Hello, We will be traveling from Barcelona to Madrid in late February. Please advise on thoughts of flying or speed train. Flying looks like a low cost option although by the time we go to the airport ahead of time and pay taxi, etc, could be the same money. Thoughts on which is more fun, unique and economical. Train references?
Posted by
Washington DC
27111 posts
The train will be far faster city-to-city; it takes as little as 2-1/2 hours. The fare varies with the date and time of the train. I see that there are promo fares available for a lot of late-February trains. If you know your travel date and time and are willing to purchase a non-refundable/non-changeable ticket, it will cost less now than a ticket purchased closer to the date of travel.
Posted by
Chicago
7839 posts
Take the train, buy the ticket early
Posted by
Pacific Northwest
882 posts
I have taken the high speed AVE train - Barcelona to Madrid. It is the included transportation between the two cities on the RS "Best of Barcelona and Madrid" tour. The train ride is a genuine delight!
Posted by
Folsom
2707 posts
Train hands down. You’ll want the high speed, AVE. No airport hassles, you’ll ride in comfort, be there in under 3 hours. See https://www.eurail.com/en/get-inspired/trains-europe/high-speed-trains/ave.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23267 posts
Train without question. No limits on luggage, no early check-in or any check-in, great seats, no seat belts, and no airport security - just a light screening. I don't begin to think about an airline until the train ride is five or six hours long.
Posted by
Richmond, VA
293 posts
Train, absolutely! Less pressure, easier with luggage. You can get in the train in one city center and get off a few hours (2-3, generally) in another. Spanish trains are clean, comfortable and efficient. I'm taking several (including the Barcelona to Madrid route) in a couple of weeks.
Caroline
Posted by
WA State
3961 posts
Highly recommend taking the AVE train. We did the opposite. Madrid to Barcelona. Should fit your preferences- fun, unique and economical!
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
"Flying looks like a low cost option although by the time we go to the airport ahead of time and pay taxi, etc, could be the same money."
Exactly. And it takes a lot longer door to door, and is a lot more hassle.
"Thoughts on which is more fun, unique and economical."
Train wins on all three counts.
"Train references?"
The Man In Seat 61 is a great rail guru. Here's all you need to know about the train in Spain: https://www.seat61.com/Spain-trains.htm
To book this train, you can try the official website Renfe http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/index.html. However, you need to use Paypal (US credit cards almost never work - save time and just use Paypal), and you need this tutorial from TripAdvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g187514-c80518/Madrid:Spain:Buying.Renfe.Tickets.Online.html
If this is too daunting, you can book the train from Trainline https://www.trainline.eu/ (should not have a markup) or Loco2 https://loco2.com/ (may have a small markup). By all accounts, these are much easier to use than Renfe.
Do book as soon as you know of your plans. These trains start out at about €45 if booked in advance, but go up to something like €130 at the last minute, and they can sell out.