Madrid to Lisbon is one of Iberia’s busiest short-haul hops, with around 15 non-stop flights a day and a flight time of about 90 minutes. It is also one of the cheapest flights in Europe: checking every fare on sale, returns run from €41 to €66, with a median of €45 — the dearest ticket we can find still costs less than a good dinner in either city. This guide covers who actually flies non-stop, what a return really costs in euros, and when to book.
Route: Madrid (MAD) → Lisbon, Humberto Delgado (LIS)
Distance: approximately 505 km (315 miles)
Non-stop flight time: about 1h 30m — every non-stop we track runs 1h 20m to 1h 30m
Direct flights: Yes — every single fare we track on this route is non-stop. TAP Air Portugal, Iberia, Air Europa and Ryanair all fly it, with Ryanair supplying four out of five of the cheapest fares.
Fares from Madrid to Lisbon (EUR)
This is a short, competitive route, and the fares are not just modest — they are almost flat. Checking every departure on sale, the whole market sits between €41 and €66: Ryanair at the bottom, and Iberia, Air Europa and TAP clustered in the high fifties and low sixties. Demand still rises over July–August and Christmas, but there is very little room for the price to move. We do not print a euro figure against each month, because the honest answer is that they would all read much the same.
| Month | Demand | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | low |
| February | — | low |
| March | — | medium |
| April | — | medium (Easter) |
| May | — | medium |
| June | — | medium-high |
| July | — | high |
| August | — | high |
| September | — | medium |
| October | — | low-medium |
| November | — | low |
| December | — | high (holidays) |
Checked against every return fare on sale as we write: the cheapest is €41 on Ryanair, the median across the whole route is €45, and the most expensive ticket we can find is €66 on TAP. The full-service carriers — Iberia, Air Europa and TAP — sit at €57–€66, so paying for a bag and a proper ticket costs about €15 more, not double. On a route this cheap the sensible rule is simple: anything at or near €45 is the going rate, and if you need a checked bag the full-service fare is worth the small premium rather than paying Ryanair’s bag fee on top.
Airlines on this route
Non-stop (about 1h 25m):
- Ryanair — the cheapest by a clear margin and the source of four out of five of the lowest fares we track, at €41–€60 return. Cabin-baggage-only pricing, so check the bag fees before comparing.
- TAP Air Portugal — the most frequent operator, with a strong daily schedule and easy onward connections at Lisbon. In our data its returns run €60–€66, the top of a very narrow market.
- Iberia — frequent non-stop flights from its Madrid hub, convenient for connections across Spain and Latin America, at about €57–€60.
- Air Europa — several daily non-stops at roughly €57–€60; genuinely competitive for a full-service ticket with a bag included.
- easyJet — also serves the route, though it did not appear among the cheapest fares when we checked; worth a look on your dates.
With five carriers competing, there is almost always a same-day option to suit your schedule. The unusual thing about this route is how little separates them: about €15 between the cheapest Ryanair fare and a full-service ticket with a bag. If you travel hand-luggage-only, Ryanair wins; if you need a checked bag, Iberia, Air Europa or TAP will almost certainly beat Ryanair’s fare plus its bag fee.
When to book & how to save
- Book 3–8 weeks ahead for the best short-haul fares; last-minute prices on this route can spike, especially in summer.
- Avoid July, August and the Christmas holidays if you can — late autumn and midwinter (outside the holidays) are the cheapest.
- Travel hand-luggage only to unlock the lowest Ryanair and easyJet fares, or pick TAP/Iberia/Air Europa if a checked bag is included in the all-in price.
- Be flexible by a day or two: midweek departures (Tuesday to Thursday) are usually a little cheaper than Friday–Sunday.
- Compare the all-in cost: once you add a bag and seat to a low-cost fare, a full-service ticket can work out the same or better.
Arriving in Lisbon
Flights land at Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS), only about 7 km north of the city centre. The cheapest way in is the Metro (red line) directly from the terminal, around €1.80 plus the reusable card, taking roughly 20–25 minutes to the centre with one change. A taxi or ride-hail to downtown is usually €12–€20 and about 15–20 minutes outside rush hour. The Aerobus shuttle is another option if you have heavy luggage.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the flight from Madrid to Lisbon?
The non-stop flight takes about 1 hour 25 minutes in the air. With check-in, security and boarding, allow around three hours door to gate. It is one of the quickest international hops in Iberia, which is why fares stay low and frequencies are high.
Are there direct flights from Madrid to Lisbon?
Yes — and every fare we track on the route is non-stop. TAP Air Portugal, Iberia, Air Europa, easyJet and Ryanair all fly it, with around 15 departures a day between them and Ryanair behind most of the cheapest fares. You never need to connect on this route.
How much does it cost to fly from Madrid to Lisbon?
Very little. The whole market sits between €41 and €66 return in the fares we can currently see, with a median of €45. Ryanair is cheapest at €41–€60; Iberia, Air Europa and TAP run €57–€66 with a checked bag typically included. July, August and Christmas are the busiest weeks, but the fare has little room to climb.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Madrid to Lisbon?
January, February and November are the quietest months to travel. On price the month barely matters here: across every departure we could check, the cheapest return stayed around €41–€45. July, August and the Christmas holidays are still the busiest weeks on the route.
Which airlines fly from Madrid to Lisbon?
Five carriers fly non-stop: TAP Air Portugal and Iberia (the most frequent), plus Air Europa, easyJet and Ryanair. In our fare data Ryanair supplies four out of five of the cheapest returns at €41–€60, while TAP, Iberia and Air Europa run €57–€66 with a checked bag usually included.
Which airport do I fly into in Lisbon?
You arrive at Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS), Lisbon’s single main airport, about 7 km north of the city centre. It is well connected by Metro, bus and taxi, so getting into town is quick and cheap.
How far in advance should I book Madrid to Lisbon flights?
Aim to book 3 to 8 weeks ahead for the best balance of price and choice. Short-haul fares on this route tend to rise close to departure, particularly in summer and around Christmas, so booking a little early usually saves money.
Is it cheaper to fly on weekdays?
Often, yes — midweek departures (Tuesday to Thursday) are typically a little cheaper than Friday to Sunday. Being flexible by a day or two, and travelling hand-luggage only, are the two easiest ways to cut the fare on this short route.
Fare guidance based on aifly.one deal tracking and current airline schedules; last reviewed July 2026. Indicative economy returns — always check the live fare before booking.
