Madrid to Segovia train with Renfe AVANT

Train Madrid Segovia

Trains from Madrid to Segovia are a comfortable, affordable and sustainable way to travel between the cities. Thanks to the popularity of the service, there are various options every day. Departures start early in the morning and operate a couple of times per hour until late in the evening. All routes are covered by the same company, Renfe. Renfe provides three types of services along this route, including a high-speed train from Madrid to Segovia, a long-distance option, and a service that switches between the two. Because the distance between the stations is so short, only 67 km (42 miles), all services are direct routes and run between the same two stations. The schedule during the week is more frequent, with a slight drop on Saturdays and Sundays. The average travel time for these routes is around 30 minutes.

Madrid to Segovia Train Time: Daily Departures

Visitors and locals alike often move between Madrid and Segovia, and thanks to this, you'll find numerous services operating every day. During the work week, departures start as early as 6:20 a.m. and run a few times per hour until the last train leaves around 9:30 p.m. There are roughly 27 trains from Madrid to Segovia every day from Monday to Friday. Over the weekend, departures start a little later, closer to 7:15 a.m. and run until around the same time. The frequency over a weekend is a little less, with about 20 options every day. There are close to 180 trains between these destinations every week. The easiest way to get to the daily departures page is to navigate to the top of this page and select the departure and arrival cities. Choose the dates you want to travel on, and click the Search button. You'll be taken to the daily departures page where all consolidated information is displayed on a single page, with the ability to filter according to price and duration.

Boarding your train Madrid Segovia

When you arrive at the Madrid Chamartin Station, make your way inside to the main level, where you'll find the Renfe ticket office and the baggage check. Once you've had your bag checked in and have your ticket examined, wait out the rest of the time in the Waiting Room in front of the ticket office. If there isn't a check-in desk for your bag, you'll be able to take them onboard. There are luggage racks at the end of each compartment on the train. The electronic boards in the waiting room will provide information on the incoming trains. When the service approaches, you'll be notified on the board, which will also tell you which platform to go to. You'll go downstairs to the platforms to board your train. It's recommended that you arrive at least 30 minutes before your departure time.

Madrid: Skyline of Santa Maria de la Almudena. Source: Shutterstock

Where do trains from Madrid to Segovia depart and arrive?

Every train to Segovia from Madrid departs from the same station and arrives at the same station. Madrid Chamartin Station is one of the major stations in Madrid and is located about 30 minutes north of the city centre. The station handles high-speed trains to various parts of the country, including San Sebastian, Bilbao, and A Coruna, as well as various suburban services. Madrid Chamartin is a modern railway station with a concourse situated directly above the railway tracks and is home to numerous facilities and amenities including toilet facilities, cash machines, food outlets and various retail stores.

Segovia Guiomar is a central station serving Segovia and one of two major stations in the city. It's located in the Hontoria Industrial Park and a short trip away from the centre of the city. Segovia Guiomar operates routes throughout the country, including cities like Barcelona, Alicante, Sevilla and others. The fast train from Madrid to Segovia running from this station is on a strict schedule so make sure you don't miss yours.

When is the best time to book your train ticket Madrid Segovia?

If you're in a rush and looking for more frequent options, the train schedule from Madrid to Segovia during the week has more options. When thinking about affordability, you'll find cheaper tickets over the weekend, usually. The first train in the morning is often the most expensive, and services running in the afternoon are often the cheapest. Sundays are often the quietest day to travel, but booking tickets on a Saturday is usually the best time to visit Segovia when it's at its most vibrant.

What to see between Madrid and Segovia

Because the train Madrid - Segovia is always a direct route, there isn't much opportunity to explore other parts of the country along the way. There are, however, a couple of things worth seeing along the way on your trip. One of the first notable places worth seeing on the way is Tres Cantos, home to the Polideportivo de La Luz · Tres Cantos and Parque Central. Your head past the Pocito del Lobo tourist attraction shortly after that, before heading towards the Cerro San Pedro hiking area. You'll pass through several other hiking areas en route, including Fin Pista, Hoyo Cerrado, Las Torres de la Pedriza, Collado de la Ventana and more. The next attraction you'll come across is the Puente de la Angostura before catching a glimpse of the Penalara mountain peak. After that, you'll come close to La Silla del Rey and Cerro De Matabueyes. Acueducto de Segovia is a short walk away from the station in Segovia.

Information on Segovia Guiomar

Segovia Guiomar railway station is one of the two major stations in the city, located in the south of Segovia in Hontoria Industrial Park and is the only station operating routes between Madrid and Segovia. It is the main stop for Renfe AVE high-speed rail lines between Madrid and Valladolid Campo Grande, it's connected to various other destinations in Spain directly and through other cities and mostly connects to eastern and northern Spain, including San Sebastian and Alicante. The Renfe AVE trains are slightly faster than the other options, but also slightly less affordable. The Renfe Alvia and Avant services tend to be the cheaper options. The station is home to basic facilities including waiting rooms and toilets.

Night trains Madrid Segovia

In recent years, night trains have become more and more popular with travellers because they're designed with comfort in mind and provide a space to sleep in. Unfortunately, because the route between Madrid and Segovia is so short, there are no night trains available. All of the trains on this route are high-speed options designed for speed. There are, however, a couple of trains that travel at night, which often have fewer passengers and might be quieter journeys. The last train in the evening leaves Madrid around 9:30 p.m. throughout the week.

Renfe trains from Madrid to Segovia

Renfe is the sole provider for train operations between these two cities, with three separate services available. The Standard Renfe service offers cheap train tickets from Madrid to Segovia and is the slowest option available, taking close to 30 minutes to get to Segovia. The Renfe Alvia option is a service that switches between long-distance and high-speed networks and tends to have a travel time of around 28 minutes between these destinations. The Renfe AVE trains are the fastest along this route and also tend to be the most expensive option. All trips are direct routes between the cities and have an average travel time of around 30 minutes. The AVE trains can take as little as 25 minutes.

Trains from Madrid to Segovia: Sustainability Travel

When we talk about sustainable travel, we talk about how to travel in the most eco-friendly way. Train travel is one of the best ways to travel sustainably, apart from walking and biking, and produces almost 70% fewer emissions than car or plane travel. Trains only contribute about 3% to global transport emissions annually and also offer more efficient use of space. Better use of space means more people can travel at a time, which reduces the emissions per person. Plane travel requires a lot more energy and fuel to travel the same distance.

Train Madrid to Segovia: Services on Board

All of these routes are operated by Renfe which provides similar services across their trains.

• Renfe Alvia and Renfe AVE services come with Standard or First Class options. The First Class tickets offer more comfortable seating and in-seat food and beverages. Standard tick holders will have to purchase their food. The normal Renfe Madrid to Segovia train only offers a standard option, which also gives you access to food to purchase.
• You may carry up to three bags and a carry-on piece of luggage on all of these trains. Your three bags cannot weigh more than 25kg together.
• Pets may travel for free but must be contained in a cage or carrier
• Foldable bicycles can be transported, while non-foldable bikes are subject to availability and must be booked ahead of time.
• Renfe trains offer wheelchair-accessible options and help with other disabilities. You must contact the company a few days in advance to arrange the help you need.
• Seat Reservation is possible through Omio.

When to book your train tickets from Madrid to Segovia?

There are several ways to ensure you get the best deal on tickets. Booking far in advance gives you the best chance to find the cheapest Madrid to Segovia train price, and searching with flexible dates in mind is another way to find cheaper deals on different days. Although there are more frequent services offered during the week, cheaper options are usually found over the weekend. If you have a student card, you could take advantage of the student discount on some routes, and if you're a senior citizen, you may qualify for other discounts too.

To Segovia by train — travel tips

Before heading out to Segovia, have a read through our Madrid Window Seat article to better explore your departure city before heading to Segovia. Segovia is an incredible World Heritage City that offers visitors a wealth of unique city sights that include grand mansions, the Jewish quarter and breathtaking views all around. A city that was once home to kings and queens, with storybook towers and Medieval, Romanesque churches is undoubtedly a dream destination for anyone, especially the history buffs among you. For a glimpse into the history and a taste of the culture of the city, try a few of these things while you're there:

• Visit the aqueducts in Segovia, a sample of some of the most incredible Roman monuments in Europe.
• Explore the Alcázar of Segovia, a palace with Moorish and Roman origins
• Mirador de la Pradera de San Marcos is one of the country's cultural treasures
• Marvel at the Walls of Segovia
• Segovia Cathedral is a sight for sore eyes and well worth a visit
• Visit Casa de Los Picos and explore the 617 pyramid-shaped granite points on the late-15th Century mansion
• Wander around the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso
• Have lunch in the Plaza Medina del Campo

Segovia: Roman Aqueduct during winter. Source: Shutterstock

What are the other cities you can go to from Segovia?

Segovia is a quaint and historical city that's unfortunately among the lesser known tourist destinations in the country, so it isn't as well-connected as major cities like Barcelona or Madrid, but there are a few popular services from here. Segovia to Valencia is one of the most well-travelled services from the city and only takes around 3 hours on a high-speed train. Another sought-after route is Segovia to Valladolid, which is a much shorter trip of around 40 minutes. If you've ever dreamed of visiting San Sebastian, you can hop on a train from Segovia and be there in less than 5 hours.