Travel Guide
Ultra Low Cost Train Launches From Madrid To 3 Other Gorgeous Cities In Spain For $9
Jan
Last Updated
Train travel in Europe just keeps getting cheaper!
After it was announced that, soon enough, travelers will be able to board trains from Amsterdam to Berlin for less than their breakfast combo bill, not to mention ultra-cheap commuting from Paris to Brussels, it’s time for Spain to up its game:
After six years in the making, French operator Ouigo has made a splash on the Spanish market by launching routes from Madrid, the capital of Spain, to 3 other incredible destinations in the sun-drenched southern end of the country, from only $9:
French Low-Cost Ouigo Makes Its Spain Debut!
It’s been over half a decade of deliberations and talks, but Ouigo España officially bowed on January 16 with their first return trip from Madrid.
More specifically, they’ll be offering ultra-low-cost journeys from Madrid to the Andalusian cities of Seville and Malaga, with stops in Cordoba, with tickets priced at a standard €9, or roughly $9.25, and up to 35,000 seats a week.
Needless to say, Renfe, Spain’s national railway company, is far from being receptive to their new competitor.
For instance, one-way tickets from Madrid to Seville cost $41.75 on Renfe, significantly more than Ouigo’s newly-introduced $9 fares, which has, of course, drawn criticism from Spanish Transport Minister Óscar Puente.
In Puente’s view, the slashing of prices on Ouigo’s part is an ‘unfair’ tactic, as it puts pressure on Renfe itself to reduce its own fares in response to maintain competitiveness.
He was quoted saying that, ‘unless the French operator is OK with the idea of losing money for the ten years that it has committed to existing not he most profitable high-speed corridors in Spain, it will have to raise prices‘.
In response, Ouigo Spain’s general manager, Hélène Valenzuela, has reiterated they ‘do not’ receive subsidies from the French government and have reassured customers they will keep prices low despite the clash with Renfe.
That’s not the only market Ouigo and Renfe will be competing head-to-head in 2025: Renfe is introducing trains between Barcelona, in southeastern Spain, and the French city of Toulouse.
Either way, fare wars are usually great news for travelers, who always come out winning as competitors try to price each other out of the market:
Timetables For The New Ouigo Trains
Ouigo trains are scheduled to leave for Seville from Madrid (Puerta de Atocha – Almudena Grandes) twice-a-day, at 7:40 AM (arriving at 10:25 AM), and 3:14 PM (arriving at 6:02 PM).
Going to Malaga instead, in coastal Andalusia, trains are expected to depart from the same station in Madrid at 7:19 AM and 3:23 PM, arriving at María Zambrano Station in Malaga at 10:17 AM and 6:11 PM, respectively.
That’s the same route you can use to get to Cordoba from Madrid with Ouigo’s low prices: before reaching their Malaga terminus, the trains will call at Cordoba at 9:10 AM, when departing at 7:19 AM and 5:05 PM for the second daily departure.
Seville
Royal Palaces, Colorful Neighborhoods & Great Food
Seville is the capital of Andalusia and one of Spain’s most vibrant city breaks, home to the country’s most beautiful public square, the stately, canal-fringed Plaza de España, and a landmark-dotted historic center that combines medieval Moorish charm and Renaissance grandeur.
The Royal Alcazar is among the most emblematic monuments in Spain, built by Islamist conquerors during the Middle Ages, and La Giralda is a former minaret, now posing as ca athedral bell tower, commanding a breathtaking panorama of the ocher-colored cityscape.
In restaurant-packed Triana, you can eat pescado and Andalusia’s traditional gazpacho soup at affordable prices, sometimes for under $15, and don’t miss out on the bustling Mercado de Feria, an indoor marketplace with over 100 food stalls selling fresh produce and local delicacies.
Malaga
Golden Sand Beaches, Laid-Back Vibes & Roman Ruins
Hugging the azure Mediterranean coast, Malaga is Andalusia’s main resort city and a tried-and-true sunny getaway irrespective of season: with an average of 320 days of sunshine per year, it’s no wonder Brits and Germans flock in here from as early as March.
Malaga’s greatest attraction is, without question, its palm-lined, golden-sand Malagueta Beach, the perfect rival to Barcelona’s trendy Barceloneta, except it’s more laid-back, though you shouldn’t miss out on the ancient wonders scattered around the historic center.
These include the Alcazaba, a Moorish fortress bestriding a series of central hills overlooking the urban sprawl, the Gibralfaro Castle, famous for its many viewpoints, and the Roman Theater, a well-preserved, 1st-century venue dating back to the reign of Emperor Augustus.
Cordoba
Picturesque Old Town, Moorish Mosques & Cheap Prices
The lesser-known of the three, Cordoba is an inland gem of Andalusia that recently made the news as a popular alternative for Americans to a jam-packed Barcelona, thanks to its picture-perfect, whitewashed Old Town and cheaper prices.
The most striking structure in Cordoba’s ancient center has to be the Great Mosque, which, similarly to several other Andalusian wonders, is attributed to the Muslim conquest of Spain: built as early as the 8th century, it’s preserved some 1250 Moorish columns and stone-cut arches.
On pricing, if you’re eating out in town, you should know a plate of Andaluz salmorejo will likely set you back by around $8, and overnights in downtown hotels start from as low as $52––check out Hotel Riviera or Hotel Maestre for the lowest-possible rates.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
