It’s no secret that we’re big fans of train travel at Time Out. More relaxing than driving and without the annoying limits on luggage that come with flying, it’s also the greenest option. Across Europe, countries are expanding their high-speed rail networks, helping travellers go further, faster (and, in many cases, cheaper).
That’s certainly the case in Spain, where Ouigo, the French train company which specialises in low-cost travel, has just announced a €9 deal for tickets between Madrid and Barcelona, with the journey taking just two and a half hours.
As doubleheaders go, it doesn’t get much better than a trip that takes in both Madrid and Barcelona, but the deal also applies to other stops on the line, namely Tarragona (a seaside city with impressive Roman ruins) and Zaragoza (Spain’s fifth biggest city, famed for its baroque basilica overlooking the River Ebro). Whether you fancy making a break for warmer climes this winter or would prefer to wait until next spring, you’re in luck: you can use this deal for tickets until June 2025. The catch? This deal is available for one day only.
So, how and when can you get your hands on the €9 tickets? Mark your calendars for Thursday, September 26 at 11am, when tickets go on sale via the Ouigo website.
See more of Spain by train
Want to explore more of Spain? The country is well connected by high-speed rail, meaning you could enjoy your morning churros con chocolate in San Gines, a Madrid institution, before hopping on a train to the Andalusian city of Córdoba and arriving just under two hours later, with plenty of time for a pre-lunch stroll. True beach bums might prefer to go straight from Barcelona to Málaga, making the most of the new high-speed train connecting the two coastal cities, which could open as early as the end of this year.
Did you see that Portugal could soon launch a new mega-cheap monthly rail pass?
Plus: A swish new sleeper train is now running to the Italian capital
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