Spain by train?

[Anonymous]

My husband wants to take our 14 year old DS on an adventure when school lets out, to Spain he's suggesting. He's pretty adventurous and thinks it would be fun to get on the train and see the country that way. Has anyone ever done this? I feel like it would be really tiring but maybe I'm seeing it through MY eyes and they'll be fine. I think the plan is fly from DC to Madrid or Barcelona. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

I should add he's looking at 5 days max.

[Anonymous]

Spain is really huge and it's not as trainable as Germany, France, or Britain. They do planes and buses more. I would pick one region or just two cities and fly between them. The south with Cordoba, Sevilla and Granada, with Moorish architecture is gorgeous and looks nothing like anything else in Europe and is doable in 5 days. The Alhambra is amazing. 5 days is not realistic for two big cities including jet lag recovery and it would take forever to get from Barcelona by train from Madrid.

[Anonymous]

I spent a week in Spain several years ago & traveled exclusively by train. Flew into Granada & out of Madrid (I was living in London at the time). It's doable but I'd recommend less. Visited Granada, Sevilla, Cordoba, Toledo & Madrid. No way we could have squeezed in Barcelona--our itinerary was packed as it is. Plus we didn't have to deal with any jet lag.

Be aware that in the smaller train stations you may not find anyone who speaks English--this was my experience in Granada, and I'm glad I had prepared with a page of travel vocab to add to my rusty high school Spanish.

[Anonymous]

Spain has fantastic high speed rail (may make you wish we had something as good).

You can get from Madrid to Seville is 2 hr 20 min and Madrid to Barcelona in under 3 hours, and it's very affordable if you plan in advance. I would totally recommend train as a way to get around for those cities (or Cordoba) although I think it might be harder to add Granada by train.

[Anonymous]

At 14 you don't know the meaning of fatigue. I'd worry more about DH than DS, who will love it and remember it forever. This trip will defin confer MFP Most Favored Parent status on your husband. How will you ever be able to compete?

[Anonymous]

With only 5 days I would just do Madrid and Sevilla. The high speed AvE train between the two will be fun for your son.

[Anonymous]

The trains are great. You can't see much in five days though. I would go for longer.

[Anonymous]

We took the train from Barcelona to Madrid. Super fast, very clean and convenient as train station was very close to our hotel near the museums. They even had a movie.

[Anonymous]

OP here. My husband and I thank you. I think he may want to just get his backpack on and get going. Anyone done something crazy like stay in a hostel along the way?

[Anonymous]

If your son wants an adventure and to see Spain, Google Camino de Santiago. You can take the train from Paris to the border and start walking from Saint Jean Pie de Port. Even if you only walk for 10 days, you can always complete it next year or the year after.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. My husband and I thank you. I think he may want to just get his backpack on and get going. Anyone done something crazy like stay in a hostel along the way?

If you're going to the expense for the two of them to visit Spain, he should plan it out to some extent.

I vacationed in Spain several years ago. We stayed in Madrid and did day trips by train to Avila, Segovia, and Toledo. So for 5 days, I would stay at a hotel in Madrid, and take the train for 1 one day trips in the three of these cities, visiting sites in Madrid at either end.

Segovia has an amazing castle (the inspiration for the Disney castle):
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187494-d313549-Reviews-Alcazar_de_Segovia-Segovia_Province_of_Segovia_Castile_and_Leon.html

Avila has great examples of gothic and romanesque architecture:
http://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/avila-e-castl-avi.htm

Toledo has the Greco museum and beautiful examples of how Moorish and Spanish influences came together:
http://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/toledo-e-cast-tol.htm

Obviously, Madrid has some amazing museums of course.

What was very low key about the trip is that we caught the train in the morning. Walked around the city, ate a long leisurely lunch when everything was closed (don't know if they still do that), walk around some more then caught an early evening train back. I don't think a vacation has to be overly scripted but hopping on random trains with your backpack staying at youth hostels sounds more like something a college kid would do. Is your DH trying to recapture his youth?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We took the train from Barcelona to Madrid. Super fast, very clean and convenient as train station was very close to our hotel near the museums. They even had a movie.

For a quick trip, this plan is good. Both cities are great. The train station itself in Madrid is pretty cool.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't put in the effort to do Barcelona. With only a five day itinerary. I would not worry about Barcelona your time would be better spent in other cities.

[Anonymous]

Seville will give you more of a contrast to Madrid than Barcelona-- it's a smaller city with Moorish influences, but Barcelona has lots to see/do. Also you may be able to more more cheaply/easily book an open jaw ticket into Madrid and out of Barcelona if you want to do that.