Book train tickets from Madrid to Cordoba in advance or at airport?

I’d go with option 1 and allow 3 hours after landing. IRYO also has high-speed trains to Cordoba w/ options to change departure time www.IRYO.eu

Thanks Kenko! Why would you choose option 1?

Spain is the country where train travel sells out so you want to purchase tickets in advance and of course, the safe option is three hours after arrival. Madrid’s airport is humongous and walking from and to can take an hour and I’m not exaggerating. You also need to stop and ask an attendant to point you in the right direction so you don’t waste valuable time. If you need to withdraw euros and freshen up in the restroom you need to add time for that too. While waiting for the train shop for a ham sandwich to snack on the train. Arrival day is about settling in and nothing more.

I agree with MaryPat. Trains on the Madrid-Cordoba-Seville line do sometimes sell out, so I'd be reluctant to depend on buying a ticket after arrival. What if you arrive at the airport train station and all the express trains are sold out for the next 3 or 4 hours when you've been traveling all night?

I agree with Acraven and MaryPat and would buy the train tix online in advance because: 1. Trains in Spain do sell-out particularly last year and this year. To combat global warming and promote public transportation, the government in Madrid started a nationwide program that allows the Spanish to travel on Renfe trains either for free or at deeply discounted fares. The high-speed trains are heavily discounted for commuters. As you can imagine— the program was a smashing success. Particularly from Thursdays through Sundays we saw full trains as people left for long weekends to visit family and friends around the country.
2. Rail fares rise the closer it gets to the train’s departure date. The earlier you buy a ticket—the more likely you’ll save money. Buying tickets 2-6 months in advance can score a Madrid to Barcelona high-speed train ticket for as little as eight euros. ( That’s right-€8)!
With the new “ ELIGE” Renfe ticket which takes the risk out of pre-buying a train ticket, that’s the one to buy.—- you can buy the least expensive ticket that is non-changeable and make a ticket that is changeable for just €5!

Guesstimating how long it takes to get from Madrid’s airport to Madrid Atocha train station depends on whether you have checked luggage you have to retrieve, a lot of other flights arriving the same time yours is etc.

Someone posted they were out of the airport in 30 minutes (very lucky) — on the curb getting into a taxi and 30 minutes later they arrived at Atocha.

From the time your flight is scheduled to land, figure a padded 90 minutes to get through the airport gauntlet and reach the Cercanias train station that goes into central Madrid. The train takes 32 minutes to reach Atocha station which is about the same time a taxi would take.

Once at Atocha. Allow another liberal 30 minutes to arrive at your train. There’s a lot of construction going on at Atocha as it’s being expanded.
3 hours gives you a reasonable buffer.

www.Madrid-international-airport.com

Thank you all for the detailed advice!

I’ll plan to book in advance. Now I wish I’d done it sooner.

We will have checked luggage? Do you think 3 hours is still enough time?

Yes- 3 hours should be plenty of time as long as your flight lands on time.
Have fun in Spain!

Even if your flight is a bit late three hours is still plenty of time.