How To Buy Train Tickets In Spain
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For those who do not know what I am talking about, you're about to have an eye opening experience. Buying tickets on Renfe is quite possibly one of the worst travel experiences one can have, and after several frustrating purchase attempts for our vacation in Spain we figured out 4 great tips to help make your purchasing experience a breeze!
The notoriety of buying Renfe train tickets comes from many sources throughout the years. The network is the main site to purchase all train travel in Spain and also offers some of the best deals you can find.
It is sad to say, but a few short hours could be the difference between an incredibly discounted ticket or another for the same seat that is 50% more expensive as happened to us when buying tickets from Madrid to Sevilla (although shorter Madrid day trips are less of an issue- click the previous link to read more!).
Those that are hit especially hard with this issue are Americans, and hundreds of published stories exist online where many American and foreign travelers alike are simply unable to purchase Renfe train tickets due to their credit card being denied.
Our successful attempts came about when we used our bank debit card to purchase these tickets, but only after several days went by from our first call to the bank to notify an international transaction was about to take place to when we actually purchased the tickets.
My advice is to avoid both Renfe and Loco2 online. I too had problems to use the Renfe website to book tickets from Tarraonga to Madrid as it would change to Spanish half way through and session time out. After two days I gave up and booked via Loco2 travel site and paid more for a flexible fare so that I could be sure that I could arrive early or later and not have travel problems. I printed the tickets as Loco2 advised but found you can print for free at the station ticket desk with the booking number.
So logged into Loco2 website and they dont have an online way to update the tickets. Its email only. I find out they are a small travel agency that you can only be contacted to change the tickets via ema. Only open mon to friday 9 to 5 with no contact number. Not open on weekends.
Loco2 are very weasely on their T&C which is not clear about support for flexible tickets that they charge extra for. There is a disconnect between flexible and rebookable. In the Uk, France and German rail you can travel at different times with flexible tickets but not with Renfe in Spain on Loco2 tickets.
As far as the 3rd party services are concerned, I booked my tickets via the -europe.com website, which redirected me to No problem using a credit card. I think the prices were the same to those from the renfe website. They sent me an email containing links to my tickets in pdf format.
That Renfe website can be a real pain. I found the best way to do it is to use the Spanish version and use Google translate to change the page to English. I also found a good forum on Trip Advisor that explained how to book tickets.
So glad to read about your tips on how to buy a train ticket when in Spain.I never realised how challenging it would be (online) when its all in Spanish!Love the idea of buying a ticket at a cheaper rate.If we ever get to Spain (not sure how we would get our bus there!) will have to remember your handy hints.CheersLisa
Trains in Spain give you the chance to explore one of the most vibrant and colourful destinations in Europe. With great weather and a stellar high-speed railway network, Spain is a great country to explore by train.
This guide will show you how to book Spanish train tickets, how to find the cheapest advance fares, whether you need an Eurail pass, and how to understand your Renfe ticket. You'll also see what it's like on the inside of a high-speed AVE train, how to travel to France from Spain by rail, and helpful FAQs at the end.
The aim of updating the ticketing system is to make fares more navigable for passengers and allow them to access the most applicable fare for their travel needs. There are three new fares for Renfe trains: Básico, Elige and Premium; the conditions of the fares are explained below.
iryo is a new Spanish train company that launched their first high-speed service from Madrid to Barcelona on 25th November 2022. iryo trains depart from Madrid Atocha and Barcelona Sants stations and stop in Zaragoza along the way.
Eurail passes give the holder unlimited train travel in one country (One Country Pass) or multiple countries (Global Pass). It's valid in 33 countries, including Spain. Eurail passes work on all Renfe trains, including high-speed AVE trains, Media Distancia, Regional and Cercanías public transport. You can't just hop on whichever train you feel like, however. For the majority of trains in Spain, you have to book a seat reservation ahead of time. More on that below.
Verdict: the seat reservation system makes it difficult to book seats ahead of time. If you're a meticulous planner who likes to have an itinerary ironed out before landing, book point-to-point tickets.
Verdict: the flexibility of a Eurail pass shines through if you're not worried about booking stuff in advance. Just wander into a station and buy a seat reservation to a destination that takes your fancy. Point-to-point tickets bought on the day can also be quite expensive, so you'll be saving money by using a pass.
AVE trains are the fastest trains on the Spanish railway network, capable of speeds of 310km/h (193 mph). AVE stands for Alta Velocidad Española, translating to \"Spanish High Speed\", but the name is also a play on the Spanish term for \"bird\" - ave. AVEs are the pride of Renfe's fleet.
The first AVE service ran in 1992 and since then, Spain's high-speed network has become the second-largest in the world. Travelling over 3,240km of high-speed railway lines, AVE trains can get you from Barcelona to Madrid in 2h 30m, Madrid to Seville in 2h 21m and Málaga to Cordoba in 48m.
Estandár class is the cheapest on AVE trains. Seats are comfortable and there is luggage storage space above the seats. If the train is equipped with WiFi (look out for the WiFi symbol on the side of the train), it costs Estandár passengers a few Euros to connect.
Confort is available on all AVE trains. Wide, reclining leather seats come as standard. You will be served a complimentary meal at your seat (except for Saturdays) and will have free access to onboard WiFi.
All AVE trains are kitted out with a cafe-bar carriage, serving hot and cold meals, coffee, soft drinks and alcohol. Confort passengers will be served an in-seat complimentary meal on weekdays and Sundays. And of course, feel free to bring your own food onboard - it's a train, after all!
To check what meal will be served on your train, you will have to use the Renfe website. Use the timetables widget to find your train and click on the + icon. Under the Prestaciones heading click on Más detalle. The resulting pop-up will list whether you will be served desayuno (breakfast), aperitivo, almuerzo (lunch), merienda or cena (dinner).
Slower regional trains, generally connecting areas in the same Autonomous Community (like Andalucía, Catalonia or Aragón). Media Distancia is an umbrella term for lots of train types, including Avant (high-speed trains for journeys under 200km), Regional (stops at lots of regional stations), Regional Express (same trains as Regional, calling at fewer stations) and MD.
Long-distance trains connecting Madrid to southern Spain. Altaria trains can travel up to 200km/h (125mph), running into to the southern regions of Murcia and Andalucía. Main routes include Madrid-Algeciras and Madrid-Murcia-Cartagena.
Spain's high-speed rail network extends over the border into France, making train travel between the two countries easier than ever. Cross-border trains are run by Renfe-SNCF, a collaboration between Renfe and France's national railway operator, SNCF.
TGV InOui trains are the refurbished train sets from SNCF's high-speed TGV fleet, used for all routes from Spain to France. They come equipped with a cafe-bar, plug sockets at each seat and free WiFi access. Seats in First Class are arranged in a 2+1 formation and are very spacious.
The train to catch is the R2 Nord (R2N) service. This is part of the Rodiales commuter rail service, which serves Barcelona and the rest of Catalonia. R2N calls at Barcelona Sants station and Passeig de Gràcia, both of which put you right in the city centre.
The Aerobús service is a convenient alternative to the train or a costly taxi transfer. It leaves from both terminals and caters specifically for airport travellers, with each bus containing lots of space for luggage and free WiFi. Look out for the bright blue bus with 'AEROBÚS' painted on the side!
If you have a non-exchangeable Básico ticket and you take a different train to the one listed on your ticket, you could face a fine or possibly being asked to get off the train. If you want to stay on the service, you will likely be asked to pay the difference.
Tough luck! You'll have to buy another ticket to reach your destination. If you've bought a Flexible fare ticket, you can exchange your ticket for a later service ahead of time if you know you won't make your train. The cheaper Básico fares do not give you this flexibility, however.
The exception to this rule is if you miss a connection because your first train was late/delayed. You will normally be allowed to catch the next available service and your right to do so is protected under European Law.
Major Spanish railway stations have security checks for passengers on high-speed trains. They won't X-ray your person - only your baggage. These checks only take a few minutes but factor this into the time you plan to arrive at the station.
In most cases, yes - it's cheaper to buy tickets in advance for Spanish trains. The cheapest Básico fares for high-speed AVE services tend to be available for purchase around 90 days in advance, but this depends entirely on when