How to get to Mérida from Seville

Extremadura’s capital often is the first or the main destination for many travellers, whether they’re looking for a weekend gateway from Madrid or Seville, or to visit the region as a stopover on their way to Portugal.

This article, aimed at travellers looking to get to Mérida from Seville, covers three travel journey options – by car, train and bus. It includes basic details of each type of journey, advantages or reasons for choosing each means of transport, a detail car journey description, practical info and useful links.

Getting to Mérida from Seville by car

Mérida is 192 kilometres away from Seville. A typical car journey takes 2h, making it the fastest way (road traffic permitting) to get to Mérida from Seville.

Reasons for driving to Mérida from Seville:

You can hire a car right at the airport. If you’re flying into Seville, hiring a car at the airport is a no-brainer. You avoid having to get into the city by public transport or taxi to get to the bus or the train station. 

You can leave when you want. You don’t need to kill time while waiting for a bus or train. As soon as you land, you can go get your car and leave straight away.

It can be the cheapest option if travelling with others.

It’s the fastest option. Both bus and train journeys to Mérida from Seville take at least 45 minutes (and up to 1h 23min) longer than driving.

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 Mérida from Seville

If you’re setting off from Seville Airport, the journey involves crossing the northern part of Seville from east to west and across the river Guadalquivir to then join the A-66/E-803 road up to Mérida.

Traffic is fast-paced on the A-4 road out of the airport. It’s good to have someone else on the passenger seat help with directions and making sure you don’t miss your exit, particularly if you’re driving at night. Follow the signs for Mérida (often appearing in the same sign as SE-20 I. de la Cartuja) onto the SE-20 road, which merges onto the SE-30 just before the river. After crossing the river, get off at exit 20 A (E-803/A-66) Mérida-bound.

Once on the A-66 motorway, driving is easy and comfortable all the way up Mérida. Road traffic is generally low to moderate.

Getting to Mérida from Seville by bus

Alsa serves this route with two daily services (one early in the morning and one late in the evening) departing from Estación de Autobuses Plaza de Armas. Tickets can be purchased in advance on Alsa’s website. The bus journey duration varies between 2h 10min and 2h 50min.

Leda serves this route with four daily services Monday-Friday and two daily services on weekends. Buses depart from Estación de Autobuses Plaza de Armas. Tickets can be purchased in advance on Leda’s website. The bus journey duration varies between 2h 45min and 3h.

Mérida’s bus station is located in Avenida La Libertad, s/n (west of the river Guadiana), about 15 minutes away on foot from the city centre.

Travelling to Mérida from Seville by bus may suit you in these cases:

You travel alone. A bus ticket will be cheaper than hiring a car on your own.

You don’t drive. If you need to travel by public transport, buses are more frequent, more reliable and faster than trains.

Getting to Mérida from Seville by train

Trains from Seville to Mérida depart from Estación de Tren Sevilla-Santa Justa. There are only two daily train services to Mérida and journey durations vary between 3h 21min (Regional Exprés service) and 3h 23min (Media Distancia service). Tickets can be purchased in advance on Renfe’s website.

Mérida’s train station is located in Calle Cardero, in the city centre, just over 10 minutes away on foot from the Roman Theatre.

Bearing in mind the car, bus and train journey durations, it’s not unfair to say that travelling from Seville to Mérida by train is a last-resort option. However, you may have to travel by train if you travel alone, you don’t drive, and there are no bus services available (highly unlikely). Or you may choose the train by personal preference, despite its disadvantages.