SPAIN'S AVE HIGH SPEED TRAIN between Malaga & Barcelona

If you want to take the AVE from Malaga to Barcelona, you'll have to go through Madrid first. It'll travel through Cordoba before Madrid, where you'll catch another AVE to Barcelona. Between Madrid and Barcelona, some AVEs don't make any stops, some stop in Zaragoza, and some stop in Zaragoza and Llieda, as well as a couple of other small transfer points. These stops are VERY brief....60 seconds, and they don't mess around. Total journey time will be about six hours. There is one regional train/day that makes its way up to Cordoba, across south-central Spain to Albacte, Valencia, Tarragona, and many smaller place in between, before arriving in Barcelona. It's cheaper, but the trip is 13 1/2 hours.
You can book deeply discounted tickets (up to 60% off) up to 62 1/2 days in advance at www.renfe.com

I thank you so much, Norm, for this great information.

Did you have to change trains in Madrid?

Thanks again.

Sophie

Sorry, I just read your response again - - got it! I thought AVE opened a new line that didn't have to change trains in Madrid.

Best Regards!

Sophie

If you enter Malaga and Barcelona at the RENFE site, you'll see two high-speed trains listed. They both backtrack to Madrid, but don't stop there.....so it saves you a bit of time. But if those don't coordinate with your schedule, you'll have to book two separate tickets....Malaga-Madrid and Madrid-Barcelona. That'll give you much more choice....but you'll have to change in Madrid (not a difficult thing to do) and will add no more than half an hour to your travel time.

Many thanks for taking the time to explain my options.

You're been very helpful and I thank you for that.

Wish You All The Best!