Compare: Madrid→Seville (390 km) vs Madrid→Valencia (303 km). Madrid → Valencia wins by 87 km (22%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 21, 2026
390 km
242 miles · Flight: ~59 min · Drive: ~6h 20min
303 km
188 miles · Flight: ~53 min · Drive: ~4h 55min
✓ Shorter route
Difference: 87 km (22%) · Flight time difference: ~6 min
Verdict
Madrid → Valencia is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 87 km (22%) shorter, saves about 6 min of flight time, and cuts roughly 22 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Madrid → Seville only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Madrid → Valencia is the shorter route at 303 km, which is 87 km (22%) shorter than Madrid → Seville. You would save approximately 6 min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Madrid → Seville | Madrid → Valencia |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 390 | 303 |
| Distance (miles) | 242 | 188 |
| Flight time | ~59 min | ~53 min |
| Driving time | ~6h 20min | ~4h 55min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~507 km | ~394 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 211° (SSW) | 109° (ESE) |
| Time-zone shift | None | None |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~99 kg | ~77 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~87 kg | ~67 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$51 USD | ~$39 USD |
Flying from Madrid to Seville produces roughly 99 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Madrid → Valencia flight emits about 77 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 22 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 1 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 87 kg and 67 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The Madrid to Seville route covers 390 km (242 miles), staying within Europe. Madrid (population: 3,223,334) is located in Community of Madrid, Spain, while Seville (population: 688,711) is in Andalusia, Spain.
The Madrid to Valencia route covers 303 km (188 miles), remaining within Europe. Madrid (population: 3,223,334) is in Community of Madrid, Spain, and Valencia (population: 791,413) is in Valencia, Spain.
Flying from Madrid to Seville takes approximately 59 min, while Madrid to Valencia takes 53 min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 6h 20min for the first route and 4h 55min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Madrid, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Seville and Valencia as a destination.
The 87 km difference between these routes is noticeable in both travel time and fuel or ticket costs.
Both routes are drivable, with road distances of approximately 507 km and 394 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 113 km of driving.
Seville (Spain) has a population of 688,711 and is located in the Andalusia region of Europe. It's a charming destination known for its regional character.
Valencia (Spain) has a population of 791,413 and is situated in Valencia, Europe. This destination offers a more intimate travel experience with unique local culture.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Seville (Spain) — a city of 688,711 in the Andalusia region of Europe. Despite being the longer of the two at 390 km, it makes sense when Seville itself is the destination, the schedule fits better, or ticket prices are noticeably lower. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 507 km of road and a fuel cost band around $51 USD. The initial bearing is 211° (SSW), so a great-circle flight leaves Madrid heading roughly SSW.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Valencia (Spain) — a city of 791,413 in the Valencia region of Europe. It is also the shorter of the two at 303 km, saving about 6 min of flying and around 22 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 394 km of road and a fuel cost in the $39 USD range. Departing Madrid, the great-circle bearing toward Valencia is 109° (ESE).
Madrid (40.42°, -3.70°) and Seville (37.39°, -5.98°) sit in the same approximate time zone. Madrid (40.42°, -3.70°) and Valencia (39.47°, -0.38°) share an approximate time zone. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
Valencia is closer at 303 km, which is 87 km (22%) shorter.
390 km (242 miles). Flight: ~59 min.
303 km (188 miles). Flight: ~53 min.
Flying to Valencia is faster at ~53 min, saving about 6 min compared to Seville.
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.