Trains from Madrid to Salamanca

Trains from Madrid to Salamanca

There are regular direct rail connections seven days a week from the Spanish capital Madrid to the university city of Salamanca in the west of Castile-Leon, Travelers can choose from express services from Madrid Chamartin station, taking around 1 hour and 40 minutes, or slower stopping services from Madrid Principe Pio, taking a little under 3 hours.  Daily departures include morning, afternoon and evening services.  

Madrid to Salamanca train times: daily departures

Daily timetables offer connections from early morning to late evening.  There are 3 morning trains from Madrid to Salamanca, 5 afternoon services, and 3 evening departures. The overnight international sleeper service from Madrid to Lisbon departs the capital in late evening and stops at Salamanca after midnight. The first Sunday service to Salamanca has a slightly later departure time from Madrid.      

How long is the journey by train from Madrid to Salamanca?

The quickest Alvia express trains from Madrid to Salamanca take 1 hour and 36 minutes to complete the 137-mile route west from Chamartin station. Times for Media Distancia trains from Madrid Principe Pio station range from 2 hours and 34 minutes to 2 hours and 57 minutes. The late night sleeper service takes 3 hours and 14 minutes to reach Salamanca. 

What are the departure and arrival stations for trains from Madrid to Salamanca?

Departure stations: Madrid Chamartin station is located on the north side of central Madrid, with connections from the center taking about 15 minutes on subway and Cercanias rail services. Principe Pio station is also north of the center, with connections on the subway and Cercanias network. Both stations have cafes, luggage storage lockers, ATMs, bookstores and supermarkets.  

Arrival station: Salamanca station is located northeast of the center, about 15 minutes walk from the main square, with regular connections downtown on city bus route 1. The station concourse has food stores, a cafe-bar, ATMs, car rental desks and an information kiosk.  

Which train companies travel from Madrid to Salamanca?

The Spanish national rail operator Renfe provides all the daily direct trains from Madrid to Salamanca. Trains operating on this route are Alvia high-speed express connections and the slower Media Distancia stopping services.

Renfe Madrid to Salamanca

Renfe trains from Madrid to Salamanca offer a choice between three daily Alvia high-speed connections from Madrid Chamartin,  departing in the morning, afternoon and evening, or seven daily Media Distancia services from Principe Pio station. Alvia trains take between one hour and 36 minutes and one hour and 41 minutes while Media Distancia services take at least an hour longer. The nightly Trenhotel service takes more than three hours. 

Madrid to Salamanca trains: services on board

Renfe Alvia trains on this route provide first- and second-class sections (Preferente and Turista), with a cafe-bar carriage or a refreshment trolley service. Travelers with wheelchairs can access dedicated spaces on Renfe trains, with assistance available at the departure and arrival stations. Cyclists can carry bikes on board Alvia and Media Distancia trains, subject to available space, with a small charge applicable. Pets in carriers are permitted, with a 25% ticket cost (free in Preferente class), with a maximum weight of 10 kg.  Hand baggage on Renfe services is limited to a maximum of three items per passenger with a  maximum total weight of 25 kg. 

How to find cheap train tickets from Madrid to Salamanca

Surprisingly, tickets for express trains from Madrid to Salamanca cost a little less than slower services, The Omio site offers an at-a-glance guide to the price differences on trains from Madrid. Although discounts for advance booking are not a major consideration on this route, it is advisable to secure a preferred departure well in advance at popular times of the year, notably in the fall when Salamanca's students are traveling back to the city to resume their studies.