I like traveling by train in Spain, and this is not surprising because traveling by train in Spain is comfortable, fast, and quite affordable!
In less than an hour, I can escape from crowded places to the peaceful mountains, charming historic towns, and monumental royal palaces of the Castile region.
According to my research, in Spain, there are currently about two and a half thousand railway lines that can be used by high-speed trains.
High-speed trains, AVE (and the new budget route AVLO), connect the main cities of the country and allow you to travel at speeds up to 186 mph.
AVE trains run not only in Spain but also outside the country.
For example, there is a direct train that connects Barcelona and Paris; you can get from one capital to another in just six and a half hours, paying only 30 euros.
Also, high-speed routes run from Barcelona to Marseille, Lyon, and Toulouse, and from Vigo to Porto, while the Trenhotel night train takes travelers comfortably from Madrid to Paris and Lisbon.
So what’s not to like about trains in Spain?
What do I like About Trains in Spain?
Despite the well-developed railway network in Spain, new routes open quite often.
Recently, a high-speed connection was opened between Madrid and Granada, and now this trip can be completed not in five hours, as it was before, but in just three hours.
In addition to conventional trains in Spain, there are several routes that provide residents and tourists with the opportunity to travel by train in conditions of increased comfort.
I always choose increased comfort because I am interested less in the end result than in the process of traveling around the country and enjoying the views.
If you want an unforgettable day trip from Madrid, purchase tickets for the so-called “Strawberry Train”.
On this train, travelers can get from the capital to Aranjuez in an hour, a city famous not only for its wonderful strawberries but also for interesting historical sights.
A real “historical” train runs along this route, similar to those that went here in 1851, when this line was opened.
True, the route opens only at the end of April and closes in June, which corresponds to the strawberry season in Spain.
10 Unforgettable Day Trips from Madrid by Train
Madrid-Barcelona, Madrid-San Sebastian, Madrid- Rioja, Madrid-Seville, Madrid-Valencia, Madrid- Toledo, Madrid-Las Rozas Village, Madrid-Escorial, Madrid-Zaragoza, Madrid-Salamanca...
Madrid-Barcelona
If there is an opportunity to go somewhere from Madrid not for one but for a few more days, then it should be Barcelona.
Take the high-speed, low-cost AVLO train, which runs between Madrid and Barcelona.
The cost of the trip is between 60 and 100 euros, and on average, using the services of this route saves travelers up to 25% of the regular price.
I won’t describe the charms of this city; everyone already knows that the capital of Catalonia is the brightest city in the country.
Of course, Madrid is beautiful and stately, but Barcelona is more modern and progressive, and it has more freedom.
Whether you go there from the capital or not is up to you.
Usually, acquaintanceship in Barcelona requires a separate vacation.
Madrid-San Sebastian
The capital of the Basque Country is located far from Madrid (280 miles).
But if you don’t often visit the western coast of Spain (and it really is inferior in popularity to Barcelona and its environs), then San Sebastian is one of the most colorful places to go.
If you catch a train that leaves from Madrid Chamartín Central Station at 8:00, you will have a whole day ahead of you in San Sebastian.
San Sebastian has a beautiful promenade, wide sandy beaches, a casino famous throughout Europe, and an observation deck on Monte Igueldo.
Surfers adore this city; the waves there are exactly as they should be.
This coastal city always offers the freshest fish and seafood.
For me, San Sebastian is associated with cheesecake (only that which was invented atthe La Vinarestaurant).
The San Sebastian cheesecake, or Basque cheesecake, is the Spanish version of a dessert popular all over the world.
Unlike the usual cheesecake, this one does not have a dough crust; it consists entirely of cheese cream.
It has a caramelized, slightly burnt crust and a very tender, semi-baked filling.
This version of the cheesecake appeared in 1990.
It was invented by chef Santiago Rivera at the La Vina restaurant in the city of San Sebastian.
He wanted to make the dessert more airy and less dense than usual.
He made it from Spanish cream cheese, similar to Philadelphia but 40% saltier.
Burnt cheesecake became very popular all over the world very quickly, and people still line up for it at that very cafe in San Sebastian.
Madrid- Rioja
Rioja is located in the mountainous region of Spain, near the border with the Basque Country.
For me, Rioja is associated with vineyards and one of the most famous Spanish wines, Rioja (similar to the Chianti province in Tuscany, where the Chianti brand of the same name is produced).
Of course, in Rioja, there are beautiful monuments of Gothic and Romanesque architecture.
Getting to Rioja from Madrid is not a short trip.
The province is located 186 miles from the capital, approximately in the middle of Zaragoza and Bilbao.
Madrid-Seville
Such a trip today can be made for about 20 euros and takes about two and a half hours.
This route is considered the most popular among all offered by AVE.
Trains leave almost every hour every day and make several stops along the way.
Literally every corner of the city, saturated with colors and possessing a burning temperament, is fraught with authentic beauty: in the labyrinths of streets, you can find shops with fans, colorful robes, and castanets; in the eminent arena, you can watch an exciting bullfight; in cultural institutions, you can admire the aesthetics of passionate flamenco dance.
There is something to see in Seville among the architectural monuments—graceful palaces, monumental cathedrals, and ancient museums largely shaped the architectural appearance of the city.
Madrid-Valencia
Valencia is a large city on the Mediterranean coast, at the mouth of the Turia.
well-known resort center with excellent beaches.
Cultural, industrial, and tourist center.
More than fifty museums are open here; ancient monuments coexist with spectacular futuristic buildings.
The world-famous complex of five buildings, the City of Arts and Sciences, has been built in Valencia.
Madrid- Toledo
Toledo, the former capital of the country, is one of the most distinctive cities in Spain.
Here I saw all the examples of the architectural styles of different eras: Romanesque, Gothic, Late Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque.
During reconstruction, most of the buildings acquired the features of the Mudéjar style: luxurious ornaments, colored tiles, and slender towers resembling minarets.
I heard that Toledo is often called the “City of Three Cultures”.
And really, when you walk in the city, you can see that Christian, Islamic, and Jewish traditions are intertwined here.
Direct trains leave from Atocha station in Madrid every half hour or an hour; the journey takes only 33 minutes; the ticket costs 14 €…
Madrid-Las Rozas Village
Las Rozas Village is a shopping village and the second-largest outlet in Spain.
If you are wondering where the best place to go shopping is in Madrid, choose this famous shopping center.
More than a hundred boutiques of world-famous brands are open here: Armani, Guess, Calvin Klein, Swarovski, La Perla, Furla, and many others.
Discounts on last year’s collections reached 80%.
Tourists who are not residents of the European Union additionally receive a refund for tax-free receipts.
Comfortable express trains run from Ramales Square.
They are more convenient; the price of an adult ticket is 18 €, and a child ticket is 9 €.
Madrid-Escorial
Escorial is famous for theEscorialMonastery, and it is one of the closest places to go from Madrid for a day trip.
The monastery, founded in 1563, is considered the pride of Spain and one of the architectural wonders of the world.
The grandiose complex was erected as the abode of the order of the Hieronymites, the residence of Philip II, the repository of royal collections, and the official tomb of representatives of the royal dynasty.
What is so unusual about Escorial Monastery?
The architectural appearance of Escorial is unusual: the strict facades combine the features of the High Renaissance and the unique Desornamentado style.
The monastery resembles a fortress.
Inside, there are luxurious interiors with marble cladding, frescoes, and intricate wood carvings.
There are two museums on the territory of the residence: historical and art, with canvases by European masters of the 15th–17th centuries.
Madrid- Zaragoza
Zaragoza is the capital of Aragon, which has preserved the heritage of the Roman era and the Moorish past.
Here, magnificent Mudéjar temples coexist with spectacular modern buildings.
The symbol of Zaragoza is the Basilica of the Virgin Pilar with its ornamented domes, the largest baroque church in Spain.
The architecture of the Cathedral of La Seo (XII century) combines the features of the Romanesque, Mudéjar, Renaissance, and Baroque styles.
The most recognizable monument of civil architecture is the Puente de Piedra, the stone Lion Bridge across the Ebro.
The most beautiful building of the Islamic era is the Aljaferia Palace (today it belongs to the Parliament of Aragon).
There is a train to Zaragoza from Madrid’s Atocha station.
Drive at least 80 minutes; ticket price: 30-65 €
Madrid- Salamanca
Salamanca is one of the most colorful Spanish cities.
It is called “golden” for the ancient buildings, built of sandstone; at sunset, it acquires a bright ochre color.
The historic core of Salamanca is filled with architecture in the styles of the Spanish Renaissance (Plateresque) and the radical Baroque (Churrigueresco).
One day is not enough to see the monuments and museums of Salamanca.
Two ancient cathedrals have been preserved here: the Old Romanesque, founded in the 12th century, and the New Gothic, built in the Churrigueresque style.
Plaza Mayor Salamanca is considered to be the most beautiful main square in all of Spain.
The most interesting city museum is Casa Lis (Fox House), dedicated to art nouveau and art deco.
The most original building of the city is the House las Conchas, decorated with three hundred sea shells.
There are direct trains from Madrid Chamartin Station to Salamanca.
The journey will take 1 hour and 36 minutes, and the ticket price is 20-24 €.
