Is it better to fly or take the train from Madrid to Barcelona?

What Is the Fastest Way to Get From Madrid to Barcelona? Even though a flight is technically shorter than the train ride, the total travel time is reduced significantly by taking the train, which shuttles passengers directly from city center to city center.



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The Madrid to Barcelona route is one of the most popular, and it's easy to see why. The scenery is stunning, and there's so much to see and do along the way. Whether you're looking for breathtaking mountain views, stunning coastal scenery, or charming Spanish towns and villages, this journey has it all.

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Choice of 3 high-speed train services... The 621 km (386 mile) high-speed line from Barcelona to Madrid opened in 2008, and high-speed trains now link Barcelona Sants & Madrid Atocha in as little as 2h30 at up to 310 km/h (193 mph). Before it opened, trains took 7 hours on the classic line.

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Madrid to Barcelona by train The fastest and most convenient travel option, the train between Madrid and Barcelona takes between two-and-a-half to three-and-a-quarter hours, with trains leaving Madrid's Puerta de Atocha station, located in the city center, and arriving at the Barcelona-Sants station every hour.

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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.

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Trainline is the official reseller of Renfe and Avlo, the brands of Spain's national railway company, OUIGO and iryo as well. So you all have ALL the options in just one place. Trainline sells train tickets for the same price as the Spanish carriers.

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All railway operators in Spain have a dynamic ticketing system, so fares change constantly. Renfe only offers a limited number of tickets with promotional prices. So when these tickets are sold, only the most expensive fares remain. The same applies for the other operators (Avlo, OUIGO and iryo).

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As Spain's two premier cities, you can't go wrong whichever you choose. But if you had to ?select one, which should it be: Madrid or Barcelona? Of course, you should visit both. And with the high-speed AVE train now serving a direct route between Madrid and Barcelona, the journey is quicker and easier than ever.

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The Seat Selection add-on allows you to choose the seat in which you will travel. Travel with your most loyal friend for just €10 more.

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For most travelers, 6 to 9 days is the perfect amount of time for a Spain trip with stops in both Barcelona and Madrid. If you don't mind a fast-paced journey, you can see the highlights of this route in less time—as few as about 5 days.

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Avlo is a lo-cost subsidiary of Renfe which runs Barcelona-Madrid, other routes planned. Their trains are one class only, with no-catering. Ouigo Spain is a lo-cost subsidiary of SNCF (French Railways) which runs Barcelona-Madrid, Madrid-Valencia & Madrid-Alicante, other routes planned. Two class, with basic catering.

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With close to 4000 kilometres of track, the Spanish high-speed AVE trains operate on the longest high-speed network in Europe. Running at speeds of up to 310 km/h, this extensive network allows for fast connections between cities in Spain. Travel from Madrid to Barcelona in less than 3 hours!

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