Spain has a large and growing rail network, with local and regional lines, coastal train trips with fantastic scenery, plus highspeed ave services between major cities. In 3 simple steps and with the best customer service. All renfe tickets have to be prebooked since you cant turn up on the day and book. Tips for traveling through spain by train the points guy. You can get to almost any city in spain from madrid, and you can get to several from. Madrid to valencia 6 ways to travel via train, bus.
Eticket reservations can be booked up to 3 hours before the trains departure. When you buy an ave or other longdistance spanish train ticket of any type or class for a journey within spain, you can get free travel from any renfe suburban station at the start of your journey and free travel to any renfe suburban station at the end of your journey, in the following cities. Renfe spain pass, a practical and convenient ticket for tourists. There are several alternative ticketing agents for the sale of european train tickets but i always believe that buying from the actual national train operator is usually safer and better plus you have more. Reaching speeds of up to 350 kmh, the ave train covers the distance between madrid and barcelona in just 2 hours and 30 minutes. And if you want to seriously venture off the beatentrack, take an ave train from madrid or barcelona to zaragoza. Renfes ave train from madrid to barcelona is the most popular highspeed train route in spain. For more information, check out the section travel. The most popular ave routes go between madrid and seville and madrid and barcelona. With 3,100km of track the spanish highspeed ave trains operate on the longest highspeed network in europe. How to travel by train in spain ave guide for every.
Check the schedules of trains, ave and international trains at. All the seats recline slightly, so you can adjust your position for greater. Easter or christmas, you may have to wait several hours at the station to get seats on a train. Each seat also includes a headrest and footrest, individual reading light, individual power outlet and a work table. Our selfservice lets you make reservations for many trains in europe. Renfe ave trains travel up to 350 kmh and connect madrid with seville, barcelona, valencia, toledo, cordoba, and malaga. Ave highspeed train spain fast trains and bullet trains. Access the time search engine to check the train and ave schedules you want, you only have to enter the train. The ave train from madrid to barcelona is the most popular highspeed train route in. Traveling by train in spain is a fast, convenient and comfortable way to visit major cities and also see the spanish countryside. You can book your trains as you go or in advance of your trip. Take a look at the map of main connections in spain for highspeed trains ave and other longdistance lines.
Access the time search engine to check the train and ave schedules you want, you only have to enter the train station of origin, station of destination and the date in which you want to travel and we will show you all the train schedules available for the day chosen. Trains to spain destinations rail europe formerly loco2. Download our free app for smartphones and tablets to find the best deals, manage or change your tickets, and more. It is strictly personal, non transferable, and is only valid upon presentation of. More details renfe is the national rail operator in spain. International journeys renfe spain pass opens in a new window. Youll find consignas leftluggage facilities at all main train stations. Travel from madrid to barcelona in less than 3 hours. Free suburban tickets with any longdistance ticket combinado cercanias. Dec, 2017 this time i used another website suggested by seat 61, a great source of information for train travel.
Frequent and comfortable ave and alviatrains link worldfamous cities like madrid, seville and barcelona. The majority of trains youll take on the spanish rail network are run by renfe the countrys national train company. Spain is the european country with the most high speed routes. Alta velocidad espanola ave is a service of highspeed rail in spain operated by renfe, the spanish national railway company, at speeds of up to 310 kmh 193 mph.
Dont hesitate to hop on a hotel train premier compartments offer privacy and comfort, with shower, and discover what makes spain so wonderfully diverse. Youll find consignas leftluggage facilities at all main train. The renfe spain pass gives you the flexibility of choosing 4, 6, 8 or 10 within a month period. Buy your high speed spanish train tickets renfe with up to 70% off. A train reservation consists of two different fees a train reservation fee and a booking fee. The madridseville ave service is the quickest and most efficient way of getting between the two cities, making the journey in twoandahalf hours.
Highspeed trains in spain operating in spain since 1992, ave trains began as a connection between madrid and seville which has now grown into one of the most extensive highspeed networks in europe. Unfortunately, the renfe website does not allow you to view schedules that far in. How to purchase renfe train tickets online madrid traveller. Trains in spain buy train tickets for spain online trainline. These are renfes highspeed trains, most commonly used for longdistance routes. You may end up not finding any available seats on the train that fits your travel itinerary. When you buy an ave or other longdistance spanish train ticket of any type or class for a journey within spain, you can get free. Cheaper ave train tickets 29062020 ave barcelona to madrid 32,65 21072020 ave madrid to barcelona 32,65.
Highspeed ave trains alta velocidad espanola link major cities at up to 186mph, and if you book in advance online you can find some great. Ave renfe trains give travelers access to a comprehensive network of citytocity commuter rail connections throughout spain. Highspeed and night trains connect spain to other european countries. Tickets for travel on renfes highspeed ave trains include three. Renfe train tickets booking and senior discounts spain. From france highspeed tgv services run from paris to barcelona, 2 direct services in winter months, 4 direct services in summer months. Trainline provides a very simple and comfortable booking system for train tickets in several countries like tofromin austria, france, germany, italy, spain, etc. Or at least that is when you hop onto one of the countrys highspeed trains that reach speeds of up to 193 miles per hour, which gives us all. Plan on breathing the fresh air of madrid, seville, malaga, barcelona and valencia. Highspeed trains in spain operating in spain since 1992, ave trains. All the seats recline slightly, so you can adjust your position for greater relaxation. The ave connections and the new, constantly developing railway infrastructure allow other shortduration connections, such as madrid toledo 30 minutes.
Some trains particularly certain highspeed ave trains have a high level of occupancy. In first classpreferente, you will enjoy maximum comfort and space so that your journey becomes a unique travel experience. A beginners guide to train travel in spain how to use. How to book tickets for alta velocidad espanola ave. A handful of small private railway lines also operate.
The card is supposed to apply to any train and any fare class, even the local trains although im not sure how you would buy the tickets for the latter likely have to buy from an agent, not from machine. You can search for spanish train times in the interrail timetable as well as on the renfe website. Find out more about ave trains, classes, where these highspeed trains can take you and how to book your ave train tickets with us. It is a pass only available for citizens resident in countries outside spain. You can book renfe ave tickets via the renfe website in english here, and specific highspeed network tickets here. Ave trains tickets for renfe highspeed trains in spain. This pass allows nonresidents to travel around spain by train. The ave train from madrid to barcelona is the most popular highspeed train route in spain.
The ave is a high speed train in spain that allows travelers to experience all that the illustrious region has to offer. While it may be less expensive to take a regular train, a. Marseille madrid in 7 hours 44 minutes, from 59 1 toulouse barcelona in 3 hours 12 minutes, from 29 1 the most competitive fares. When you book through our selfservice this is 2 euros per traveler, per train. You can buy spanish train tickets on our site and apps via a direct connection to spain s national rail operator, renfe. The national network of spanish railways connects all capitals with madrid and has an ever expanding network of. Madrid to barcelona ave, super fast connections between the major. Aside from the extra reservation fees required for most highspeed trains see above, rail passes for spain cover all travel on trains run by renfe, spains national railway which now includes the slow coastal trains between bilbao and ferrol. Its also important to note that the entire train is nonsmoking, with the platform closing 2 minutes prior to the. Renfe ave trains travel up to 350 kmh and connect madrid with seville, barcelona, valencia.
Spains high speed ave trains spanish high speed ave trains alta velocidad espanola are. Many of spain s old, slow trains have been replaced with faster. This time i used another website suggested by seat 61, a great source of information for train travel. It runs highspeed ave trains which connect madrid, barcelona, seville, valencia, cordoba, malaga and other spanish cities at. If you are traveling around spain during a popular holiday e.
This system is very practical, as it can be used on all ave longdistance and middistance highspeed trains. They are usually open from about 6am to midnight and charge from 4 to 6 per day per piece of luggage. Jun 01, 2016 if youre a little bit confused on how to buy a train ticket in spain, weve got you covered. Oct 17, 2012 ave alta velocidad espanola means spanish high speed, and the trains definitely stay true to their name, reaching speeds of up to 300kmh 186mph. Alta velocidad espanola translates to spanish high speed, but the initials are also a play on the word ave, meaning bird. Travel in spain by train ave guide for a renfe rail. Renfe is the excellent national train system that runs most of the services in spain. Effortlessly travel by train from madrid to barcelona or madrid to seville inside one of the windowlined. Aside from the extra reservation fees required for most highspeed trains see above, rail passes for spain cover all travel on trains run by renfe, spains national railway which now includes the slow. Spains high speed ave trains spanish high speed ave trains alta velocidad espanola are famously known for transporting passengers to the most popular cities in record time. For more information, check out the section travel around spain by train.
Highspeed ave trains alta velocidad espanola link major cities at up to 186mph, and if you book in advance online you can find some great cheap fares at the official spanish rail website, this page will give you a headsup on how to travel cheaply around spain by train. Information about the train alta velocidad espanola ave. As chris has suggested, the best site to purchase train tickets for travel within spain is renfe its best to pay with paypal when booking your train tickets with renfe. Highspeed trains in s pain operating in spain since 1992, ave trains began as a connection between madrid and seville which has. When i booked our tickets for last fall, i booked 23 months in advance for discounted tickets. While it may be less expensive to take a regular train, a bus, or a cheap regional flight, if you have limited time on your tripas i didits a huge timesaver and worth the extra cost. Spain offers some of the finest rail travel in europe. Trains in spain buy train tickets for spain online. But the easiest thing to do is book your tickets online. Taking the ave train makes the journey even quicker than flying, as the train avoids the fuss of checking in and getting to and from the airport. Renfe ave are highspeed trains most commonly used for longdistance routes between major cities in spain. Ave highspeed train spain fast trains and bullet trains eurail. Looking for train tickets from madrid to seville, seville to barcelona, and barcelona to provencenice.
Travel between france and spain at high speed renfesncf. Alta velocidad espanola ave renfe train types railcc. Trains in spain the fastest and best value routes omio. Ticket control and passport checks will occur at the station before boarding the ave train.
Ave train tickets can be bought in person at madrids atocha train station or barcelonas sants station. Madrid to barcelona ave, super fast connections between the major destinations barcelona to madrid in 2h30, even faster than a flight eurail pass interrail pass. Tickets for travel on renfes highspeed ave trains include three different classes turista, turista plus, and preferente with different ticket prices within each class that offer different discounts and benefits. Receive your epass via email within 24 hours of purchase. Best website to buy ave tickets rick steves travel forum. Passes can get you a discount on some international ferries, but not tarifatangier routes. Running at speeds of up to 310 kmh this extensive network allows for fast connections between cities in spain. Many of spains old, slow trains have been replaced with faster.
Ave trains offer a variety of services, including a silent car for those wishing to rest for the duration of their journey. It is strictly personal, non transferable, and is only valid upon presentation of a passport or a residence certificate. If youre a little bit confused on how to buy a train ticket in spain, weve got you covered. Ave trains tickets for renfe highspeed trains in spain trainline. First class train tickets in preferential seat with renfesncf. And if you want to seriously venture off the beaten. Running at speeds of up to 310 kmh this extensive network allows for fast connections. The renfe site is so confusing and doesnt seem to work half of the time. Take the ave from barcelona to madrid in under 3 hours. There are several alternative ticketing agents for the sale of european train tickets but i always believe that buying from the actual national train operator is usually safer and better plus you have more information about the services and other useful ideas.
It runs highspeed ave trains which connect madrid, barcelona, seville, valencia, cordoba, malaga and other spanish cities at speeds of up to 310kmh. Spains excellent and extensive rail system connects cities across spain and into neighbouring countries. Its also important to note that the entire train is nonsmoking, with the platform closing 2 minutes prior to the trains departure time. Train spain trains map, pass, timetables and fares spain. The national rail network of spain does list size limits for their trains including the ave trains. Cheap train tickets spain buy tickets online happyrail. The train in spain travels mainly at the breakneck speed of a swift.
Renfes highspeed ave trains can reach speeds of up to 350kmh, making travel between major cities. All trains offer comfortable accommodatian for a reasonable price. How to book train tickets in spain without using renfe. Madrid chamartin segovia guiomar valladolid campo grande. Highspeed ave, map of connections, times, and benefits of getting around by train. With every domestic destination available for booking, travel aboard spains high speed ave trains to the likes of madrid, barcelona, seville, malaga, valencia and beyond. Ave renfe trains give travelers access to a network of citytocity commuter rail connections throughout spain. This modern train system connects many cities across spain from madrid. One of the quickest and most convenient ways of getting between cities in spain is by highspeed train, known as ave alta velocidad espanola.