A guide to travelling Extremadura by coach

As a non-driver who has lived outside Extremadura for over twenty years, I consider myself an expert in autobusing, which I sarcastically like to call ‘extremeños’ preferred mode of transport’.

This guide includes practical info, personal insights, tips and thoughts to help you travel to (and around) Extremadura by coach.

Extremadura by coach: a quick overview

With a still underdeveloped railway infrastructure, Extremadura is generally best explored on a road trip. Even coaches often are a good alternative to trains to get to certain destinations; sometimes, coaches are the only viable mode of transport for non-drivers.

I have been travelling back to Extremadura for more than two decades. In the past five years or so, I’ve noticed a general decrease in the number, quality and frequency of coach services. The pandemic badly affected the sector, which hasn’t recovered since. As a result of several mergers, many services are now run by only a handful of large companies, and a substantial number of routes have been axed.

Travelling to Extremadura by coach

This section is aimed at helping you plan your trip to Extremadura by coach from Madrid, Seville, Salamanca, and Lisbon. Each subsection includes the coach routes available from the city in question (e.g. from Madrid) to the main Extremadura destinations, specifying number and type of services, journey duration, and stops along the way. At the end of each subsection you’ll be able to search for and book your coach tickets.

From Madrid

As the capital of the country, Madrid is the best place to start your trip to Extremadura by coach in terms of number and frequency of services.

Route 1: Madrid to Mérida

Avanza serves the route Madrid-Mérida with two daily services departing from Estación Sur de Autobuses. The journey duration varies between 4h 15min and 5h 10min, depending on the service.

The quicker service stops in Navalmoral de la Mata and Trujillo.

The slower service stops in Navalmoral de la Mata, Trujillo, Puerto de Santa Cruz, Villamesías, Miajadas, Conquista del Guadiana, Torrefresneda, San Pedro de Mérida, and Trujillanos.

Route 2: Madrid to Cáceres

Avanza serves the Madrid to Cáceres route with six services Monday-Friday and Sundays, and five services on Saturdays. Coaches depart from Madrid Airport (Terminals 4 and 1) and from Estación Sur de Autobuses. The journey duration varies between 3h 55min and 4h 55min, depending on the service.

The quicker service stops in Navalmoral de la Mata and Trujillo.

Route 3: Madrid to Badajoz

Avanza serves de Madrid to Badajoz route with five services Monday-Friday, two services on Saturdays, and four services on Sundays. Coaches depart from Estación Sur de Autobuses. The journey duration varies between 5h 15min and 6h 5min, depending on the service.

The quicker service stops in Navalmoral de la Mata, Trujillo, and Cáceres.

The slower service stops in the following Extremadura destinations: Navalmoral de la Mata, Trujillo, Puerto de Santa Cruz, Villamesías, Miajadas, Conquista del Guadiana, Torrefresneda, San Pedro de Mérida, Trujillanos, Mérida, Montijo, and Lobón.

Route 4: Madrid to Plasencia

Cevesa serves the Madrid to Plasencia route with two daily services departing from Estación Sur de Autobuses. The journey duration varies between 3h 30min and 3h 35min.

I’ve taken this coach in the past via the Valle del Jerte, stopping at Tornavacas, Jerte, Cabezuela del Valle, and Navaconcejo. But you can also use this service to go to Baños de Montemayor and Aldeanueva del Camino, in Valle del Ambroz.

Other routes from Madrid

Samar serves many places in both Extremadura provinces from Estación Sur de Autobuses in Madrid.

Campiña Sur: Granja de Torrehermosa, Peraleda del Zaucejo.
Campo Arañuelo: Bohonal de Ibor, Peraleda de la Mata.
La Serena: Higuera de la Serena, Magacela, Malpartida de la Serena, Monterrubio de la Serena, Orellana de la Sierra, Orellana La Vieja, Puerto Hurraco, Quintana de la Serena, Zalamea de la Serena.
La Vera: Aldeanueva de la Vera, Cuacos de Yuste, Jaraíz de la Vera, Jarandilla de la Vera, Losar de la Vera, Madrigal de la Vera, Talaveruela de la Vera, Valverde de la Vera, Viandar de la Vera, Villanueva de la Vera.
La Siberia: Casas de Don Pedro, Castilblanco, Herrera del Duque, Talarrubias, Valdecaballeros, Fuenlabrada de los Montes, Navalvillar de Pela.
Miajadas-Trujillo: Alcollarín, Escurial, Miajadas.
Vegas Altas del Guadiana: Don Benito, Gargáligas, La Haba, Valdivia, Villanueva de la Serena.
Villuercas-Ibores-Jara: Cañamero, Garvín de la Jara, Guadalupe, Logrosán, Peraleda de San Román, Valdelacasa del Tajo.
Zafra-Río Bodión: La Parra.

From Seville

Generally speaking, coaches from Seville only cover destinations in Badajoz province, with the odd service to Cáceres.

Route 1: Seville to Mérida

Alsa has two daily services (one early in the morning and one late in the evening) to Mérida departing from Estación de Autobuses Plaza de Armas. The journey duration varies between 2h 10min and 2h 50min.

If you’re travelling to Mérida, the quicker, direct evening service is your best option, while the slower morning service will get you to the following smaller Extremadura destinations along the way: Monesterio, Fuente de Cantos, Zafra, Los Santos de Maimona, Villafranca de los Barros, and Almendralejo.

Leda has four services Monday-Friday and two services on weekends to Mérida. Coaches depart from Estación de Autobuses Plaza de Armas. The journey duration varies between 2h 45min and 3h. This service stops in Monesterio, Calzadilla de los Barros, Zafra, Los Santos de Maimona, Villafranca de los Barros, Almendralejo, and Torremejía.

Its daily 4pm service (arriving in Mérida at 6.45pm) goes to Villanueva de la Serena, also stopping in Valverde de Mérida, Guareña, Mengabril, and Don Benito.

Route 2: Seville to Cáceres

Alsa has five daily services on weekdays and Sundays, and four services on Saturdays. Coaches depart from Estación de Autobuses Plaza de Armas. The journey duration varies between 3h 15min and 4h 10min.

The quicker, more direct service only stops in Mérida, while the slower services stop in the same places mentioned above for Alsa’s service from Seville to Mérida.

Route 3: Seville to Badajoz

Basebus serves the route Seville-Badajoz three times a day Monday-Friday, once a day on Saturdays, and twice a day on Sundays from Estación de Autobuses Plaza de Armas. The journey duration to Badajoz varies between 2h 30min and 3h 20min, depending on the service.

The quicker, more direct service is your best option if you’re travelling to Badajoz, while the slower service will get you to the following smaller Extremadura destinations along the way: Segura de León, Bodonal de la Sierra, Fregenal de la Sierra, Jerez de los Caballeros, Barcarrota, Almendral, and La Albuera.

From Salamanca

Route 1: Salamanca to Plasencia

Alsa runs five daily services to Plasencia, the journey duration varying between 1h 40min and 2h 30min, depending on the service.

The slowest service stops in the following places in Cáceres province: Baños de Montemayor, Hervás, Aldeanueva del Camino, Jarilla, Villar de Plasencia, and Oliva de Plasencia.

Route 2: Salamanca to Cáceres

Alsa runs five daily services Monday-Friday and four services on weekends to Cáceres. The journey duration varies between 3h and 3h 45min, depending on the service.

The slowest service stops in the following places in Cáceres province: Baños de Montemayor, Hervás, Aldeanueva del Camino, Jarilla, Villar de Plasencia, Oliva de Plasencia, Plasencia, Grimaldo, and Cañaveral.

Route 3: Salamanca to Mérida

Alsa runs five daily services to Mérida, the journey duration varying between 3h 55min and 5h 10min, depending on the service.

The slowest service stops in the following places in Extremadura: Baños de Montemayor, Hervás, Aldeanueva del Camino, Jarilla, Villar de Plasencia, Oliva de Plasencia, Plasencia, Grimaldo, Cañaveral, Cáceres, Valdesalor, Aldea del Cano, Casas de Don Antonio, Aljucén, and El Carrascalejo.

From Lisbon

The Portuguese capital is a good place to start your trip to Extremadura by coach only if you’re travelling to Badajoz or Mérida.

Route 1: Lisbon to Mérida

Alsa runs one daily coach service to Mérida departing from Sete Rios station, and Oriente station. The journey duration from Sete Rios is 4h 15min and from Oriente station is 3h 45min.

Flixbus serves Mérida with one daily coach service departing from Oriente station. The journey varies between 4h.

Route 2: Lisbon to Cáceres

There are no direct coach services from Lisbon to Cáceres, so you need to make a connection, either in Badajoz or Mérida.

Route 3: Lisbon to Badajoz

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.

Flixbus serves Badajoz with four daily coaches departing from Oriente station. The journey varies between 2h 40min and 3h 20min.

Travelling around Extremadura by coach

This section is aimed at helping you plan coach trips around the region. Each subsection includes a (non-exclusive) list of places you can reach by coach from one of the main Extremadura destinations, organised by area. At the end of each subsection you’ll be able to search for and book your coach tickets.

From Mérida

You can travel by coach from Mérida to the following places within Cáceres province:

Campo Arañuelo: Navalmoral de la Mata.
Cáceres
Lácara-Los Baldíos: Trujillanos.
Miajadas-Trujillo: Miajadas, Villamesías, Puerto de Santa Cruz, Trujillo.
Monfragüe and surroundings: Cañaveral, Grimaldo.
Plasencia
Sierra de Montánchez y Tamuja: Valdesalor, Aldea del Cano, Casas de Don Antonio.
Trasierra-Tierras de Granadilla: Jarilla, Villar de Plasencia, Oliva de Plasencia.
Valle del Ambroz: Baños de Montemayor, Hervás, Aldeanueva del Camino.

Badajoz
Lácara-Los Baldíos: Aljucén, El Carrascalejo.
La Serena: Castuera, La Coronada.
La Siberia: Esparragosa de Lares, Navalvillar de Pela, Orellana la Vieja, Orellana de la Sierra, Puebla de Alcocer, Talarrubias.
Sierra Grande-Tierra de Barros: Almendralejo, Torremejía, Villafranca de los Barros.
Sierra Suroeste: Fregenal de la Sierra.
Tentudía: Fuente de Cantos, Monesterio.
Vegas Altas del Guadiana: San Pedro de Mérida, Torrefresneda, Conquista del Guadiana, Gargáligas, Santa Amalia, Don Benito, Villanueva de la Serena, Medellín, Los Guadalperales, Hernán Cortés, Valdehornillos, Valdivia, Vivares, Yelbes.
Zafra-Río Bodión: Calzadilla de los Barros, Los Santos de Maimona, Zafra, Medina de las Torres, Valencia del Ventoso.

From Cáceres

Campo Arañuelo: Navalmoral de la Mata, Almaraz.
La Vera: Tejeda de Tiétar, Torremenga, Jaraíz de la Vera, Cuacos de Yuste, Aldeanueva de la Vera, Jarandilla de la Vera, Losar de la Vera, Viandar de la Vera, Talaveruela de la Vera, Valverde de la Vera, Madrigal de la Vera.
Miajadas-Trujillo: Alcollarín, Campo Lugar, Escurial, Miajadas, Zorita, Trujillo
Monfragüe and surroundings: Cañaveral, Grimaldo, Casas de Miravete, Jaraicejo
Plasencia
Sierra de Montánchez y Tamuja: Almoharín, Valdemorales, Valdesalor, Aldea del Cano, Casas de Don Antonio
Sierra de San Pedro: Herreruela, Membrío, Salorino, Valencia de Alcántara
Tajo-Salor-Almonte: Aliseda, Arroyo de la Luz, Malpartida de Cáceres
Trasierra-Tierras de Granadilla: Jarilla, Villar de Plasencia, Oliva de Plasencia
Valle del Alagón: Torrejoncillo, Coria
Valle del Ambroz: Baños de Montemayor, Hervás, Aldeanueva del Camino,
Villuercas-Ibores-Jara: Deleitosa.
Sierra de Gata: Moraleja, Perales del Puerto, Hoyos, Villamiel, San Martín de Trevejo, Eljas, Valverde del Fresno.

You can travel by coach from Cáceres to the following places within Badajoz  province:

Badajoz
Lácara-Los Baldíos: La Nava, Aljucén, El Carrascalejo.
La Serena: Almorchón, Cabeza del Buey, Benquerencia de la Serena, Castuera, Monterrubio de la Serena, Capilla, Helechal, La Coronada, Peñalsordo, Zarza Capilla
La Siberia: Garlitos, Sancti Spiritus.
Mérida
Sierra Grande-Tierra de Barros: Torremejía, Almendralejo.
Vegas Altas del Guadiana: Don Benito, Madrigalejo, Villanueva de la Serena.
Zafra-Río Bodión: Zafra.

From Badajoz

Cáceres
Campo Arañuelo: Navalmoral de la Mata, Almaraz.
Miajadas-Trujillo: Trujillo, Puerto de Santa Cruz, Villamesías, Miajadas.
Monfragüe and surroundings: Miravete, Jaraicejo.
Plasencia

Lácara-Los Baldíos: Trujillanos, Montijo, Lobón, Gévora, Alburquerque, Villar del Rey, San Vicente de Alcántara, La Codosera.
La Serena: Castuera, La Coronada.
La Siberia: Casas de Don Pedro, Esparragosa de Lares, Navalvillar de Pela, Orellana de la Sierra, Orellana la Vieja, Puebla de Alcocer, Talarrubias.
Mérida
Olivenza area: Barcarrota, Almendral, Alconchel, Villanueva del Fresno, Cheles.
Sierra Grande-Tierra de Barros: Almendralejo, Torremejía, La Albuera.
Sierra Suroeste: Jerez de los Caballeros, Higuera la Real, Valle de Matamoros, Valle de Santa Ana.
Tentudía: Segura de León, Bodonal de la Sierra, Fregenal de la Sierra, Calera de León, Cabeza la Vaca.
Vegas Altas del Guadiana: Conquista del Guadiana, Torrefresneda, San Pedro de Mérida, Ruecas, Acedera, Don Benito, Gargáligas, Los Guadalperales, Hernán Cortés, Medellín, San Pedro de Mérida, Santa Amalia, Valdivia, Villanueva de la Serena.
Zafra-Río Bodión: Zafra.

From Plasencia

You can travel by coach from Plasencia to the following places within Cáceres province:

Campo Arañuelo: Navalmoral de la Mata.
Las Hurdes: Vegas de Coria, Arrolobos, Las Mestas, Cabezo, Ladrillar, Riomalo de Arriba, Rubiaco, Nuñomoral, Aceitunilla, Cerezal, Martilandrán, Fragosa, El Gasco, Asegur, Casarrubia, La Huetre, Casares de las Hurdes, Carabusino, Robledo de Casares, Casar de Palomero.
La Vera: Tejeda de Tiétar, Torremenga, Jaraíz de la Vera, Cuacos de Yuste, Aldeanueva de la Vera, Jarandilla de la Vera, Losar de la Vera, Viandar de la Vera, Talaveruela de la Vera, Valverde de la Vera, Madrigal de la Vera.
Monfragüe and surroundings: Malpartida de Plasencia.
Trasierra-Tierras de Granadilla: Oliva de Plasencia, Jarilla, Villar de Plasencia, Guijo de Granadilla, Mohedas de Granadilla, La Pesga, Zarza de Granadilla.
Valle del Ambroz: Aldeanueva del Camino, Hervás, Baños de Montemayor, Abadía, Ahigal.
Valle del Jerte: Navaconcejo, Cabezuela del Valle, Jerte, Tornavacas.

Mérida
Sierra Grande-Tierra de Barros: Almendralejo, Villafranca de los Barros.
Zafra-Río Bodión: Zafra.

From Trujillo

Cáceres
Campo Arañuelo: Navalmoral de la Mata, Almaraz.
Miajadas-Trujillo: Puerto de Santa Cruz, Villamesías, Miajadas.
Monfragüe and surroundings: Casas de Miravete, Jaraicejo.

Badajoz
Vegas Altas del Guadiana: Conquista del Guadiana, Torrefresneda, San Pedro de Mérida, Don Benito.
Lácara-Los Baldíos: Trujillanos, Montijo, Lobón.
Mérida

Extremadura by coach: things to bear in mind

Pros

Coaches reach small destinations. This is particularly important for non-drivers travelling on their own.

Coaches can be a good alternative to trains. For example, the Madrid-Cáceres coach journey is only ten minutes longer than the train journey.

You travel like a local. Coaches are mostly used by non-driving locals, mainly by students and the elderly. If you like observing locals when you travel and speak Spanish, you’ll probably enjoy the surprising, random and sometimes hilarious conversations you overhear on coaches.

You can practice your Spanish and gain local insight. If you like chatting to people when travelling, coaches are your friend, particularly if you happen to sit next to an elderly lady.

Cons

Coaches are slow. Coach journeys between main destinations are generally slower than train journeys, and always slower than driving. If you travel to a main destination, make sure you choose the most direct route possible.

Tickets cannot always be bought in advance. For some services, you need to buy your ticket on the day from the driver.

Places are not always guaranteed. For the services where tickets are to be bought from the driver, it’s impossible to know whether you’ll get a place in advance. There’s always the chance of turning up at the station and finding out that the coach is full.

Confusing info about coaches. For some popular routes, particularly on specific dates or bank holidays, there might be several coaches doing the route simultaneously. Your ticket will normally specify your coach number (e.g. coche 1), but the actual coach will rarely display that information on the screen. Driver often arrive at the station and start shouting the coach number or several destinations on the platform. It’s often chaotic.

Infrequent services. Coaches are not exactly the best option to visit smaller destinations. Services covering rural areas are very slow, with frequent stops, and they may only run once a day, or just several times a week, which doesn’t really suit day trips.

Extremadura bus stations

Speaking from personal experience, bus stations in Extremadura are not great. A quick search on Google Maps will reveal mostly absolutely terrible reviews.

Generally speaking, they are understaffed, the facilities are old and in need of renovation and maintenance work, toilets range from ‘ok, at least there’s paper’ to dirty, and the on-site bars are not the best.

To give you an idea of what to expect, here are several examples:

Mérida Bus Station. There are ten ticket offices, yet only one is open. The arrivals and departures board is not working. The ticket office person is the one announcing the departures and arrivals, too, so you need to keep your ears peeled to catch whether your coach has arrived or not. I asked for a coffee at the on-site bar once, and I’m never going back.

Trujillo Bus Station. Built in 2015 in the outskirts to replace the older, more central one, the new station has so far failed to impress users. It was quite exciting in the beginning, particularly the brand new coffee shop. But, for some reason, it stopped working properly no long after that and the coffee shop closed. Ticket offices are supposed to open from Monday to Friday, but sometimes, you’ll find them closed. And on weekends, there is nowhere to buy tickets, nowhere to use the toilet, nowhere to buy food or water, and nowhere to wait for a coach indoors.

Planning your Extremadura coach trip

Some final few considerations when planning your trip:

Coaches are generally best for travelling to main destinations. They’re also a good option for certain day trips to smaller towns and villages from the main destinations.

If you only have several days in Extremadura, coaches are a good option to visit one or two main destinations. Coaches are far from ideal as a mode of transport for exploring smaller places, or many places in a single trip.

Coaches are a good option for non-drivers travelling on their own to places not served by trains.

Deciding whether coaches are the best mode of transport to travel to or around Extremadura will depend on many factors, including where, when, and how you travel. If you have specific questions, write a comment below.