I took a high-speed train from Barcelona to Madrid for $34, and it's the only way I'll travel around Spain from now on

Laura NinehamJan 15, 2024, 15:09 IST

I booked a seat on a high-speed train from Barcelona to Madrid. Laura Nineham

I paid $34 for a seat on a high-speed train from Barcelona to Madrid in Spain.
I couldn't connect to the Wi-Fi and we departed a bit late, but the overall journey was painless.

Barcelona (Spain's second-largest city) and Madrid (the country's capital) are nearly 400 miles apart.

Fortunately, there's an affordable high-speed train that runs between them.

I recently rode the route on Spain's state-owned railway company, Renfe, for just $34. The journey typically takes about two hours and 45 minutes.

Here's what my train ride was like.

I printed my ticket at the Barcelona-Sants train station.

I was confused about the ticket process at first.Laura Nineham

I had time to spare after finding a nearly empty security line.Laura Nineham

I booked a seat on a high-speed train from Barcelona to Madrid. Laura Nineham

I struggled a little bit to find a spot for my bag.Laura Nineham

I wasn't expecting the car to be as crowded as it was.Laura Nineham

I bought a black coffee from the nearby bar carriage.Laura Nineham

The train's Wi-Fi was difficult to connect to.Laura Nineham

I liked that the carriage TVs had a movie playing.Laura Nineham

I found the train station in Madrid difficult to navigate.Laura Nineham

Despite some obstacles, I would take the train from Barcelona to Madrid again.Laura Nineham