Deciding where to go on holiday is one of life’s trickiest yet most exciting decisions, and with so many options to choose from it can be difficult to settle on one specific place.
While picking one destination and jetting off on a direct flight is a painless, straightforward way to go about heading abroad, there are other more adventurous routes to opt for – like train travel.
Spain is a great place to start as the country has a rich railway history and today its railways are used for both local and long-distance travel.
Train travel is a great option for getting around the country and exploring sights that are a bit more off the beaten track.
The Madrid to Barcelona route is one of Spain’s most popular long-distance train journeys, travelling 314 miles from the bustling capital to sunny shores of the Catalonia region.
The journey takes just two hours and 30 minutes if you take the AVE bullet train and boasts spectacular scenery along the way, meandering from stunning mountain views to the Spanish countryside, and finally coming to a stop along the coast.
If you’re keen to savour the journey, there is an option to take a regional train from Madrid to Barcelona which takes around nine hours to complete, but it does offer more stops along the way.
Among the stops is the city of Zaragoze, the capital of Spain’s Aragon region which sits on the south bank of the Ebro River.
It is known for its impressive landmark the Basilica del Pilar, a Catholic church which is reputed to be the first-ever church to be dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The 11th century Aljaferia Palace is also a must-visit here, along with the La Seo Cathedral. Together these buildings form part of the Mudéjar Architecture of Aragon which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Tarragona, Guadalajara, Lleida and Reus are among the other Spanish cities served by the train route, along with Valencia which boasts a charming old town for travellers to explore.
Of course at the final stop of Barcelona, ancient markets, sandy beaches and the stunning ‘Gothic Quarter’ await, including the city’s famous Sagrada Familia.
You can book tickets for the Madrid to Barcelona train online and there are four high-speed trains to choose from – OUIGO, Avlo, AVE and iryo, which take between two hours 30 minutes to three hours.
All trains depart from Madrid Atocha station and arrive into Barcelona Sants Station, with prices starting from around £6.14 for a Standard Class ticket if you book in advance.
