Madrid to Sevilla

The AVE train takes only 2.5 hours and is very nice. I checked and found there are still discount tickets available for some dates in late December. These would be 41 or 50 euros instead of 83 euros. So it it is well worth purchasing in advance, even tho it is not always easy with a US credit card. There are detailed instructions on Tripadvisor, on the Madrid forum page, and on the Man in Seat 61 website. I found it was essential to register my credit card with Verified by Visa in addition to calling my bank to advise I would be making a foreign purchase. Even then Renfe would not accept my card so I bought one set of tickets from Rumbo.es, a travel agent that also offers the discounts. After one purchase from Rumbo, Renfe would take my card for subsequent purchases without any problems.

Thank you! Your information is very helpful!

I agree...the AVE is the way... 2 1/2 hours of a very smooth and pleasant ride....there is a food car (Snacks) if you need it...a couple of stops along the way. Your ticket will have the coach number and the seat number on it. Ask for assistance...nice employees... You leave from the Atocha Station, and there are taxis in front of the station in Madrid. Enjoy your trip.

A couple of procedural comments. For the AVE you not be allowed access to the platform until 30 minutes prior to departure. You will go through security screening - fairly light. Bags are x-ray and your step thought a body screening. And then your ticket is checked at the top of the platform.

Unless things have changed since I was in Spain a couple years ago, there is only luggage x-ray, not metal detectors or body scanners. Their main concern is explosives, due to the unfortunate attack at Atocha a few years ago.

I don't remember stepping through any body scanner when we were there last May, just putting our bags through the machine. But we passed through a number of train stations (Barcelona, Madrid, Toledo, Sevilla, Granada and Cordoba) and maybe my memory is faulty. Atocha has two departure lounges, one above the other. While the gates for most Sevilla trains are on the upper level, check the board to be sure which one your particular train is using. The security people will direct you if needed.

I travelled by AVE from Madrid to sevilla in late October. No body scan, only the luggage xray.