Traveling late September and trying to find best way to go from Madrid 3 Days, to Toledo 2 days to Seville 3 days then Barcelona for 3 days. Or should I skip Toledo? RS book said that all AVE conections to Seville originate in Madrid. I assumed they must go through Toledo. Tried a few websites but they are not helful, only want to book rail passes. They all seem to be the official site for AVE. After Barcelona, training through Provence and to Cinque Terre, Lucca, Rome FCO.
Posted by
Bend, OR, United States
1167 posts
I have had good luck with the RENFE website: http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/index.html The Madrid-Toledo AVE has no other connections. You have to connect back through Madrid to go to Seville.
Posted by
LaGrange, Ga, USA
1178 posts
I think the trip from Madrid to Toledo (25 minutes) goes only to Toledo. You would need to go back to Madrid to get the train to Sevilla (2 1/2 hours). There are many trains during the day. You would then need to get the train from Madrid to Barcelona. Go to www.renfe.com, hit "welcome" button, and then the "purchase" button on the top right of the screen. The schedules will appear 62 days prior to the departure date.
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
And go to the RENFE site ASAP. Regular ticket prices Sevilla-Madrid-Barcelona are very expensive. Your routing could cost as much as 300 euro, about $390, per person!! If you can't get enough "Web" specials (60% off) or "Estrella" specials (40% off), consider getting a three-day Eurail Spain pass, at $213....click on Rick's "Railpasses" tab. You'll have to waste some time in Madrid getting reservations (try the travel office in El Cortes Ingles department store downtown) but reservations in Spain only cost a few Euro each. Be aware that you may not get exactly the train you want this way....but as others have noted, there are many per day on the routes you're taking.
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
Or, if you do go the railpass route, and you want the assurace of reservations on particular trains before you leave, you can get reservations at raileurope.com. At $15/leg, they'll total about $75.
Posted by
Port Coquitlam, BC, Canada
629 posts
When we arrived in Toledo it was at the end of that particular rail line. Also, to save time and not back track,after finishing in Sevilla, I would fly to Barcelona and then return to rail travel.
Posted by
OP
Dana Point, California, USA
24 posts
Thanks for everyone's help. Finally realized best route: Starting in Madrid (should of started in Seville) 2 days in Toledo, go back to Madrid and do AVE to Sevilla, then fly to Barcelona for $40 and continue again by train. Flying Seville to Barcelona (1:25hr and for $40 a great deal).