Train service
Renfe
Renfe is Spain’s national railway operator, offering high-speed, long-distance, and regional train services with extensive domestic coverage.
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Ouigo
Ouigo is SNCF’s low-cost train service offering affordable high-speed travel in France, Spain, and Belgium with simplified onboard amenities.
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iryo
iryo is a private high-speed rail operator in Spain, serving major corridors from Madrid to cities including Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, Seville and Malaga.
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Omio
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Seville is one of Spain’s best-connected cities by rail. Three operators now compete on the Madrid corridor: Renfe AVE, OUIGO, and Iryo. The fastest AVE services cover the 471 km in about 2 hours 30 minutes. All trains arrive at Santa Justa, Seville’s only main station.
Getting to Seville by train
Madrid to Seville
Renfe runs around 20 or more AVE departures daily in each direction from Madrid Puerta de Atocha to Seville Santa Justa. Journey times range from approximately 2 hours 20 minutes on the fastest services to around 2 hours 30 to 40 minutes on others. It is one of Spain’s most frequent high-speed routes.
OUIGO Spain runs 4 daily departures each way on the same corridor, typically at lower fares than standard Renfe. Iryo serves Madrid to Seville with around 5 round trips per day and journey times of about 2 hours 39 minutes. All three operators stop at Seville Santa Justa. Trains also call at Córdoba en route, which is just 45 minutes from Seville.
The frequency on this corridor is unusual for Spain. You can generally find a departure within the hour for most of the day, though booking ahead almost always gets you a better fare.
| Operator | Daily departures (approx.) | Typical journey time | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renfe AVE | 20+ each direction | 2h 20m to 2h 40m | renfe.com |
| OUIGO | 4 each direction | around 2h 36m | ouigo.com (online only) |
| Iryo | around 5 round trips | around 2h 39m | iryo.eu |
Barcelona to Seville
Barcelona to Seville is not a direct train. You need to change at Madrid, at Puerta de Atocha. Total journey time is around 5 hours 30 minutes, depending on the connection. Book as a through ticket on renfe.com to see combined timetables rather than piecing together two separate bookings.
Other Spanish cities
Valencia to Seville takes around 3 hours 50 minutes to 4 hours depending on the service. Córdoba is just 45 minutes on the AVE. Málaga is around 2 hours.
| Origin | Typical journey time | Connection |
|---|---|---|
| Madrid | 2h 20m to 2h 40m | Direct |
| Barcelona | around 5h 30m | Change at Madrid |
| Valencia | 3h 50m to 4h | Direct |
| Córdoba | 45 minutes | Direct |
| Málaga | around 2 hours | Direct |
International connections
There are no direct international trains to Seville. Travellers from France or elsewhere in Europe need to travel to Madrid first and change there for a southbound AVE.
Santa Justa station
Santa Justa is Seville’s only main station. It handles all high-speed AVE services, regional Media Distancia trains, and local Cercanías commuter lines. The station is at Avenida de Kansas City, about 15 to 20 minutes’ walk from the historic centre. Most travellers with luggage take the taxi rank or a bus.
The station opened in 1991 and sees around 8 million passengers a year. Facilities include ATMs, restaurants and cafes, luggage storage a few minutes from the entrance, free Wi-Fi, car rental desks, and a Sala Club lounge for AVE Premium ticket holders.
Do not use Sevilla San Bernardo or Virgen del Rocío for long-distance travel. Both are Cercanías-only stops. Book Santa Justa for any journey to another Spanish city.
Train operators
Renfe AVE
Renfe is the national operator and runs the most departures to Seville. AVE trains reach speeds of up to 310 km/h. Renfe also sells Avlo fares, its own low-cost brand on selected AVE departures. Avlo is not a separate company; it is Renfe’s cheaper pricing tier, with tighter refund and change conditions.
OUIGO
OUIGO Spain is a low-cost high-speed operator with 4 daily departures each way on the Madrid to Seville corridor. Fares are typically lower than standard Renfe. One important restriction: OUIGO tickets must be booked online at ouigo.com. You cannot buy them at a station ticket office.
Iryo
Iryo is a private high-speed operator running Madrid to Seville with around 5 round trips per day. Journey times are about 2 hours 39 minutes. Trains include free Wi-Fi and power sockets throughout. Tickets are at iryo.eu and on some travel booking platforms.
Tickets and fares
Fares on this route use dynamic pricing. The cheapest tickets sell first, and prices rise as the departure date approaches. OUIGO fares can start from a few euros on promotional offers. Standard Renfe advance fares typically start from around €30 to €40 for a one-way Turista seat, but vary considerably by date, demand, and booking window. Last-minute Renfe fares can cost significantly more.
Booking two to four weeks ahead on renfe.com is the most reliable way to get a reasonable Renfe fare with some flexibility on departure time.
Where to buy tickets
- renfe.com and the Renfe app: all AVE and regional Renfe services, plus pass-holder reservations
- ouigo.com: OUIGO fares only; online only, not sold at stations
- iryo.eu: Iryo tickets
- Rail Europe and Trainline: multi-operator search; useful for comparing Renfe and Iryo
Ticket classes
Renfe AVE has three main classes:
- Turista: standard class with comfortable seats
- Turista Plus: wider seats with extra legroom
- Preferente: first class equivalent, with more space and meals on some services
OUIGO has a single class of comfortable seats, broadly comparable to Renfe Turista.
Discounts and cards
Children: children aged 4 to 13 travel at a reduced child fare on Renfe. Children under 4 travel free but still need a free infant ticket.
Seniors (60+): the Tarjeta Dorada costs €6 per year and gives 25% off AVE and long-distance trains on weekdays, and 40% off at weekends. The discount applies to the base fare, not already-reduced promotional prices. If you plan to use Renfe more than once or twice, the card recovers its cost on a single journey.
Rail passes for Spain
Interrail and Eurail passes are valid on Renfe services in Spain, including AVE. Reservations are compulsory on all AVE trains even if you hold a pass. The pass-holder seat reservation fee on Renfe is approximately €10 per journey for Turista class.
Do not board an AVE with only a pass and no reservation. The pass covers the travel day, but you still need a paid reservation for a seat. Book the reservation at renfe.com, interrail.eu, eurail.com, or Rail Europe.
Interrail and Eurail passes are not valid on OUIGO Spain or Iryo. If you want to travel with either of those operators, buy a full ticket separately.
There are no pass-holder seat quotas on Spanish trains, so you are unlikely to find reservations unavailable for pass holders. Booking ahead during festival periods is still sensible.
Day trips from Seville
Córdoba is the easiest day trip from Seville. The AVE takes 45 minutes from Santa Justa, runs frequently throughout the day, and the Mezquita-Cathedral is a 20-minute walk from Córdoba station.
Cádiz takes around 1 hour 35 minutes to 2 hours on Media Distancia services. Trains are less frequent than AVE but connect throughout the day. Jerez de la Frontera is on the same line, about 1 hour from Seville.
Málaga is around 2 hours by high-speed train. Check whether your specific service is direct or routes via Antequera-Santa Ana, as some departures involve a short change.
| Destination | Service type | Typical journey time |
|---|---|---|
| Córdoba | AVE (direct) | 45 minutes |
| Cádiz | Media Distancia (direct) | 1h 35m to 2h |
| Jerez de la Frontera | Media Distancia (direct) | around 1 hour |
| Málaga | High-speed (check route) | around 2 hours |
| Antequera | Media Distancia | around 1h 30m |
| Utrera | Cercanías / Media Distancia | 25 to 30 minutes |
Getting from Santa Justa to the city
Taxi
The taxi rank is outside the main exit of Santa Justa. Seville taxis are white with a yellow stripe on the door. You cannot hail one at the kerb there; join the rank queue. Fares to the city centre are typically around €5 to €8. Taxis accept cards and electronic payment. Cash passengers should carry small notes. A pickup surcharge applies at the station, and there is an extra charge for luggage over 55x40x20 cm or heavier than 10 kg.
Bus
Several city bus lines serve Santa Justa:
- Lines 21, 28, 32: city routes to the historic centre and cathedral area
- Lines C1, C2: circular routes via central stops
- Lines A7, A8: airport connections (Seville Airport has no direct train from Santa Justa)
- Lines EA and LN: express and night services
A single journey costs around €1.40. A rechargeable multi-trip card brings the per-journey cost down to around €0.70 and includes free transfers within one hour.
Tram
The MetroCentro tram runs from Prado de San Sebastián through the centre to Plaza Nueva. It does not stop at Santa Justa itself, but San Bernardo Cercanías station is close to the tram line and one stop from Santa Justa.
Walking
The historic centre is around 15 to 20 minutes on foot from Santa Justa. Fine for light travellers. With luggage, a taxi or bus is more practical.
When to travel
Two annual events drive the biggest spikes in demand on trains to Seville:
Semana Santa (Holy Week, usually March or April): the largest religious festival in Spain. Trains between Madrid and Seville can sell out weeks in advance. Book as far ahead as possible.
Feria de Abril (April Fair, the week after Semana Santa): six days that bring large numbers of visitors into the city. Ticket prices and demand rise for both events.
Outside festival periods, the high frequency on the Madrid to Seville corridor means sold-out trains are rare. Advance booking still gives you the best fares. Travelling mid-week is generally cheaper than at weekends.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the train from Madrid to Seville take?
Renfe AVE services from Madrid Puerta de Atocha to Seville Santa Justa take around 2 hours 20 to 2 hours 40 minutes depending on the departure. Iryo trains on the same route take about 2 hours 39 minutes. OUIGO services typically take around 2 hours 36 minutes.
Which train station do trains to Seville use?
All long-distance and high-speed trains use Seville Santa Justa. It is the city's only main station. Local Cercanías stops such as San Bernardo and Virgen del Rocío do not serve long-distance routes.
Which operators run trains to Seville?
Three operators serve the Madrid to Seville corridor. Renfe AVE is the main operator with around 20 or more daily departures in each direction. OUIGO Spain is the low-cost option with 4 daily departures each way; tickets are available online only at ouigo.com. Iryo runs around 5 round trips per day with journey times of about 2 hours 39 minutes.
Can I use an Interrail or Eurail pass on trains to Seville?
Interrail and Eurail passes are valid on Renfe services to Seville, including AVE. A paid seat reservation is compulsory even with a pass; the fee is approximately €10 per journey. Interrail and Eurail passes are not valid on OUIGO Spain or Iryo, which require a full ticket.
When should I book tickets to Seville in advance?
Booking two to four weeks ahead typically gets you the best Renfe fares. During Semana Santa (Holy Week) and Feria de Abril (April Fair), trains between Madrid and Seville can sell out weeks in advance, so book as early as possible for those periods.
How do I get from Seville Santa Justa station to the city centre?
The historic centre is around 15 to 20 minutes' walk from Santa Justa. Taxis are available at the rank outside the main exit, with fares to the centre typically around €5 to €8. City bus lines 21, 28, and 32 also connect the station to the cathedral area; a single journey costs around €1.40.
Is Barcelona to Seville a direct train?
No. Barcelona to Seville requires a change at Madrid Puerta de Atocha. Total journey time is around 5 hours 30 minutes. Book as a through ticket on renfe.com to see combined timetables.
