Making things easy in Southern Spain (Madrid-Sevilla, Sevilla-Granada, Granada-Cordoba, Cordoba-Madrid, Madrid-Toledo)
Hello. I will be traveling through Spain with a friend in May/June 2018. Our itinerary is as follows: Madrid to Sevilla (May 29), Sevilla to Granada (May 31), Granada to Cordoba (June 2), and Cordoba to Madrid (June 4). We also want to fit in a quick day trip to Toledo from Madrid. Two questions:1) Would you recommend the Eurail Spain Pass, buying individual train tickets, or the Renfe Pass? 2) Would you recommend visiting these cities in a different order given travel considerations and itineraries? Or is this schedule pretty efficient?I look forward to hearing your tips! Thanks in advance!!
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Hi!
For this specific itinerary, your most economical option would be the Eurail Spain Pass. For the Eurail Spain Pass, you would click here: http://www.raileurope.com/pass/spain-pass-5931.
When required, reservations are a supplementary cost to the Eurail Spain Pass.
Generally, for advice about sequence you would have to call us, but the way you have it looks good and would be typical of any trip between Madrid and the popular destinations of Andalusia.
Madrid to Seville
Trains from Madrid to Seville are AVE high-speed trains. On these trains, reservations are required as a supplement to the Eurail Spain Pass.
For travel with the Eurail Spain Pass, you would purchase reservations from Madrid to Seville by searching the route on our homepage (www.raileurope.com), checking the box that says ‘I have a rail pass’, and then indicating that the Eurail Spain Pass is the pass you'll be traveling with.
Seville to Granada
For the past several years, there has been continuous construction on the rail line just outside Granada. During this time, trains have stopped operating as direct service all the way into Granada. Travelers heading to Granada take the train as far as Antequera, where they are switched to a bus that will take them into Granada. The buses are synchronized with the train arrivals, so the transfer is made easy.
Trains from Seville to Antequera are Avant or MD trains that require reservations as a supplement to the Eurail Spain Pass. There is no additional reservation cost for the buses between Antequera and Granada. You can just show your Eurail Spain Pass to board.
Due to an error, it is currently not possible to purchase reservations from Seville to Antequera on our website. Until this is resolved, you would have to purchase these particular reservations and inquire about their costs by calling us. We can be reached at 1-800-622-8600. Our current hours are 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM CT Monday to Friday and 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM CT on Saturdays.
Granada to Cordoba
Travel from Granada to Cordoba would first involve taking the same bus back to Antequera. In Antequera, you would board your train to Cordoba.
For the bus, the Eurail Spain Pass is all you would need to board. Trains from Antequera to Cordoba are AVE and Avant trains on which reservations are required as a supplement to the Eurail Spain Pass.
For travel with the Eurail Spain Pass, reservations from Antequera to Cordoba can be purchased by searching the route on our homepage (www.raileurope.com), checking the box that says ‘I have a rail pass’, and then indicating that the Eurail Spain Pass is the pass you'll be traveling with.
Cordoba to Madrid
Trains from Cordoba to Madrid are AVE and Alvia high-speed trains on which reservations are required as a supplement to the Eurail Spain Pass.
For travel with the Eurail Spain Pass, reservations from Cordoba to Madrid can be purchased by searching the route on our homepage (www.raileurope.com), checking the box that says ‘I have a rail pass’, and then indicating that the Eurail Spain Pass is the pass you'll be traveling with. -
Trains between Madrid and Toledo are Avant trains. These trains do require reservations, but the ride is so short that it would not be worth expending a 'travel day' on your pass for this trip. With that being the case, I would recommend that you just purchase regular point-to-point tickets for this part of your trip.
You would purchase regular tickets between Madrid and Toledo by entering the route under 'BOOK TRAIN TICKETS' on our homepage and leaving the 'I have a rail pass' box unchecked.
Another option would just be to do a tour out of Madrid.
There is the 'Toledo Tour with Transportation from Madrid', which can be found here: http://www.raileurope.com/activities/activity?code=59394P2&destId=566&catId=
There is also the 'Madrid to Toledo Independent Day Trip with Private Transport', which can be found here: http://www.raileurope.com/activities/activity?code=5903TOLEDO&destId=566&catId=
For other tours out of Madrid, you can browse here: http://www.raileurope.com/train-tickets/activities/?countries=undefined&cities=cities-566
For time in Seville, you can view city passes and tours here: http://www.raileurope.com/train-tickets/activities/?countries=undefined&cities=cities-556.
For Granada, city passes and tours can be found here: http://www.raileurope.com/train-tickets/activities/?countries=undefined&cities=cities-554.
City passes and tours for Cordoba can be found here: http://www.raileurope.com/train-tickets/activities/?countries=undefined&cities=cities-5254.
City passes and tours for Toledo can be found here: http://www.raileurope.com/train-tickets/activities/?countries=undefined&cities=cities-22438.