What is the fastest way to get from Madrid to Barcelona. How long by car or do you have to fly.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
The fastest way is by train -- AVE
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
It's a totally boring six-hour drive. Zaragoza is a good stop for a couple of hours, but it adds another hour getting in and out of the city from the freeway.
Posted by
LaGrange, Ga, USA
1178 posts
AVE is the best way..
Posted by
Oak Park, Illinois
4535 posts
The train (AVE) is about a 3 hour ride. Leaves and arrives at stations in the central cities with minimal security and no luggage fees or hassles. Though ordering online can be very tricky, you can get good discounts buying tickets in advance.
Posted by
Lake Oswego, Oregon
1329 posts
It's an hour and fifteen minute flight.
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
2730 posts
You can fly, but by the time you get to the airport, check in, get through security, fly, do the same in reverse you would save time by taking the train. The 3 hour trip is over in a flash, very comfortable, and scenic.
Posted by
OP
Germantown, WI, USA
27 posts
Thank you so much for your help. I think we will be taking the train.
Posted by
St. Paul, MN
16 posts
We just booked our Madrid to Barcelona AVE tickets online. It was a 2.5 hr ordeal. The website encountered an error nearly every time we hit submit, and the one time it worked, the bank blocked the transaction (we immediately got a suspected fraudulent transition call).
There is detailed advice given on TripAdvisor on how to use the RENFE site. My advice - use the site in Spanish (English version never worked) and call your bank in advance (though this really did not work for some of our cards either). After 2.5 hrs, and trying a number of cards, it finally did work for us, though the confirmation/tickets are in Spanish. Good Luck!