Madrid to Seville: Train, Bus & Everything In Between

The Route at a Glance

Madrid and Seville are roughly 390 km apart as the crow flies, and about 525 km by road. By high-speed rail, the connection is one of the most efficient in Europe: Madrid Puerta de Atocha to Sevilla Santa Justa in around 2 hours 20 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes on the fastest services. That is faster than flying once you factor in airport check-in, security, and transfers on both ends.

This route has been served by the AVE (Alta Velocidad Española) since 1992, when Spain built the line specifically for the Expo in Seville. More than three decades later, it remains one of the busiest high-speed corridors in Europe, with roughly 20 to 33 daily departures on most days, typically every 30 to 60 minutes during peak hours. The infrastructure is mature, the trains are reliable, and competition between operators has brought prices down significantly compared to a few years ago.

Train: The Strongest Option for Most People

The Madrid to Seville train is the default choice for good reason. Journey times are fixed regardless of traffic, the seats are comfortable, you arrive directly in the city centre at Santa Justa station, and the frequency means missing one train is rarely a crisis. Both origin and destination stations are well-connected to metro, taxi, and bus networks.

• Renfe AVE / Alvia The original high-speed operator. Offers multiple fare classes including Básico, Elige, and Prémium. Advance fares from around €30-37, rising sharply close to departure. Book via Renfe.com for the best selection of times and fares.
• Avlo (by Renfe) Renfe's low-cost subsidiary. Stripped-back service with fewer amenities, but tickets from around €14-20 when booked well in advance. No changes or refunds on the cheapest fares, so only book if your plans are fixed.
• iryo Private high-speed operator that entered the Madrid-Seville corridor in 2022. Competitive pricing, modern rolling stock, and occasionally undercutting Renfe on the same routes. Worth checking alongside Renfe before committing.
• OUIGO España The Spanish arm of the French low-cost rail brand. Tickets can be extremely cheap (sometimes under €15) but extras like luggage beyond a small bag cost additional fees. Read the conditions carefully before booking.

Prices vary considerably by operator, class, and how far in advance you book. Atocha is Madrid's main intercity rail hub and is well-connected to the Metro (line 1), Cercanías commuter trains, and buses. If you're spending time in the city before travelling, check our guide to getting around Madrid to understand how to navigate from your neighbourhood to the station without stress.

What You Should Expect to Pay

Pricing on the Madrid to Seville corridor has become genuinely dynamic since competition opened up. The cheapest possible fares (Avlo, OUIGO, or promotional Renfe tickets) start under €10-20 for a one-way journey. Realistic advance fares on standard AVE services run €30-50. Book within a week of travel or during peak season (Easter week in Seville is particularly extreme) and you can easily pay €70-100 or more.

• Book 4-6 weeks in advance for the best balance of price and flexibility.
• Tuesday and Wednesday departures are usually cheaper than Friday afternoon or Sunday evening trains.
• Avlo and OUIGO fares are budget-level but carry strict no-change, no-refund policies on the cheapest tiers.
• iryo sometimes has promotional fares that undercut Renfe on popular times, so check both.
• For groups of 4+, splitting into individual bookings rather than one group booking can occasionally find cheaper per-person fares.

Bus: Slower, But Not Worthless

The bus between Madrid and Seville exists, and it has its place, but go in with clear expectations. The fastest scheduled bus service covers the route in around 6 hours 11 minutes; many journeys are in the 6.5-8 hour range, with some slower services taking longer. For most travellers, that is a significant sacrifice compared to the 2.5-hour train, and the cost difference has narrowed considerably since low-cost rail operators entered the market.

Bus fares typically range from €30 to €55 one-way, though prices spike sharply during Semana Santa (Holy Week in Seville is one of the most attended events in Spain), the Feria de Abril, and peak summer. Direct services are available from Madrid Estación Sur de Autobuses (the main intercity hub in Madrid, at Méndez Álvaro) operated by companies including Alsa and Socibus. The bus does have one advantage: it is often bookable much closer to departure without the same price penalty as trains.

Flying and Driving: When They Make Sense

Flights between Madrid (MAD, Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport) and Seville (SVQ) exist and are operated by Iberia and Vueling among others, but the total door-to-door time rarely beats the train once you account for getting to Barajas (at least 30-40 minutes from central Madrid), checking in, security, a typical 1 hour 5–10 minute flight, baggage claim, and transport from Seville airport into the city centre. Flights make sense if you find a remarkably cheap fare and have flexible luggage, but for most itineraries the train wins on total travel time.

Driving is around 525 km by road and takes approximately 5 hours 15 minutes in normal traffic via the A-4 motorway south. It becomes a reasonable option if you are travelling with a group, plan to explore the Andalusian countryside en route, or are continuing beyond Seville to places like Jerez, Cádiz, or Córdoba where rail connections are less direct. Toll costs and fuel should be factored in; the A-4 is a free autopista for most of the route. Parking in central Seville, however, is expensive and scarce.

Booking Strategy and Practical Logistics

For train tickets, book directly on Renfe.com for the full range of times and fares, or use Trainline and Omio to compare across operators including iryo and OUIGO in a single search. Third-party aggregators sometimes add small booking fees, so if you find the fare you want, cross-check the operator's own site. For context on how rail travel fits into a broader Spain trip, our Madrid to Lisbon travel guide covers a similar multi-modal comparison if you are extending west.

Seville itself is best explored on foot or by bike; the historic centre around the Cathedral, the Alcázar, and the Barrio de Santa Cruz is compact. If you are planning a longer trip through Andalusia, Madrid makes an excellent base for onward connections. Spain's high-speed network also connects Madrid to Valencia, Córdoba, Málaga, and beyond. For planning a full week, our Madrid one-week itinerary can help you structure when to schedule the Seville leg.

• Renfe.com: official Renfe booking, most complete timetable for AVE and Alvia services.
• Ouigo.es: book directly for OUIGO low-cost fares; always check baggage allowances.
• iryo.eu: direct booking for iryo high-speed services.
• Trainline / Omio: multi-operator comparison tools, useful for spotting the cheapest fare across all operators at a glance.
• Alsa.com: primary bus operator for Madrid-Seville coaches.

Madrid Puerta de Atocha is the departure point for virtually all high-speed services south. It is a large, modern station with food options, luggage lockers, and a famous botanical atrium in the old station building. Arrive with time to spare and check your platform on the departure boards once you are inside, as platforms are typically assigned 15-20 minutes before departure. For more on navigating Madrid before your trip, our things to do in Madrid guide covers the city's top attractions if you have a day or two before heading south.