Train Travel in Spain: The Complete Guide

Spain is my favourite country to visit in the world. There are so many cities to explore, and you can’t fly directly to all of them. Luckily, train travel in Spain is extremely efficient, and it is actually my favourite way to discover new areas of the country.

If you’re interested in getting off the beaten track and exploring Spain’s many hidden treasures, I’ve got you covered. In this guide, I’ll be explaining everything you need to know to book, plan and successfully travel by train in Spain.

Spanish Train Companies

Several different companies offer high-speed train services in Spain.

Most services are operated by the national rail service, called RENFE:

• AVE: the most established service and the one that offers the most routes.
• Avlo: a low-cost alternative to the AVE.
• Alvia: a high-speed service that also operates on conventional train lines.
• Avant: a mid-distance high-speed train service.

In addition to these nationalised services, there are two private companies that offer high-speed train services in Spain:

• Iryo: a low-cost service operated as a joint venture between Air Nostrum, Globalvia, and Trenitalia.
• Ouigo: a low-cost high-speed service operated by SNCF (the French national rail service).

So far, I have travelled on the AVE, the Avant, and the Iryo, and I have been impressed with the comfort, speed, and efficiency of all three services. So, you really can’t go wrong.

Where Can I Travel By Train in Spain?

Basically everywhere!

Most of Spain’s major cities are connected to the high-speed network, with the notable exception of Bilbao in the Basque region. The network also covers many medium-sized and smaller cities across the country.

The major hub for most train routes is Madrid, where two train stations connect the Spanish capital to the rest of the country:

• Madrid Chamartín: located in the North of the city and for routes heading north-west.
• Madrid Puerta de Atocha: located in the South of the city and used for routes heading South and East.

The major routes popular with tourists include:

Below is a map of all the routes currently available:

How to Book Spanish Train Tickets

Booking tickets for trains in Spain is really easy to do online.

The service you plan to travel on will determine which website you can use to book your tickets:

• Renfe Website: for AVE, Avlo and Avant
• Iryo Website: for Iryo
• Ouigo Website: for Ouigo
• Trainline: for all services

The interfaces are similar across all of these websites, and all are available in English.

Tickets are generally released around 2 months in advance, and I recommend you book your tickets as soon as they are released. This will usually be the cheapest price you’ll find and, in the busy summer season, tickets can sell out.

When booking your tickets, you will usually need to provide your passport details, so have your passport to hand when booking.

Top Tip: when booking, make sure to check what your luggage allowance is. The amount of luggage you can take on board varies from service to service and depending on the class of seat that you book.

Once you’ve booked your tickets, either print them out or save an electronic version to your phone wallet.

Heading to the Station

On the day of your trip, you’ll want to get to the station at least 30 minutes before your train is scheduled to depart.

Finding Your Train

Once you get there, the first thing you should do is check the departures board. Don’t worry if you can’t see your destination on the board: only the last station on the route is listed, and you may be getting off before then.

The easiest way to find your train is to check the 5 or 6-digit number located next to the train service name on your ticket (e.g. AVE 03141) and match it with the journey code on the board.

The last few times I’ve travelled by train in Spain, I’ve noticed that the last digit may be different on the board but, if the departure time looks right and the first 4 digits match, it is almost certainly your train.

Security Checks

All travellers on high-speed train routes have to go through security before boarding the train.

The security checks are lot quicker and easier than airport security, so it’s nothing to worry about. All you have to do is put your luggage through an x-ray scanner and you’re good to do.

Most of the time, there is no queue at security, but it does build up every so often, so make sure to head through at least 15 minutes before your train is due to depart.

Boarding the Train

If you’re boarding the train at the first station, you will probably be able to get on early. However, if you’re boarding at one of the stations further down the line, the boarding process can get a little hectic.

One of the reasons why high-speed train travel in Spain is so efficient is because the stops at each station are very short. So, you need to be ready to move when your train is announced.

Sometimes, the platform your train will be at is not announced until 10 minutes before it arrives, so keep a close eye on the departures board so that you can get to the platform quickly once it is announced.

Your tickets will be scanned at the platform and, if the platform is particularly long, the attendant will probably tell you how far along the platform you should go to find the right train carriage.

Once the train arrives, make your way to the correct carriage. It is important to board the right carriage, as you cannot always walk the entire length of the train once inside.

On-Board Experience

Every journey I have taken on board Spanish high-speed trains has been excellent. The seats are comfortable, the journey is efficient, and the views out of the window of the Spanish countryside are beautiful.

Seating

The exact specifications of your seat will depend on the service you use and the class of seat you book.

But, generally, the seats are very comfortable and come with a decent-sized tray table to use for work or for eating/drinking.

Many seats also come with a plug socket where you can charge your phone, which is something I really appreciate. I often need to charge my phone if I’ve been exploring in the city all day.

Luggage Storage

There are two main places to store luggage on board.

At either end of each carriage, there are large luggage compartments for storing big suitcases. There are also luggage bins above the seating area for small suitcases and rucksacks.

Sometimes, you may have to keep smaller bags such as rucksacks with you by your feet if the train is particularly busy. This has only been a problem for me once, but it is something to be aware of, especially if you are travelling in the busy season or if you’re boarding at a later stop.

Food On Board

Most high-speed trains have a buffet car selling a wide selection of snacks and drinks. From my experience, the food is pretty good. I had a delicious bacon and cheese panini on my way from Barcelona to Zaragoza a few days ago. And the coffee is quite good too.

If you’ve booked a seat in first class, food will be served at your seat. When I travelled on the Iryo last Christmas, we even had to pre-select a breakfast when booking our tickets, which was then served at our seat. We were also given free drinks and snacks about halfway through the journey.

WIFI On Board

This is the one negative thing I have to say. I’ve tried to use the free WIFI on board both the AVE and Iryo. Both are terrible.

To be honest, mobile data usually works for me for most of the journey, so it’s not a big problem. It’s just something to be aware of if you were planning on working or streaming Netflix while travelling.

Should You Travel By Train in Spain?

Absolutely.

Train travel in Spain is quick, easy and comfortable, and it allows you to visit so many destinations you can’t reach by air.

So far, I’ve travelled to Zaragoza, Córdoba, Granada, Segovia, Toledo and Elche by train. All of these trips were fantastic, and they wouldn’t have been possible without the high-speed train service.

That’s it for today’s post.

If you have any questions about visiting Granada, leave them in the comments section below and I will get back to you.

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Thanks for reading, and see you next time!