Barcelona to Madrid

Barcelona to Madrid

Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, is a vibrant coastal city known for its artistic flair, Mediterranean beaches, and unique architecture by Antoni Gaudí, including the iconic Sagrada Família and Park Güell. It's a hub for creativity, design, and a laid-back lifestyle, with a strong identity rooted in Catalan culture and language. The city also boasts a world-famous food scene, from traditional tapas to Michelin-starred restaurants.

Madrid, the capital of Spain, is a dynamic city that blends historic charm with modern elegance. Known for its royal palaces, world-class art museums like the Prado and Reina Sofía, and lively plazas, Madrid offers a vibrant street life and a deep passion for music, football, and flamenco. It's centrally located, making it the heart of Spanish politics, culture, and transport.

Traveling from Barcelona to Madrid by Iryo, Spain’s newest high-speed train operator, is a fast, comfortable, and stylish way to experience cross-country travel. Iryo combines modern technology, Italian design, and eco-conscious performance to deliver a premium rail journey across Spain.

ravel Time & Frequency

  • Duration:Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes.
  • Distance:Around 620 km (385 miles).
  • Departure Stations:
    • Barcelona Sants(main high-speed station in the city).
    • Madrid Puerta de Atocha – Almudena Grandes(main arrival station in Madrid).
  • Frequency:Over 15 departures per day, from early morning to evening, offering excellent flexibility for business or leisure travelers.

Train Experience

  • Train Model:Frecciarossa 1000 (a modern Italian-designed train with a top speed of 360 km/h).
  • Classes of Service:
    • Inicial:Smart travel at budget prices with comfort and free Wi-Fi.
    • Singular:More space, quiet zones, and access to onboard entertainment.
    • Singular Only YOU:Premium experience with extra legroom and working areas.
    • Infinita:First-class service with gourmet meals, exclusive lounges, and full recliner leather seats.

As the train departs from Barcelona and moves through Catalonia, Aragon, and into Castile-La Mancha, passengers enjoy a high-speed journey through a landscape of mountain backdrops, golden plains, and scenic towns like Zaragoza (a common stop along the route).

Onboard Features

  • Free Wi-Fifor all passengers.
  • Food & Drink:Onboard bistro and at-seat service in upper classes.
  • Power Outletsat every seat.
  • Sustainability:Trains run on 100% renewable energy, making Iryo one of the greenest travel choices in Spain.
  • Entertainment:Seatback screens or mobile streaming via the onboard portal.

Tips for Travelers

  • Book Early: Iryo offers dynamic pricing—early bookings often come with steep discounts.
  • Check Class Benefits: Each travel class offers unique perks; upgrading can add major comfort for longer rides.
  • Station Arrival: Arrive 15–30 minutes early for check-in and boarding at high-speed terminals.

 

The Iryo train offers one of the fastest, most modern, and comfortable ways to travel between Barcelona and Madrid, Spain’s two major cultural and economic hubs. As a private high-speed operator using the latest ETR1000 Frecciarossa trains, Iryo brings an Italian touch to Spain’s railways, delivering top-tier service, sustainability, and speed.

Travel Time and Frequency

  • Journey Duration:Approx. 2 hours 30 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes
  • Distance Covered:~620 km (~385 miles)
  • Daily Departures:Over 15 departures per day in each direction
  • First Departure:Around 06:05 AM
  • Last Departure:Around 08:45 PM

Trains depart from Barcelona Sants Station and arrive at Madrid Puerta de Atocha–Almudena Grandes Station. Both stations are centrally located and well-connected to metro, buses, and taxis.

Route Overview

The Iryo train takes the Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line (LAV), which is one of the most advanced in Europe. Key highlights along the route:

  1. Barcelona Sants (BCN-Sants)– Modern central station in Catalonia’s capital.
  2. Camp de Tarragona– A stop near the beautiful Tarragona region, famous for Roman ruins.
  3. Lleida Pirineus– Gateway to the Pyrenees mountains.
  4. Zaragoza Delicias– A cultural and historical gem in Aragon.
  5. Madrid Puerta de Atocha–Almudena Grandes– The grand terminus in Spain’s capital.

The train speeds up to 360 km/h (224 mph), making it one of the fastest rail services in Europe.

Onboard Services & Classes

Iryo’s trains are designed for both comfort and style, offering four travel classes:

  • Inicial: The standard class with ergonomic seats, large windows, free Wi-Fi, and USB/power outlets.
  • Singular: Business class with wider seats, more legroom, and a quiet environment for work or relaxation.
  • Singular Only YOU: Enhanced business experience with lounge access and personalized service.
  • Infinita: First-class luxury with premium catering, leather seating, onboard service, and full flexibility.

Other features include:

  • Free Wi-Fi and 5G streaming platform
  • Quiet zones for travelers needing focus
  • Bistró areas with food and drink services
  • Sustainable travel: Iryo’s fleet runs on 100% renewable electricity

Ticket Prices

  • Prices start from €18–€25 (Inicial class if booked early)
  • Business and first-class tickets range from €40–€100+, depending on time and flexibility
  • Tickets can be purchased via the Iryo website, app, or at the station

Pro Tip

Arrive at least 20–30 minutes early to check the platform and pass security screening. Once you arrive in Madrid, you’re just steps from world-class attractions like the Prado Museum, Retiro Park, and Gran Vía.

 

By Admin

20 Apr 2025

Similar Train Routes

Zagreb's Gornji Grad

Zagreb's Gornji Grad

One of the districts of Zagreb, Croatia, is called Gornji Grad–Medveščak. The name Gornji Grad means "Upper Town" because of its historical position on the city's hillside, above Donji Grad ("Lower Town"). Situated in the city's center, the district is home to 30,962 people, who are dispersed throughout 10.19 km2 (3.93 sq mi), according to the 2011 census.There are many historical landmarks and tourist attractions in the Gornji Grad–Medveščak area. This region includes Gradec and Kaptol, the two separate medieval Zagreb centers that make up today's Upper Town. Gornji Grad is home to the Croatian Parliament, the city's cathedral, and the well-known pedestrian café strip Tkalčićeva. Other notable items may be found outside of the oldest historical towns, like the city's imposing cemetery, Mirogoj, which is farther north and was constructed since 1876.Four additional districts border it: Črnomerec to the west, Maksimir to the east, Podsljeme to the north, and Donji Grad to the south.Gornji Grad's most significant arterial route, Medveščak, runs between its southern and northern borders. It begins as a little Ribnjak street next to the Ribnjak park, widens and changes its name to Medveščak street until Gupčeva zvijezda, and then changes its name once again to Ksaver in the north.

Marjan Park

Marjan Park

On the peninsula of Split, Croatia's second-biggest city, is the hill known as Marjan. It is a unique site, entirely encircled by the city and the sea and covered in a dense Mediterranean pine forest. Originally utilized as a park by the locals as early as the third century, it is now a popular weekend getaway spot and a metropolitan recreational hub. Surrounded by a picturesque forest, it is also the location of a number of beaches, jogging routes, tennis courts, and the city zoo. The Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (Institut za oceanografiju i ribarstvo, IZOR) is located at the tip of the peninsula. With a height of 178 meters, Marjan provides a view of the entire city, the neighboring islands, and the mountains of Kozjak and Mosor.Bene, Kašjuni, and Obojena beaches are situated at the base of Marjan Hill. At a height of 122 meters (400 feet), the maximum temperature recorded at the local weather station since records began in 1948 was 38.6 °C (101.5 °F) on July 5, 1950.On January 23, 1963, the lowest recorded temperature was -9.0 °C (15.8 °F). Marjan Park is well-known for both the sports it offers visitors and its natural beauty. Along with the various park excursions, the panoramic vista is one of the park's greatest features. In and around the park, there are also cafes, eateries, beaches, and places of worship.  

Hvar Town

Hvar Town

On the same-named island in Croatia's Split-Dalmatia County sits the town and port of Hvar. The town is the largest settlement on the island of Hvar, with 3,771 residents, while the municipality has 4,251 (2011) residents. It is located across from the neighboring towns of Stari Grad and Jelsa on a harbor on the island's south shore.The town of Hvar has a long and illustrious history as an Adriatic cultural and commercial hub. With a powerful stronghold above that surrounded the town walls and guarded the port, this commune, which was a part of the Venetian Empire from the 13th to the 18th century, was a significant naval base.[4] As wealth increased, so did cultural life, and one of Europe's oldest theaters still standing, which inaugurated in 1612, is located in Hvar.The walls, which date back seven hundred years, as well as numerous public structures and noble homes from the fifteenth to seventeenth centuries, are still standing.The Hygienic Society of Hvar (Higijeničko društvo u Hvaru), which celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2018, changed the course of the town's and the island's economy once the port of Hvar was no longer used as a military post in the 19th century. It was established in 1868 with the goal of offering "good care for visitors" and was one of the first "tourist boards" in Europe. The Arsenal, Loggia, the Croatian Institute, and the Hvar Heritage Museum with its art and archeological collections are only a few of the town's many hotels, galleries, museums, and exhibitions today.Located in a charming natural bay and shielded to the south by the Pakleni Otoci island series, the port of Hvar provides a year-round safe refuge for boats. Particularly during the summer, the village is a popular port of call for yachts traveling the Adriatic. The port of Hvar has frequent catamaran ferry services to Split, Brač, Korčula, Lastovo, and Vis.

Plitvice Lakes National Park

Plitvice Lakes National Park

One of Croatia's biggest and oldest national parks is Plitvice Lakes National Park. Because of its exceptional and charming network of tufa lakes, caverns, and interconnected waterfalls, Plitvice Lakes National Park was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1979.Established in 1949, the national park is located near the Bosnia and Herzegovina border in the mountainous karst region of central Croatia. The Croatian interior and the Adriatic coastline region are connected by the significant north-south route that runs through the national park area. Over 296.85 square kilometers, or 73,350 acres, make up the protected region. Lika-Senj County owns about 90% of this region, with Karlovac County owning the remaining 10%.With over a million people annually, the national park is Croatia's most visited tourist destination.Depending on the season, admission fees range from 10 to 40 euros per adult per day in the summer (as of 2024). The lakes of the national park are known across the world for their waterfall formations. From the surface, sixteen lakes are visible. Numerous tiny rivers and underground karst rivers come together to form these lakes. Each lake follows the flow of water and is connected to the others. Travertine, which is naturally deposited by moss, algae, and bacteria, acts as a dam between them. The interaction of water, air, and plants results in the especially delicate travertine barriers. In the middle of the Dinaric Alps, between the Lička Plješivica peak in the east and the Mala Kapela mountain in the west, the Plitvice Lakes have developed in a depression. The national park is situated near Slunj and Korenica on the D1 Zagreb–Split national highway, which runs across Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ogulin, Rakovica, Otočac, Gospić, and Bihać are some of the largest Bosnian municipalities in the vicinity.

Dubrovnik Old Town

Dubrovnik Old Town

Originally called Ragusa, Dubrovnik is a city by the Adriatic Sea in southern Dalmatia, Croatia. It is a seaport, the hub of Dubrovnik-Neretva County, and one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Mediterranean. There were 41,562 people living there as of 2021.The Old City of Dubrovnik was designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979 in recognition of its exceptional medieval architecture and fortifications. When refugees from Epidaurum (Ragusa Vecchia) formed the town known as Ragusa in the 7th century, the city's history most likely began. Prior to being governed by the Republic of Venice, it was a protectorate of the Byzantine Empire. From the 14th century until the 19th century, Dubrovnik operated as a free state. Historically, the city's economy was derived from maritime trade; as the capital of the maritime Republic of Ragusa, it developed to a remarkable degree, especially in the 15th and 16th centuries, when its richness and diplomatic prowess made it noteworthy.At the same period, Croatian literature emerged from Dubrovnik. Poet Ivan Vidalić referred to it as the "crown of Croatian cities" in a letter to Nikola Nalješković (1564).In 1667, a severe earthquake nearly devastated the entire city. Following the French Empire's occupation of Dubrovnik during the Napoleonic Wars, the Republic of Ragusa was disbanded and merged into the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy, which subsequently became part of the French Illyrian Provinces.