Spain's most beautiful cities you can reach by train | PolishTrains

At a glance

• Spain's AVE high-speed trains run at speeds of up to 310 km/h, connecting major cities across the country
• Seville features the Real Alcazar, flamenco culture and stunning Mudejar architecture in the heart of Andalusia
• Granada is home to the Alhambra Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Europe's finest medieval fortresses
• Barcelona can be reached from Madrid in around 2.5 hours by AVE high-speed train
• Valencia is known for its futuristic City of Arts and Sciences complex and the birthplace of paella
• PolishTrains allows booking of international train tickets to Spain, with early purchase discounts available

Spain is a country that is best discovered in stages, moving between regions of completely different character. Each city has a different rhythm of life, architecture, landscape and even cuisine. Travelling by rail allows you to see this diversity in natural sequence, without the need for long car journeys or flights between cities. Below you will find places that can safely be called the most beautiful cities in Spain.

Seville - Andalusian atmosphere and mudéjar architecture

Seville is one of those cities that is best explored slowly, walking between the palaces, courtyards and shady streets of the old town. The capital of Andalusia impresses with its monumental cathedral, the Alcázar palace and its characteristic mudéjar architecture, the result of the blending of Christian and Arab cultures. Travelling here by rail allows you to reach the city centre directly, bypassing the need to drive for hours through southern Spain. Seville works well as a starting point for exploring Andalusia or as a natural stopover between Madrid and the south coast.

Practical tips:

• Train: AVE (Renfe)
• Distance from Madrid: approx. 530 km
• Travel time: approx. 2 h 30 min
• Ticket price: from approx. €25

Granada - Alhambra and scenic location at the foot of the Sierra Nevada

Granada allows you to discover the unique atmosphere of southern Spain. Situated at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains , the city is famous above all for the Alhambra, one of Europe's most important monuments, but it is equally attractive with its atmospheric Albaicín and Sacromonte districts. Travelling by train to Granada allows you to comfortably reach the heart of Andalusia without having to drive along winding mountain roads. The railway makes it easy to combine a visit to Granada with a stay in Seville or Málaga, creating a coherent tour of the region.

Practical tips:

• Train: AVE / Avant
• Distance from Madrid: approx. 420 km
• Travel time: approx. 3 h 15 min - 3 h 30 min
• Ticket price: from approx. 35 €

Salamanca - the golden university city

Salamanca is one of Spain's most elegant and underrated cities, known for the country's oldest university and buildings made of distinctive golden sandstone. The UNESCO-listed historic centre impresses with its monumental Plaza Mayor and a quieter pace of life than in large metropolises. Thanks to its convenient train connections, the city makes an excellent destination for a day or weekend trip from Madrid, especially for those looking for a more authentic Castilian atmosphere. Going on a train journey in Spain? This is where you absolutely must take a look!

Practical tips:

• Train: Alvia / Media Distancia
• Distance from Madrid: approx. 210 km
• Travel time: approx. 1 h 40 min - 2 h 30 min
• Ticket price: from approx. €20

San Sebastián - the elegant Basque Coast

San Sebastián shows a very different face of Spain to the southern regions of the country. Situated on the Bay of Biscay, the city is famous for one of the most beautiful urban beaches in Europe, elegant architecture and a culinary culture regarded as one of the best in the world. A train journey north allows you to watch the landscape change from the dry plains of the interior to the green hills of the Basque Country. It's a great destination for those who want to combine sightseeing with relaxing by the ocean.

Practical tips:

• Train: Alvia / Intercity
• Distance from Madrid: approx. 450 km
• Travel time: approx. 4 h 50 min - 5 h 30 min
• Ticket price: from approx. 30 €

Everything you need to know about trains in Spain: https://www.polishtrains.eu/pociagi/pociagi-w-hiszpanii

One of the biggest advantages of travelling in Spain is the well-developed rail network, which also reaches historic towns outside the major metropolises. Many of these are only a few dozen minutes' drive from the major centres, making them ideal for day trips or shorter stops during a round trip. The railway makes it convenient to get directly to city centres, eliminating the need to organise additional transport on arrival.

Toledo - quick AVE access from Madrid

Toledo is one of the most easily accessible historic cities in Spain and is one of the best examples of how the railway allows you to discover places off the main tourist routes. The country's former capital impresses with its medieval buildings, narrow streets and panoramic views of the city towering over the Tagus River. Thanks to the high-speed AVE trains, Toledo has become one of the most popular destinations for day trips from Madrid - the journey takes less time than driving through the capital's traffic jams by car. Once you arrive, it only takes a ten-minute walk or a short bus transfer to find yourself in the historic centre.

Practical tips:

• Train: AVE
• Distance from Madrid: approx. 75 km
• Travel time: approx. 33 mins
• Ticket price: from approx. €13-25

Córdoba - historic centre on the main AVE axis

Córdoba lies directly on one of the most important high-speed railway lines connecting Madrid and Andalusia, making it an ideal stop on the way to Seville or Málaga. The city is famous for its impressive Mezquita and atmospheric Jewish quarter, and thanks to the station's convenient location, most attractions are within walking distance. Travelling by train in Spain allows you to conveniently include Córdoba in your itinerary.

Practical tips:

• Train: AVE / Avant
• Distance from Madrid: approx. 400 km
• Travel time: approx. 1 h 45 min - 2 h
• Ticket price: from approx. €25-60

Girona - medieval town on the route to France

Girona is one of the most picturesque towns in Catalonia, located on an important railway axis leading from Barcelona towards France. The historic centre, with its colourful townhouses along the Onyar River, monumental cathedral and medieval walls, makes the city perfect for a leisurely day trip. The railway allows you to get here quickly and seamlessly, and frequent connections allow for flexible travel planning without having to book a whole day in advance.

Practical tips:

• Train: AVE / Media Distancia
• Distance from Barcelona: approx. 100 km
• Travel time: approx. 40 min - 1 h 15 min
• Ticket price: from approx. 10-30 €

Spain's AVE high-speed railway is one of the fastest and most modern systems in Europe, so the journey itself between cities becomes part of the tourist experience. Long distances that not long ago required an all-day journey can now be covered in a time comparable to flying by plane, but without the check-in and access to airports. The most popular long-distance routes connect the country's major regions, allowing seamless travel between the coast, the interior and the south of Spain.

Trains in Spain - Route 1: Madrid → Valencia

The link between Madrid and Valencia is a great idea for travelling around Spain by train. Until a decade or so ago, the journey between the capital and the coast meant a journey of several hours by car; today, the high-speed trains AVE, iryo and Ouigo allow you to move from the centre of Madrid to the Mediterranean in less time than it takes to get to the airport and check in for your flight. This is one of the most convenient routes for tourists, as both stations are close to historic centres and the frequent services even allow a day trip to the seaside.

Distance: approx. 309 km

Travel time: approx. 1 h 55 min - 2 h 10 min

Ticket price: from approx. €14 to €65 (depending on carrier and date of purchase)

Spain's largest and at the same time most beautiful cities act as major transport hubs from which rail lines branch out to almost all regions of the country. This is where it is easiest to start a journey around Spain by train, to plan transfers or to continue the route towards smaller towns and resorts. With modern stations close to the centres, rail travel allows you to move quickly from arrival to sightseeing, without the logistical complications typical of other modes of transport.

Madrid - a must-stop on your train journey in Spain

Madrid is the heart of Spain's rail network and the natural starting point for journeys across the country. From the capital's stations, the AVE high-speed lines leave for the north, towards the Basque Country and Galicia, as well as south to Andalusia or east to the Mediterranean. Thanks to the radial layout of the routes, most of Spain's major cities are within a few hours' drive, making it possible to plan a journey in stages without having to return to the starting point. Madrid Puerta de Atocha and Chamartín stations are close to the centre, so you can start exploring museums, parks and historic districts almost immediately upon arrival.

Practical tips:

• Trains: AVE / Avlo / iryo / Alvia
• Sample connections: Madrid - Barcelona approx. 2 h 30 min, Madrid - Seville approx. 2 h 30 min
• Approximate prices: from approx. €20-70 depending on route and date

Barcelona - gateway to Catalonia and international connections

Barcelona is one of the most beautiful cities in Spain and also one of the most important railway points in southern Europe. From Barcelona Sants station, you can comfortably reach both Spain's major cities and France thanks to high-speed international connections. The city is perfect as the start of a journey along the Mediterranean coast or as a base for smaller Catalan towns and cities. Travelling by rail avoids heavy traffic and parking problems, especially in the central tourist districts.

Practical tips:

• Trains: AVE / Euromed / Avant / TGV (international connections).
• Example connections: Barcelona - Madrid approx. 2 h 30 min, Barcelona - Girona approx. 40 min
• Approximate prices: from about € 15-80

Valencia - a large city on the Mediterranean coast

, Valencia combines the function of a major urban centre with the holiday atmosphere of the Mediterranean coastline, while remaining one of Spain's best-connected cities. Modern high-speed connections allow fast access from Madrid, Barcelona or Alicante, and this makes the city often appear as a natural stop on train journeys in Spain just along the east coast. Valencia Joaquín Sorolla station is close to the centre, making it possible to reach the historic old town or the futuristic Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias complex just moments after arrival.

Practical tips:

• Trains: AVE / Euromed / Intercity
• Sample connections: Valencia - Madrid approx. 2 hrs, Valencia - Barcelona approx. 3 hrs
• Approximate prices: from approx. € 18-60

Travelling by train in Spain is one of the most convenient ways of moving between the country's regions - especially if you plan to visit several cities during one trip.

It is worth knowing that the Spanish railway system is based on several categories of trains adapted to the length of the route and the nature of the journey.

The fastest trainsets AVE and Avlo serve long-distance routes between Madrid, Barcelona, Seville or Valencia.

Media Distancia and Regional trains provide access to smaller towns and scenic routes through mountains, coasts and wine regions.

Trains in Spain run on time and journeys between major centres often take less time than a car or plane journey, especially once airport access and security checks are taken into account. Transfers between major centres often take less time than travelling by car (e.g. Madrid - Toledo: rail 33 min vs. car ~1 h 30 min in traffic) or by plane (including airport access and check-in ~4 hours).

The location of stations, which are almost always close to city centres, is also a major advantage of the Spanish railways.

Tip for travellers

Travelling by rail in Spain is predictable and comfortable, but it is worth taking into account the tourist season, as popular connections can sometimes be heavily loaded during holiday and festive periods.

Once you have purchased your ticket online, you receive it electronically - as a PDF file and a link sent via SMS, so you only need to carry your phone with you. During the check, you present the ticket directly on your smartphone screen - no need to print it out! The PolishTrains service offers quick and easy ticket exchanges and refunds, giving you the flexibility to change your travel plans. What's more, you can buy your ticket without registration.

Travelling by train in Spain is a convenient way to discover the country's most beautiful cities. With high-speed AVE trains and competitive prices (from €13 to €110), you can plan flexible itineraries, combining historic cities with a seaside holiday. Whether you take a weekend trip to Barcelona or a longer round trip through Andalusia, rail allows you to reach city centres directly without logistical complications. Plan your trip today and discover Spain at a pace that suits you.