Are train reservations really necessary in Spain?

Hi Josh,

Although I do not have any first-hand experience with trains there, Rick Steves' list of train reservations indicates that reservations are required for Ave, Talgo, Euromed, Alaris, Altaria, Avant, and Alvia trains in Spain. Although this does not help with the rest of the trains, if you will be taking any one of these then you must have a reservation.

Josh...all the high-speed trains in Spain require "reservations," but it's a crowd-control feature to make sure they don't sell more tickets than they have seats, since standing-room-only passengers aren't allowed. So you can walk up and purchase a ticket for the next train from, say Madrid to Barcelona, and away you go...the "reservation" is included with the ticket.
However, there are a couple of problems you may face. The first is getting a seat in the first place. It's a VERY busy time for travel in Spain, with families heading all over the country for holidays. Next week also sees the wrap-up of the San Fermin celebrations in Pamplona, with a million visitors getting set to leave the city....and thousands of the city's residents, who've fled to escape the hoopla, heading home!
The second issue is price. A second-class walkup ticket for Madrid-Barcelona, for example, ranges from 110-130 Euro...one way!
I would suggest that, even at this late date, you visit the RENFE website to see what's available on the routes and at the times you plan to travel. Some discount fares (mainly "Estrella" but a few scattered "Web" specials are still available.) Click on "Buy Tickets" at the top of the page. These tickets can be printed out at home. Even if you can't find any specials, I'd purchase tickets in advance, just to make sure you don't get caught short....and it'll mean you'll avoid standing in what can be looooong lineups at major city train stations.

When we traveled to Spain last September-October, we used trains often.I had expected to be able to just buy tickets on the same day of travel, but after I kept finding the trains we wanted were all sold out, I got a clue and started booking in advance. I think the trains there sell out very often, and if you're trying to stick to a tight schedule on popular routes, you will find the same sold-out trains that i did. My advice is to book in advance, or be prepared to wait hours for a train at an inconvenient time.

Thank you all so much for the tips! I guess the old method of buying tickets at the station an hour before the train leaves isn't so easy anymore =(. Takes a lot of the ease/flexibility out of traveling, sadly. (sigh)

Thanks again!

Related question -- are train tickets in Spain exchangeable/refundable? If I buy online on Monday, for a train on Wednesday, and then decide I want to leave a day later, can I exchange my Wednesday ticket for a Thursday ticket without paying some exorbitant fee?

You can exchange your tickets, but there is a fee. It's 15% if you want to change to a train on the same day, and 20% if for another day (as in your example.) Refunds cost 30% of the ticket's value.

that's great news, thank you Norm!

Here's something I learnt about rail travel in Spain.
I took my friend who was leaving by rail for Madrid from Malaga to the travel department of El Corte Ingles. It is Spain's largest department store. We purchased his ticket at no extra cost. There can be quite a wait sometimes. But a least you won't have to lose time travelling to the train station. In Madrid, the Corte Ingles is very close to Puerto Del Sol. I don't know where the store is in Barcelona, but expect it is close Plaza Catalunya. Hope this helps.