Transportation in Spain

A wonderfully organized public transportation system, affordable domestic flights, incredible cities suited for biking or walking…that’s in short the Spanish transportation system.

Arriving and Departing

There are about 50 airports in Spain, out of which the busiest three are: Madrid Barajas International Airport (MAD), Barcelona International Airport (BCN) and Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI).

Flying is one of the best ways to get from one Spanish city to another and the fastest way to get to the islands. There are plenty of budget airlines that fly to Spain from all over Europe. Most international flights from outside of Europe arrive in Madrid or Barcelona, but there’s no shortage of domestic flights from these two hubs to the rest of Spain.

>>more information on Spain Airports
>>Find Cheap Flights to Spain

Trains link Spain (and particularly Madrid) to other European countries, such as Portugal (Lisbon), France (Paris, Montpellier), Switzerland (Zurich) and Italy (Milan). Train travel in Spain is comfortable and efficient, although these days taking the train can cost more than flying. To catch a train to the neighboring countries, you’ll usually have to spend at least one night commuting.

Many European countries offer direct buses to several Spanish cities: you can catch a bus from Lisbon to Madrid or Seville and Bordeaux to Madrid or Seville. These buses usually take very long hours, but are the cheapest form of getting from one country to the next.

Getting Around

From one city to another

Flying is one of the best ways to get from one Spanish city to another. There are frequent domestic flights from Madrid to Barcelona (40 flights per day!) as well as between other cities. Start searching for flights from Madrid to Barcelona here:

Boats link Barcelona to the Balearic Islands (Ibiza, Mallorca, Menorca) and to Italy (Rome and Genoa).

Trains are available between major cities. The journey between Madrid and Barcelona takes 5 hours, while going from Madrid to Seville takes about 2.5 hours.

Traveling by bus in Spain represents one of the cheapest ways to move from one Spanish city to another. Generally the buses aren’t crowded and the roads are pretty good.

Hiring a car is another good option but make sure to do your homework and choose to rent from a cheaper location (i.e Madrid is very expensive). Make sure to always have a map and a Spanish dictionary (seriously).

Read more on inter-city transportation:

>>Getting from Madrid to Barcelona
>>Getting from Madrid to Toledo
>>Getting from Madrid to Salamanca
>>Getting from Madrid to Lisbon
>>Getting from Madrid to Malaga
>>Getting from Madrid to Seville
>>Getting from London to Ibiza

Walking or cycling in the cities

Unless you plan to dodge traffic –there aren’t bicycle lanes in Madrid –cycling in the city can be quite dangerous. Madrid isn’t a flat city so riding a bike is not really practical, hence no need for the bike lanes. But if you want to cycle in Madrid, head to one of the parks.

Riding a bike in Barcelona is one of the cheapest ways to explore the  city. There are bike renting companies which also organize biking tours of the city. Fat Tire provides English tours in several cities around the world, including Barcelona. The expert guides keep visitors informed, entertained, and safe from surrounding traffic. The Barcelona tour hits even more city highlights, including Parc de la Ciutadella and the beach; frequent stops allow time for pictures, exploration, food, and stretching.

Public transportation

Madrid

Madrid’s metro system (Metro de Madrid) is a very efficient way to travel in the city. Sometimes it’s easier to use than the buses. Single tickets with unlimited changes in the city cost about €1. If you plan to use the metro and/or bus a lot, you should get the Metrobús tickets (10 rides for little over €6). Also, you can buy the tourist passes (Abono Turístico) which are valid for 1, 2, 3, 5 or 7 days and the prices range between €4 for a day and €20 for a week.

>>more information on Madrid

Barcelona

In Barcelona, the special Bus Turistic line links all the tourist sites you can possibly visit. There are three possibly routes and tickets can be purchased for two days (€20) or three days (about €30).

Barcelona Card offers unlimited free travel on public transport and free entrance at about 100 tourist sites. Cards can be purchased for periods of 2 to 5 days at a cost ranging between €24 and €34.

If you plan to take the metro and/or the bus, please note that the tickets are valid on both public transportation systems. You can get tickets for 10 rides which represent a really good way to save some money on transport.

While in Barcelona, don’t miss a ride on Tramvia Blau, which is an old tram connecting Av. Tibidabo metro station to the Funicular station. Once at the Funicular station, take a ride up to the view point on top of Tibidabo (€3 two-way trip).

>>more information on Barcelona