Madrid Barajas Airport to Seville-Santa Justa train with iryo

Madrid Barajas Airport to Seville Santa Justa by Train with Renfe AVE

Introduction

I recently traveled from Madrid Barajas Airport to Seville Santa Justa to spend a weekend in the Andalusian capital. Getting there by train was not only convenient but also an experience in itself. This seamless journey from the airport combines Spain’s efficient commuter rail network with its flagship high-speed AVE train service, making it a smooth and comfortable way to reach Seville. Here’s what to expect along the way.

Route Overview

The journey from Madrid Barajas Airport to Seville Santa Justa by train is a two-part trip. First, you take the clean, fast and efficient commuter train (Cercanías) from Madrid-Barajas T4 station to Atocha Cercanías. From there, it’s a short indoor walk to the AVE platforms at Madrid Atocha. You then board the AVE high-speed train from Madrid Puerta de Atocha to Seville Santa Justa. The whole journey takes a little over 3 hours.

Transportation Experience

I booked my First Class ticket on Omio one month in advance. The booking process was quick, with payment confirmed instantly and the mobile ticket available right away. After landing at Madrid Barajas Airport, I followed the signs to the Cercanías station in Terminal 4. If you arrive in another terminal, free shuttle buses run every 5 minutes to T4. I took a Cercanías commuter train to Madrid Chamartín (about 15 minutes), then changed to another Cercanías line to Atocha Cercanías, which is connected indoors to Puerta de Atocha, where AVE trains depart. The whole connection took about 35 minutes and was smooth and straightforward.

Renfe AVE tickets include free Cercanías travel up to 4 hours before departure, so I didn’t need to buy any extra tickets for these transfers. The bus from Madrid-Barajas Airport to Seville-Santa Justa takes approximately 6 to 8 hours, so arriving in half the time made the decision easy for me.

Route Details

Departure, Arrival & Transfer Stations

Madrid-Barajas Airport T4 station is located inside the terminal, with clear signage showing the Renfe logo, so it’s easy to find. Madrid-Chamartín has a dedicated Cercanías concourse with network maps and destination boards, which makes transferring here straightforward.

There are multiple Cercanías trains between Chamartín and Atocha; I recommend using lines C3 to Aranjuez or C4 to Parla, as these travel through the new tunnel. Once at Atocha, I had some time before my AVE departure and stopped to admire the station’s tropical garden. It’s a genuinely pleasant spot to pause before continuing your journey.

Madrid Puerta de Atocha is modern, central, and architecturally distinctive, with its large concourse and indoor tropical garden.

Seville-Santa Justa opened in 1992 and has lots of eateries and a few shops. From here, you have convenient access to local buses, taxis, and regional rail. The station is within walking distance of many hotels and just a short ride from Seville’s old town and several famous landmarks, including the Cathedral and the spectacular Plaza de España.

Schedule & Frequency

From the airport, Renfe Cercanías trains depart every 15 minutes to Madrid Chamartín, and there are frequent onward trains from Chamartín to Atocha Cercanías, which also take around 15 minutes. For the high-speed portion, Renfe AVE operates regular daily departures between Madrid and Seville, running from early morning into the evening. The AVE journey takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes, bringing the total travel time to a little over 3 hours. I landed in Madrid at around 8:00 AM and, with the Cercanías transfer and AVE departure, arrived in Seville at roughly 11:30 AM.

Onboard Experience & Services

My journey from Madrid Barajas Airport to Seville Santa Justa with Renfe AVE was made even better thanks to the excellent onboard experience from departure to arrival. Madrid's Cercanías trains are clean and modern with a bright, open feel. The short ride into the city was smooth. Transferring at Chamartín and then again at Atocha was straightforward. After reaching Puerta de Atocha, I made my way to the AVE platforms and boarded my high-speed train to Seville.

Traveling in First Class on Renfe’s AVE is a pleasure in itself. The cabin is spacious and quiet, with reclining leather seats, personal reading lights, and generous legroom. Wi-Fi is provided through PlayRENFE, which also includes an entertainment library with movies, shows, and newspapers. As with previous trips, the internet stayed stable for most of the journey.

On the Madrid Puerta de Atocha to Seville Santa Justa service, I particularly appreciated the bar car. It's always a great place to stretch your legs. I grabbed a coffee and a croissant for breakfast while watching the landscape pass by. The train travels through the wide plains of La Mancha and into the olive-covered hills of Andalusia. The scenery becomes greener and more dramatic the further south you go.

Renfe AVE tickets include a generous luggage allowance of three bags (25 kg total). Cercanías connections were part of my fare, so combined with attentive onboard service, the smooth ride at high speed felt relaxed throughout. For me, it really was one of the most scenic high-speed rail journeys in Spain.

Ticketing Advice & Budget Breakdown

Booking a month in advance on Omio gave me a good First Class fare. Renfe AVE tickets also include free Cercanías connections, which are valid up to 4 hours before departure. Combined with the 25kg luggage allowance, it felt like solid value for the journey.

Budget breakdown:

Top Tips & Personal Recommendations

Check out these tips to make your trip from Madrid Barajas Airport to Seville Santa Justa by train even more enjoyable:

• Take your time on the Cercanías: There are frequent trains, so there’s no need to rush during the airport connection.
• Sit on the left side: This offers wider landscape views across the Castilian plains and the hills approaching Andalusia.
• Arrive a bit early at Atocha: The indoor tropical garden is genuinely worth a few minutes before boarding.
• Visit the bar car: It’s a comfortable spot to stretch your legs and grab a coffee during the journey.
• Use the PlayRENFE app: It provides Wi-Fi access along with movies, news, and other entertainment.
• Treat the trip as downtime: The smooth ride and quiet cabin make it easy to read, work, or simply relax.

Conclusion

The Madrid Barajas Airport to Seville Santa Justa journey by train using Renfe’s Cercanías and AVE trains shows how well Spain’s rail network works for travelers. With smooth Cercanías transfers, fast high-speed service, and comfortable seating, I found it an easy and relaxed way to reach Andalusia. Booking on Omio let me keep all the tickets on my phone, which made things much simpler, so I recommend planning your journey on the Omio app.

About the Author: Paulo Monteiro

• Job Title: Travel Creator and Rail Writer
• Bio: Paulo Monteiro is a European rail specialist and creator of travel videos and guides. He documents first-hand train journeys across Europe and focuses on onboard comfort, practical tips, and scenic moments.