TRAIN
Spain has a fairly extensive rail network and taking a train can be a great way to move around the country. RENFE, the Spanish rail company, has several high-speed train lines called AVE.
These lines are a fast way to move between some cities and can be quicker than traveling by plane. For example, you can go from Madrid to Malaga in 2 h 20 min or Madrid to Barcelona in just under 3 hours. If you were to go by car or bus, it would easily take double the time.
Atocha Train Station in Madrid
Ticket prices are comparable with those of other European countries but usually travel by bus is the cheapest option. Travel by train in Spain is quite reliable and comfortable.
Depending on your destination, traveling by train might be your best option, but that is not always the case. Check out our map of train routes. For more general Spain train information, check out this beginner's guide to train travel in Spain.
BUS
Travel by bus is very common in Spain, especially in regions where the train network is slow or not very complete. Bus fares are very cheap and departures are frequent.
The largest bus operator in Spain is Alsa, followed by Samr and Avanza. You can buy tickets directly through the operators' website or on a booking site such as Omio. It is also common to buy tickets at the bus station on the day of the trip.
PLANE
There are plenty of large airports in Spain and cheap flights are easy to come by. Low-cost airlines such as Vueling, EasyJet and Ryanair offer the most flights between Spanish cities, followed by Spain’s national airline, Iberia.
In some instances if can even be cheaper to fly than to take the train. See our transportation map of Spain to find out where the busiest airports are located.
CAR
Renting a car is very affordable in Spain, especially compared to many other European countries. However, it is still probably not your cheapest transportation option.
If you only plan on visiting the larger cities such as Madrid and Barcelona, then a car would not be needed or recommended. But if you want to have extra convenience and get off the beaten path, then a rental car is a great option.
DRIVING IN SPAIN
Driving in Spain is pretty easy going for the most part. However, driving in Spanish cities can be very stressful. Besides heavy traffic, there are many one-way streets and finding parking is often complicated.
PARKING
If you find on-street parking, then you will need to know the parking laws. Parking tickets are given out a lot in larger cities and they can be pricey.
We only recommend driving if you are traveling between cities, not in them. We like to look up a parking garage in a city on google maps and then head straight there. Once you are in the city you can explore it on foot or with public transportation.
AVOID SPEEDING TICKETS
In Spain, the speed limit is 50 km/h in towns and cities, 90 km/h on rural roads, 100 km/h on main roads and 120 km/h on highways. Speed cameras are pretty common and tickets aren’t cheap.
HIGHWAYS IN SPAIN
There are two types of highways in Spain called “autopistas” (“AP-” followed by a number) and “autovías” (“A-” followed by a number). Autopistas (AP) are usually toll roads, while autovías (A) are always free.