Compare: Lisbon→Madrid (502 km) vs Lisbon→Barcelona (1,006 km). Lisbon → Madrid wins by 504 km (50%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 21, 2026
502 km
312 miles · Flight: ~1h 8min · Drive: ~8h 9min
✓ Shorter route
1,006 km
625 miles · Flight: ~1h 45min · Drive: ~16h 21min
Difference: 504 km (50%) · Flight time difference: ~37 min
Verdict
Lisbon → Madrid is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 504 km (50%) shorter, saves about 37 min of flight time, and cuts roughly 129 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Lisbon → Barcelona only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Lisbon → Madrid is the shorter route at 502 km, which is 504 km (50%) shorter than Lisbon → Barcelona. You would save approximately 37 min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Lisbon → Madrid | Lisbon → Barcelona |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 502 | 1,006 |
| Distance (miles) | 312 | 625 |
| Flight time | ~1h 8min | ~1h 45min |
| Driving time | ~8h 9min | ~16h 21min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~653 km | ~1,308 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 66° (ENE) | 69° (ENE) |
| Time-zone shift | +1h | +1h |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~128 kg | ~257 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~112 kg | ~224 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$65 USD | ~$131 USD |
Flying from Lisbon to Madrid produces roughly 128 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Lisbon → Barcelona flight emits about 257 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 129 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 6 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 112 kg and 224 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The Lisbon to Madrid route covers 502 km (312 miles), staying within Europe. Lisbon (population: 544,851) is located in Lisbon, Portugal, while Madrid (population: 3,223,334) is in Community of Madrid, Spain.
The Lisbon to Barcelona route covers 1,006 km (625 miles), remaining within Europe. Lisbon (population: 544,851) is in Lisbon, Portugal, and Barcelona (population: 1,620,343) is in Catalonia, Spain.
Flying from Lisbon to Madrid takes approximately 1h 8min, while Lisbon to Barcelona takes 1h 45min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 8h 9min for the first route and 16h 21min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Lisbon, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Madrid and Barcelona as a destination.
The 504 km difference between these routes is substantial and will significantly impact travel time and cost.
Both routes are drivable, with road distances of approximately 653 km and 1,308 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 655 km of driving.
Madrid (Spain) has a population of 3,223,334 and is located in the Community of Madrid region of Europe. It's a significant city with good transport links and cultural offerings.
Barcelona (Spain) has a population of 1,620,343 and is situated in Catalonia, Europe. This city serves as an important regional hub with solid connectivity.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Madrid (Spain) — a city of 3,223,334 in the Community of Madrid region of Europe. It is also the shorter option at 502 km, which translates to a 37 min flight-time saving and roughly 129 kg less CO₂ per passenger versus the alternative. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 653 km of road and a fuel cost band around $65 USD. The initial bearing is 66° (ENE), so a great-circle flight leaves Lisbon heading roughly ENE.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Barcelona (Spain) — a city of 1,620,343 in the Catalonia region of Europe. Even though it is the longer route at 1,006 km, it remains the obvious pick when Barcelona is the actual destination, when departure schedules from Lisbon are more convenient, or when fares undercut the alternative. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 1,308 km of road and a fuel cost in the $131 USD range. Departing Lisbon, the great-circle bearing toward Barcelona is 69° (ENE).
Lisbon (38.72°, -9.14°) and Madrid (40.42°, -3.70°) sit with a time-zone shift of +1 hour. Lisbon (38.72°, -9.14°) and Barcelona (41.39°, 2.17°) have a +1-hour offset. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
Madrid is closer at 502 km, which is 504 km (50%) shorter.
502 km (312 miles). Flight: ~1h 8min.
1,006 km (625 miles). Flight: ~1h 45min.
Flying to Madrid is faster at ~1h 8min, saving about 37 min compared to Barcelona.
All distances on SnapDistance are calculated using the Haversine formula, which determines the great-circle distance between two points on Earth's surface. This gives the shortest possible distance over the globe, which is the measurement used for aviation and navigation. Actual travel distances by road or rail are typically 20-40% longer due to terrain, borders, and infrastructure routing. Flight times assume 800 km/h cruising speed with 30 minutes for takeoff and landing. Driving estimates use 80 km/h average speed with a 30% road distance factor.
📍 Data: Coordinates from OpenStreetMap contributors. Distances calculated using the Haversine formula. Travel times are estimates only. Last verified: April 21, 2026.