Toledo to Barcelona train with iryo

Transportation experience

I departed from Toledo at 12:25 on an Avant train towards Madrid. The trip is a relatively short one, taking a bit more than half an hour, and before I knew it, I was arriving at Madrid Atocha. After arriving at 12:59, I had about 58 minutes before the next train, so I had time to walk around the station and grab something to eat. I ended up buying a bocadillo de tortilla de patatas and a Coca-Cola for about 8 euros before going to the platform for the AVE to Barcelona.

Schedule & frequency

While there isn’t a direct train from Toledo to Barcelona, there are frequent connections through Madrid throughout the day. While the second leg of the trip from Madrid to Barcelona is quick and comfortable thanks to the high-speed trains, the initial leg from Toledo to Madrid takes a while.

Onboard experience & services

The second part of the trip was on an AVE train going to Barcelona. The seats on the train were spacious, offering enough legroom. There was enough space for luggage on the luggage rack above the seats. This train also offered power outlets, Wi-Fi, and a café-bar car. The trip takes a little over three hours, which is long enough to get some work done or just sit back and let the train ride through northern Spain.

Ticketing advice & budget breakdown

Prices for this route vary depending on how early you book and the trains you choose. For this trip, the combined ticket from Toledo to Barcelona — including the Avant and the AVE — cost me around €100. Here’s roughly what my travel costs looked like:

Top tips & recommendations

• Make sure to allow enough time for the transfer at Madrid Atocha when planning this route.
• The Avant trains run from Toledo to Madrid in over 30 minutes.
• The AVE high-speed trains make the trip from Madrid to Barcelona very comfortable.
• It is a good idea to grab a bite to eat during the connection if there is enough time to do so at Atocha.
• The station at Barcelona Sants makes easy connections to the metro to get around the city.

Conclusion

Traveling from Toledo to Barcelona by train takes a bit of planning because of the transfer in Madrid, but the journey itself is smooth and comfortable. Once you arrive in Barcelona, it’s easy to continue straight into the city by metro. And if you’ve been on trains for most of the afternoon like I had, sitting down somewhere nearby for a quick coffee or snack isn’t a bad way to start your time in the city.