Trains to Barcelona

Barcelona train stations

Perhaps Spain’s most hip and happening city, Barcelona has it all. Mountain views of the Pyrenees to the north, the beautiful Catalonian coastline to the east, and some of the world’s most stunning architecture in the city, like the soaring vision of Gaudi’s cathedral, the Sagrada Familia. It also has laid-back bars and cafes, cutting-edge boutiques, and Las Ramblas, one of Europe’s most popular streets to see (and be seen on). There are two main railway stations — Estación Barcelona Sants, right in the city centre, and Estación Barcelona-França, further to the north-east in the Ciutat Vella district. Barcelona Sants is the primary station for inter-city and international routes, and Barcelona-França mainly serves other Spanish cities in Catalonia and to the south.

Barcelona Sants train station

The modern Barcelona Sants only dates back to the 1970s, making it the newer of Barcelona’s two main train stations. It was built in a modern airport style, with shops and offices at ground level and its platforms underground. Above ground level is a station hotel. This train station is served by the flagship AVE high-speed train service between Barcelona and Madrid, with a journey time of 2h40mins. It also hosts other RENFE-run Spanish train services, as well as trains from the French SNCF-run TGV high-speed network. This provides a remarkable 6h28mins journey time from Paris to Barcelona. The station is the main hub in Barcelona for regional and suburban train services, and it is linked to other public transport services too. Right next door, for example, is the main regional bus terminal for inter-city routes. The metro station is also part of the complex, providing links to the rest of the city’s network.

Barcelona-França train station

Widely recognised as the most beautiful of the train stations in Barcelona, Barcelona-França train station was remodelled during the 20th century for the 1929 International Exhibition and had another upgrade before the Olympic Games of 1992. It is a mixture of Classical, Renaissance, Art Nouveau and Modernist architectural genres, and it is richly decorated with marble, crystal and bronze works of art. From the outside, the stone arches of the facade are dominated by the Art Deco style. Meanwhile, the metal framework structures inside around the platforms and the wide-open spaces of the service areas, with stone arches and mullioned windows, create a space with an almost cathedral-like feeling. The station serves 12 routes including regional trains to other cities in Catalonia, and long-distance services, to Seville and Alicante, for example. The journey time from Valencia to Barcelona is 3h46mins on the high-speed AVE inter-city service, and the journey from Tarragona takes a mere 1h12mins thanks to the Euromed network. Local transport connections are good, with the nearest metro station being Barceloneta on line four and half a kilometre away. Buses 39 and 51 to the city centre leave from outside the station. 

Taking the train from Barcelona

There are plenty of European destinations you can easily reach from Barcelona by train. Here are the top destinations you shouldn't miss:

• Madrid: One of the most popular destinations in Spain, Madrid has plenty to offer from cultural attractions to gastronomical delights. El Prado museum and el Retiro Park are only a few minutes away from Madrid Atocha train station, which makes it so easy to visit the city's landmarks. You can get from Barcelona to Madrid by train thanks to the frequent services operated by AVE.
• Paris: It's one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with six main stations surrounded by key landmarks, so you can easily sip coffee in the charming neighbourhood of Montmartre or take that Eiffel Tower snap. You can get from Barcelona to Paris by train thanks to the frequent services operated by Renfe-SNCF.
• Valencia: This Levantine city in south-eastern Spain is the perfect marriage of sun, sand, history and culture. It's also known for its delicious cuisine, make sure you try its iconic paella, a beloved dish the world over. You can get from Barcelona to Valencia by train thanks to the frequent services operated by Renfe.

Need more information about Spain's extensive rail network? Check out our trains in Spain page.