This map is intended to be used for travel planning and to get an idea of the extent of the railway network in Spain. It shows the main cities and Spanish railway lines. Lines in blue show high-speed train routes. The red lines are only suitable for slower trains.
Spain is also well served by bus service. The bus is often cheap and slow, the train is classy and fast (er). See the expert opinion: everything you need to know about public transport in Spain.
See also:
Train types
In Spain, the higher speed trains are called AVE – High Speed Spanish. The line from Madrid to Seville takes 2.5 hours to complete, much of the distance traveled at nearly 186 miles per hour.
The Euromed is a high-speed train that operates between Barcelona, Valencia and Alicante.
Reservations are required to travel on any train other than Regional Express or Cercanías (suburban train).
You can also visit the special tourist trains.
Rail passes and discounts in Spain
A variety of different Spain rail passes are available, including the France-Spain two-country pass and the Spain-Portugal rail pass.
If you have reached the age of 60 or over, you can buy a Tarjeta Dorada card for € 6 at Renfe stations, ticket offices and travel agencies. It offers a considerable discount on all trains, ranging from 25% to 40%.
You can book many tickets online, including AVE trains: AVE Reservation Center.
Don’t you understand which of the many passes could be for you? View Rail Passes – Which Eurail Pass Is Right For You?
Where should you go
If you are unfamiliar with train travel in Europe, you might be surprised at the places you can get to by train. Damian Corrigan, About Spain’s expert, offers his pick for the best train trips – the best train trips in Spain.
