Trains from Madrid to Barcelona

Buying my train ticket

Buying a train ticket for my journey between Madrid and Barcelona was simple. I compared rail companies, times and prices, then bought the one that was right for me. You can even pay in dollars, so you know exactly how much the ticket costs. I got an e-ticket which was convenient and easy to find on my phone when I needed it.

Catching the train at Madrid Atocha

To catch a high-speed train like a OUIGO service, you’ll first need to go through security. Your baggage will be scanned (no liquids limit here!) before you’re able to access the departures area.

I got through security and found myself in the station’s departures area, where there were a few shops and cafés to grab a drink or a bite to eat before catching my train. Once my train was ready to board, I headed to the correct platform, got my ticket checked and got on the escalator down to my train.

It was easy to find the right car and my allocated seat – all high-speed trains in Spain have a seat reservation included in the ticket, so you won’t be left standing for the whole journey.

Inside a OUIGO train

An interesting thing about OUIGO Spain’s trains is that they’re double decker! The views are pretty good from either deck so don’t worry too much about where you’ll sit – though you can pay extra when buying your ticket if you do want to choose your seat. This is handy if you want to guarantee a power outlet, as not all seats have these.

There’s baggage storage at the end of each car, as well as spaces to store smaller bags near the seats. Standard tickets have a baggage allowance of one small bag (like a backpack or handbag) and one cabin bag (no larger than 55 x 35 x 25 cm, or 21.6 x 13.7 x 9.8 inches). However, you can pay to take more baggage on board when you buy your ticket. Similarly, there is a slow WiFi connection, but you can pay for access to faster WiFi.

What’s the most important thing about any trip? Snacks. Nothing worse than finding out you’ve got a long, hungry journey ahead of you. Luckily, OUIGO trains have an onboard café bar (called OUIBAR) on the top deck of cars 4 and 12. You can sit in this coach and watch the world go by while sipping on a cold cerveza or choose from a range of drinks and light refreshments.

The journey from Madrid to Barcelona

The train left Madrid Atocha station and soon we were speeding through the Spanish countryside. Did you know that a OUIGO train’s top speed is an eye-watering 300 km/h (186 mph)!?

One thing I love about traveling by train is being able to discover a new landscape, all from the comfort of my seat. I sat and watched the world go by for a bit while reading my book, and before I knew it, we were getting close to our destination, Barcelona Sants station.

Arriving at Barcelona Sants station

It only took around two and a half hours to get from Spain’s capital to Barcelona. I hopped off the train and walked into Barcelona Sants station, where again I found some shops, fast-food restaurants and cafés, as well as a pharmacy.

I enjoyed my trip with OUIGO Spain – it was affordable, and the train had everything I needed for my journey. Overall, I’d recommend OUIGO to budget-conscious travelers, though it might not suit those needing to bring extra baggage due to the added cost.

Kristina, a Trainline employee, chose to share their experience of the journey between Madrid and Barcelona.

Booking my ticket 

Having already traveled to Madrid by train, it was finally time to undertake the return leg to Barcelona. Around a week before my trip, I booked my digital return tickets.

There are 4 train companies to choose from on this route, including AVE, iryo, Ouigo and Avlo. I went for the latter as they generally offer the cheapest train tickets, although it’s worth bearing in mind that the journey is slightly longer.

I booked my tickets in a few simple taps and before I knew it, I received a confirmation email immediately. Another bonus is that you don’t have to worry about lining up at the station for a paper ticket, as your digital ticket is attached as a PDF in the booking confirmation email.

Around 24 hours before my trip, I received a helpful email from Avlo with plenty of details about my journey, such as my seat number, when to arrive at the station and baggage allowance restrictions. Traveling by train in a foreign country can be a daunting experience, but it’s small details like this that filled me with confidence and made the whole journey a lot easier.

Getting to Madrid Atocha train station

On an extremely hot afternoon, after a day of exploring Madrid, I walked to Madrid Atocha station. The station is easy to find as it’s located right next to El Retiro Park – which is definitely worth a visit. Although the station is easy to find, there are various entrances so it can be difficult to know which one is the right one for you.

Boarding the train

Before the journey, I had to go through security before making my way to the platform. There was a small queue for security checks but it moved very quickly.

Once I had gone through security, I found the station’s departure area. Here, there is a wide range of shops, cafés, and restaurants. I used the departure boards to check my platform and headed down the escalator to board my train. I found the car numbers clearly labeled on the side of the train, so I found my car and seat quickly.

The journey from Madrid to Barcelona

I traveled to Barcelona in Economy Class – the only class offered by Avlo. I was impressed with the interior of the train, the car was spacious, clean and modern. I stored my bag in the overhead baggage space and took advantage of the leather seats and generous legroom. Added onboard amenities included a fold-down table, adjustable footrest and most important of all considering the temperature – air conditioning.

Just after 6:30pm, the train departed Madrid Atocha station. I connected my phone to the free WiFi, which seemed sufficient although I didn’t use it much as there weren't any power outlets on board.

Halfway through the journey, I used the onboard toilet, which was clean. As the journey went by, the sun began to set over the mountains and the views were quite simply, breathtaking.

On our way back to Barcelona, we stopped in a few cities, including Zaragoza and Tarragona. Although there isn’t a food and drink service offered on board Avlo trains, there is a vending machine serving a variety of hot and cold drinks and snacks. I purchased a soft drink and some snacks and returned to my seat to enjoy the scenery and read my book.

Arriving at Madrid Atocha station

Three hours after setting off, the train arrived at Barcelona Sants station. After disembarking the train, I didn’t have to go through any security or ticket checks, so I simply left the station and went to find some tapas.

Charlie, a Trainline employee, chose to share their experience of the journey between Madrid and Barcelona.

Buying my train ticket

I bought my ticket about a week before my trip from Madrid to Barcelona. The route is operated by different train companies, so I compared ticket prices and got a ticket to travel in iryo’s Standard Class called Inicial.

The booking process was super simple – after payment, I received a confirmation email with my PDF ticket attached, ready to be used on my phone right away.

Getting to Madrid Atocha station

After spending a great day in Madrid, it was time to head back to Barcelona. As the weather was amazing, I had a nice walk around El Retiro Park before heading to Madrid Atocha station – my train was leaving from there. The park is only a 10-minute walk away from the station, so I made sure I got to Madrid Atocha at around 6:15 pm as my train was leaving at 6:35 pm.

Boarding my iryo train

Before boarding, I had to go through security checks – I simply showed my digital ticket to a member of staff and put my bag through the security scanner.

After security, I accessed the station’s departure area, where I found a wide range of shops, cafés, and restaurants. I checked my platform from one of the departure boards available at the station and headed down the escalator to board my train.

What to expect when traveling in iryo Inicial Class

Upon boarding, I found my seat nestled within a cozy arrangement – a table surrounded by four seats. While I was initially concerned about not having a solo seat, I immediately realized there was still plenty of space as there were only 2 passengers sitting opposite me, and nobody was sitting next to me. Also, the table was quite big so I could fit my laptop and a drink on it, and there was a small bin under my seat, as well as a power outlet and USB port.

During the journey, a member of staff came with a trolley offering snacks and drinks – these were not complimentary. If you want more food or drinks, you can also head to the bar in car 3.

Arriving at Barcelona Sants station

The train didn’t make any stops along the way. Overall, the journey lasted 2 hours and 30 minutes – we reached Barcelona Sants station at around 9 pm, right on time to get some delicious tapas.

If you're looking for an exceptional way to travel between Madrid and Barcelona by train, iryo’s Inicial Class is a great choice that promises a combination of comfort and unparalleled service.

Paola, a Trainline employee, chose to share their experience of the journey between Madrid and Barcelona.