If you’re looking for a different kind of adventure for your next holiday, then maybe you could consider seeing Spain by train. Visit a handful of the country’s most stunning cities in one trip, ticking off many destinations on your bucket list.
For many, the idea of travelling across Europe by train is a gap year experience, with the adventure by train taken by many students before or after university. But that doesn’t mean Interrailing isn’t for everyone.
If you have a bucket list of destinations as long as your arm, this is one way to tick some of those cities off. Travelling by train can be exciting, seeing much of the country that you wouldn’t if you just travelled by plane.
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How much does it cost to travel in Spain by train?
Interrail
One of the best ways to travel through Spain is through the Interrail service. Also known as Eurail (for those who live outside of Europe), the railway network is available to European citizens and has passes to cater for all travel appetites.
Passengers can buy tickets for a number of trips in the same country or a pass that covers unlimited travel across the whole continent. The One Country Pass costs £225 for one adult and allows six days of train travel within one month.
Many of Spain’s long-distance trains require reservations and these can be made in person at the train station before you depart.
Trainline
Surprisingly, Trainline can provide rail fares for cities across Europe and if you plan in advance, some fares can be shockingly cheap. We found a one-way ticket from Barcelona to Madrid for just £6.52, leaving early in the morning giving you more time in your chosen city. With Trainline, tickets come with reservations, though choosing your own seats comes with a fee. Passengers are allowed to bring one small carry-on luggage, such as a small suitcase or cabin bag, as well as one handbag each.
Renfe
The national passenger railway company in Spain, booking with Renfe means booking directly with the operator, like booking with LNER or Northern Rail. It offers high-speed, long-distance trains as well as mid-distance journeys and commuter routes.
We found a one-way ticket in the morning from Barcelona to Madrid for 19 euros (£16) and returns for 33 euros (£29). This ticket was an economy, or basic, ticket in the cheapest tier and comes with a randomly assigned seat resignation, a generous luggage allowance and a reclining seat with light and plug. Upgrades were sometimes significantly more, but come with food and beverages, cancellation coverage and seat selection.
Where can I visit in Spain?
With direct flights from Newcastle Airport to Barcelona, holidaymakers can enjoy a night in Barcelona before hopping on trains to take in the cultural highlights, stunning architecture and fascinating museums of Madrid, Seville, Granada and Córdoba along the way. Spend a week in beautiful Spanish cities, with trains between them taking no more than two or three hours, before returning to Barcelona for your flight home.
Do I have to make reservations?
Many Spanish trains require an advance reservation, including domestic and international high-speed trains and night trains. The only way to make reservations is in person at the ticket offices of local Long Distance stations (not commuter stations), so make it your first port of call in each destination.
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