsa runs coach services to Badajoz from three different stations:
1. Oriente station: there are three daily services and the journey duration varies between 2h 29min (no stops) and 3h.
2. Lisbon Airport station: there is only one daily (night) service via the Oriente station and the journey duration is 2h 44min.
3. Sete Rios station: there are three daily services (via the Airport and Oriente station) and the journey duration varies between 2h 59min (no stops) and 3h 29min.
Tickets can be purchased in advance online.
About the 1.15pm coach to Badajoz from Oriente station:
This Lisbon-Badajoz coach does not have a dedicated bay at Oriente station. The coach departs from outside the Rede Expressos ticket office located on the western end of the station. You will not see this route on any panels and the coach will not be there ahead of time. It just turns up at the departure time.
Also, bear in mind that this coach covers a long-distance route from Lisbon to Milan and it departs from Lisbon already full. I did not find this coach journey particularly pleasant.
Flixbus serves Badajoz with four daily coaches departing from Oriente station. The journey varies between 2h 40min and 3h 20min. Tickets can be purchased in advance online.
Badajoz Bus Station is located in Calle José Rebollo López, about twenty minutes away on foot from the city centre.
Travelling to Badajoz from Lisbon by coach may suit you if you’re travel alone, since a coach ticket will be cheaper than hiring a car on your own.
Getting to Badajoz from Lisbon by train
Unfortunately, there are no direct trains from Lisbon to Badajoz.
There is, however, a way to reach Badajoz from Lisbon by train. It’s not quick or convenient and it won’t suit most travellers. But if you’re a slow travel-loving train aficionado, you may want to check it out.
Company Comboios de Portugal runs daily services from Lisbon (Santa Apolonia and Oriente stations) to Badajoz with a connection in Entroncamento. The whole journey duration varies between 3h 47min and 5h 1min. Tickets can be purchased in advance on Comboios de Portugal’s website.
Badajoz Train Station is located in Avda Carolina Coronado, s/n. From this bus stop by the roundabout outside the station you can catch several local buses (L18, LC1) which will get you across the river to the centre of Badajoz.
Remember that Portugal and Spain are in different time zones. When planning your trip to Badajoz from Lisbon, don’t forget that Spain is one hour ahead.
Other articles about Badajoz you may want to check:
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Irene Corchado Resmella
Hi! I’m Irene (/ee-REH-neh/). Long since settled in the UK, I explore my Spanish home region of Extremadura with an inquisitive mind, a sharp eye, and the duality that comes with being both a local and a visitor. Then I write about it here to help you discover this beautiful yet overlooked part of Spain. If you have any questions after reading this article, submit a comment below! Read more about me.
