How to get around Spain
Navigating Spain is straightforward with a variety of public and private transport options. Here's what you need to know about getting between and within its cities and towns.
Inter-City Travel
For traveling between cities in Spain, trains, buses, and domestic flights are available. Trains, especially high-speed services, are generally the fastest and most comfortable option, while buses are often the cheapest. Domestic flights provide quick connections for long distances.
**Trains:** High-speed trains, such as AVE, offer swift travel between major cities like Madrid, Barcelona, and Seville. Fares can vary, with tickets for a Madrid to Barcelona journey potentially costing around €35 to a couple hundred Euros depending on booking time, or from €7-€9 for low-cost high-speed options like Avlo and Ouigo if booked early. Medium-distance (Media Distancia) and suburban (Cercanías) trains serve regional and commuter routes, respectively.
**Buses:** Buses provide an affordable and extensive network, connecting major cities, towns, and even rural areas. Long-distance bus fares vary by distance, company, and booking method, with prices starting around €10 for shorter routes. For example, a Madrid to Barcelona bus journey can start as low as €5 when booked early, but may go up to around €23 closer to the travel date.
**Flights:** Domestic flights are a faster, but typically more expensive, option for long distances within Spain. Major airlines like Iberia and Vueling offer routes to various cities and islands.
Travel Within Cities
Within Spanish cities, public transport options include buses, metros (subways), trams, and taxis.
**Buses and Metro:** These are common and efficient ways to get around. A single bus ticket typically costs around €1.40 to €2.65, though prices can vary by city.
For example, a single metro ticket in Barcelona costs €2.55, and in Madrid, it costs €1.50 for up to 5 stations, increasing by €0.10 per additional station up to a maximum of €2.00. Many cities offer multi-trip tickets or travel cards; for instance, a 10-trip ticket (T-Casual) in Barcelona costs €12.15, and in Madrid, a 10-journey ticket (Metrobús) is €12.20.
**Taxis and Ride-sharing:** Taxis are widely available in Spanish cities. Fares vary by city, with a base fare generally around €2-€3 and per kilometer charges ranging from €1-€2.
For example, in Barcelona, the minimum fare is €2.75, and the price per kilometer during weekdays (8 am - 8 pm) is €1.32. An airport supplement of €3 applies to metro tickets to and from Madrid-Barajas Airport, while a taxi from Barcelona Airport has a minimum cost of €45.
Ride-sharing apps like Uber are also available in some cities.
