Please sign in to post.
Holiday Sale! Save 20% Storewide!

Buy (Renfe) Train Tix in Advance for Day Trips to Segovia and Toledo or When In-Country? Mid-April

Posted by on

Am planning day trips from Madrid to Segovia and Toledo (also Avila but no AVE there).

For Segovia and Toledo, Renfe has AVE train options from Chamartin and Atoche in only 30 min or so.

Since I'm not precisely sure on how long we'll want to stay (thru afternoon or maybe into evening), wanting to understand train ticketing options. (cost (savings) not a big deal - saving time and convenience are more important to us)

QUESTION: Is it better to go ahead and book the tickets NOW online (which locks in our depart and return times? Or can we buy the tickets the day of (at the train station)? Is there any sort of option for a same day 'open' return time? Or can we just buy the return tickets at the Segovia and Toledo train stations when we are ready to return?

I guess it comes down to how full these trains can be in April for these cities...?

Thanks,

Posted by
5294 posts

I've not traveled to Segovia yet, but you can certainly buy train tickets to Toledo the same day, but it's best to buy them a day or two in advance.

Toledo is a very popular day trip from Madrid, so I'd suggest you buy a round trip ticket, as the night trains (back to Madrid) do sell out.
There's small discount when you buy the round trip ticket ( €10,30 vs €12,90 each way)

Is there any sort of option for a same day 'open' return time?

There are no 'open' time (return) tickets.

Enjoy your trip!

Edit to add...

When in April will you be traveling? Keep in mind that Semana Santa (Holy Week) starts on Sunday April 9th.

Posted by
28083 posts

The trains to Toledo and Segovia are not AVEs, and the fare does not vary if you wait till the last minute to buy tickets. Since round-trip tickets are currently cheaper than one-way tickets, it makes sense to buy round-trips based on your best guess as to when you might want to return (Toledo, especially, is potentially a multi-day city, so I'd opt for a late return). Worst case, you have no use for the return ticket (you could give it away) but have still saved a bit of money after buying a new (one-way) return ticket.

Atocha Station is large and a bit confusing. The long ticket lines are generally for the long-distance trains, and you can avoid them by using a vending machine in any case. Still, I suggest allowing a bit of extra time for figuring out which machine to use and for finding your way to the proper platform.

Posted by
4535 posts

In my experience, it is best to buy your tickets a day in advance if you can. Mostly because lines can be long and you run the chance of missing the departure you hoped for. Or just show up plenty earlier. Atocha has lots of options for getting some breakfast or just watching the turtles.

I do recommend buying your tickets round trip for Toledo. Saves the extra hassle of buying a ticket on your return and the chance, for Toledo, that the return trains are full (not an issue for Segovia). On the other hand, if you want to be flexible in Toledo and then find the trains are full, you can always take the bus back.

These lines are high-speed AVE actually, and you must go through a minor security screening prior to boarding. Train doors close several minutes prior to departure times.

Posted by
15788 posts

My anecdote. I stayed in Toledo in February (low season for tourists) and decided to "play it by ear." I got to the train around 3.00 pm about 10-15 minutes before the next train was scheduled and it was sold out. I had to wait an hour for the next train.

There's lots to see in Toledo and plenty of restaurants, so I'd plan to spend as long as possible.

This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity.