Compare Train Ticket Costs: Map shows point-to-point, one-way, 2nd-class fares in $US by rail (solid line), bus (dashed line, not covered by rail pass), and ferry (dotted line, not covered by rail pass). For 1st class rail fares, add 50%. Sources: www.renfe.es and www.cp.pt.
Best Value: Consider a Spain Eurail pass if you need three or more long train rides. Otherwise, the best public transportation strategy in Spain and Portugal is to mix it up. Buses and even flights are cheap and efficient for short hops and where train service can be sparse (such as along Spain's north and south coasts or between the two countries). See Comparing Transport and Point-to-Point Train Ticket Deals (below) for more price and time data.
Reservations: Spain's network of fast trains is expanding and most point-to-point train tickets are sold for a reserved date, time, and seat. With a rail pass, most Spanish trains require reservations ($10 - 20 in second class) and places are limited for rail pass holders. When first class includes a meal, seat reservations cost $35. From Madrid to Toledo, a rail pass holder reservation costs as much as a regular-fare ticket, so don't use the rail pass there. Trains can usually be booked starting 60 days ahead, but Spanish train schedules may not be published much in advance of seasonal changes in mid-June, September, and December.
Private Trains: Rail passes do not cover private trains between San Sebastian and Ferrol on the north coast (see www.feve.es, www.euskotren.es , or www.eurolines.com for info) or some local service around Barcelona (run by FGC) and Valencia (FGV). Of these, FEVE and FGC give rail pass holders a 50% discount (which does not use up a flexipass travel day). Rail passes without France not valid on Talgo Day trains to/from Montpellier, France (but other trains on the Spanish portion of that route are OK).
Two-Country Eurail Passes: Options later on this page work for those traveling between Spain and one neighbor: Portugal, France, or even Italy. Portugal only has one neighbor (Spain).
| Spain Eurail Pass | ||||
| Type of Pass | 1st Class | 2nd Class | ||
| 3 days in 2 months | $290 | $233 | ||
| Extra rail days (max 7) | $39-46 | $31-36 | ||
| Kids 4-11 half fare, under 4 free. Prices subject to change. | ||||
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If you prefer first class and have two traveling together, the Spain-Portugal Saverpass (below) is cheaper than the first-class Spain Pass alone.
| Portugal Eurail Pass | ||||
| Type of Pass | 1st Class | 2nd Class | ||
| 3 days in 1 month | $162 | $108 | ||
| 4 days in 1 month | $201 | $133 | ||
| 5 days in 1 month | $264 | $177 | ||
| Kids 4-11 half fare, under 4 free. Not valid on Hotel Train to Madrid. Prices subject to change. | ||||
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| Spain - Portugal Eurail Pass | ||||
| Type of Pass | 1st Class Individual | 1st Class Saverpass | ||
| 3 days in 2 months | $331 | $282 | ||
| Extra rail days (max 7) | $44-48 | $38-41 | ||
| Saverpass prices are per person based on two or more traveling together. Kids 4-11 half of individual or saver fare, under 4 free. Prices subject to change. | ||||
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| France-Spain Eurail Pass | |||||||
| Type of Pass | 1st Class Individual | 1st Class Saver | 2nd Class Individual | 2nd Class Saver | 2nd Class Youth | ||
| 4 days in 2 months | $401 | $343 | $343 | $293 | $261 | ||
| Extra rail days (max 6) | $45-50 | $38-40 | $38-40 | $31-37 | $28-32 | ||
| Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under age 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or saver fare; under 4 free. Extra day prices approximate. Prices subject to change. | |||||||
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If you're only dipping into a bit of Spain, you may not need the France-Spain Eurail pass. For instance, a ticket from the French border at Cerbere to Barcelona costs only $35. From the border at Hendaye to Madrid costs $75, but if you cover this ground via the fancy Paris–Madrid "Elipsos" night train, the same rail pass holder sleeper rates ($70 and up) apply whether your rail pass covers one or both countries.
| Italy - Spain Eurail Pass | |||||||
| Type of Pass | 1st Class Individual | 1st Class Saver | 2nd Class Individual | 2nd Class Saver | 2nd Class Youth | ||
| 4 days in 2 months | $401 | $343 | $343 | $293 | $261 | ||
| Extra rail days (max 6) | $46-48 | $39-43 | $39-43 | $30-38 | $30-33 | ||
| Does not cover travel in France! Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under age 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or saver fare; under 4 free. Prices subject to change. | |||||||
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Italy and Spain can be connected by Grimaldi ferry service (20% discount with rail pass), or you can fly, but if you plan to travel by land, you should include France on a Select pass for three or more countries.
Roundtrip train tickets in Spain are about 20% cheaper than two one-ways. Online advance-purchase ticket discounts for expensive AVE trains are great if you have the patience and Spanish language skills to navigate Renfe's web site: "Web" fare is a 60% discount purchased at least 15 days ahead and Estrella fare saves 40% purchased at least one week ahead. Last Minute discounts up to 50% off are available online starting 24 hours before the train departure. The best deals have limited seat availability, sell out early, and have refund or exchange restrictions. Many people have had trouble getting US credit cards approved on the Renfe web site, in which case you may turn to US ticket sellers who cannot necessarily match the cheapest rates.
| Comparing Transport Options in Iberia | |||
| Route | By Train | By Bus | By Air |
| Barcelona - Madrid | Hourly, 3 hrs, $165 | 14/day, 8 hrs, $42 | From $45 |
| Barcelona - Sevilla | 1/day fast train, 6 hrs, $200; more w/ Madrid connection | All connect in Madrid | From $45 |
| Madrid - Segovia | 11/day, 30 minutes, $14 | 2/hour, 1.5 hrs, $10 | |
| Madrid - Sevilla | Hourly, 2.5 hrs, $115 | Hourly, 6 hrs, $30 | |
| Madrid - Lisbon | Night train only, $85 + sleeper fee | 2/day, 8 - 9 hrs, $65 | From $40 |
| Sevilla - Algeciras | 4/day, 4.5 hrs w/change, $30 | 7/day, 2.5 hrs , $22 | |
| Sevilla - Granada | 4/day, 3 hrs w/change, $30 | 9/day, 3 - 5 hrs , $30 | |
| Sevilla - Lisbon | No through train, connect in Madrid, 13 hrs, $190 + sleeper fee | 1-2/day, 7-10 hrs, $50 | From $115 |
| Sevilla - Lagos | No through train, can connect train-bus-train | 2-4/day, 6 hrs direct, $30 | |
| Malaga - Gibraltar | No train | 5/day, 3 hrs direct, $15 | |
| San Sebastian - Bilbao | Hourly, 2.5 hours, $15, not covered by railpasses | 2/hour, 1.25 hrs, $14 | |
| San Sebastian - Santiago | Day train 11 hrs, $70, travels inland; or overnight 15 hrs | 11-14 hrs, can bus along coast, day or night | |
| Choose frequent departures, faster travel time, or lower cost. Airfare selections require advance purchase; try Vueling, Spanair, TAP, or Iberia airlines. Flight times about an hour, plus an hour for check-in, plus travel time to and from airports. | |||
From Madrid to Lisbon, service is by the overnight train called Lusitania. A regular range of sleeper reservation fees apply in addition to the train ticket price on our map or in addition to a rail pass travel day.
From Madrid or Barcelona to other international destinations, hotel trains are fast and direct, making just a few stops. Collectively called Elipsos or Talgo Night, they also have names by route: Francisco de Goya (Madrid-Paris), Joan Miro (Barcelona-Paris), Pau Casals (Barcelona-Zurich), and Salvador Dali (Barcelona-Milan). With any rail pass that covers at least one country on the route of travel (including Swiss Passes but not Swiss Cards), you can use a rail pass travel day and pay sleeper fares ranging from €50 for a reclining seat, to €75 for a quad couchette, to €215 for a posh Gran Class single compartment. All doubles and singles (but not quads) include breakfast and your own toilet and washbasin. Gran Class adds dinner and a shower in your compartment. See Using Your Europe Rail Pass for more about reservations. To avoid this expensive luxury to/from Paris, change trains at the Spanish border (at Irun/Hendaye on the west, at Cerbere/Port Bou on the eastern side). You'll connect to a normal night train with €25 couchettes on one leg of the trip. This plan takes more time, does not run every day, and may use two days of a flexipass.
