Situated by the Portuguese border, Extremadura’s largest city is a good place to visit for a weekend city break or as a stopover on a Spain-Portugal road trip.
This article, aimed at travellers looking to get to Badajoz from Madrid, covers all travel journey options available – by car, train, coach and plane. It includes basic details of each type of journey, the advantages or reasons for choosing each means of transport, a detailed car journey description, practical info and useful links.
This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, it will generate a small commission for me, at no extra cost for you. Read the full disclosure for more details.
Table of contents
Getting to Badajoz from Madrid by car
Badajoz is 416 kilometres away from Madrid Barajas Airport. A typical car journey takes 3h 45min.
Reasons for driving to Badajoz from Madrid:
You can hire a car at the airport. If you’re flying into Madrid from abroad, hiring a car at the airport is a no-brainer. You avoid having to cross the city in the metro or getting a taxi to the bus or the train station.
You can drive all the way to your destination. You will not need to think about how to get to your accommodation in Badajoz from the bus station, the train station, or Badajoz airport.
You can leave when you want. You don’t need to kill time while waiting for a coach or train. 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, hiring a car is normally cheaper than public transport when you travel with others.
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 town or two along the way.
The car journey to Badajoz from Madrid
The airport is located to the northeast of Madrid. The journey involves driving along the orbital M-40 road clockwise to reach southwestern Madrid, and then joining the A-5/E-90 motorway Badajoz-bound. Motorists on the M-40 display an aggressive rather than defensive driving style and traffic is fast-paced. Have someone else on the passenger seat help with directions and making sure you don’t miss your exit.
When getting off the M-40, there are two options: getting off at exit 31 (A-5/E-90 Badajoz-bound), or getting off a bit earlier at exit 27 (R-5 Badajoz-bound). The R-5 is a radial toll-road which saves you a bit of time, road traffic and stress, particularly if you’re driving in morning or evening rush hour or in key holiday dates.
If you want to factor in traffic congestion when deciding when to depart Madrid by car, take note of the usual busiest times on the road (excluding holidays): Monday-Friday from 7.30am to 9.30am and from 6pm to 8pm. Monday tends to be the busiest day on the road. Busiest times during weekends are usually Saturdays from 10am to 12pm and Sundays from 6pm to 9pm.
Once you join the A-5/E-90 motorway, the journey is an easy and comfortable ride all the way to Badajoz. The motorway is in good condition. Traffic varies between low to moderate, with a fair number of trucks and lorries, many heading to Portugal. Service stations are well signposted and they normally comprise a service station itself with a little shop and an independent bar/restaurant serving cheap and reasonable-quality food.
Getting to Badajoz from Madrid by train
Trains from Madrid to Badajoz depart from Atocha Station – not from the main station but from the Atocha – Cercanías Station. Once inside, look for ‘Media Distancia’ services to locate the check-in area leading down to the waiting area in the lower level.
The train journey duration varies between 4h 23min and 4h 43min (Alvia service). The combined (Media Distancia + Regional Exprés) service with a change in Mérida takes 5h 10min.
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.
Travelling to Badajoz from Madrid by train may suit you in these cases:
You travel alone and prioritise price. A train ticket will be cheaper than hiring a car on your own or than flying. Return train tickets will also normally be cheaper than coach tickets.
You don’t drive. If you need to travel by public transport, train journeys are generally more comfortable than coach journeys.
You like trains. Some people simply love travelling by train. You can relax and read or just enjoy the landscapes from the window.
Getting to Badajoz from Madrid by coach
The Madrid to Badajoz route is served by bus company Avanza. Coaches to Badajoz depart from Estación Sur de Autobuses. Tickets can be purchased in advance online. The journey duration varies between 5h 15min and 6h 5min.
Badajoz Bus Station is located in Calle José Rebollo López, about twenty minutes away on foot from the city centre.
Travelling to Badajoz from Madrid by coach may suit you in these cases:
You travel alone. A coach ticket will be cheaper than hiring a car on your own or flying.
You live or are staying in the south of Madrid. If you have an easy commute to the Estación Sur de Autobuses, you might want to travel by coach, although trains may be equally suitable, so do check and compare.
There are no suitable train services available.
Getting to Badajoz from Madrid by plane
Aer Nostrum runs two daily flights from Madrid to Badajoz, with a journey duration of 1h 20min. I have never been on this flight and I cannot share my impressions of the journey, because it is not a convenient travel option for me (or for anyone I know). I’m including it here because it’s an available option, but it will not suit most travellers, particularly if you’re visiting Extremadura from abroad via Madrid.
Originally built as a military base, the airport operates military flights (the majority) and commercial flights to Madrid, Barcelona, Gran Canaria and Palma de Mallorca, as well as some charter flights.
Badajoz airport is situated near Talavera la Real, about 14km from the city, in a rural location surrounded by farmland (coordinates: lat. 38.8908, long. -6.82265). To get from the airport to Badajoz you have three options: hiring a car; getting a taxi (expect a €20 base fare) or get the local bus (number 12, serving the airport six times a day; the journey takes about one hour).
Travelling to Badajoz from Madrid by plane may suit you in these cases:
You’re flying to Madrid from abroad + don’t plan to stay in Madrid + the MAD-BAD flight time suits you as a connecting flight.
You’re only visiting Badajoz. Flying to Badajoz may suit two or more people travelling together for a city break or an event and sharing a taxi ride.
You value comfort and speed over price.
This content is protected by copyright and belongs exclusively to Irene Corchado Resmella. To know exactly what this means, read the 'Copyright' section in the Website terms of use.
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.
