Read real reviews from real users
Travel from one sunny Spanish city to another cocooned in comfortable seats on a high-speed service, with direct trains from Seville to Barcelona taking you there in just over five and a half hours. There are also journeys with one or more transfers.
On a direct train, you’ll leave Sevilla Santa Justa train station and travel at high speed through the Spanish landscape, arriving at Barcelona Sants station.
Instead of trekking to airports or dealing with traffic, you can relax and enjoy the scenery on either an AVE train operated by Spanish national carrier Renfe or an iryo train.
Both are high-speed trains which offer free WiFi, a buffet carriage and air conditioning – everything you need for a comfortable journey and to hit the streets of Barcelona feeling refreshed. Book First Class seats for a little extra comfort on the way.
Keen to learn more? Read on for:
AVE is Renfe's flagship high-speed service, with trains capable of reaching up to 193 mph (310 km/h). It’s one of the fastest trains in Europe and connects the main cities of Spain. Most AVE trains offer two comfort classes – Estándard (Standard Class) and Confort (First Class equivalent, with 1-1 configuration, ultra-wide seats, gourmet food and drink and lounge access). All AVE trains have air conditioning, power sockets, free WiFi and a buffet carriage serving a selection of food and drinks. There are three fares for AVE services: the cheapest but least flexible Básico fare, the Elige fare (slightly pricier but more flexible), and the Premium fare for seats in Confort Class.
Operating since the end of 2022, iryo is a new high-speed train company in Spain. It’s a consortium between the Spanish airline Air Norstrum and the train company Trenitalia, one of the greatest leaders in European rail transport. The first private Spanish high-speed company to operate, iryo runs high-speed services on the Madrid – Zaragoza – Barcelona route and connects Madrid – Cuenca – Valencia/Alicante and Madrid – Cordoba – Seville/Malaga. They are doing this all with a fleet of ETR1000 model trains that offer the highest level of comfort in Spain, with a combination of advanced propulsion and highest quality onboard services, including WiFi connection and catering service. 98% of the parts of the trains are 100% recyclable, making this trip sustainable as well!
Renfe is the national train operator in Spain. It operates trains on the longest high-speed railway network in Europe, and the second-longest in the world. The country's major cities are linked up by the high-speed AVE and Avlo trains, while other long-distance routes are served by Altaria, Talgo, Alvia and Euromed trains. Renfe also operates cross-border services into neighbouring Portugal and France. Depending on which service you are travelling on, you'll usually find two classes on Renfe trains - Estándard (Standard Class) and Confort (First Class). Fare types range from the cheapest (but least flexible) Básico fare, to the more flexible Elige fares, to the Premium fare for seats in Confort carriages.
Renfe's Alvia services combine high-speed tracks with lower speed sections, reaching speeds of up to 155 mph (250 km/h) on international lines and 125 mph (200 km/h) on conventional lines. These trains connect the cities of Madrid, Barcelona and Alicante with the other main Spanish cities. Alvia offers two types of classes – Turista (Second Class) and Preferente (First Class). The latter has wider seats, carriages with fewer seats, offers complimentary food and drinks, free newspapers, and access to parking and Club meeting rooms.
If you're looking for a reasonably-priced experience without compromising on the best service and comfort, Inicial Class is ideal for you!
Singular Class is ideal for business travelers looking for flexibility and comfort. If you need to, you can adapt your ticket to your needs at the time.
If you're looking for added comfort and full flexibility, Singular Only YOU class is a fantastic choice, with access to select hotels too.
iryo's Infinita Bistró Class offers plenty of amenities on board, including wider leather reclining seats, free WiFi and in-seat meal service offering a complimentary gourmet meal. You'll need to book your meal 24 hours in advance.
In AVE's Estándar Class, you'll enjoy comfortable fuss-free travel. With baggage storage and air-conditioning throughout, there's access to their dining car serving drinks and snacks and seats are usually in a row of 2 or 4 around a table. On board, you'll enjoy:
Onboard AVE's Confort Class, you’ll enjoy all the amenities of Estándar Class as well as extra perks, such as complimentary food and drinks, free newspapers and more. Don't forget to enjoy access to Renfe's Club Rooms before your trip to kick it off in style. On board, you'll enjoy:
Travel in Alvia's Estándar Class (Standard Class) and you'll enjoy many amenities, including air-conditioning, power outlets at every seat and footrests.
Upgrade to Alvia's Confort Class (First Class) and enjoy more comfortable seats, more legroom, an in-seat meal service and access to Renfe's Club lounges.
You can carry up to 3 pieces of baggage on iryo trains, as long as they do not exceed 25kg (55.1lbs) in total. These 3 pieces can be 2 suitcases with a maximum size of 85 x 55 x 35cm (33.4 x 21.6 x 13.7 inches) and a backpack or handbag that does not exceed the dimensions of 36 x 27 x 15cm (14.1 x 10.6 x 5.9 inches).
iryo offers different menus with high-quality products in all classes. You can buy your favorite meal from their onboard restaurant/bar car, which is usually near car 2. If you’re traveling in the Infinita Bistró Class, you can enjoy the Infinita Bistró food service – your meal will be served straight to your seat. Please note that you’ll need to book your meal at least 24 hours in advance.
You can enjoy free WiFi in all classes on iryo trains, as well as an onboard entertainment platform providing a wide selection of movies, TV series, live news and Spotify.
Kids aged 0-3 travel for free on all iryo trains. Kids aged 4-13 get a discounted ticket while those aged 14-18 need to pay the full price. Please note that kids aged under 18 need to be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
You can take your bike on board iryo trains for free if it’s folded and does not exceed 90 x 120 x 40cm. Also, your bike must travel without the pedals and with the handlebar rotated 90 degrees.
iryo allows pets that do not exceed 10kg (22lbs) in weight, as long as they travel inside a carrier with a maximum size of 60 x 35 x 35cm (23.6 x 13.7 x 13.7 inches). You'll need to buy a ticket for your pet in advance. In addition, guide dogs can travel at no additional cost.
There are 2 seats for people with reduced mobility on iryo trains. Step-free access is also available both when boarding and when getting off the train.
With AVE, you can travel with up to 3 pieces of baggage that do not exceed 290cm (114.1 inches) and 25kg (55.1 pounds). In total, the maximum measurements of each piece of baggage are 85 x 55 x 35cm (33.4 x 21.6 x 13.7 inches). Musical instruments also count as hand baggage as long as they do not exceed the dimensions 30 x 120 x 38cm (11.8 x 47.2 x 14.9 inches) and are stored in a case.
If you’d like to stretch your legs and grab a coffee during your journey, AVE trains have an onboard dining car. If you’d prefer to stay in your seat, AVE staff will pass through each car with a food and drink cart.
On AVE trains, you can take advantage of PlayRenfe – their free WiFi and entertainment pass. Giving you access to exclusive content and fast connection speeds, PlayRenfe can be downloaded from the app store on your phone. Once you’re connected, you can access the PlayRenfe portal, where you’ll find exclusive live sport, news, films and TV series.
Children under 3 years old travel for free with AVE, as long as they do not occupy a seat and have their free child ticket. Children from 3 to 14 years old can take advantage of a 40% discount on ticket prices.
On all AVE trains, each passenger can take one bicycle or scooter on board, as long as it’s folded and carried inside a case. Also, the pedals must be removed and handlebars turned 90 degrees. Lastly, if the sum of the dimensions of the case is less than 180cm (70.8 inches), it's considered as hand luggage. However, if it’s bigger, it will be considered as special luggage (max dimensions 120 x 90 x 40 cm or 47.2 x 35.4 x 15.7 inches).
With AVE, you can travel with a pet as long as it weighs no more than 10 kg (22 pounds) and travels inside a cage or carrier that measures max 60 x 35 x 35 cm (23 x 13 x 13 inches). Your pet must have their own pet ticket, unless you’re traveling with a Premium ticket, in which case the pet ticket is free. Guide and assistance dogs travel for free.
AVE offer a free assistance and care service for people with reduced mobility. To request the service, passengers should contact AVE directly.
On Alvia trains you can take up to three pieces of baggage on board, provided that they are less than 290cm long and weigh less than 25kg in total. Strollers and instruments smaller than 30 x 120 x 38 cm are also classed as hand baggage.
Most Alvia trains have an onboard café-bar, as well as an at-seat service with a wide selection of food and drinks.
On board Alvia services, you can connect to PlayRenfe, a platform offering free WiFi and hours of entertainment.
Children under 4 travel free on Alvia services with a free child's ticket. Plus, passengers under 14 get a 40% discount on their chosen tariff.
With Alvia, folded bicycles that are less than 180cm long and are stored in a case count as hand baggage. If your bike is larger than this, it will count as special baggage and must be no larger than 120 x 90 x 40 cm - you must also detach the pedals and rotate the handlebars 90 degrees.
You can take your pet with you if they weigh less than 10kg, travel in a carrier no larger than 60 x 35 x 35 cm, and have a pet ticket. In Elige Confort a pet ticket is free, while in Básico a pet ticket costs 25% of the price of a ticket.
Alvia has an assistance service for passengers with reduced mobility or a disability. To arrange assistance, you can call (+34) 900 400 555 (international calling charges may apply).
Most of the train companies across Europe release their tickets around three to six months in advance, many of which can be cheaper the earlier you book. If you know the dates you want to travel, you may be able to find some cheaper train tickets from Seville to Barcelona by booking early.§
Many of the train services in Europe are also popular commuter services, lots of train companies increase ticket prices during “peak hours” (generally between 06:00 – 10:00 and 15:00 – 19:00 on weekdays). If you can, consider travelling outside of peak hours to find lower priced tickets.
On some of the busier routes, you might also have the option to take a slower or connecting train. It may take a little longer than some high-speed or direct services, but if you have a little extra time on your hands, you might find a cheaper fare. Plus, you'll have more time to enjoy the view of the countryside!
Take a look at our handy guides to find out when train operators release their special deals and offers to see if you can find cheap European train tickets for your journey.
For specific information about how to get your hands on cheap tickets, check out our European train tickets hub.
Operating since the end of 2022, iryo is a new high-speed train company in Spain. It’s a consortium between the Spanish airline Air Nostrum and the train company Trenitalia, one of the greatest leaders in European rail transport. The first private Spanish high-speed company to operate, iryo runs high-speed services on the Madrid – Zaragoza – Barcelona route and connects Madrid – Cuenca – Valencia/Alicante and Madrid – Cordoba – Seville/Malaga. They are doing this all with a fleet of ETR1000 model trains that offer the highest level of comfort in Spain, with a combination of advanced propulsion and highest quality onboard services, including WiFi connection and catering service. 98% of the parts of the trains are 100% recyclable, making this trip sustainable as well!
More information: iryo
If you're looking for a reasonably-priced experience without compromising on the best service and comfort, Inicial Class is ideal for you!
Singular Class is ideal for business travelers looking for flexibility and comfort. If you need to, you can adapt your ticket to your needs at the time.
If you're looking for added comfort and full flexibility, Singular Only YOU class is a fantastic choice, with access to select hotels too.
iryo's Infinita Bistró Class offers plenty of amenities on board, including wider leather reclining seats, free WiFi and in-seat meal service offering a complimentary gourmet meal. You'll need to book your meal 24 hours in advance.
If you’re flying to Seville, you’ll need to make your way to the city center before your journey to Barcelona. Want to know how to get to central Seville from the airport? Keep reading for more details.
If you’re traveling to Seville from abroad, you’ll land at the city’s main airport, Seville Airport, which is just over 6 miles from the city center.
Generally, the easiest way to get from Seville city center to the airport is by bus. You can take the EA (Especial Aeropuerto) bus from the main terminal to some of the main stops in the city center, including Prado de San Sebastián, Sevilla Santa Justa train station and Plaza de Armas bus station.
When you board the bus, you’ll be able to buy your ticket from the bus driver for €5, or around $5.46 (as of August 2024).
Your train to Barcelona will depart from Sevilla Santa Justa station. Read on for more information on how to get there.
If you're heading to Sevilla Santa Justa station from central Seville, you can get there using the city's public transport system:
Once you’ve arrived at Sevilla Santa Justa station, there are plenty of things to do while waiting for your train to arrive.
Serving over 9 million travelers each year, Sevilla Santa Justa is the city’s main train station. Usually, the train station is open from 04:30 am to 12:30 am on weekdays and from 05:15 am to 12:30 am on weekends and public holidays.
Once you’ve gone through the main entrance, you’ll arrive at the main concourse of Sevilla Santa Justa station. Here you’ll find:
When you look up the journey from Seville to Barcelona in our Journey Planner, you may be faced with many different options.
There are direct AVE and iryo trains between these two Spanish cities, so if you’re looking for ease and speed it may be best to look out for trips with 0 transfers or changes. You can filter the results to see only direct trains.
There are also train journeys with 1 transfer, usually in Madrid. These trips may take a little longer than the direct route, as you’ll need to wait in Madrid for your connecting train, but they may end up being cheaper. It’s worth comparing your options if you’re not strapped for time and you want to save some money!
Finally, you might see journeys where one or more legs of the journey are by bus. These may be cheaper but will take around double the time of the equivalent train journey – so bear this in mind when you book!
Luckily, at Trainline we show you departure and arrival times, transfer information, prices and journey duration all in one place, so you can pick the travel option that’s right for you.
Check out our Journey Planner now or keep reading for more information about what to do once you’ve arrived in Barcelona.
No matter which train operator you decide to travel with, you’ll arrive at Barcelona Sants station, a short journey from the city center.
In Barcelona, you’ll want to start soaking up the city’s atmosphere as soon as possible. Luckily, the center of Barcelona is easily accessible from Barcelona Sants train station thanks to the city’s extensive public transport network. You can get there by:
Want to travel from Barcelona Sants station to Barcelona Airport? You can simply catch a Renfe train, which takes around 20 minutes. Find out more about trains to and from Barcelona Airport.
Barcelona is a sprawling city with many different areas, but it boasts a modern public transport system to help you navigate the city.
Barcelona’s Metro is the easiest way to get around the city and consists of 8 lines and 165 stations.
When traveling on the Metro, there are various tickets, including a Single for just one journey and a T-Dia, for unlimited travel for a whole day. The Metro runs 365 days a year, operating from 05:00 am until 12:00 am, except on Friday when it closes at 02:00 am and Saturday when it does not close.
Travel by bus to take in excellent city views. In Barcelona, over 230 bus lines run from 05:00 am until 10:00 pm.
Barcelona’s tram system is a quick and convenient way to get around the city. There are 6 tram lines comprising 55 stops, so Barcelona’s trams run through the city’s heart. If you’d like to travel via tram, you can purchase tickets from the machines at tram stops.
If you’re planning a trip to the Catalan capital, but unsure where to visit first, here are some ideas for things to see and do in Barcelona:
If you buy a ticket for one of Renfe’s long-distance services, such as AVE, you can benefit from free travel on Cercanías and other regional trains before and after your journey. This is known as a Combinado Cercanías ticket.
This means that if you need to get to the station where your long-distance journey starts, or if you want to travel onward from your destination station, you may be able to use regional trains at no extra cost!
You’re also able to get a Combinado Cercanías ticket if you’re traveling with iryo.
Find out more on our dedicated Combinado Cercanías page, which contains information about eligible tickets and the cities included in the offer.
After visiting Barcelona, why not continue exploring Europe by train? With a Eurail Pass, you can travel across 33 European countries as much as you want on participating European train networks for a set amount of travel days. Check out our guide to Eurail in Spain for more info.
You can use a Eurail Pass if you’re not a European citizen or resident. If you're a European citizen or a non-European who is an official legal resident of a European country, you can use an Interrail Pass instead.