AVE Trains

Find Cheap AVE Train Tickets with Omio

Omio offers the best way to pick up cheap AVE tickets by consolidating information from various online sources and providing the information on a single results page with the ability to filter according to your needs:

• You can view the results in any language you choose.
• Filter your results according to the duration or price of your AVE train tickets.
• Book AVE train tickets directly through Omio.
• Omio provides mobile tickets so you don't need to print out your information.

About AVE Renfe Trains

If you're moving around Spain by train, a popular choice for many travellers is AVE high-speed trains, thanks to the comfort they offer and the modern amenities, as well as the quick connection times. AVE Renfe offers three types of train fare types with varying degrees of optional extras and comfort. The train network offered by AVE is one of the fastest and most enjoyable modes of transport in the country. A couple of the cities you can get to using AVE trains include Madrid, Barcelona, Zaragoza, and Sevilla.

AVE: Ticket Types

AVE Renfe offers two types of tickets. Due to the popularity of these trips, if you don't book in advance you could end up with only First Class tickets. AVE train times don't differ depending on the ticket, but there will be a difference in comfort:

• Standard: Standard, sometimes called Second Class, is the cheapest AVE option available and offers passengers comfortable seats, Wi-Fi, and sometimes comes with food and a foldable table.
• First Class: First Class AVE tickets come with the same amenities offered with a Standard Class, as well as leather reclining seats, complimentary cold and hot drinks, power sockets, and snacks for the journey. You can also ask for headphones and newspapers, if available. If the station you're at has a Renfe Club lounge, First Class tickets give you access to the lounge.

Espanya Square in Barcelona. Source: Shutterstock

AVE: Discounts and Special Offers

There's nothing better than finding discounts for the already-cheap train tickets available through Omio. Below, you'll find a few of the discounts offered for AVE trains:

• Student: Student discounts are available for all students taking an AVE train. This will give you a 5% discount on all trips.
• Renfe Card: A +Renfe Joven Card can be purchased online and gives you the benefit of massive discounts on all AVE high-speed trains when purchasing through Omio.

Most Popular Destinations with AVE Trains in Spain

There are lots of cities worth visiting in Spain. The most popular destinations when travelling with AVE trains includes Barcelona, Valencia, Sevilla, and Madrid. Some of the most sought-after routes include Madrid to Barcelona, where there are more than 20 AVE trains operating per day, as well as Barcelona to Cordoba, which has around 15 trains per day. Barcelona to Cordoba AVE train times average around 4h 30min.

AVE Trains to Madrid

Madrid is the capital of Spain and train connections to and from here are popular with many travellers. Madrid offers excellent train connections to a wide range of cities including Barcelona, Seville, and Lisbon. Renfe Ave is one of the main providers of trains running inside the country.

• One of the most popular routes to Madrid is from Sevilla. You'll find close to 15 of these AVE routes every day, starting around 6:45 a.m. and ending around 7:45 p.m. Sevilla to Madrid train times average around 2h 35min. Trains operating along this route depart from Sevilla-Santa Justa and arrive at Madrid-Puerta de Atocha.
• Another popular route is Barcelona to Madrid. The AVE train schedule for this route includes around 20 trains operating every day, starting around 5:50 a.m. and ending around 8:00 p.m. The Barcelona to Madrid AVE cost is one of the cheapest popular routes in Spain. All of these trains depart from Barcelona Sants and arrives at Madrid-Puerta de Atocha and the trip takes around 2h 30min on the fast AVE train from Barcelona, while a standard long-distance Renfe train can take as long as 9h 05min.
• Valencia to Madrid is also a popular route to Madrid, with close to 15 trips operated by Renfe every day. If your train departs from Valencia Joaquin Sorolla, your arrival station will be Madrid-Puerta de Atocha, while trains departing from Valencia-Estacio Del Nord will arrive at Madrid Chamartin. All Renfe AVE routes take less than 2 hours, while standard Renfe trains can take up to 8 hours.

AVE Trains to Barcelona

Barcelona is possibly the hippest and most happening city in all of Spain and offers some incredible views of the Pyrenees mountains, as well as the coastline of Catalonia. There's very little you won't find in Barcelona, which is why it's such a popular destination to travel to by train.

• One of the most popular routes to Barcelona is the Madrid to Barcelona route, which has close to 20 trains a day in operation. Trains leaving Madrid-Puerta de Atocha start around 6:30 a.m. and run until around 8:40 p.m., and arrive at Barcelona Sants. All of these routes are direct trips.
• Malaga to Barcelona is another popular choice with visitors. There are only two trains operating along this route every day, and the trip will take an average of 8 hours or so. Both trains depart from Granada Station in Malaga and arrive at Barcelona Sants. The time it takes to get to Barcelona depends on the length of your stopover at Madrid-Puerta de Atocha.

AVE Trains to Sevilla

Sevilla is home to one of the largest collections of World Heritage monuments, and it's only a 25-minute walk from the Sevilla Santa Justa railway. These monuments are a large attraction in the city and draw in countless visitors throughout the year from all over Europe. You'll find regular train connections from all around Spain heading to Sevilla daily.

• The most popular route to in Spain is from Madrid. Madrid to Sevilla routes operated by AVE Renfe trains start running at around 07:00 a.m. each morning, with close to 12 trips a day operating until around 9:00 p.m. These routes all run between the same stations, starting at Madrid-Puerta de Atocha and ending at Sevilla-Santa Justa with no stops in between.
• The second most popular route to Madrid is from Barcelona. These AVE Spanish train trips run every day, with at least two trains operating each day. The first one starts around 8:30 a.m., and the last one leaves around 03:45 p.m. The train runs directly from Barcelona Sants to Sevilla-Santa Justa in around 5h 35min.

Saint Mary Square and Valencia's Cathedral. Source: Shutterstock

Most Popular Routes with AVE Renfe Trains

There are a variety of routes available when taking Renfe AVE trains in Spain, including routes between Madrid and Valencia and Barcelona and Cordoba Below, you'll find the three most popular routes, all of which can you can book on Omio.

• Madrid to Barcelona is the most popular route when taking AVE trains in Spain. There are at least 20 trains a day running throughout the day from around 6:30 a.m. until 8:40 p.m. All trains operate from Madrid-Puerta de Atocha to Barcelona Sants and are direct routes with an average travel time of around 2h 30min.
• The Barcelona to Valencia train takes around 2h 40min on the fastest AVE train but has an average time of around 3h 20min. The cities are separated by around 303km of coastline, making the trip one of the most beautiful. There are at least 10 trains in operation daily, starting as early as 7:15 a.m. and running until around 9:00 p.m. These routes are all direct.
• The Madrid to Barcelona AVE train is another of the most popular routes with Renfe AVE trains in Spain. All of these trips are direct routes between Madrid Atocha and Sevilla-Santa Justa with the fastest trip taking close to 2h 25. There are close to 20 trains operating every day, running from about 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. and covering roughly 390km (242 miles).

AVE Trains: Services on Board

Hop aboard one of the luxury high-speed trains operated by Renfe AVE between several different cities throughout Spain and enjoy the range of amenities offered on board, including reclining seats, buffet carts, family areas, and much more.

• All passengers may take up to three pieces of luggage that cannot be heavier than 25kg or bigger than 85 x 55 x 35cm. If you're a First Class passenger, you can take your pets for free, as long as they're under 10kg and are on a leash and in a cage no bigger than 60 x 35 x 35cm. Standard Class tickets have the same restrictions but you will need to purchase a reduced ticket for the pets. Only foldable bikes can be transported on AVE trains.
• When it comes to accessible travel, you'll need to contact the company ahead of time to arrange the assistance you need. If you have a wheelchair, request an "H-seat".
• When choosing your seat, you'll have seat reservation options including "Solo Seat", "Aisle", and "Window". You won't have the option to pick a specific seat outside of those.
• First Class passengers have access to in-seat catering services.

AVE: Night Trains

People are choosing night trains more often now because they tend to be quieter and more comfortable, especially overnight trains. Although there aren't any overnight trains along these routes, you will find several trains that travel at night. The last train from Madrid to Barcelona usually leaves around 8:40 p.m. and will arrive close to midnight. The last train from Madrid to Valencia leaves around 9:10 p.m. and arrives just after 11:00 p.m.

AVE: Sustainable Travel

Many climate activists agree that choosing sustainable travel is one way to combat your carbon footprint. Trains are the most sustainable means of travel outside of walking and biking and can reduce your footprint by up to 70% compared to cars and planes. Trains also transport more people per trip and contribute less to noise pollution, as well as offer more efficient use of space.

Discover Spain with AVE: Travel Tips

Aside from the incredible architecture to be found in Spain, and the exquisite landscapes, what drives people to Spain is the incredible flea markets in Madrid, flamenco festivals in Sevilla, the Valencian nightlife, as well as the incredible tapas menus and street food available throughout the country. There are limitless reasons to visit Spain. Below, you'll find a list of the best places to visit using Renfe AVE trains:

• Head to Valencia and check out the futuristic construction of Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (City of the Arts and Sciences), which offers numerous attractions including indigenous plants, an outdoor gallery, science museums, a planetarium, the world's largest aquarium, a performing arts centre, and much more. Find out more about Valencia with our city guide.
• Catch a train to Cordoba and check out the incredible Great Cathedral and Mosque (Mezquita de Cordoba). The 10th-century cathedral and mosque represents a historical time in Cordoba.
• Spend time exploring the Church of the Sacred Family in Barcelona, an ongoing project started in 1882 and a breath-taking piece of architecture. Discover what to in Barcelona, with our city guide.
• Join close to 2 million travellers and visit Costa del Sol in Malaga to enjoy the wide variety of historic, recreational, and cultural delights offered by the beautiful city on the southernmost tip of mainland Spain. Discover the best Malaga tips with our city guide.
• Take a train to Madrid and spend time exploring the Golden Triangle of Art, which has three of the country's most significant museums.

Plaza de España Square in Seville. Source: Shutterstock

AVE: FAQs