Alicante-Terminal to Barcelona Sants train with Renfe EUROMED

My Journey from Alicante Terminal to Barcelona Sants by Train

Introduction

After six sunny, beach-day resets in Alicante, I felt fully recharged and ready to head home to Barcelona. For this route, I always choose the train because it’s a smooth point-to-point ride without the airport shuffle, security lines, or transfers. Spain’s high-speed network makes long distances feel simple. If you’re comparing ways to get from Alicante Terminal to Barcelona Sants, I'll tell you all about traveling with Renfe AVE and offer some helpful tips below.

Route Overview

The Alicante to Barcelona rail corridor covers roughly 520 to 545 km, and the fastest direct services take about 5 hours and 25 minutes. High-speed trains connect Alicante Terminal with Barcelona Sants, linking the Costa Blanca with Catalonia’s capital. Compared with flying, the train offers a city-center-to-city-center journey with roomier seats and no long airport check-in or baggage lines. That’s why I always prefer taking Renfe’s AVE train to travel from Alicante Terminal to Barcelona Sants.

Renfe AVE trains from Alicante Terminal arrive at Barcelona Sants. As one of Spain’s busiest hubs, transfers here are effortless. Metro lines L3 (Green) and L5 (Blue) run directly beneath the station, and city buses and taxis wait just outside. I usually take L3 because it drops me near home within minutes. If you’re continuing across town, Sants also connects to Rodalies (commuter) and long-distance train services.

Schedule & Frequency

To get from Alicante Terminal to Barcelona Sants aboard Renfe’s high-speed AVE, you’ll typically find around 3–8 trains daily on this route, with the fastest journeys taking about 5 hours and 30 minutes. Departures usually start around 6:55 AM and continue until 4:37 PM. I took the 1:30 PM train from Alicante Terminal and arrived at 6:53 PM in Barcelona Sants, just in time to beat the dinner rush and head straight home on Metro Line L3. ### Onboard Experience & Services Whenever I travel from Alicante Terminal to Barcelona Sants by train, I usually go in Standard Class since the comfort is more than enough for me. The seats are wide with a slight recline, and for my onboard workstation, there’s a fold-down tray and a power outlet. Besides working, it’s also perfect for reading, editing photos, or taking a quick nap. The Wi-Fi on Renfe AVE trains is easy to access because you just sign in with your ticket. I used it to check emails and play a few games on my phone without any signal drops during the ride.

Renfe allows up to three pieces of hand luggage, but the total weight for all should be under 25 kg. For trips within Spain, I usually bring just a backpack and a carry-on, which makes city-hopping easier to manage. My carry-on fits neatly in the luggage rack, while my backpack stays by my seat with plenty of space left over. There’s a café car on board, but I’d already picked up a croissant and water from Tim Hortons at Alicante Station, so I was all set. Bathrooms were available too, as you’d expect on a long route.

As the train headed north, the scenery was stunning from my window seat on the left. When I wasn’t napping, the highlight was spotting the coastal stretches near Benicàssim and catching glimpses of the Mediterranean before arriving in Barcelona.

Ticketing Advice & Budget Breakdown

I bought my Alicante Terminal–Barcelona Sants train ticket a few days in advance, to lock in the schedule and seat. On Omio, my fare was roughly €49.00 based on that day’s exchange rate from USD. On arrival, I transferred on Metro L3 from Sants directly home. Here’s what I spent during this trip.

Budget breakdown:

Top Tips & Personal Recommendations

Check out my tips before setting off on your train trip from Alicante Terminal to Barcelona Sants:

• Arrive 30–40 minutes early: There’s a quick ID check and light security before the platforms.
• Pick a window seat: The best views are on the left, where you’ll see stretches of the Mediterranean coast and other seaside towns near Castellón.
• Eat before boarding: Station cafés are decent, but dining in town beforehand is usually better and more relaxed.
• Save your ticket in the Omio app: It’s faster to scan at boarding and works even without Wi-Fi once you’re on the train.

Conclusion

For me, taking the train from Alicante Terminal to Barcelona Sants is the most relaxed way to travel between the two cities. It’s city-center to city-center, with plenty of space to unwind and an easy Metro connection once you arrive. The trip is made better thanks to Renfe's modern AVE train service. If you’re planning the same trip, plan your journey on Omio to compare schedules and find a departure that suits your day. 

About the Author: Nancy Sevilla

• Job Title: Travel & Lifestyle Creator
• Bio: Nancy is a travel content creator who shares honest guides, helpful tips, and personal experiences from her global adventures. Based between Spain and the U.S., she specializes in creating visually compelling content for her blog and social platforms.