Seville to Barcelona train with iryo

Traveling from Seville to Barcelona by Train

Introduction

While making my way from Morocco to the UK without flying, I needed to cross all of Spain, and the best way to do that was by train. I traveled from Seville to Barcelona by train, and it turned out to be the perfect leg of the journey: fast, reliable, and surprisingly affordable when booked in advance. If you’re planning a similar journey or simply want to experience Spain by rail, here’s everything you need to know about traveling from Seville to Barcelona by train.

Route Overview

I began my journey at Seville–Santa Justa, the city’s main railway station and a key hub in southern Spain. From here, you can catch high-speed trains to Barcelona, Madrid, and many cities in between. My journey ended at Barcelona Sants, the primary station in the Catalan capital and one of Spain’s busiest.

The total travel time was just 5 hours and 51 minutes, which is impressively fast for a journey covering 993 km (617 miles). There are also alternative routes that involve a change at Madrid Atocha, with more frequent services running along the Seville to Madrid and Madrid to Barcelona lines.

For speed, comfort, and convenience, this is without doubt the best way to travel from Seville to Barcelona by train.

Transportation Experience

Booking my trip was incredibly simple. I just searched for and selected my journey, made a quick payment, and received my tickets right in the Omio app. The QR code on my ticket was all I needed to board the Seville to Barcelona train, meaning no paper printouts or extra steps required.

While I only seriously considered taking the train, there are a couple of other options worth mentioning. Seville to Barcelona flights are popular and arguably the fastest in terms of time in the air, but once you factor in traveling to and waiting at the airport, the difference often comes down to just a couple of hours. You could also take a bus from Seville to Barcelona, but those journeys are painfully long, usually over 18 hours, and typically include a transfer.

Route Details

Departure & Arrival Stations

The Seville to Barcelona route starts at Seville–Santa Justa Railway Station, about 3.2 km from the city center. You can reach it easily by taking bus 21, hopping in an Uber, or enjoying a 30-minute walk. Your app QR code is all you need to board, but keep in mind that long-distance trains in Spain require a quick airport-style baggage scan, so it’s smart to arrive with a bit of extra time.

There are a few cafés at Seville–Santa Justa Station, but the prices can be quite expensive. I paid €3 for a bottle of water! If you have time, grab snacks or drinks in the city before heading to the station.

The train arrives at Barcelona Sants Railway Station, about 4 km from the city center. Uber also works here, or you can take the L5 metro to reach places like the Sagrada Familia. Like in Seville, there are several cafés and restaurants inside the station, but you’ll find better prices and more variety if you eat outside.

Schedule & Frequency

There are usually two or three direct trains per day between Seville and Barcelona, operated by Renfe. I took the 8:37 AM AVE service, which got me to Barcelona at 2:25 PM. You’ll also find at least one direct option with Iryo, Spain’s budget-friendly rail provider.

Onboard Experience & Services

Renfe trains on this route are spacious, modern, and surprisingly comfortable. Everything, from the seats to the bathrooms, was clean and stayed that way throughout the ride. The onboard Wi-Fi worked for most of the journey, though it did cut out occasionally, and every seat came with its own power outlet for charging devices.

There were roomy tray tables, and some carriages had shared table seats for groups. I had a medium-sized suitcase, which I had to store in the luggage rack at the end of the carriage. On AVE high-speed trains between Seville and Barcelona, you can typically bring up to three pieces of luggage, not exceeding 25 kg combined total. There was also a restaurant car, where I grabbed a traditional Spanish breakfast: pan con tomate (toasted bread with tomato), simple but delicious.

Ticketing Advice & Budget

You can usually book Renfe trains up to three months in advance, and I’d highly recommend doing so as soon as you know your travel dates, especially since fares tend to rise the closer you get to departure.

Here’s a budget breakdown of what I spent:

Top Tips & Recommendations

To make my trip even smoother, here are a few things I wish I’d done when traveling from Seville to Barcelona by train:

• Booked earlier: I booked around a month ahead, but looking back, I probably could’ve saved some money by booking further in advance.
• Filled up my water bottle: I forgot to top it up at the hotel and ended up paying €3 for a bottle of water at the station (lesson learned!).
• Downloaded work before: Although the Wi-Fi generally worked, the connection was a bit unreliable at times, which made it difficult to get any real work done, especially since I hadn’t downloaded my files beforehand.
• Considered Iryo: I went with Renfe, which I’ve used before and really like, but in hindsight, Iryo might have been a smart, budget-friendly alternative worth considering.

Conclusion

Traveling from Seville to Barcelona by train was an enjoyable experience, and I arrived in Barcelona by mid-afternoon. That left me with plenty of time to start exploring the city the same day. I’d highly recommend this mode of transport over buses or flights. Why? It’s more comfortable and far less stressful overall. Booking my ticket on Omio made the whole process even simpler. A few taps on the app, and your journey is ready to go. If you’re planning this journey yourself, the train is the way to go.

About the Author: Claire Martin

• Job Title: Travel Journalist, Blogger, and Videomaker
• Bio: Claire Martin is a full-time travel journalist, blogger, and videomaker who specializes in train and ferry travel around Europe.