If you’re planning a trip to Spain, chances are you’re wondering how you’ll be getting from city to city, especially without renting a car.
Traveling between Madrid and Seville is a very popular route and I believe the best mode of transportation is the high-speed train.
I traveled for 12 nights in Spain visiting Madrid, Seville, and Barcelona, and used planes and trains to get from city to city.
So in this guide, I’ll take you through the process of booking the high-speed train from Madrid to Seville.
You’ll also get a detailed overview of the Iryo service, onboard amenities, and travel tips to make your journey as smooth as possible.
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Looking for the best of Seville
Why the high speed from Madrid to Seville?
When traveling from Madrid to Seville you have a few options. When I’m planning transportation the first thing I do is check out the possible options on the Rome2Rio website.
High-Speed Train (Iryo or Renfe AVE)
- Duration: Approximately 2.5 to 3 hours.
- Cost: Around €30 to €120, depending on the class of service and how far in advance tickets are booked.
Flight (Domestic Airlines like Iberia Express or Vueling)
- Duration: About 1 hour (excluding time for airport check-in and security).
- Cost: Approximately €50 to €100, which may vary greatly with booking time and availability.
Bus (Companies like Socibus)
- Duration: About 6 hours.
- Cost: Around €20 to €30.
Car Rental or Rideshare
- Duration: Approximately 5 to 6 hours depending on the route and traffic.
- Cost: Variable; fuel costs around €50 to €70, plus rental fees if applicable.
For us, it was between flying or taking the high-speed train. We wanted to maximize our time in Seville and the bus, car rental or rideshare option would have severely cut into our time with very little cost savings.
Ultimately, we chose the high-speed train.
I find that trains are more comfortable and convenient than flying. There’s ample legroom, onboard amenities, and the freedom to move around which is nicer than the confined spaces of airplanes.
Plus, you don’t have to worry about the extra hassle of extensive security and strict luggage allowance.
Taking the train not only made our trip more enjoyable gave us the opportunity to appreciate the beautiful Spanish landscapes along the way.
Why we chose Iryo
After deciding to take the high-speed train, the next step was to figure out which train company to use and then book the train.
The route from Madrid to Seville is mainly operated by Renfe (Spain’s national railway company) and the newer operator, Iryo.
Renfe
Renfe AVE (Alta Velocidad Española): Renfe Ave is the most well-known and widely used high-speed train service in Spain. These trains offer various classes of service, including Básic (Basic), Elige (Pick & Mix), Elige Comfort or Prémium (Premium).
Renfe Avlo: Avlo is Renfe’s low-cost high-speed train, similar to AVE in speed and duration but with fewer amenities and lower prices. It’s a no-frills service with a focus on affordability.
You can find both AVE and Avlo options on the Renfe AVE website.
Renfe Avant: Avant is a medium-distance high-speed rail, its service bridges the gap between local and long-distance travel. It’s more for travelers making daily or frequent trips, but could be a good option.
Iryo
Iryo is newer to Spain’s rail network. It has one type of train (while Renfe offers many), but offers 3 classes of service— Initial, Singularly You, and Infinite Bistro—each caters to different levels of comfort and convenience.
Unlike Renfe’s traditional offerings, Iryo’s trains are known for their contemporary design and eco-friendly operations, utilizing 100% renewable energy sources.
Iryo offers fewer daily services than Renfe but compensates with a commitment to quality and passenger experience.
The travel time on Iryo matches the speed of Renfe’s AVE service, so it was hard to choose between the two companies.
I liked the fact that Iryo was newer and their booking options were simpler.
During the planning process for this trip, I was given so many options that it could get pretty overwhelming. Sometimes, the simplest is the best.
How we booked Iryo
As you know, we ultimately chose Iryo. Although Renfe has a lot of options, Iryo is newer with a focus on comfort and convenience.
Now it was time to book!
When booking, the price varied depending on the date and time you booked.
I started looking about 4 months in advance which helped with the pricing. The earlier you book the cheaper the fare price.
Iryo offered 3 different ticket types or “classes”:
Infinite: $33.56
- Changes: Requires a fee and notice.
- Cancellation/Refund: 80% refund if canceled before 7 days; 70% after. No missed train allowance.
- Comfort: Standard reclining seat with individual armrests.
- Luggage: Standard carry-on and cabin suitcase allowance.
Singularly You: $58.53
- Changes: Free on the day of travel.
- Cancellation/Refund: Higher refund rates than Infinite and allows for missed train rebooking for a fee.
- Comfort: XL seat that is fully ergonomic with extra space.
- Luggage: Includes an additional large suitcase.
Infinite Bistro: $84.28
- Changes: Free on the day of travel.
- Cancellation/Refund: Highest flexibility and refund rates, minimal fee for missed train.
- Comfort: Same premium seat as Singularly You.
- Luggage: Similar to Singularly You but includes pet travel.
- Additional: Includes a full meal service with quality service.
This percentage price difference between the 3 classes was quite significant.
The increase from Initial to Singularly You was approximately 74.4%.
The increase from the Initial to Infinite Bistro was approximately 151.1%.
This was pretty early on in the trip, so we didn’t need all of the extra amenities and flexibility offered by the premium classes so we chose Initial for this trip.
But for our Iryo train from Barcelona to Madrid, we chose the Infinite Bistro ticket and loved it!
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Getting to Madrid Atocha Station
The train was departing from Madrid Atocha Station, one of the largest railway stations in Madrid. Our hotel was located at Plaza de España about 20-30 minutes away from the station.
There were a few options for getting to the station:
By Metro: We had purchased a 10-journey ticket for Madrid’s metro to share, but with all of our luggage, we did opt to use it.
From Plaza de España station (Line 10) we would transfer to Line 3 at Plaza de España, and then switch to Line 1 at Sol directly to Atocha Station. This route usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
By Bus: Several bus routes also connect Plaza de España to Atocha, it would have taken a bit longer, generally around 20-30 minutes depending on traffic. Again, with the luggage, it was not ideal.
By Taxi or Rideshare: We decided to take a taxi via the FREENOW app from Plaza de España to Atocha which was about 15 minutes, depending on traffic.
I loved using FREENOW, the app operates pretty similar to Uber in terms of calling a taxi and paying with the app.
Our taxi was $14.47 and definitely the most expensive option, but also the most convenient.
Check-in Process
The check-in process was simple. We didn’t really have to check-in.
We had printed out our tickets in advance, but I’m sure you could use the QR code on your phone.
We didn’t need to check bags so all we did was go through security and wait for our train platform to be announced which was about 20 minutes before boarding.
We arrived at the station too early, they will not let you through security until about an hour in advance. but I would rather get there early than be running late.
I also did not know how the traffic would be.
The station wasn’t the nicest but there were plenty of food options available for us while we waited to go through security.
Onboard Experience
The boarding and onboard experience was great!
We didn’t have any challenges with boarding and I found our seats comfortable with plenty of legroom.
There is a cafe coach with refreshments. But we already had breakfast and snacks with us, we didn’t need to purchase anything on the train.
I was able to get some work done with the Wifi and if you brought your own device they had entertainment options available.
Overall, it was a very comfortable and peaceful ride, the 2.5 hours went by quickly!
Arriving in Seville Santa Justa Station
Once we arrived in Seville, we headed to the taxi line. I will say that the station in Seville seemed a lot nicer than the station in Madrid.
We didn’t check any bags, so it was a smooth departure.
Transportation from the Station
We took a taxi which cost about $12 to our hotel in the Arenal area.
Taxis: There was a taxi line directly outside the station and was a convenient way to get to our hotel.
Bus: Several city bus lines are operating from outside the station. They can take you to different parts of Seville. We didn’t need public transportation during out time in Seville, so I didn’t want to bother looking into it too much.
Tram: Seville’s tram service, the MetroCentro, runs close to the station and can be a quick way to reach the city center.
Renting a Car: I don’t think you need to rent a car if you’re planning to explore the city center. But if you plan to explore the outside of the city, there are car rental options.
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FAQs
How early should I arrive at Madrid Atocha Station?
You don’t need to arrive more than an hour before your train. They will not allow you through security before that time.
Can I change my ticket after booking?
Whether or not you can change your ticket after booking will depend on the type of ticket class you book.
How reliable is the Wi-Fi on board?
I personally did not have any issues with the Wi-Fi on board, but just like with any free Wi-Fi its not something you can count on.
Ready to Explore Spain!
Traveling from Madrid to Seville by high-speed train with Iryo offered us a blend of efficiency, comfort, and modern amenities.
It was an excellent choice, the Iryo train made our travel experience smooth and stress-free allowing us to feel refreshed and ready to explore during our 4 nights in Seville!
After our adventure in Seville, our next stop was flying to Barcelona.
Check out these posts to help you plan your trip to Spain!
- 4 Days in Seville on a Budget
- Get Your VAT Refund
- 4 Days in Barcelona on a Budget Itinerary
- Top 10 Free Things to Do in Barcelona, Spain
- Business Class Flights to Spain for less than $300
- Iberia Business Class: Miami to Madrid
- Flying Madrid to Miami in Iberia Business Class
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