Spain Rail Passes and Train Tips

By Rick Steves

Are rail passes a good value for Spain?

A rail pass doesn't provide much hop-on convenience in Spain, since most trains require paid seat reservations, as indicated in train schedules (see below for more Spain-specific reservation advice). Reserving point-to-point tickets in advance (available up to 60 days ahead of travel) is the best way to save money and to guarantee a seat on your preferred train. Furthermore, many areas of Spain aren't well served by its train system — for many trips, buses and even flights may be a better option.

How do I see whether a rail pass makes sense for my trip in particular?

Train & Bus Fares: Spain & Portugal

Map shows approximate costs, in $US, for one-way, second-class tickets. For first-class fares, add 50 percent.

Use this map to add up approximate pay-as-you-go fares for your itinerary, and compare that cost to the price of a rail pass for the number of days you expect to spend on the train. Fares shown on the map include seat reservations when required, but they cost extra when using a rail pass. Dashed lines show bus routes, which aren't covered by rail passes.

Also, follow the links below for:

• More tips for figuring out whether a pass makes sense for your trip
• The basics on choosing among rail passes
• More tips for getting the most out of a rail pass
• General advice on deciding between first and second class
• Fare-estimate maps outside Spain & Portugal
• Answers to frequently asked rail-pass questions

What are my options for rail passes that cover Spain?

Spain Eurail Pass

Eurail Global Pass (33 countries) → read more about this pass

►Rail Europe shopping cart: Have an order underway? Review and complete it here.

Do I need to make seat reservations on Spanish trains?

For most trains between most major destinations, yes, you do. Seat reservations for those traveling on a rail pass are limited — and they can sell out well in advance of the train's departure. Most seat reservations cost $10–20 in second class; first-class reservations can cost $35 for trips that include a meal. Even kids young enough to travel for free (under age 4) need a (free) reservation to ride Spanish trains.

Extra tip: Between Madrid and Toledo, you'll pay just as much for a (required) seat reservation with a rail pass as you would in flat-out paying for a point-to-point ticket, so it makes no sense to use a pass on this stretch.

What do rail passes cover in Spain?

Aside from the extra reservation fees required for most high-speed trains (see above), rail passes for Spain cover all travel on trains run by Renfe, Spain's national railway — which now includes the slow coastal trains between Bilbao and Ferrol. Passes also cover the high-speed IRYO trains, and can get you a discount on some international ferries (but not Tarifa–Tangier routes).

Rail passes do not, however, cover most privately run trains. Here's where you're most likely to encounter them:

Any tips for buying point-to-point train tickets in Spain?

If a rail pass doesn't pencil out for your trip, you may be able to shave off the cost of your train tickets with some of these tips:

  • Round-trip train tickets in Spain are about 20 percent cheaper than two one-way fares.
  • Seniors (60 and older) who buy a Tarjeta Dorada (€6) can get a substantial discount on most train tickets. It won't, however, allow you to get that discount on any tickets you buy before you arrive in Spain, as you need to enter your Tarjeta number to get tickets at the discounted rate — and the Tarjeta is only sold in Spanish stations, not online.
  • Advance-purchase discounts for expensive AVE trains are available about 60 days ahead. The best deals have limited seat availability, sell out early, and have refund or exchange restrictions. The Renfe site now accepts PayPal, but is otherwise chronically unable to take US credit cards.
  • High-speed, no-frills AVLO trains run on the Barcelona–Zaragoza–Madrid route, with some fares as low as €20 for the entire stretch. They aren't covered by rail passes, and come with less leg room than AVE trains and no food service (vending machines only, pay extra for seat reservation and larger suitcases). French OUIGO trains run on the same route, as well as the Madrid–Valencia line, with similar restrictions in exchange for similar savings.
  • Consider skipping the train: Buses tend to be cheaper than trains, and are sometimes also faster and/or more frequent for certain connections. Most of the time, however, you must choose between more frequent departures, faster travel times, and lower cost. On a few routes, flying may be your best option (provided you've booked in advance), even considering the time and hassle of getting to/from airports. And factor in that even local and regional trains are likely to be full of locals taking advantage of Spain's current "free train" program (see below). Here are some rough estimates, for comparison's sake, on popular routes:
    • Barcelona–Madrid: Bus is much cheaper than the train, but much slower (bus: $40, 8 hours, 14/day; train: $165, 3 hours, hourly); flights often nearly as cheap as bus ticket on this route
    • Barcelona–Sevilla: Flying is often much cheaper than the fastest train connection on this route ($45 versus $200)
    • Madrid–Segovia: Buses leave a little more frequently (2/hour) than trains, but take an hour longer; the cost is about the same
    • Madrid–Sevilla: Bus is far cheaper on this route, but much slower (bus: $30, 6 hours; train: $115, 2.5 hours); both leave about hourly
    • Madrid–Lisbon: Flying may be your fastest and even cheapest option, as plane tickets can go for just $40. Otherwise it's an 8–9-hour bus ride ($65, 2/day) or a longer, less convenient train ride ($70, 1/day, at least 9 hours with two connections)
    • Sevilla–Lisbon: Bus and train tickets cost roughly the same (about $50), but the bus is more frequent, and often faster (bus: 7–10 hours, 2/day including an overnight bus; train: 9 hours with two connections, 1/day)
    • Sevilla–Lagos: While regional trains connect many towns along the Algarve coast, they only connect to Spanish stations via Lisbon (and Lagos is the Algarve's westernmost station) — fortunately you can bus between Sevilla and Lagos ($25, 5/day in summer, 2/day off-season)
    • Sevilla–Granada: Buses and trains work out about the same on this route
    • San Sebastián–Bilbao: Buses on this route are about an hour faster and leave twice as frequently as trains (tickets cost about the same — and trains on this stretch aren't covered by rail passes)
  • Get even more advice on Spanish trains in my full-size guidebooks for Spain: Rick Steves Spain and Rick Steves Barcelona.

Check our general tips for buying point-to-point tickets.

What if I need help with my Rail Europe order?

All orders for passes and tickets are fulfilled by Rail Europe (not by Rick Steves' Europe). Refunds and changes (where possible) can be handled by logging in to the account you made at the time of purchase; for other customer-service questions, contact them online — and keep in mind that refund options are fairly limited.