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The short answer
In normal service, we think the train is the best way to travel between Spain’s big cities. Book early, compare the operators, and skip rail passes unless you make long trips at short notice. In Andalusia, trains link the main cities, but you need a bus or a car for most villages and much of the coast.
Important: the Madrid to Andalusia high-speed line is closed after a fatal collision near Urda, in Toledo province, on 28 October 2026. The notice at the top of this page has the latest position. Two more points:
- Tickets: Renfe has blocked sales on this corridor until 13 December, and says trains could return sooner. That date is when sales are blocked until, not a reopening date.
- After reopening: press reports say fewer trains will run on the Madrid–Seville line until early 2027.
For now, the other ways from Madrid to Andalusia are the bus and the plane. Press reports say both have added seats. The rest of this guide describes normal service.
The operators compared
| Service | Run by | What it is | Where you will meet it |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVE | Renfe | Main high-speed train, with café-bar and power sockets | Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Málaga, Córdoba |
| Avlo | Renfe | Low-cost high-speed train, one class, no catering | Madrid–Seville and other main lines |
| Avant | Renfe | High-speed train for shorter trips, one class | Seville–Córdoba, Málaga–Córdoba, Granada |
| Media Distancia | Renfe | Regional train | Seville–Cádiz |
| Cercanías | Renfe | Local train | Málaga C1 line, Madrid airport |
| Iryo | Iryo | Full service, three classes, catering | Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Málaga, Córdoba |
| Ouigo | SNCF of France | Low-cost high-speed train, basic catering | Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Málaga, Córdoba |
Where to buy
- Operators: Renfe, Iryo and Ouigo sell on their own websites and apps. Renfe charges no booking fee, but the rail guide Seat61 warns that its website can reject foreign cards, above all American and Australian ones.
- Comparison sites: Omio shows trains and buses together. Seat61 says such sites add a small booking fee. We’d compare there, then check the operator’s price.
When tickets go on sale
There is no single rule. Seat61 says Renfe opens sales from 15 days to 11 months ahead, with the longest periods on routes with competition. Trainline gives 60 days, and 90 for AVE trains, and says this does not always hold. We found no published period for Iryo or Ouigo in Spain.
We’d book about two to three months ahead on main routes, as one Spain travel guide suggests, and earlier for Fridays, Sundays and holidays. If your date is not on sale yet, try again later, because Renfe can release trains in blocks.
Main routes: times and prices
These are normal times. Routes marked * use the closed line, so check first. On the other routes in Andalusia, trains that start in Madrid may be missing for now.
| Route | Time | Lowest fares seen | More |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madrid–Seville* | 2 h 40–3 h 10 | From €9 on Ouigo. Seat61 gives Renfe from €28 in advance, €75 on the day | Guide |
| Madrid–Málaga* | 2 h 45–3 h 15 | From about £8 on Trainline | Omio |
| Madrid–Córdoba* | 1 h 45–2 h | Varies | Córdoba |
| Madrid–Granada* | About 3 h 30 | From about £23 on Trainline | Granada |
| Madrid–Barcelona | 3 h–3 h 15 | From €9 on Ouigo | Operators |
| Barcelona–Seville* | About 6 h 15–6 h 45 | From about €25 | Guide |
| Seville–Córdoba | 40–55 min | From about €9 | Guide |
| Seville–Málaga | 2 h–2 h 15 | Check Renfe | Guide |
| Seville–Granada | 2 h 40–2 h 50 | From about £25 on Trainline | Guide |
| Seville–Cádiz | 1 h 40–1 h 55 | From about £15 on Trainline | Guide |
| Málaga–Córdoba | About 1 h | From about €10 | Guide |
| Málaga–Granada | About 1 h 20 | Varies. The bus is from about €8 | Guide |
These are early-booking prices, and they go first. One travel site says single tickets on long routes such as Madrid–Barcelona often cost more than €100.
Rail passes: are they worth it?
| Pass | 4 trips | 6 trips | 8 trips | 10 trips |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renfe Spain Pass, Standard | €220 | €310 | €390 | €455 |
| Renfe Spain Pass, Comfort | €290 | €415 | €525 | €610 |
| Interrail Spain, adult second class | €223 (4 days) | €274 (6 days) | €318 (8 days) | Not sold |
Renfe Spain Pass (also called the Spain Rail Pass). It is only for people who live outside Spain, and covers AVE, long-distance, Avant and Media Distancia trains. You have six months to start and one month from your first trip. Each train counts as one trip, so a change uses two. You must get a free seat ticket for each train.
Interrail and Eurail. Eurail became Interrail in September 2026, so everyone now buys an Interrail pass, and Eurail passes bought earlier stay valid. You cannot buy a Spain pass if you live in Spain. These prices are from interrail.com on 4 November 2026, for an adult in second class. Under-28s pay less, for example €167 for 4 days. Passes are not valid on Avlo or Ouigo. High-speed trains also need a paid reservation: Seat61 lists €10 in second class on AVE and Iryo, and €4 on Avant and Media Distancia. Renfe’s website does not sell these, and one guide says seats for pass holders are often limited.
Our view: a 4-trip Spain Pass costs €55 a trip. That is poor value against early-booked tickets and short trips such as Seville–Córdoba, but it can pay off for long trips at short notice. Interrail makes most sense if Spain is one part of a longer trip around Europe. We’d not buy either for Andalusia until the Madrid line is running again.
Stations and security checks
Bags are X-rayed before high-speed trains. Seat61 says the check takes only a few minutes, but we’d arrive 20 to 30 minutes early. Ouigo’s conditions require you at the boarding area at least 30 minutes before departure, with no access in the last 5 minutes.
Trains to Seville leave Madrid from Puerta de Atocha and arrive at Sevilla Santa Justa, about 25 to 30 minutes’ walk from the cathedral. Málaga María Zambrano is next to the bus station.
Luggage rules
| Train | Included | Larger bags |
|---|---|---|
| Renfe AVE and long-distance | Up to 3 pieces, 25 kg in total, each up to 85 x 55 x 35 cm | Included within the limit |
| Avlo | Bag 36 x 27 x 25 cm and case 55 x 35 x 25 cm | €10 with the ticket, €15 later, up to 85 x 60 x 35 cm |
| Ouigo | Bag 36 x 27 x 15 cm and case 55 x 35 x 25 cm | Paid extra, up to 2 m in total and 25 kg |
| Iryo, Inicial fare | Bag 36 x 27 x 15 cm and case 55 x 35 x 25 cm | Not on this fare. Infinita fares allow one of 80 x 55 x 35 cm, reserved when you buy |
Iryo charges €40 for each piece over the limit. Rules change, so check your fare before you pack.
Where trains don’t reach well in Andalusia
- White villages: Grazalema has no station, and we think buses, tours or a car are easier for all the villages. The line to Ronda is closed for works, probably until autumn 2027.
- Costa del Sol: the C1 local train from Málaga and its airport ends at Fuengirola. Marbella and Estepona have no station.
- East of Málaga: Nerja and the Costa Tropical have no railway.
- Cádiz coast: Tarifa, Conil, Vejer and Zahara de los Atunes have no station. Algeciras has no trains until about autumn 2027.
- Almería: buses run from the city to San José, in Cabo de Gata, only a few times a day, and Mojácar has no station. Trains to Almería have changed in 2026, so check first.
When a bus or a car is better
- Bus: Málaga–Granada has about 40 buses a day against about 3 direct trains, and Seville–Granada around 12 against 4. Buses also reach Nerja, Marbella, Ronda and Tarifa. Compare on Omio.
- Car: we’d travel between cities by train, then hire a car for two to four days for the villages and wild beaches. See car hire in Andalusia, our road trip and DiscoverCars.
FAQ
Are trains running between Madrid and Andalusia now?
Not on the high-speed line, as of 4 November 2026. There is no fixed reopening date, and fewer trains will run at first. Check Renfe, Iryo or Ouigo before you plan around it.
Should I buy a rail pass for Spain?
Usually not, in our view. Early-booked tickets often cost less, and Interrail holders still pay for reservations. Do the sums for your own trips first.
How early should I get to the station in Spain?
We’d allow 20 to 30 minutes for high-speed trains, because bags are scanned, and at least 30 minutes for Ouigo.
Is there a train from Málaga to Marbella?
No. The C1 train ends at Fuengirola, about 30 km short of Marbella. Take a direct bus instead.
Can I see Andalusia by train alone?
You can see Seville, Córdoba, Málaga, Granada and Cádiz. For the villages and much of the coast, you need buses, tours or a car. See where to base yourself.