Barcelona to Valencia train

Trains from Barcelona to Valencia

Trains from Barcelona to Valencia are as regular as clockwork, on weekdays and over weekends. Most of them are concentrated in the mornings, with a few spread out during the day and a couple towards the evening – you're looking at around 7 or 8 train trips available each day. Travel times vary from just over 5 hours to high-speed trips of around 2h40min.

Barcelona to Valencia Train Time: Daily Departures

A more detailed look at the timetables and schedules for Barcelona to Valencia trains will show you that you can get a train every 20 minutes or so with the first 4 trains of the morning from 8:10 a.m. to around 10:30 a.m. After that, you'll find a midday train, and then there's a bit of a hiatus until the next one around mid-afternoon. After that, there are two more: one at around 4:00 p.m. and a final trip that you can catch around 6:00 p.m. This schedule is the same every day, except for Sundays, when one fewer train runs – the early morning train trip isn't made, so the first train of the day is after 9:00 a.m.

How long is the journey by train from Barcelona to Valencia?

This is a direct trip no matter which train ticket you book, and the times don't vary very broadly, depending on the time of day. All Barcelona to Valencia trains take between 2h40min and just over 3 hours. The differences in train journey duration are due to some going to Valencia Joaquín Sorolla station and others to Valencia-Estacio Del Nord. The only exception is the 10:00 a.m. train, which takes a more sedate 5 hours to make the trip, at standard rather than high speed, even though it's also a direct trip.

How to find cheap train tickets from Barcelona to Valencia?

The cheapest tickets available on this trip are to be had on the five-hour trip. Booking in advance is the best way to ensure that you get a ticket for this specific train, so be a bit flexible on the day on which you want to travel, if you can, in case it's fully booked on any particular day. If you don't have that sort of time to spare, then avoid the early morning and the evening trains, and rather travel at midday or in the mid-afternoon. There is only one train company that runs on this line and you don't have the ability to choose between different providers, so besides choosing your train carefully, keep your eyes open for special offers on holidays. If you're a discount cardholder or hold a season membership ticket, then those fee reductions can be applied to further reduce the cost of the trip.

What are the departure and arrival stations for trains from Barcelona to Valencia?

Departure train station: All of these trains leave from a single train station on the Barcelona side, Barcelona Sants. It's only 2 miles from the city centre, an easy 10-minute trip by public transport, and offers all the travelling amenities you could want, like Wi-Fi, disability services, restaurants, car rental outlets and tourist information services to help you on your way.

Arrival train stations: The trains from Barcelona alternate their arrivals in Valencia between two train stations. The main Valencia-Estacio Del Nord station is a mere 2-minutes by public transport from the city centre, and Valencia Joaquín Sorolla will take you 8 minutes to reach. They're large tourist hubs, providing many amenities, like fast food outlets and coffee shops, car hire, pharmacies and mobile phone shops, as well as plenty of souvenir stands.

Which train companies travel from Barcelona to Valencia?

Trains from Barcelona to Valencia are run by a single train company, Renfe. This is the state train company in Spain, which covers the entire country, as well as taking travellers to and from France. It uses a variety of trains, including high-speed AVA intercity ones, handling large numbers of commuters daily on this route. Ticket availability is very good, so you can usually buy tickets upon your arrival at the station. Otherwise, there is the option to book a little in advance.

Renfe trains from Barcelona to Valencia

Renfe provides very efficient and reliable Barcelona to Valencia trains. They offer a very basic ticket policy, with most of the trains on this route offering a single so-called second class, which can be upgraded to second-plus for an additional charge. The tickets are semi-refundable, and you can change your tickets at any time until you depart without charge, or cancel them for a 5% fee and be refunded the rest. This is a high-speed train service company, with trains travelling at up to 190 mph, with the exception of the midday train, which runs at a more standard speed, allowing you to take in the views a bit more when you travel between these two coastal cities. Discount cards are available, and cheaper fares can be booked for large family groups and for senior citizens over the age of 65.

Barcelona to Valencia Trains: Services on board

Renfe has many different types of tickets, with the main differentiators being size of passenger groups and prices, rather than services and amenities, and there is one standard class. A generous luggage allowance lets you take up to three items, with a combined weight of no more than 55lb. You have a choice of taking your own refreshments, or purchasing the usual train fare snacks and sandwiches from the amenities on board. There are also vending machines on the trains for extra convenience. Renfe offers a free assistance service for travellers with disabilities or restricted mobility, called Atendo. This provides comprehensive support, helping with transit through the train stations and with boarding and alighting from trains. Pets are also welcome to travel, as long as they are in appropriate containers. You can travel with a bicycle, as long as it can be folded up to meet the travel parameters.