Madrid
How to get from Madrid to Seville
Take the high-speed train from Madrid Atocha to Seville Santa Justa: about 2h 30m city centre to city centre, roughly €35–€90 one way in 2026. Book two to four weeks ahead for the cheap fares; the bus is slower and usually not cheaper, and flying only wins if you are already near Barajas.
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Key facts
- Fastest option
- High-speed train (AVE, Iryo or Ouigo), about 2h 30m city centre to city centre
- Typical farecheck
- €35–€90 one way, 2026 estimate; advance tickets cheapest
- Stations
- Madrid Atocha → Seville Santa Justa, both central
- Frequencycheck
- Roughly hourly through the day on the Madrid–Seville high-speed line
- Cheapest option
- Advance high-speed train fare; the bus is rarely cheaper once time is counted
- Book ahead
- Yes — fares rise sharply in the last days before departure
- Distance
- About 470 km by rail
Options compared
Madrid and Seville sit at opposite ends of Spain's first high-speed line, so the train is the default choice for almost every traveller. Both stations are in the city centre, which removes the airport transfers that eat into a flight's advantage.
The bus is the budget fallback, but on this route it is a long ride and the cheapest advance train fares often match or beat it. Flying makes sense mainly if you are starting near Madrid-Barajas airport or connecting from another flight.
| Mode | Journey time | Price (2026 estimate) | Frequency | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-speed train | About 2h 30m | €35–€90 one way | Roughly hourly | Renfe AVE, Iryo, Ouigo |
| Bus | About 6–7h | €25–€45 one way | Several daily | Socibus / ALSA |
| Flight | About 1h 10m in the air | €40–€120 one way | Several daily | Iberia, Vueling, Ryanair |
| Car | About 5h 30m via the A-4 | Fuel and tolls vary | Any time | Self-drive |
Times are city centre to city centre except the flight, which excludes airport transfers of about 30–60 minutes at each end.
How to book
Buy directly from the operator's own site or app: Renfe for AVE, Iryo and Ouigo for their own services. Booking direct keeps changes and refunds simpler than going through a reseller.
Tickets usually go on sale a few months ahead. The cheapest fare bands sell first, so set a fare alert or check weekly if your dates are fixed. Seat reservation is included in the ticket price on these services.
At Atocha, allow 20–30 minutes for the security check before boarding a high-speed train. Print or download the ticket; staff scan a QR code at the gate.
- Book two to four weeks ahead for the lowest fares.
- Compare Renfe, Iryo and Ouigo on the same date; the three compete on this line.
- Seville Santa Justa is about a 15-minute walk or short taxi ride from the historic centre.
Tips
Seville is inland Andalusia and gets very hot from June to August, often above 38 °C. If you are travelling then, take a morning departure and plan a slow first afternoon.
If you are continuing to Granada or Córdoba, buy the onward leg at the same time; Andalusian trains fill up in spring and autumn.
A rail pass is rarely worth it for a single Madrid–Seville trip; point-to-point advance fares are usually lower.
- Morning trains are cooler and leave the afternoon free in Seville.
- Keep your ticket on your phone; there is no need to print at the station.
- Check the departure station: some Madrid high-speed services leave from Chamartín rather than Atocha.
Route map
The line runs south from Madrid across the plains of Castilla-La Mancha, past Córdoba, then west into the Guadalquivir valley to Seville. Córdoba is roughly halfway and makes an easy stopover if you split the journey.
There is no useful intermediate stop for a day trip between the two cities; the trip is a straight transfer.
Questions people ask
How long does it take to get from Madrid to Seville?
The high-speed train takes about 2 hours 30 minutes from Madrid Atocha to Seville Santa Justa. The bus takes about 6 to 7 hours, and a flight is about 1 hour 10 minutes in the air plus airport transfers at both ends.
What is the cheapest way to get from Madrid to Seville?
An advance high-speed train ticket is usually the cheapest sensible option, from about €35 one way in 2026. Buses can be slightly cheaper but take more than twice as long, so the train often wins on value.
Do I need to book in advance from Madrid to Seville?
Yes. Fares rise sharply close to departure, and popular spring and autumn departures sell out. Booking two to four weeks ahead usually gets the lowest fare band on Renfe, Iryo or Ouigo.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialRenfe
- officialIryo
- officialOuigo Spain
- officialALSA