🇪🇸 Cross-border drive · Spain → Austria 🇦🇹
Driving from Madrid to Vienna
Drive from Madrid to Vienna via France and Germany. Navigate A-1, AP-1, A63, E40, and German Autobahns. Essential tips for this epic cross-border journey.
- Drive time
- 24h 46m
- Distance
- 2,392 km
- Same day?
- Split it
- 12 h+, plan a stop
- Fuel cost
- ≈ €340
- petrol · diesel ≈ €290
- Tolls
- ≈ €198
- mixed
- EV charging
- Unknown
- not yet surveyed
On this page
Route map
Route options
Other paths OSRM found between the two cities — handy when traffic, tolls, or scenery matter more than raw speed.
Avoids motorways
+11h 41m- Distance:
- 2,383 km (−9 km)
- Duration:
- 36h 27m
Via: B 16 · N 145 · N 10 · CL-101
How else can you make this trip?
Driving is the focus of this guide; here's how cycling, coach, and (soon) train and plane stack up for the same pair.
24h 46m
2.392 km · €340 fuel
See details ↓
Not realistic
2.392 km is far beyond a typical multi-day cycle tour. Try a shorter pair like a day or weekend stage.
No direct service
Our coach data (FlixBus + BlaBlaCar) doesn't list a direct service for this pair. National operators (e.g., National Express in the UK, Eurolines feeders) may still cover it — check their site directly.
3h 37m
from €40
See details ↓
25h 23m
RENFE OPERADORA · SNCF VOYAGEURS
See details ↓
What the drive is like
Drafted from the route's computed data on April 24, 2026 and reviewed against the route summary card. Read our methodology.
Your journey from Madrid begins by picking up the A-1 north, quickly transitioning onto the AP-1 toll motorway as you head towards the French border. This initial leg is a familiar Spanish motorway experience, with well-maintained surfaces and services readily available. As you cross into France, the road network changes. You'll navigate the AP-8 and then the A 63 towards Bordeaux, a significant stretch that will see you covering considerable ground. Watch for the immediate shift in tolling systems; French autoroutes are predominantly pay-as-you-go, unlike the Spanish system. Further north, the route guides you onto the A 630 and then the N 89, leading you deeper into central France, marking the point where the extensive French motorway network gives way to slightly more varied roads as you aim northeast. The crucial transition to Germany will likely involve picking up an eastbound European route, such as the E40, or a series of Autobahns. Here, the experience transforms again. Germany's Autobahn system is famous for its sections with no mandatory speed limits, though varying speed restrictions are common and enforced. Unlike France and Spain, there are no general tolls for cars on German Autobahns; instead, you'll need to be aware of potential environmental zones (Umweltzonen) in major cities like Frankfurt or Cologne, requiring specific stickers for your vehicle. As you progress towards Austria, the landscape will begin to hint at the Alps. Austria mandates a vignette for its motorways, which must be purchased *before* entering the Austrian network, typically at border crossings or service stations just prior. Winter tyre regulations are strictly enforced during the colder months, usually from November to April, requiring specific tyre tread depth and sometimes even mandatory fitment regardless of snow conditions. Fuel prices can fluctuate significantly across these borders, so keep an eye on stations in lower-cost countries if possible. This route offers a diverse driving experience, from Iberian plains to French countryside and German efficiency, culminating in the Austrian approach to Vienna.
Route highlights
- AP-1 toll motorway south of Burgos
- A 63 autoroute section towards Bordeaux
- German Autobahn experience (variable speed)
- N 89 transition in central France
- Austrian vignette requirement
- Potential need for a German 'Umweltplakette'
Trip plan
How to think about the drive: one day, split, or overnight.
Overnight recommended
Too long for a single-driver day. Plan on 2 overnight stop(s) to do this trip right.
A natural overnight stop near the halfway point: Blanzy (fr).
- Distance:
- 2,392 km
- Duration:
- 24h 46m (free-flow, no traffic)
Where to stop
Places along the route that make natural breaks for coffee, lunch, or a night.
-
Briviesca 🇪🇸 es
≈299 km≈ 21.6 km detour from the main route
-
Mimizan 🇫🇷 fr
≈598 km≈ 32.5 km detour from the main route
-
Malemort-sur-Corrèze 🇫🇷 fr
≈897 km≈ 14.7 km detour from the main route
-
Digoin 🇫🇷 fr
≈1,196 km≈ 5.8 km detour from the main route
-
Belfort 🇫🇷 fr
≈1,495 km≈ 3.3 km detour from the main route
-
Köngen 🇩🇪 de
≈1,794 km≈ 1.9 km detour from the main route
-
Burghausen 🇩🇪 de
≈2,093 km≈ 8.9 km detour from the main route
Along the way
Places to stop for coffee, a bite, a view, or the night — from OpenStreetMap.
Food · 6
-
+0.1 km
restaurant · Madrid
-
+0.1 km
fast food · Wien
-
+0.1 km
restaurant · Wien
-
+0.1 km
fast food · Wien
-
+0.2 km
restaurant
-
+0.3 km
restaurant · Wien
Coffee · 6
-
+0.1 km
cafe · Wien
-
+0.2 km
cafe · Wien
-
+0.5 km
cafe · Madrid
-
+0.4 km
OVNI
cafe
-
+0.6 km
cafe
-
+0.9 km
cafe · Madrid
Museums & history · 6
-
+0.5 km
museum · Wien
-
+0.6 km
museum · Wien
-
+0.5 km
museum
-
+0.2 km
Cruceiro Gallego
wayside cross
-
+0.4 km
Monumento en honor a los abogados de Atocha
memorial · Madrid
-
+0.2 km
Kilómetro Cero
memorial
Outdoors · 6
-
+0.4 km
attraction · Wien
-
+0.4 km
attraction
-
+0.7 km
Heldenplatz
attraction
-
+1.6 km
Hundertwasserhaus
attraction
-
+2.7 km
Mirador de Tierno Galván
viewpoint
-
+3.4 km
Mirador Este Parque Enrique Tierno Galván
viewpoint
Stay the night · 6
-
+0.3 km
hotel · Madrid
-
+0.3 km
hotel
-
+0.4 km
hotel · Madrid
-
+0.4 km
hotel
-
+0.4 km
hotel · Madrid
-
+0.5 km
hotel · Madrid
Key moves
Things to know before you set off — borders, sides of the road, tolls.
Multi-country chain · ES → FR → CH → DE → AT
You'll cross 5 countries on this drive — each with its own toll system, fuel pricing, and motorway rules. Skim the must-know section below before you set off, and have your registration plus insurance card in the door pocket for any roadside check.
Tolls on motorways in ES / FR
Budget for motorway tolls — France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal charge per-km, Croatia and Greece by section. Contactless cards work almost everywhere; have one loaded.
Vignette required in CH / AT
Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Bulgaria, and Romania require a sticker or e-vignette for motorway use. Buy at the border — missing one is a heavy on-the-spot fine.
Long rural stretch on N 70
Plan for about 43 km of two-lane country roads. Slower than motorway, but often the pretty part — fewer overtakes after dark.
Long rural stretch on N 80
Plan for about 26 km of two-lane country roads. Slower than motorway, but often the pretty part — fewer overtakes after dark.
Must-know before you go
The things a driver from another country wouldn't think to ask about — fines, stickers, payment cards, opening hours.
City access & emission zones
Berlin, Munich, Stuttgart need a green Umweltplakette
Must knowGermany's low-emission zones (Umweltzone) are simpler than the French system but stricter on entry. You need a colour-coded sticker physically on your windscreen before entering. The vast majority of zones today require a green sticker (Euro 4+ petrol, Euro 6+ diesel). Order via TÜV / DEKRA / certified workshops — about €6–13, ships in days. Driving without one costs €100 even if your car would qualify.
Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla now run ZBE low-emission zones
Must knowSpain's Zonas de Bajas Emisiones (ZBE) cover central Madrid (24/7), Barcelona inside the Rondes (weekdays 7:00–20:00), Sevilla, Valencia and a growing list. Foreign plates need to register at the city portal in advance — your Euro emission class determines whether you get in. Without registration, cameras log entry and the fine reaches your home address.
Order your Crit'Air sticker before the trip
Must knowParis, Lyon, Strasbourg, Marseille, Toulouse and a growing list of cities require a Crit'Air air-quality sticker visible on your windscreen — even for a single drive-through. It's €4.51 from the official site and ships by post (allow 2–6 weeks abroad). Without it, expect on-the-spot fines from €68. Your registration document tells the issuer your emission class.
Foreign plates must be pre-registered to enter the centre
Must knowMadrid
Cameras read your plate but don't know your emission class. Without registration on Madrid's portal (madrid.es/zbe), the system flags you regardless of the car's actual rating, and the fine reaches your home address weeks later via cross-border collection. Register before you set off.
Madrid 360 / ZBEDEP — pre-2000 cars banned outright
Must knowMadrid
Madrid Central (now ZBEDEP) is one of the strictest emission zones in Europe. Within the 4.7 km² central perimeter (formerly Distrito Centro), vehicles registered before 2000 are banned outright; the rest need to match Spain's "Etiqueta Ambiental" rating. Operates 24/7. Fine is €200 per entry.
Whole-city paid parking — no free street spaces inside the Gürtel
Must knowVienna
Vienna extended its short-term parking zone (Kurzparkzone) to all 23 districts in 2022. Foreign plates pay via Handyparken app or paper "Parkschein" tickets at trafiks (newsagents). Daytime parking is €2.50/hour, max 2 hours per ticket — meaning practically you need a private parking garage for any stay over 2 hours. Garages average €4–6/hour or €25/day.
Borders & documents
You're leaving the EU customs zone
Must knowSwitzerland is in Schengen but NOT in the EU customs union. Random customs stops happen at every border. Personal allowance: €300 in goods (CHF cash equivalent), 5L wine, 1L spirits. Above that you declare and pay duty. If you've loaded the boot with cured meat or cheese in Italy, declare it — confiscation is routine.
Tolls, vignettes & road payment
Digital vignette before crossing the border
Must knowAustrian motorways need a vignette — €10.10 for 10 days, €30.40 for 2 months, or €103.80 annual. The digital version (linked to your plate) is bought online at asfinag.at and activates from a chosen date — if you buy on the Austrian side of the border, it's only valid 18 days later under consumer-protection rules. Buy ahead.
Mont Blanc, Grand St Bernard, San Bernardino tunnels charge extra
Must knowThe vignette covers most motorways but NOT the major Alpine road tunnels. Mont Blanc tunnel (FR-IT) is roughly €54 one-way for a passenger car, Grand St Bernard about €33, San Bernardino is included in the vignette but Gotthard road tunnel is a vignette-only route in summer (the queue can be 2 hours; the rail-shuttle alternative through the Lötschberg is faster).
Vignette is annual only — CHF 40
Must knowSwitzerland sells one vignette: an annual sticker (or e-vignette) for CHF 40 / about €42. There's no 10-day option. Buy at any border post or online before you leave. The sticker must be physically affixed to the windscreen — keeping it loose in the glovebox earns the same CHF 200 fine as not having one.
You'll hit three different toll systems on this trip
Must knowThis route crosses countries with mismatched toll mechanics — France's ticket-and-pay, vignette stickers, electronic-only stretches. There's no single transponder that works everywhere, but a Telepass EU device covers FR/IT/ES/PT and a Bip&Go covers the same plus a few more. For a one-off trip, contactless cards plus a Swiss vignette and Austrian e-vignette is the simplest mix.
Brenner, Tauern and Karawanken tunnels are extra
UsefulEight Austrian routes charge separate tolls on top of the vignette: Brenner (A13, ~€11.50), Pyhrn (A9, ~€6.50), Tauern (A10, ~€14), Karawanken (A11, ~€8.50) and others. Pay at the booth — no vignette discount. If you're heading south to Italy via the A13, budget for it.
What your car must carry
Triangle, first-aid kit, hi-vis vest — all three
Must knowGermany requires a warning triangle, a first-aid kit (compliant with DIN 13164, with a "use by" date — €10 at any pharmacy), and a reflective vest in every passenger car. Roadside checks do happen at borders. The first-aid kit is the one foreign drivers most commonly miss.
Hi-vis vest in the cabin, triangle in the boot
Must knowA reflective vest must be reachable without leaving the vehicle (in the door pocket or under your seat — boot is too late). One warning triangle is also mandatory. The 2012 breathalyzer rule was scrapped in 2020 but is still nice to keep. No spare-bulb requirement.
Rules, fees, and thresholds change. Always verify against the official source the day before you drive — this page is a checklist, not a legal reference.
Main roads
The highways this route spends the most kilometres on.
-
A 89 La Transeuropéenne328 km
-
A-1 Autovía del Norte258 km
-
A 8 —258 km
-
A 36 La Comtoise237 km
-
A 63 Autoroute de la Côte Basque205 km
-
A1 West Autobahn165 km
-
A 5 —160 km
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AP-1 Autopista del Norte126 km
-
A 79 La Bourbonnaise91 km
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A 94 —87 km
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AP-1; AP-8 Kantauriko autobidea65 km
-
A8 Innkreis Autobahn50 km
Route character
How much of the drive is motorway vs. secondary vs. rural.
Motorway drive — fast, predictable, uneventful.
- Motorway
- 92%
- Secondary
- 6%
- Other / rural
- 2%
Drive difficulty
At-a-glance feel: how demanding is this drive for one driver?
Overall
Demanding
Tough drive — multiple complicating factors compound fatigue. Strongly recommend splitting across days.
- Long drive: 24h 46m behind the wheel at free-flow speeds.
- Cross-border: ES → AT. Keep documents accessible and check border rules.
- About 140 km on non-motorway roads where speeds and conditions vary.
Fuel & tolls
Rough cost expectation for a typical EU passenger car. Treat as an estimate — pump prices change weekly.
Petrol (RON 95)
≈ €340
179.4 L × €1.89 / L · 7.5 L/100 km
Diesel
≈ €290
143.5 L × €2.02 / L · 6 L/100 km
Electric (DC fast)
≈ €249
419 kWh × €0.60 / kWh · 17.5 kWh/100 km
Public DC fast charging — slower AC charging at home or hotels typically costs about half.
Motorway tolls & vignettes
≈ €198
- ES — €0.09/km on the motorway network (≈ 545 km in-country ≈ €49) Toll-free on the A-network; charged only on AP roads.
- FR — €0.10/km on the motorway network (≈ 969 km in-country ≈ €97)
- CH — Vignette (motorway sticker / e-vignette) — €42.00 for 365 days
- AT — Vignette (motorway sticker / e-vignette) — €10.10 for 10 days Annual vignette is €103.80 if you drive often
Prices last refreshed 2026-05-04.
Weather by month
Average daytime high / overnight low and typical monthly rainfall, over the past five years.
🇪🇸 Madrid
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11°
3°
|
14°
3°
|
16°
5°
|
21°
9°
|
24°
11°
|
30°
18°
|
35°
20°
|
35°
21°
|
27°
15°
|
22°
12°
|
15°
7°
|
11°
3°
|
| 50mm | 17mm | 120mm | 44mm | 62mm | 43mm | 1mm | 6mm | 64mm | 87mm | 39mm | 30mm |
hot mild cold
🇦🇹 Vienna
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5°
-1°
|
8°
1°
|
13°
4°
|
16°
7°
|
20°
10°
|
26°
16°
|
28°
18°
|
28°
17°
|
23°
13°
|
17°
9°
|
9°
3°
|
5°
1°
|
| 37mm | 28mm | 49mm | 76mm | 74mm | 62mm | 62mm | 47mm | 130mm | 53mm | 50mm | 46mm |
hot mild cold
Next 5 days at Vienna
Live forecast — refreshes every few hours.
-
Tue 12
☀️
11° / 8°
—
-
Wed 13
☀️
17° / 6°
1.3mm
-
Thu 14
🌧️
19° / 10°
36.7mm
-
Fri 15
⛅
17° / 9°
1.4mm
-
Sat 16
⛅
18° / 10°
6.8mm
Forecast: MET Norway
Directions
Turn-by-turn summary of the main manoeuvres, generated by OSRM.
Show all 87 manoeuvres
- Calle de la Cruz 0.1 km
- Plaza de las Cortes 0.2 km
- Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo
- Calle de Felipe IV 0.1 km
- Calle de Alcalá
- Calle de Alcalá 2 km
- Calzada lateral M-30 (M-30) 0.7 km
- Avenida de la Paz (M-30) 4 km
- Autovía del Norte (A-1) 108 km
- Autovía Madrid - Burgos (A-1) 6 km
- Autovía del Norte (A-1) 113 km
- Autovía del Norte (A-1) 8 km
- Autopista del Norte (AP-1) 83 km
- (A-1) 14 km
- (A-1) 9 km
- — 0.3 km
- — 0.4 km
- — 0.3 km
- (N-622) 0.9 km
- — 1 km
- — 0.4 km
- (AP-1) 43 km
- Iparraldeko autobidea (AP-1) 1.0 km
- Kantauriko autobidea (AP-1; AP-8) 42 km
- Kantauriko autobidea (AP-1; AP-8) 8 km
- AP-1 / AP-8 (AP-1; AP-8) 2 km
- Bizkaiko Golkoko Autobidea (AP-1; AP-8) 3 km
- Bizkaiko Golkoko Autobidea (AP-1; AP-8) 3 km
- Bizkaiko Golkoko Autobidea (AP-1; AP-8) 0.2 km
- AP-1 / AP-8 (AP-1; AP-8) 7 km
- Autoroute de la Côte Basque (A 63) 31 km
- Autoroute des Landes (A 63) 174 km
- — 0.7 km
- Rocade Extérieure (A 630) 17 km
- —
- (N 89) 18 km
- La Transeuropéenne (A 89) 167 km
- La Transeuropéenne 0.3 km
- L'Occitane (A 20) 16 km
- (A 89) 160 km
- (A 71) 1.0 km
- L'Arverne (A 71) 46 km
- — 0.6 km
- La Bourbonnaise (A 79) 91 km
- Route Centre-Europe Atlantique (N 79) 10 km
- (N 70) 43 km
- (N 80)
- (N 80) 26 km
- (N 80)
- — 0.3 km
- Autoroute du Soleil (A 6) 30 km
- Autoroute de Lorraine-Bourgogne (A 31) 5 km
- (A 36) 163 km
- La Comtoise (A 36) 74 km
- — 1 km
- (A 5) 160 km
- (A 8) 67 km
- (A 8) 0.3 km
- (A 8) 0.8 km
- (A 8) 40 km
- (A 8) 150 km
- (A 99) 32 km
- — 0.4 km
- — 0.5 km
- — 0.5 km
- (A 94) 87 km
- (B 12) 14 km
- (B148)
- (B148)
- (B148) 13 km
- Altheimer Straße (B148)
- Altheimer Straße (B148) 4 km
- (B148)
- (B148)
- (B148) 15 km
- Innkreis Autobahn (A8) 50 km
- Welser Autobahn (A25) 19 km
- Welser Autobahn (A25) 2 km
- West Autobahn (A1) 143 km
- West Autobahn (A1) 22 km
- Wientalstraße (B1) 2 km
- Bergmillergasse
- Linzer Straße 1 km
- Hütteldorfer Straße 5 km
- Carl-Szokoll-Platz
- Marc-Aurel-Straße
- Jasomirgottstraße
By plane from Madrid to Vienna
Indicative travel time on a non-stop flight, based on great-circle distance, average commercial cruise speed (850 km/h), and a 90-minute allowance for taxi, security, and boarding.
- Total time
- 3h 37m
- Door-to-door from :from airport.
- In the air
- 128 min
- At ~850 km/h cruise speed.
- On the ground
- 90 min
- Taxi + security + boarding (typical short-haul).
- Route
- MAD → VIE
- 1.809 km great-circle.
Indicative fare: from €40 — fares vary by season, day of week, and how far ahead you book. Always check the airline or a meta-search before planning around this number.
Show flight path on map
Estimate-only. We don't pull live schedules or fares for flights — see the methodology page for how this number is computed.
Air travel emits roughly 5–10× the CO₂ per passenger-km of rail for the same distance.
By train from Madrid to Vienna
Fastest cross-border rail itinerary from the public Transitous planner. Times reflect a typical Monday-morning departure on the next available service-day.
- Fastest journey
- 25h 23m
- 8 changes
- Lead operator
- RENFE OPERADORA
- + 6 more
- Alternatives
- 6
- Itineraries returned by the planner.
Trains on the fastest itinerary
- AVE INT 09725
- 041G
- RE1 (19003)
- ICE 911
All operators across alternatives
- RENFE OPERADORA
- SNCF VOYAGEURS
- Arverio Baden-Württemberg GmbH
- DB Fernverkehr AG
- WESTbahn Management GmbH
- Schweizerische Bundesbahnen SBB
- Schweizerische Bundesbahnen
Includes a high-speed rail leg (TGV, ICE, AVE, Frecciarossa-class).
Show route on map
Routing via the public Transitous OTP planner (community-run MOTIS instance). Cached 24 hours; verify on the operator's site before booking.
Frequently asked
What is the primary toll system in France for this route?
French autoroutes like the AP-8 and A63 typically use a pay-as-you-go toll system. You'll collect a ticket upon entering the toll road and pay when you exit or at designated toll plazas.
Do I need a special sticker for German cities on this drive?
Yes, many German cities have 'Umweltzonen' (environmental zones). You may need an 'Umweltplakette' (environmental sticker) to drive into these zones, depending on your vehicle's emissions. Check regulations for cities you plan to pass through.
Where can I buy an Austrian vignette?
The Austrian vignette is mandatory for using their motorways. Purchase it before entering Austria at border crossings, petrol stations near the border, or online in advance.
Are there speed limit differences between Spain, France, and Germany?
Yes. While Spain and France have consistent motorway speed limits (typically 120 km/h), Germany has sections of Autobahn with no mandatory speed limit, but also many areas with variable limits and speed restrictions.
What are the winter tyre requirements in Austria?
Austria has strict winter tyre regulations from November 1st to April 15th. Your vehicle must be equipped with winter tyres on all wheels, or alternatively, summer tyres with snow chains fitted to at least the drive wheels, depending on road conditions.
How this page is built
Compiled by COD Solutions Oy from open European data — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for the route geometry, Open-Meteo for monthly climate normals, EU Weekly Oil Bulletin for cross-border fuel-price bands, OpenStreetMap via Overpass for sights along the route, and Google Gemini drafts the narrative and FAQ from the computed route data. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.