Train stations in Mérida

Mérida has one station, a flat walk from Plaza de España, with Alvia trains to Madrid in about four hours and Renfe trains to Seville, Cáceres and Badajoz.

Getting from Mérida station to Plaza de España

Plaza de España lies south-west of the station on flat streets, and the Roman Theatre, on Plaza Margarita Xirgu, is a little further, east of the square. City buses do not stop at the station: lines A and C call at Basílica de Santa Eulalia nearby and run to Paseo de Roma, but walking is easier. A single bus ticket costs €0.95.

Trains to and from Mérida

Times are as of October 2026.

• Madrid: trains leave Mérida at 07:56, 13:10, 15:27 and 18:18 from Monday to Friday, at 09:09 and 15:27 on Saturdays, and at 09:09, 13:10, 15:27 and 18:18 on Sundays. The 07:56, 09:09 and 18:18 are Alvia trains, which take 3 hours 50 minutes to 4 hours 5 minutes to Atocha and 4 hours 10 minutes to 4 hours 25 minutes to Chamartín-Clara Campoamor. The 13:10 Regional Exprés and the 15:27 Media Distancia end at Atocha and take 4 hours 20 minutes to 4 hours 50 minutes.
• From Madrid: Alvia trains arrive at 12:55 from Monday to Friday, at 13:22 on Saturdays and at 20:40 every day. A Media Distancia from Atocha arrives at 15:15 (15:25 at weekends) and goes on to Seville, and a Regional Exprés arrives at 19:15 except on Saturdays.
• Seville: there is no fast train. A Regional Exprés leaves at 07:55 from Monday to Friday (09:04 at weekends) and a Media Distancia at 15:28 (15:29 at weekends), each taking 3 hours 20 minutes to 3 hours 30 minutes to Sevilla-Santa Justa. Trains from Seville arrive at 15:13 and 20:30.
• Cáceres and Plasencia: Cáceres takes 37 to 44 minutes, with five trains a day from Monday to Friday. Plasencia takes about 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes.
• Badajoz: 30 to 57 minutes, with five or six trains a day.
• Ciudad Real: two trains a day, a Media Distancia at 07:50 (07:37 at weekends), arriving 11:07 (11:01 at weekends), and a Regional Exprés at 15:30, arriving 19:12.
• Lisbon: there is no direct train. From Monday to Friday the 13:00 Alvia from Mérida reaches Badajoz at 13:38, in time for the daily CP Regional at 14:09; at weekends take the 09:05 from Mérida, which arrives in Badajoz at 09:49, and wait there for it. Change at Entroncamento to a CP Intercidades, which reaches Lisboa Santa Apolónia at 17:00 Portuguese time. The 18:14 from Mérida (not on Saturdays) reaches Badajoz at 19:00, and the 19:41 CP Regional with the same change reaches Lisbon at 22:50. CP Intercidades need a seat reservation. Clocks in Portugal are an hour behind. CP times are as of October 2026 and may change in mid-December.

Holidays and Christmas

As of October 2026, these dates change the Madrid timetable. On Sunday 1 November and Sunday 6 December trains leave Mérida at 09:09 and 15:27, and arrive from Madrid at 13:22, 15:25 and 20:40. On Monday 2 November and Tuesday 8 December they leave at 09:09, 13:10, 15:27 and 18:18, and arrive at 15:15 (15:25 on 8 December), 19:15 and 20:40. On Monday 7 December they leave at 09:09 and 15:27, and arrive at 12:55, 15:25 and 20:40. On 24 and 31 December the 18:18 does not run. On 25 December and 1 January trains leave at 09:09, 15:27 and 18:18, and arrive at 15:25 and 20:40. On Wednesday 6 January trains leave Mérida for Madrid at 09:09, 13:10 and 15:27, and arrive from Madrid at 13:22, 15:25, 19:15 and 20:40.

Tickets

Buy train tickets on renfe.com or in the Renfe app, which charge no booking fee, or at the station ticket office or ticket machines, which take cards only. The station hall is open daily from 06:45 to 21:40. Buy before you board: paying on the train is possible only as an exception, on trains that allow it.

Rail passes and reservations

As of October 2026, Interrail passes are valid on Renfe trains. Alvia trains need a paid reservation of €6.50 in second class, and Media Distancia trains need one of €4. On Regional Exprés trains the €4 reservation is not always required. Regional trains need no reservation.

Madrid has two stations

Alvia trains from Mérida call at Atocha and go on to Chamartín-Clara Campoamor, on the north side of the city. Regional Exprés and Media Distancia trains end at Atocha.