Transport links in Spain are excellent. Old trams, high-speed trains moving at a speed of more than 300 km/h, metro, buses, and commuter trains run in the country. There are convenient transport interchanges. In this article, we will tell you what types of transport are available in Spain and what is the most convenient way to travel within the same city and move between different parts of the country.
Content:
- Overview of public transport in Spain
- Railway network in Spain
- Buses in Spain
- Taxis in Spain
- Planes in Spain
- Ferries in Spain
- Bicycles in Spain
- Transport fare discounts
- Advice on buying property in Spain
Overview of public transport in Spain
Over the past few decades, transport links in Spain have improved a lot. The longest high-speed railway network in Europe was built here. Nowadays light rail transport connects dozens of cities, which makes it much easier to move around the country.
People use cars a lot, but there is not much need for them. For one thing, there are as many as 12 lines in the Barcelona Metro, and a trip on any public transport in Spain is highly comfortable. Moreover, the authorities are constantly introducing additional benefits. For example, from 1 January 2023, holders of multi-trip tickets can ride long-distance buses free. From the beginning of 2023, 10-, 20-, or 30-trip ticket holders can travel free on the Madrid-Segovia, Guadalajara-Madrid, Teruel-Barcelona, and many other routes. This update followed an earlier measure that provided a 50% discount on bus fares. This new incentive is primarily aimed at making public transport attractive to passengers and reducing carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Caring for the environment is a priority for both the authorities and the people of the country.
Railway network in Spain
The best way to travel from city to city within the country is by train. Spain’s national railway network is called Renfe. It includes:
- high-speed trains
- regular trains
- suburban trains
On an AVE high-speed train, reaching up to 310 km/h, you can easily reach Madrid from Barcelona in just 2.5 hours. The fare is €50.
In general, the railway network in Spain is one of the busiest in Europe. In addition, it is so long and branched that it is second only to the Chinese network. Locals are very fond of travelling within the country. Renfe carries over 510 million passengers annually.
There are three types of trains in Spain:
- Larga Distancia: city-to-city trains, carrying passengers over long distances.
- Media Distancia: mid-distance trains, which are second fastest after high-speed ones.
- Regional Express: inner-city trains that can be boarded at every station.
There are three types of train tickets available to residents of Spain. You can choose Básico, a basic (standard) ticket. There is a more comfortable option called Elige. It allows you to not only select a seat, travel with pets, change or cancel a trip but also order soft drinks. You can also buy additional seats at a more affordable price than with a Básico fare. A Premium ticket offers 30% off an additional seat, allows you to change a passenger's name, cancel a trip, and enjoy other advanced features.
Renfe cooperates with SNCF, France’s national railway company. Thanks to this, high-speed trains run between Madrid, Barcelona and the French cities of Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Paris, and Toulouse. The train from Barcelona to Paris takes only 6.5 hours.
As for the metro, Barcelona, Valencia, Bilbao, and Madrid have their own metro systems. Tickets cost from €1.50 to €2.50.
The price of a tram ticket is between €1.20 and €1.50.
Buses in Spain
A bus ticket costs between €1.40 and €1.60. In Barcelona, however, the price is over €2. Some companies offer cards for a fixed number of trips or hours, for example, a 10-trip or one-day card.
Taxis in Spain
Although public transport in Spain is accessible, well-developed, and at the same time not very busy due to well-designed infrastructure, taxis are also very popular.
Taxis in Madrid have a signature red diagonal stripe across the front door to make them easily identifiable. In Barcelona, taxi cars are black and yellow.
Here are the most popular taxi services:
- Cabify
- FREE NOW
- TaxiClick
Fares vary between cities and service companies. On average, the initial charge is between €2 and €3, then the cost is calculated by the taximeter.
Planes in Spain
Since Spain is the fourth largest country in Europe, in addition to land transport, it also has a well-developed air transportation. Here are the major domestic airlines:
- Iberia
- Air Europa
- Volotea
- Vueling
The largest airport in Spain is in Madrid, about 13 km from the city centre. Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport offers flights to hundreds of destinations. It includes many shops, restaurants, and is fully adapted to the needs of passengers with disabilities. There are also airports in Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Málaga, and the Costa del Sol.
Ferries in Spain
Ferries are another convenient way of transportation, which, among other things, makes any trip romantic. From mainland Spain, you can go to not only the Balearic and Canary Islands, Melilla and Ceuta but also to Morocco, France and the UK!
Bicycles in Spain
Bicycles are very popular in the country. There are convenient services for organising a trip. For example, the most famous one, BiciMAD, allows you to rent an electric bike for only €2 for the first hour and €4 for every additional hour. Spain has excellent roads, and getting around the city using such an environmentally friendly mode of transport is nothing but pleasure.
Transport fare discounts
In Spain, there are many discounts on public transport. Children under 4 travel free of charge. There is a 40% discount for children under 14. Young people aged 14 to 25 can purchase a special card that allows them to get 50% off ticket price. Discounts are also available for seniors over 60, people with disabilities, and families with multiple children.
Advice on buying property in Spain
In addition to picturesque resorts and wonderful beaches, many of which are awarded a Blue Flag (an international quality mark for clean, beautiful, and environmentally friendly beaches), as well as an abundance of fresh vegetables and fruits and year-round sunshine, Spain boasts easy movement within the country. People often give up cars in favour of public transport. It is cheaper and often more convenient. What’s more, it often becomes an eco-friendly and conscious choice of those who care about the environment.
Have you long been interested in buying an apartment or house in Spain? We suggest you get advice on this right now. Buying property in Spain and moving to a warm country is easier than you think. Just contact our experts for answers to all your questions.
See you!