The Ultimate Guide to Traveling within Spain
Spain has SO many beautiful cities, each with their own culture and beauty- so today we will dive deeper into the best ways to travel within Spain!
There are many options that one can chose from, but if you're as indecisive as me (I literally can't make decisions) I'll narrow down the options and focus on 3: train, plane, and car.
1. By Train
RENFE is a Spanish train company with many options to travel within cities and few international ones (only to Portugal and France.) They have high-speed trains that literally cut down the travel time that it's often quicker to travel by train then go through airport security.
AVE is the high-speed long distance train that will get you from Sevilla-Madrid or Barcelona-Madrid in 2 1/2 hours...sign me up please! Other trains include ALTARIA, ALVIA, EUROMED, TALGO, and TRENHOTEL (translates into Hotel Train and has top overnight service.)
RENFE website: I've linked the website so you're just one click away! It's a pretty straight forward site - you chose your date, time, and # of passengers, plus there is a lot of information on what you can bring, cancellation, etc.
Note: Make sure you're choosing the right station, some cities can have many.
Picking your departure/return: Pay attention to the timing on the schedules because you can seriously save on some cash if you have a flexible schedule.
Paying for your ticket: This is where it can get tricky, for some reason it wasn't accepting foreign credit cards (I was informed about this issue before) so be prepared - trust me I called my bank ready to scream but it's not their fault! Solution: PAYPAL! Seriously, if you don't have one I suggest creating an account. I logged in and within 5 seconds I was all ready!
*You can download your ticket to iPhone's Passbook, save paper and less to take on your trip.
Discounts: RENFE has a junior discount card (Carne Joven) if you are between the ages 14-26. It allows you to get a 20% off any SINGLE trip regardless of train, class, or day. You can purchase this card at a RENFE customer service desk ONLY - the downside is if you chose to wait and buy this card you cannot pre-book your ticket and trains may fill up.
My trip:
Sevilla Santa Justa - Madrid Puerta de Atocha (2 1/2 hours 🙌🏽)
58.50 euros/per person = $86.95 CAD (current exchange rate)
2. By Plane
Vueling Airlines is a Spanish low-cost airline (think Porter, JetBlue.) It's pretty insane to think that flying is often cheaper then driving or taking a train but with Vueling IT IS!
Vueling website: Easiest foreign site I've been on to find flights. Unlike RENFE, paying on the site is easy peasy. Once you chose your dates you are given 3 options with different prices (picture below)
Choosing your flight: Because it is a low-cost airline they make their money on fees. My suggestion is you're most likely going to have a suitcase on you, so chose the Optima option which is about 20 euros more but worth it. If you decide to pay at the airport they will charge you a whopping 40 euros for your baggage 😳 (20 euros is a lot in Europe.)
Discounts: Also just like the train the price can vary depending on what time you choose. What I like about Vueling is it has a cool feature on its site called the Price Calendar. If you're on a budget or just trying to plan out your trip, this tool can save you some serious $ and its so simple too. You input your departure and arrival city (if applicable), choose # of passengers and like magic you are given a calendar view of prices.
This is just an example don't go based of these prices- but this is such a helpful tool when planning your trip!
Vueling App: Yes I know we all have limited space on our phones but this app is incredible. These are just some features:
Avoid queues by checking in via the app and download boarding passes onto your mobile.
Access and manage your bookings, real-time flight status.
Add bags, choose seats and swap or bring forward your flights.
My trip:
Madrid - Barcelona (1 hour and 20 minutes 💃🏽)
44.99 euros = $66.93 CAD (current exchange rate)
3. By Car
Driving can be fun, it offers great flexibility if you want to drive around the cities you visit but scary when its a foreign country. In major cities every hour is rush hour so just be prepared, plus streets are small so I would opt for a smaller car (Fiat) because finding parking is an actual nightmare.
Prices will vary, depending on how many days you rent and what car you get. I like Expedia because it is a credible site and there are no surprises (like finding out you have no car rental!)
Here are some rental companies to choose from:
Driving rules: In Spain most companies require drivers to be 25 years old or older. You must have a passport and valid drivers license.
Note: If you are younger than 25, you will be charged a young driver fee.
Insurance: I definitely recommend buying insurance especially because you are in a foreign country. It can vary by car and company but expect 20 euros a day or more per person. Like my parents say: better to be safe than sorry!
GPS: Unless you want to get lost - get a GPS. Either bring your own, download an offline mobile map or use the rental company. It is very accurate and super helpful with all the street rules that you aren't familiar with, AND it'll let you know if you're over the speed limit
With a car, you can save on taxi's and subways so find out what works best during your travels!
Final thoughts:
Traveling by train is incredible because you get to see a beautiful scenery which definitely beats the chaos of an airport or driving in traffic! But sometimes it can be more costly. All options have its pros and cons, and what you chose can also depend on a variety of factors (time, season, budget) look into your options and see what works best for you!
Also remember to check if you are eligible for a discount and save $$$.
If you have found this valuable please share this to help others :) Also I would love to know if you have any tips or tricks that have helped you travel within Spain, comment below!
Buen Viaje!