The AVE network
The Alta Velocidad Española (AVE) radiates from Madrid:
- - Madrid → Barcelona: 2h30, trains every 30–60 min
- - Madrid → Seville: 2h30
- - Madrid → Valencia: 1h45
- - Madrid → Málaga: 2h30
- - Madrid → Bilbao: 5h (via Vitoria)
- - Barcelona → Valencia: 3h
- - Barcelona → Seville: 5h30
AVE trains are punctual (Renfe refunds your ticket if the train is over 15 min late), comfortable, and equipped with café cars on longer routes.
Booking Renfe tickets
Book on Renfe.com: Spain's national rail site. Prices are lowest when booked 60+ days in advance — Madrid–Barcelona can be as low as €14 on sale.
Eurail/Interrail: Both passes cover AVE trains, but seat reservations are mandatory (€5–14). Book reservations on the Rail Planner app or Renfe.com.
Ouigo España: A low-cost operator running Madrid–Barcelona and Madrid–Valencia on AVE tracks. Not covered by passes but very cheap (from €5 booked early).
Iryo: A third high-speed operator on the same main routes. Also not covered by passes but competitively priced.
For a Spain-focused trip, comparing pass+reservation prices against point-to-point tickets is worth doing — the difference can be significant.
Key routes beyond AVE
The Basque Country loop (San Sebastián → Bilbao → Vitoria by regional train) — The Euskotren narrow-gauge railway from San Sebastián to Bilbao hugs the Cantabrian coast. Slow but scenic.
Granada and Andalucía: The high-speed line now reaches Granada from Madrid (3h15). For the Alhambra, book tickets months in advance.
Seville → Córdoba → Granada: Slow regional service through Andalucía — the landscape of olive groves and whitewashed villages is worth the extra time.
Barcelona → Montserrat: FGC suburban train to the mountain monastery. A half-day trip from the city.
City highlights
Madrid — The Prado and Reina Sofía (Guernica), the Mercado de San Miguel, and Malasaña for nightlife. 2–3 nights.
Barcelona — Gaudí's masterpieces (book Sagrada Família months in advance), the Gothic Quarter, and Barceloneta beach. 3 nights minimum.
Seville — The Alcázar, the Cathedral (where Columbus is buried), and tapas in the Triana neighbourhood. Best in spring; brutally hot in July–August.
San Sebastián — The food capital of Spain, possibly of Europe. Pintxos bars in the Parte Vieja, La Concha beach, and three Michelin-starred restaurants per square kilometre. 2 nights.
Practical tips
AVE is punctual: Spain's high-speed trains have some of the best on-time records in Europe.
Madrid's two main stations: Atocha (south and east routes) and Chamartín (north). They're connected by a through-tunnel but check which one you need.
Overnight train: The Trenhotel runs Barcelona → Madrid (overnight, 9h — slow but romantic) and is covered by Eurail with a reservation.
Summer heat: Southern Spain in July–August is extremely hot (40°C+). Visit Seville and Málaga in May–June or September–October.
Plan your Spanish rail adventure
EuroTrekker builds your Spain itinerary with real AVE connections and a day-by-day plan for each city.