Compare: Paris→Madrid (1,053 km) vs Paris→Lisbon (1,453 km). Paris → Madrid wins by 400 km (28%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 21, 2026
1,053 km
654 miles · Flight: ~1h 49min · Drive: ~17h 7min
✓ Shorter route
1,453 km
903 miles · Flight: ~2h 19min · Drive: ~23h 37min
Difference: 400 km (28%) · Flight time difference: ~30 min
Verdict
Paris → Madrid is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 400 km (28%) shorter, saves about 30 min of flight time, and cuts roughly 102 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Paris → Lisbon only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Paris → Madrid is the shorter route at 1,053 km, which is 400 km (28%) shorter than Paris → Lisbon. You would save approximately 30 min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Paris → Madrid | Paris → Lisbon |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 1,053 | 1,453 |
| Distance (miles) | 654 | 903 |
| Flight time | ~1h 49min | ~2h 19min |
| Driving time | ~17h 7min | ~23h 37min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~1,369 km | ~1,889 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 209° (SSW) | 223° (SW) |
| Time-zone shift | None | -1h |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~269 kg | ~371 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~234 kg | ~323 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$137 USD | ~$189 USD |
Flying from Paris to Madrid produces roughly 269 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Paris → Lisbon flight emits about 371 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 102 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 5 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 234 kg and 323 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The Paris to Madrid route covers 1,053 km (654 miles), staying within Europe. Paris (population: 2,161,000) is located in Île-de-France, France, while Madrid (population: 3,223,334) is in Community of Madrid, Spain.
The Paris to Lisbon route covers 1,453 km (903 miles), remaining within Europe. Paris (population: 2,161,000) is in Île-de-France, France, and Lisbon (population: 544,851) is in Lisbon, Portugal.
Flying from Paris to Madrid takes approximately 1h 49min, while Paris to Lisbon takes 2h 19min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 17h 7min for the first route and 23h 37min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Paris, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Madrid and Lisbon as a destination.
The 400 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 1,369 km and 1,889 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 520 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.
Lisbon (Portugal) has a population of 544,851 and is situated in Lisbon, Europe. This destination offers a more intimate travel experience with unique local culture.
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 1,053 km, which translates to a 30 min flight-time saving and roughly 102 kg less CO₂ per passenger versus the alternative. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 1,369 km of road and a fuel cost band around $137 USD. The initial bearing is 209° (SSW), so a great-circle flight leaves Paris heading roughly SSW.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Lisbon (Portugal) — a city of 544,851 in the Lisbon region of Europe. Even though it is the longer route at 1,453 km, it remains the obvious pick when Lisbon is the actual destination, when departure schedules from Paris are more convenient, or when fares undercut the alternative. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 1,889 km of road and a fuel cost in the $189 USD range. Departing Paris, the great-circle bearing toward Lisbon is 223° (SW).
Paris (48.86°, 2.35°) and Madrid (40.42°, -3.70°) sit in the same approximate time zone. Paris (48.86°, 2.35°) and Lisbon (38.72°, -9.14°) 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 1,053 km, which is 400 km (28%) shorter.
1,053 km (654 miles). Flight: ~1h 49min.
1,453 km (903 miles). Flight: ~2h 19min.
Flying to Madrid is faster at ~1h 49min, saving about 30 min compared to Lisbon.
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.