I would like to arrange a train trip from Granada to Barcelona (connect to AVE). I know it is more expensive and longer than a plane but I am a train buff. Is it possible to travel from Granada to Barcelona by train or do I need to bus to Seville, Cordoba to catch AVE to Barcelona beginning of June?
Ramon
Hi Ramon,
It's possible to travel by train between Granada and Barecelona, but there are no direct train connections. You will need to change trains twice, in Antequera, Cordoba or Sevilla as well as Madrid. Due to construction on the rail line near Granada, you will need to take a bus to either Antequera, Cordoba or Sevilla, then catch the AVE to Madrid and another AVE to Barcelona. See www.renfe.com for schedules, connections and ticket costs. Currently, schedules are only loaded up until early February, but you can look at the same day of the week you wish to travel to get an idea of the schedule and connections.
Currently there's no train traffic between Granada and Antequera. It is possible that the train will be back by June but don't plan on it. Renfe runs a bus service between the two train stations that meets the train in/out of Antequera and the transfer is pretty seamless, from tourists' reports. If you don't want to fly between the two, maybe you can rearrange your itinerary so you aren't traveling directly between the two.
If you choose to take a bus out of Granada, Cordoba would be best, because the train and bus stations there are next to each other. In Seville and Madrid, they aren't.
If you really want to take the train on this route, Chani's suggestion of bus from Granada to Cordoba, then train from Cordoba to Madrid and train from Madrid to Barcelona is probably the best way to go. Note that when changing trains in Madrid you shouldn't have to go through security again; if you will have to change from the upper level platforms to the lower level ones or vice versa, ask where to find the elevator that connects them directly. If you don't take this elevator, you will have to go through security again, as well as waste a lot of time in the confusing Atocha station.
I understand being a train buff, but in Spain it really works better to take trains on the routes they work well on, such as Madrid-Cordoba-Seville, Madrid-Barcelona, Madrid-Toledo (notice the theme?). Trains also work fine for shorter segments, such as Barcelona to Sitges or Girona. Note that buses in Spain are not like Greyhound in the US - you get an assigned seat and both the buses and the stations are much more pleasant. Once the AVE starts running to Granada, that will work well too, but until then, I'd take the bus (for closer places like Cordoba or Seville or Malaga) or fly (for farther destinations like Barcelona).
ray,
"The train in Spain stays mainly on the plain" (sorry, couldn't resist).
As the others have mentioned, your best option would probably be Bus to Antequera (unless of course the rail link is in operation at the time of your trip) and then AVE from there to Madrid. You'll need to change trains at Madrid Puerta de Atocha and continue on AVE from there to Barcelona Sants. The entire trip from Antequerra to Barcelona will be as short as ~5H:46M, depending on which train you choose.
Unfortunately, it's not possible yet to purchase tickets on the www.capitainetrain.com website, so you'll have to purchase at http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/
If you do want to purchase train tickets on the Renfe website, the tips in this TripAdvisor page are necessary: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g187514-c80518/Madrid:Spain:Buying.Renfe.Tickets.Online.html
Be sure to use PayPal, or your purchase, most likely, won't go through.
As the others have reported, there is no direct train between Granada and Barcelona. All connections involve a bus and train. Often there are two trains per day between Sevilla and Barcelona that don't involve a change in Madrid, taking about 5.5 hours, but I don't see them on the current schedules. It's quite possible they will be running in June, so I'd check the Renfe site again in a few months. This option would save you a bit of time and a change of trains.
thanks to all for the info.! really appreciated.
Sorry to jump in but I think it's relevant. I am trying to purchase my AVE tickets and having the hardest time finding an option for one-way tickets. The TripAdvisor article says it should be a button for "ida" but I not finding it anywhere (English or Spanish versions). The chat is a joke. Does anyone else see the one-way/ida option? I tried it on IE and Firefox.
Oh my gosh, all the reviews are not lying, that website is one of the worst I've encountered!
Edited to add: I just added the Renfe Ticket app from the apple store and, wow, it really seems user-friendly and fast! Most importantly, there is an option for one-way tickets!
The TA advice is outdated. Renfe has revamped the site -yet it's as crappy as always. Just insert the date of the outward journey and leave the inward empty... the system understands you're only going one way -much like in many airline sites. Now you can even choose the time of the day you wish trains for (mañana, tarde, noche - morning, afternoon, evening), simply click on top of the preferred choice (or leave it empty too)
Thanks for the advice. I did get the full site to work as well. It seems to work best in Chrome for me.
Input the detail and press Buy/Comprar and the detail will be singles on the next page. Presumably the T.A. guide has not been updated with the latest changes.
