Spain occupies most of the Iberian Peninsula and shares a land border with Portugal along the entire eastern side of the country and part of the north. The border runs 1,214 km, from Caminha on the Atlantic coast in the north to Vila Real de Santo António on the Algarve coast in the south. Both countries belong to the Schengen Area, so vehicles and travellers cross without routine passport control. Portugal faces the Atlantic Ocean along its western and southern coasts.
Main cities of Spain
Madrid is the capital of Spain and sits close to the geographic centre of the country. The table below lists the largest and most visited Spanish cities, with approximate road distance and driving time from Lisbon.
| City | Region | Road distance from Lisbon | Drive time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seville | Andalusia | 465 km | 4h30 |
| Córdoba | Andalusia | 485 km | 5h30 |
| Madrid | Community of Madrid | 625 km | 6h00 |
| Granada | Andalusia | 700 km | 6h45 |
| Bilbao | Basque Country | 870 km | 7h45 |
| Valencia | Valencian Community | 890 km | 9h00 |
| Barcelona | Catalonia | 1,210 km | 11h00 |
Distances are road distances by the fastest route. Driving times exclude stops and assume normal traffic.
Spanish cities to visit on a day trip from Portugal
Four Spanish cities sit close enough to a Portuguese base for a return trip within one day. Each row names the Portuguese city that works best as the starting point.
| Spanish city | Start from | Road distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vigo | Porto | 150 km | 1h35 |
| Seville | Faro | 200 km | 2h00 |
| Badajoz | Lisbon | 310 km | 3h00 |
| Salamanca | Porto | 350 km | 3h30 |
Spain runs one hour ahead of mainland Portugal throughout the year. Travellers crossing for the day should account for that hour when planning opening times and the return drive.
Visit Portugal
Portugal borders Spain along its entire eastern side. The profile below covers the country in detail.
