Cheapest
Average
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Alicante to Barcelona is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
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Fastest Journey
5 h 14 m
Average
5 h 53 m
Trains per day
5
Distance
407 km
Of the 5 trains that leave Alicante for Barcelona every day 3 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
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Distance | 252 miles (406 km) | |
Average train duration | 5 h 21 min | |
Average train ticket price | $70 (€62) | |
Train frequency | 5 a day | |
Direct train | Yes, there are 5 direct trains a day | |
Train companies | Renfe EUROMED, Renfe Intercity or Renfe |
Trains from Alicante to Barcelona cover the 252 miles (406 km) long trip taking on average 5 h 21 min with our travel partners like Renfe EUROMED, Renfe Intercity or Renfe. Normally, there are 5 trains operating per day, including direct services available. While the average ticket price for this journey costs around $70 (€62), you can find the cheapest train ticket for as low as $50 (€44). Travelers depart most frequently from Alicante-Terminal and arrive in Barcelona Sants.
Renfe trains will get you between Alicante and Barcelona from $50 (€44). With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.
Renfe is Spain’s national train company operating freight and passenger trains on Spain’s extensive railway network as well as international routes to neighboring France and Portugal. Renfe has a wide range of ticket types to fit your budget like the Basic, Elige and Premium tickets. Renfe also offers discount cards like the Renfe Gold Card and +Renfe Youth Card 50 for qualified travelers. You can use these savings offers and discount cards on Omio when booking your Alicante to Barcelona trip. Renfe has a vast fleet of trains with different levels of comfort, amenities and speed. The Renfe AVE trains run at high speed and serve long-distance routes, Alvia trains combine high-speed and normal speed trains serving domestic routes, Altaria serves domestic routes into southern Spain, Euromed offers domestic routes along the Mediterranean coast, Avant trains serve regional commuter routes and Trenhotel offers night train routes.
For travelers who are looking to travel along the southern coast of Spain by train from Alicante to Barcelona, there are several services that operate daily. The 325-mile (524-km) ride can take from about 4h 30min to just over 5h. Once in Barcelona, travelers will want to explore the Gothic Quarter, or Barri Gotic. The historical area is located in the center of the city and offers many cafés, restaurants, shops and other sites of interest.
There is only one train company that operates trains from Alicante to Barcelona: Renfe. Passengers researching the route will, however, be pleased to discover that the company does provide them with a range of options from which to choose—this includes throughout the week, on weekends and on national public holidays. While there are no other train companies that service the specific route, Renfe’s service offerings include a schedule of regular and reliable options throughout the day, meaning passengers can leave Alicante at a time that best suits their schedule.
Trains from Alicante and to Barcelona will depart from Alicante Terminal and arrive at Barcelona Sants. Throughout the week, the train services begin just after 7:30 a.m. and then run roughly every 2h until around 5:30 p.m. The schedule is similar on weekends and holidays, with the exception being the mid-day service, which is not available. The journey typically takes around 4h 30min, with a few taking about 5h 10min. All services run the intercity train type without transfers; however, travelers may find that the train will stop along the way. The Renfe ticket policy allows passengers who have booked any one of these rides to cancel or amend their booking for a fee; there are no changes allowed for tickets that have been paid for in cash. Customers are encouraged to consult the Omio website for specific details regarding changes, cancellations and any fees that may be applied.
The services offered by Renfe to take passengers to Barcelona provide some on-board perks for the journey, such as audio channels, on-board films and free headphones. If you are looking for refreshments along the way, all trains provide facilities to accommodate food and drink, including a buffet car and a mobile bar service. As passengers are preparing for their trip they should take note of Renfe’s travel policy, specifically regarding luggage and pets; up to three pieces of luggage are allowed per person, with the sum total of all items weighing no more than 55 pounds (25 kg). For those who are hoping to bring musical instruments or bicycles on board, ensure that the items are not larger than 33.5 x 21.5 x 13.5 in (85 x 55 x 35 cm) in size. Strollers, bicycles and other such items must be folded and contained for storing. Passengers looking to travel with a pet will find that Renfe’s policy allows customers to purchase a ticket for one domestic animal weighing less than 22 pounds (10 kg). The pet must be kept in an enclosed container. Service animals travel for free and passengers with reduced mobility can get additional support through Atendo, a free service for individuals with disabilities or who need assistance accessing the train or during transit.
Renfe offers a regular timetable of departures throughout the day to take passengers from Alicante to Barcelona. On weekdays, customers will find that there are six train options, with the first departure leaving Alicante Terminal around 7:30 a.m. Subsequent train times are roughly every other hour and the final departure is around 5:30 p.m. On the weekends and holidays the train services commence and conclude on the same schedule as weekday journeys; however, service is reduced to five options, with the 1:30 p.m. train time absent from the schedule.
Renfe offers direct services and the durations tend to be consistent. The shortest route runs about 4h 25min, with no transfers and a few stops: these services operate around peak hours. The longest route, departing during off-peak hours, runs about 5h 10min—again, without transfers, but a few stops. There are no non-stop services.
Departure train station: Alicante Terminal is the departure train station in Alicante. Passengers can reach the station in 7min by walking—it’s just under 0.5 miles (0.8 km) from the city center. Travelers with luggage may prefer a taxi, which will loop around the park and takes about 6min. Customer service desks are available at the station.
Arrival train station: The arrivals train station in Barcelona is the Barcelona Sants. To get to the city center, which is about 2 miles (3 km) from the train station, travelers can take a 20-minute taxi ride or hop on a city bus. Before heading into the city, take advantage of the station’s shops and cafés, or accessible restrooms.
Travelers who are researching cheap train tickets from Alicante to Barcelona will find that there are a few ways in which passengers can affect the cost of their train ticket. For example, if a traveler has flexibility with departure time, then it is best to book one of the off-peak services that run about 30-40min longer than those operating at peak travel. Additionally, the standard tickets will always be the low cost option, no matter which service is selected; passengers will notice that added ticket flexibility incurs an additional cost. To further impact the price, travelers should look into whether or not they qualify for a number of discounts, including those for children, youths, individuals over the age of 60, large families or groups, and professionals traveling for conferences or fairs. Cheap train tickets can be secured in a number of ways and customers are encouraged to review the Omio website for a comprehensive list.
When departing from Alicante, you have various train station options to start your trip from including Alicante-Terminal and Universidad de Alicante. When arriving in Barcelona, you can end your trip in train stations like Barcelona Sants, Barcelona Passeig De Gracia and Barcelona.
Passengers board the train most frequently from Alicante-Terminal, which is located around 1 mile (1.6 km) away from the city centre, and they get off the train at Barcelona Sants, located 1.6 miles (2.6 km) away from the city centre.
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