Spain Transportation Guide: AVE High-Speed Rail, Metro, and City Passes
Transport Guide
2026-10-02
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Understand AVE and Ouigo high-speed trains, city transport cards, and airport transfers — your complete guide to getting around Spain.
Arrival and Getting into Town
| Airport | Ways into Town | Time/Price |
|---|
| Madrid Barajas (MAD) | Metro Line 8 or Airport Express Bus | About 30–40 minutes, €1.5–5 |
| Barcelona El Prat (BCN) | Airport Express Shuttle Bus or Metro Line L9 | About 35 minutes, about €6 |
| Málaga (AGP) | Suburban Train C1 Line | About 12 minutes, about €2 |
| Seville (SVQ) | Airport Bus EA | About 35 minutes, about €4 |
Intercity High-Speed Rail
- AVE (Renfe High-Speed Rail): Madrid to Barcelona takes about 2.5 hours, Madrid to Seville about 2.5 hours, Madrid to Valencia about 1.5 hours.
- Ouigo and Avlo: Budget high-speed rail brands; significant discounts are available when booking in advance.
- Long-distance buses (such as ALSA) serve towns not covered by high-speed rail; prices are low but travel times are longer.
Urban Transport
- Madrid: Extensive metro network; 10-trip tickets (Metrobús or ten-trip ticket) are available.
- Barcelona: T-casual 10-trip ticket allows travel on metro, buses, and suburban lines.
- Taxis and Ride-Hailing: Licensed taxis are white; you can pay by meter or use an app.
Tips
- Security checks and ID checks are required on high-speed trains; arrive at the station early.
- High-speed train tickets purchased several weeks in advance often come with large discounts; buying on the day can be much more expensive.
- Some bus services are reduced on weekends and holidays; check the timetable before you travel.
- For intercity travel, use the official Renfe app or Omio to compare and book tickets.