Train booking for Spain

I would highly recommend buying them 1-2 days in advance. Trains can sell out. You shouldn't have a problem buying the tickets when you are in Spain. Tickets can be purchased online on Renfe's site or at at the train station or the local travel agency in Spain (look for Renfe logo).
It's a 2.5 hr ride between Madrid and Sevilla and so I would suggest to save some money and get 2nd class tickets. When you arrive in Santa Justa station which is the train station in Sevilla, buy tickets to your next destination. Be sure you check out the Alhambra in Granada. Search the forum regarding on obtaining Alhambra tickets.

You should DEFINITELY book tickets to the Alhambra in advance...it's the most popular tourist destination in Spain. See www.alhambra-tickets.es to book. Remember, there's a half-hour slot on your morning or afternoon ticket, the time during which you MUST enter the Nazrid palace, or lose out on seeing the best part of the whole site.

I was in spain at around the same time last year. I did the same trains. I booked both legs the morning that I left madrid for sevilla. It was no trouble. There are a lot of trains on this route, so if one sells out, there's another one in about an hour.
And as for the Alhambra, I went at 1:00 PM on a weekday, waited in line for 20 minutes and was in. Everyone else I met in my hostel did this as well (no pre-booking) and nobody had any trouble. But if you want to get in right away, booking your tickets means you have to be there at the time you say you will. And the hill to the Alhambra is brutally steep (although there is a bus.)

Booking your Alhambra tickets in advance does NOT mean you have to be at the Alhambra at a specfic time. Tickets are sold for the morning period (8:30-2) afternoons (2-8 pm) and evenings (10-1130....no visits to the Nazrid palace.) The half-hour time slot to enter the Nazrid palace is common to all tickets, whether purchased in advance or at the gate. By purchasing them in advance, you get to select your half hour slot, allowing you time to leisurely visit the first part of the complex without rushing. By May, you will see lots of schoolchildren from all over Spain visiting. When we were last there, last May, the lineup was about 100 yards long...with advance purchase, we walked up to a separate window, picked up our tickets, and walked in.

Azim,
I will be there a month before you.
I did all my ticket bookings over the web. Since the prices are just a little cheaper on the web and you get good reserved seats (e.g. they gave me 2 seats facing each other with a table between us) when you book early, I think it's a good idea. I paid with a non-Spanish credit card and printed my e-tickets. You will note that fares vary based on time of day and type of train.
For Sevilla-Granada, I suggest going by bus, which takes the same time, costs less and has more frequent departures.
I also bought my Alhambra tickets over the web
to save time and avoid disappointment.
For trains, look here:
http://www.renfe.es/horarios/english/index.html
For buses:
http://www.movelia.es/
For Alhambra tickets:
http://www.alhambra-tickets.es

Good luck & happy journey!

• Ashwin

All,

Thanks for the tips. I have booked the Al-Hambra tickets already. Got the 1/2 hrd slot. I will see how the hill feels. Bus might not be a bad idea.
I will try and book RENFE from Sevilla to Madrid (to get better seats w/table etc if possible).
I wanted to take a train from Sevilla to Granada too. But looks like there is no direct train. Will take the bus instead. Also, I plan to take buses from Madrid to Cordoba and Granada to Nerja.
Let me know if you guys have more tips of traveling with a 2yr old kid -Thanks again.

There is a direct train Sevilla-Granada. I know because I took it. It is a Regional train which is the older and slower trains. Only 4 trains go out to Granada each day. You can check the times on Renfe's site. If it doesn't show any results on the date you selected, choose a more closer date. I believe the scheduled times are same regardless of which date you pick.

Thanks Marlene..I will take a look again.

Marlene is correct...there are four trains/day, and the schedules won't change much (if at all) between now and your travel dates. Buses run much more frequently, and take about 15 minutes longer than the train. And forget about climbing the hill to the Alhambra...it'll take forever, and you'll be exhausted. The commuter buses leave from Plaza Santa Ana at the foot of the hill, and cost one Euro.