How to get to Figueres–Vilafant Train Station

Travel to Figueres - Vilafant train station from Figueres city center

Figueres is a historic town in northern Catalonia, close to the French border. Its main allure as a tourist destination is its association with the Surrealist artist Salvador Dali, who was born here in 1904. Many of his provocative and inspirational works are exhibited at the colorful and unique Dali Museum, one of Spain's most remarkable artistic attractions.

Since the construction of the train station Figueres - Vilafant in 2010,  Figueres has been handily located on the high-speed rail line between Madrid and Barcelona and France, with international AVE and TGV services calling several times a day.  Figueres - Vilafant station is known locally as the AVE station. This should not be confused with the older Figueres station, located in the town center, which still provides regional services to Costa Brava resort towns and slower stopping trains to Barcelona. Unusually there is no direct rail connection between the two stations, but a regular bus service connects the central rail station and the bus terminus with the train station Figueres - Vilafant, following a route that also stops at central locations in the town.    

What is the best way to get to the train station from the city center?

Bus services offer the most convenient and economical way of reaching the high-speed rail station. The Figueres city bus operator TEISA provides a daily direct service to the train station Figueres - Vilafant,  running from the town center bus terminus adjacent to the Figueres train station. Buses depart roughly hourly on weekdays, from around 6:00 a.m. to just after 9:00 p.m. with services timed to coincide with high-speed rail departures and arrivals at Figueres - Vilafant.  Bus services are a little less frequent at weekends and on public holidays.  Buses operate via the center of town and can also be taken from stops on the central Rambla and Placa del Sol, close to town hotels and the Dali Museum.  For those traveling light, the station is about 30 minutes walk from downtown Figueres. For travelers in a hurry, taxis from the town to Figueres - Vilafant provide the fastest option, although they are considerably more expensive than buses.  

How far is it from the city center to the train station? 

The train station Figueres - Vilafant is located just under two miles (three kilometers) west of downtown Figueres. The central station in the town is about half a mile south-east of the center, immediately adjacent to the bus station. Scheduled journey times for the bus trip from the Figueres bus terminus to Figueres - Vilafant are 25 minutes. This might take five minutes longer at peak times due to traffic congestion in the town center, or when there are large numbers of passengers boarding at intermediate stops. There is only one road from the town to Figueres - Vilafant station, so the route can occasionally be subject to hold-ups due to accidents or road works. The route on foot takes around 30 minutes, while taxi journeys can usually complete the trip from the center to the train station at Figueres - Vilafant in ten to 15 minutes.    

How accessible is the train station for those with limited mobility?

TEISA buses between Figueres town center and train station Figueres - Vilafant are not easily accessible for passengers with limited mobility. Taxis are usually a better option for transfers to the rail station, although accessible vehicles are not always readily available at taxi stands in the town center and may need to be pre-booked. At the modern train station Figueres - Vilafant, there is step-free access to the main passenger concourse and to the train platforms, with accessible restroom facilities.  Spanish rail operator Renfe offers personalized service at the station for passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility, which must be pre-booked by email or telephone. 

Local tips: the train station points of interest

TEISA buses have some storage space for luggage, but travelers with several items of luggage will find the vehicles a little cramped so a taxi might be preferable. The train station Figueres - Vilafant is out by the highway some way from the center of town, so nearby attractions are limited. There is a snack bar and coffee stand at the station, as well as a tourist information desk, but travelers would be advised to shop for groceries and reading material in town before heading out to the station. The most famous son of Figueres, Dali, was a regular user of the rail line to France and painted the rail station at Perpignan. The French city is now just 23 minutes away from Figueres by high-speed train, rather quicker than in the artist's time.