Traveling by train from Barcelona to other cities in Spain or neighboring countries

A guide with information for anyone who needs to travel by train from Barcelona to other parts of Spain or Europe.

Types of trains in Spain

They are the most common in Spain suburban trains (cercanías). These work relatively reliably in large cities such as Madrid, Valencia and of course Barcelona. Their advantage is that they are cheap and usually integrated into the public transport system. This is the case in Barcelona, ​​where you can travel around the city with one and the same ticket, but also go to more remote places, such as Costa BravaYou can find timetables on the Renfe website or search for them on Google Maps. Mobile apps are also very useful: Renfe Cercanias a Rodalies of Cataloniawhere you can search for connections and also buy tickets. 

If you travel between cities for longer distances, you will use regional trains (Media Distance). These are also relatively cheap and run at frequent intervals. 

The last category is AVE high-speed trains, which travel between the largest cities such as Madrid, Cordoba, Barcelona, ​​Seville, Malaga, Valencia at a speed of up to 250 km/h. 

Map of the main train routes

Map of train routes in Spain
Map: Main train routes in Spain: purple high-speed AVE, gray are regional. Magnify

I will gradually add content and descriptions of individual routes; if you have feedback or would like to write about your own experience, please send me an email. 

You can travel to other cities in Spain by train from Barcelona

  • Alicante
  • Bilbao
  • Girona
  • Granada
  • Madrid
  • Malaga
  • Montserrat
  • Valencia
  • Salou
  • San Sebastian
  • Seville
  • Sitges
  • Zaragoza

Or also to other cities in Europe

  • Andorra
  • Lisbon
  • Marseille
  • Nice
  • Paris
  • Rome

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  • Discount tourist cards—save on city transportation and get free admission to museums and landmarks, plus great discounts at shops and restaurants.
  • Buy tickets online—save money, time, and stress by purchasing admission to attractions from the comfort of your home through the Barcelona Tourist Office’s online store; if you’ve never bought tickets online before, read my detailed guide along with my personal experience on how to do it.
  • Find Accommodations—plenty of hotels, hostels, and guesthouses at reasonable prices. You can book immediately and pay after your stay.
  • Rent a car—if you don’t want to walk or want to venture further out of Barcelona, try Rental Cars. They’ll deliver the car to the airport, and you won’t have to worry about a thing.

Map with my tips for places in Barcelona

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