Spain by Train
Trains - Tickets - ToursA Travel Guide For Train Travel In Spain.
Here you will find information for Spain about trains, routes, tours, connections, where to buy train tickets, and more.
Useful Information
Population: 46.6 million
Currency: Euro
Language: Spanish
Capital: Madrid
Country Code: +34
Time Zone: Central European Time
Train Companies
Most of the country’s trains are operated by Renfe; however, there are more private train operators around Spain. Some other well-known companies are listed below:
- EuskoTren
- FGC (Catalan Government Railways)
- FGV (Valencian Government Railways)
Copyright: RAILWAYHERO
Train Tickets
Buy your train tickets for Spain online on the Renfe official homepage.
Buy your train tickets online at OMIO and compare trains, buses & flights.
Rail Passes
Interrail / Eurail Pass
Do you want to travel throughout Europe flexibly and comfortably? Then the Interrail Pass is perfect for you. With the Interrail Pass, you can visit 40,000 destinations in 33 countries in Europe. You can travel for up to 3 months by train.
Renfe Spain Pass
With the Renfe Spain Pass, you can travel easily and cheaply by train throughout all of Spain. You can choose between 4, 6, 8, or 10 trips within 1 month.
TrAIN tYPES
Domestic high-speed trains:
Avant (AVN) Trains which connect larger cities to nearby cities
- Reservations required
AVE (AVE) Trains which link the largest cities in Spain on the fastest highspeed rail network, upwards of 310 km/h. Less than 3 hours from Barcelona to Madrid
- 1st and 2nd classes offered
- Reservations required
- Reservation cost:
- 1st Class* / Club: €38
- 1st Class* / Preferente: €23,50
- 2nd Class / Turista: €6,50
- Most trains are equipped with electrical plug-ins and air conditioning, as well as a dining car offering a range of food and drinks.
*1st Class tickets include a meal and drink, except on Saturdays
Altaria (ALT) Long-distance trains connecting Madrid to four southern destinations: Algeciras, Granada, Murcia, Cartagena
- 1st Class: Rows of three seats (2+1), ticket includes a meal and drink
- 2nd Class: Rows of four seats (2+2)
- Reservations required
- Reservation cost:
- 1st Class / Preferente: €23,50
- 2nd Class / Turista: €6,50
- Most trains are equipped with electrical plug-ins and air conditioning, as well as a dining car offering a range of food and drinks
Alvia (IC) Long-distance trains linking Madrid and Barcelona with destinations throughout Spain, several in the north such as Bilbao, Leon, and Pamplona and in the south, Cadiz, Alicante, and Castello.
- 1st Class: Rows of three seats (2+1), ticket includes a meal and drink
- 2nd Class: Rows of four seats (2+2)
- Reservations required
- Reservation cost:
- 1st Class (Preferente): €23,50
- 2nd Class (Turista): €6,50
- Most trains are equipped with electrical plug-ins and air conditioning, as well as a dining car offering a range of food and drinks.
Euromed (EUR) Train running along the beautiful Mediterranean coastline serving only Barcelona, Valencia, and Alicante with stops to smaller towns in between.
- 1st Class: Rows of three seats (2+1), ticket includes a meal and drink
- 2nd Class: Rows of four seats (2+2)
- Reservations required
- Reservation cost:
- 1st Class / Preferente: €23,50
- 2nd Class / Turista: €6,50
- Most trains are equipped with electrical plug-ins and air conditioning, as well as a dining car offering a range of food and drinks.
International high-speed trains in Spain
Renfe SNCF Cooperation (RSC) Trains are operated by both the Spanish and French railways. Renfe offers routes from Madrid to Montpelier, Barcelona to Paris, and many more.
- 1st and 2nd Classes offered
- Reservations required
- Reservation costs differ with routes:
- 1st Class: €15-48
- 2nd Class / Turista: €11-34
- Most trains are equipped with electrical plug-ins, wifi, and air conditioning, as well as a dining car offering a range of food and drinks
Celta (IC) Intercity trains that connect Vigo, Spain to Porto, Portugal daily
- Only offering 2nd Class
- Reservations required
Night trains (in and between Spain)
Trenhotel is a comfortable night train offering seats and sleeping cabins.
- Routes:
- Madrid – A Coruña – Pontevedra – Ferrol ‘Rias Gallegas’
- Barcelona – A Coruña – Vigo ‘Galicia’
- Madrid – Lisbon
- Reservations required for beds and seats
- Sleeping Carriage:
- Grand Class Berth includes your own bed (single or twin), shower, toilet, and washbasin. Club lounge access, full entertainment selection, and a newspaper are included in the ticket. All rooms are equipped with electrical plug-ins and request a wake up call anytime.
- First Class Berth includes your own bed (single or twin), and a washbasin. Club lounge access and a newspaper are included in the ticket.
- Standard Class Berth includes four beds to a cabin and a washbasin. Cabins/Berths separated by male and female. Tickets for family and groups include the whole 4 berths.
- Sitting Carriage: Air conditioning, electrical plug-ins, and entertainment system are included in all classes.
- 1st Class: Rows of three seats (2+1)
- 2nd Class: Rows of four seats (2+2)
- Toilets are located in the coach carriage
- Dining car available, offering a range of food and drinks
Costa Verde Express: Bilbao – Oviedo
Al Andalus: Sevilla – Cordoba – Granada – Ronda – Jerez de la Frontera
El Transcantabrico Gran Lujo: San Sebastian – Bilbao – Santiago de Compostela
Cervantes Train: Madrid – Alcalá de Henares
Medieval Train: Madrid – Siguenza
Routes
Frequently Travelled Routes In Spain
National
| From > To |
Duration (h) |
Changes | Transport |
| Barcelona to Madrid | 3:12 | Direct | Train (AVE) |
| Barcelona to Valencia | 2:40 | Direct | Train |
| Barcelona to Bilbao | 6:32 | Direct | Train (ALV) |
| Madrid to Bilbao | 5:11 | Direct | Train (ALV) |
| Madrid to Valencia | 1:53 | Direct | Train (AVE) |
| Malaga to Seville | 1:55 | Direct | Train (AVN) |
| Seville to Salamanca | 5:30 | 2 | Train (ALV, AVE) |
| Bilbao to Santiago de Compostela | 9:42 | 1 | Train (ALV) |
International
| From > To |
Duration (h) |
Changes | Transport |
| Barcelona to Paris, France | 6:41 | Direct | Train (TGV) |
| Barcelona to Geneva, Italy | 8:02 | 1 | Train (AVE, TER) |
| Madrid to Porto, Portugal | 8:07 | 1 | Train (ALV, IC) |
| Madrid to Lisbon, Portugal | 11:13 | 1 | Train (Trenhotel) |
| Irun to Lisbon, Portugal | 13:45 | Direct | Train (Trenhotel) |
| Irun to Paris, France | 4:44 | Direct | Train (TGV) |
Spain travel routes
Spain: Tapas, Beaches, and Walled Cities
Spain: Dream Trip Through Andalusia
Main Train Stations
- Madrid Atocha
- Barcelona Sants
- Irun
- Seville
- Valencia
- Bilbao
Train Tours in Spain
Good to know
Best Time To Travel To Spain
We recommend traveling anytime between March to May and September to November because of it being the shoulder seasons, you will see fewer tourists and the weather is still great. During summertime, popular destinations see an increase in tourists, and the whole country experiences boiling temperatures. If you are planning to travel to Spain in the summer months, the northern part of the country experiences less extreme temperatures than the south.
Notable festivals and events in Spain include the Las Fallas Festival, Feria de Sevilla, Carnival, La Tomatina, San Fermin (Running of the Bulls), La Mercé, and Semana Santa to name a few. And don’t forget to make sure to enjoy the tasty tapas and wonderful wine before you leave!
- Busy Season: July to August
- Low Season: January to February
Accommodation In Spain
Booking
The best place to find cheap hotels for is to book by www.booking.com. There you will find a large selection of cheap hotels, hostels, and apartments. > BOOK HERE
Hostelworld
If you are looking for a low budget accommodation, then go on www.hostelworld.com. They have the best choice of cheap hostels for backpackers and low budget travelers. > BOOK HERE
Guidebooks For Spain
Travel with a guidebook ease your journey to find best sights and things to do. Buy it on Amazon.
