Renfe AVE

Renfe's ticketing system has a reputation for being complicated, and many international booking platforms simply aren't fully integrated with it, often showing no availability or failing at checkout. GoByTrain is one of the few platforms that can book Renfe AVE directly, covering both domestic and international routes in one place, no need to cross-check multiple sites.

AVE is Spain's most frequent and popular high-speed network. From Madrid, you can reach Barcelona, Seville, Malaga, Valencia and Alicante within just a few hours. Madrid to Barcelona takes about 2 hours 30 minutes with 52 daily departures, Spain's busiest route. Madrid to Seville takes about 2 hours 20 minutes with 40 daily departures. Madrid to Malaga takes about 2 hours 30 minutes with 26 daily departures (service resumed in late April 2024). Madrid to Valencia takes about 1 hour 40 minutes with 16 daily departures, and Madrid to Alicante about 1 hour 22 minutes with 12 daily departures.

Beyond the domestic network, AVE also runs international service connecting Spain with Southern France without changing trains at the border. Barcelona to Lyon takes about 4 hours 57 minutes, passing through Girona, Perpignan, Montpellier and Nimes. Montpellier to Barcelona takes about 3 hours 3 minutes. Madrid to Marseille is another international route, passing through Barcelona, Zaragoza and Tarragona, with Barcelona to Marseille taking about 4 hours 30 minutes. International trains run 8 carriages with 347 seats, reaching up to 300 km/h, with a bar carriage serving food and drinks throughout.

AVE offers two seat types: Standard and Comfort. 

• Comfort seats have more space, in a 2+1 layout (a row of 2, an aisle, a row of 1), or 2+2 on the AVE 106 model. 
• Standard seats are in a 2+2 layout, or 3+2 on the AVE 106. 

A Básico ticket always means a Standard seat, a Prémium ticket always means a Comfort seat, and an Elige ticket lets you choose: Elige Estándar for Standard, or Elige Confort for Comfort (XL size).

AVE fares come in four tiers, from Básico up to Elige Estándar, Elige Confort and Prémium, differing mainly in change and cancellation flexibility, plus whether lounge access and seat selection are included. All fare types can be cancelled free of charge within 2 hours of purchase.

Please note: the Prémium fare is not available on AVE International between Spain and France. International routes offer Básico, Elige Estándar and Elige Confort only.

Básico and Elige Estándar fares can choose the Silent Carriage at no extra cost, where phone calls are not allowed, headphones are required for audio or video, pets and children under 14 are not permitted, and there's no mobile bar service, ideal for travelers who want to focus or rest. This service is not available on AVE International routes.

Every fare includes: 3 items of luggage per passenger, free WiFi, a punctuality commitment, customer service desks, mobile cafeteria service, and Combinado Cercanías, which lets you transfer free onto the local suburban rail network within 4 hours of arrival, with direct gate access at hub stations like Madrid, Malaga, Valencia and Alicante, no need to queue for a separate ticket.

Tickets can be booked up to 75 days in advance (183 days for international routes), and must be issued within 30 minutes of booking. 

Baggage allowance is 3 carry-on items per passenger, total weight under 25kg, with combined dimensions under 290cm. Recommended connection time is 60 minutes for same-station transfers and 90 minutes for cross-station transfers.