Renfe

Take a train at least once if you are visiting Spain.
The trains are comfortable, clean and safe.
You will pay less comparing to planes most of the time. Very often you will spend less time too because the stations are located in the cities’ central areas, boarding is faster etc.
There’s a security control prior to boarding but it takes less time than in airports. Liquids and sharp objects like scissors are allowed.
You can take more of heavy baggage with you comparing to low cost airlines where your bag’s ticket is often more expensive than your own ticket.
Get your tickets on
. The site is not fully translated to English. Some features are in Spanish only but you will be able buy tickets even if you don’t speak Spanish at all.
Tickets are cheaper if you buy them in advance. The prices depend on the train’s speed and comfort. Food and drinks are included on some trains. Cards are accepted.
There used to be a system when you had to get the tickets from the machine at the station. Now you can print them at home or use an app (I haven’t tried them yet).
Enjoy the beautiful views from the train, señores viajeros!

I was recently in Madrid and took the Renfe trains. The trains themselves are very nice, fast and on-​time. However it is the customer service that is an issue. The first agent who booked our tickets didn’t specify the different between Madrid P.A. vs Madrid-​CH. The agent knew we weren’t from Madrid but didn’t care to clarify. Well. those 2 letters (PA vs CH) mean quite different things. So of course we missed our train because we were in the wrong spot. Then to change train tickets you have to wait in a 1 hour long long. It was ridiculous, worse than the California DMV.

Had an issue in which they charged my credit card when they should not have done so. It was a long process that took over a month but I was finally reimbursed.

We took RENFE from Sevilla to Granada and it was unbelievably easy. Despite all the warnings about RENFE’s website, booking tickets took minutes, and we easily printed them in Santa Justa Station. The train was on time in both directions, exceedingly comfortable, and very pleasant.
Note: the seats are assigned by coche number (car number) and seat number (plaza number).

We had a day trip scheduled to Sevilla on 11÷14÷13 & had to catch a 630am train.
They ask that u arrive 30minutes early now in my experience there was no need am guessing because it was so early but hey everyone is different.
Huge train station lots to keep u busy while waiting, bar area, shops & a few vending machines.
When we boarded the train we had a small issue with our ticket, the ticket was for a 7am train it seems even tho we were told it was a 630am train no biggie all u need to do is head down to the ticket office & change your ticket.
There was no hassle for this or charge we changed our tickets found our seats & were we on our way.
Beautiful train, nice & comfy they provide head phones for the TV’s so u can watch movies on my way to Sevilla I was out like a light !! Woke up 40 minutes before arriving & got to see a beautiful sunrise.
We took the train twice & our way back to Madrid, although exhausted from the tour & walking around we decide to just hang out in the drinking /​food car.
This was fun, drinking hanging & just enjoying the scenery.
The train was nice & easy no real hassle or problems when we needed to change times & it was a smooth ride coming & going.

What an interesting experience! This was the first overnight train that I took. It took about 11 hours or so from Paris and dropped us off to Chamartin where we happened to be staying!
Getting on the train was a task, especially when traveling with a large group. Pack lightly! Nothing screams American than two large suitcases trying to squeeze yourself through the tight aisles of the train. (Oh wait, that WAS me, lol!) Now I’ve learned my lesson. The train ride was pleasant. There is a nice café/​bar area to relax in and a nicer sit-​down restaurant. The cabins were tight! We stayed in a two-​person cabin. You place your suitcases above the door, just make sure you someone helps you. There is a small sink to brush your teeth and it converts to a tiny table to rest your stuff. Around 9PM, they put down the beds for you to catch your ZzzzZzzzzz’s. Though my bed was small, it was comfortable for the long journey to Madrid. My favorite part was the view of they countryside as we traveled from France to Spain.
The washroom doesn’t have a shower and gets a little gross after many uses. Think airplane bathroom. Make sure you set your alarm and get your belongings in order to leave the train! And don’t forget about your bagged breakfast too!

I thought I’d review this train service after the horrific accident that just occurred in Spain. I’m shocked at what happened particularly because Spain takes travel security very serious and have developed such an amazing train system. I hope this accident doesn’t deter people from using this service as the issue from yesterdays derailment seems to be driver error and not faulty equipment. Our experience from Madrid to Seville, and Madrid to Toledo was amazing, extremely comfortable and with beautiful scenery. It’s tragic what’s happened hopefully they re-​examine the way the trains are conducted and this never happens again.

RENFE provides various service types around Spain, typically between large city pairs. My recent non-​stop trip via AVE service from Valencia to Madrid was truly a wonder. From planning, to execution and maintenance the 300 kmp (188 mph) trip is a marvel… absolutely fabulous. How could anyone not vote to support and build high speed rail here in the USA after sampling this transportation masterpiece?

Renfe is a great system, first experienced with the overnight train from Madrid to Barcelona with the sleeping berths, and then moving onto the AVE (Alta Velocidad Espana). I have ridden the AVE bullet train from Madrid to Seville and vice-​versa. From the centers of these two cities, it’s 2 hours and 20 minutes, and there’s no transit needed to the airport. With AVE now running between Madrid and Barcelona, I’m sure it has chipped into the «Puente Aereo» (Air Bridge) for air service between Spain’s two principal cities.
The trains are sleek, comfortable, quiet, and offer refreshments on board. It is amazing to look at the Spanish countryside which looks to be going by in slow motion when the reality is that you are traveling at over 200 miles per hour, +/​-​.
With Renfe’s AVE and Trenitalia’s Freccia Rossa or Freccia Argento premium trains being somewhat similar and in countries that are both in pursuit of «la dolce vita,» I can make some compare-​contrasts.
Renfe’s AVE customer service at the stations is polite and they respond affirmatively to Spanish that is spoken well. Trenitalia’s Eurostar customer service is typically more indifferent than helpful. On board, the Renfe AVE customer service is probably too serious, while Trenitalia’s Eurostar is more animated. Renfe AVE seems to have more locals on board and their route system isn’t as extensive, at least to my knowledge. Trenitalia’s Eurostar premium trains hit all the major cities, except on the islands, and are rolling sitcoms with the mixing of locals and overzealous tourists, of which Americans acting like ‘Murricans are the most obvious.
Hats off, and 4 stars, to Spain’s Renfe, and especially the AVE, in my 300^th review.

I really want to like Renfe. I am happy that they have high speed trains and I love the variety in schedules, prices and discounts available.
But dear renfe, damn does your website absolutely suck.
I tried 10 times to purchase tickets and it kept saying that my card wasn’t authorized and that I should contact my bank. Then, I called my bank immediately and they said that they did NOT get any contact from Renfe and they did not reject the purchase in anyway. I added my trip details on my card (to make sure it approves international purchases) and tried again on renfe’s website… to get rejected again.
Since I can’t call them internationally, I sent them an email with an issue. They emailed me back immediately (hence the 2 vs 1 stars) to let me know that all purchases get contacted by a bank before they get cleared. ‘No problem I said, my bank uses «Verified by Visa», but you haven’t even asked me for a confirmation, my bank hasn’t been contacted’.
Renfe replied saying «well, all our transactions work with Spanish credit cards. If you use a card outside of Spain, they are accepted but we often run with technical problems in contacting the Authorizing bank which leads to an unsuccessful purchase. If you would like to purchase a ticket, we suggest you use a Spanish card».
Well [bleeeeeeep]. I don’t have one. Do you give NO LOVE to international customers? Offer me any other form to buy them or something? Damn you renfe. I hate your website.

Gayle and I took Renfe Trains from Madrid to Toledo (and Return) and from Girona to Barcelona (Gracia). The first was a High Speed (AVE) train and the other was slower commuter rail. The hardest thing to figure out was how the «Take a Number» system worked in the Atocha (Madrid) and Toledo Train Stations. There’s also the Security systems in both stations to figure out. Past that, we experienced clean, safe, and comfortable ride that arrived on time. It was also interesting to watch the Spanish or Catalan countryside go by and observe what are fellow passengers were up to.

Where I live public transportation is completely dysfunctional. Renfe is an example of how to do things properly. (Im talking to you Bart, Caltrain, Muni!). You can basically get across most of Spain on this thing with trains for commuter, mid and long distances. Even the diverse politics of Spain still allowed something to get them from distance places, why can’t that happen in Norcal?