Renfe AVE
The incumbent. Widest network, biggest choice of departures, priciest walk-up fares.
Independent rail guide
Two countries.
One railway map.
Renfe, Avlo, Ouigo, Iryo or CP? Atocha or Chamartín? Book now or on the day? We ride these lines and keep the answers straight.
The main lines
Madrid → Barcelona2 h 30 min – 3 h 10 min · from €9.00Porto → Lisbon2 h 50 min – 3 h 20 min · from €20.10Madrid → Valencia1 h 50 min – 2 h 10 min · from €12.00Barcelona → Valencia2 h 35 min – 3 h 30 min · from €19.00Granada → Madrid3 h 05 min – 3 h 40 min · from €22.00Barcelona → Bilbao6 h 30 min – 7 h · from €28.00
Four operators, one set of tracks
Spain deregulated its high-speed network, and the result is the most competitive railway in Europe: on the Madrid–Barcelona line alone, four companies sell seats on the same route at wildly different prices. Knowing which is which is worth real money.
Avlo
Renfe's budget brand on the same tracks. Single class, paid extras, seats sell out early.
Ouigo España
French-run double-deckers. Often the cheapest ticket on the route; limited stations.
Iryo
The newest entrant. Comfortable, competitively priced, fewer daily departures.
Portugal, in short
Fastest
Alfa Pendular
Lisbon to Porto in under three hours with reserved seats and two classes. Book ahead for the cheapest fares — they are modest even at walk-up.
Best value
Intercidades
Twenty minutes slower and noticeably cheaper on the same route. For the Algarve line, it is often the only sensible choice.