What is Budget Routes?

Budget Routes is a travel blog focused on smart travel on any budget. We publish curated guides, tips, and deals.

Is Budget Routes free to use?

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Is the AVE or the bus better in Spain?

The AVE wins on any route over about three hours by road, provided you book ahead — Madrid to Seville takes 2h30 by train against six by bus. On shorter routes and for last-minute travel the bus is far cheaper. The decision flips on booking window as much as on distance, since AVE fares roughly triple close to the date.

How cheap are Spanish buses?

ALSA and the regional operators run intercity routes at roughly a third to a half of walk-up train fares — Madrid to Granada for 20 to 35 euros against 45 to 70 on the train. They are comfortable, with reclining seats and air conditioning, and they reach many towns the railway does not serve at all.

Are domestic flights worth it in Spain?

Only for the islands and for the very longest mainland routes. Madrid to Barcelona by AVE takes 2h30 city centre to city centre against a flight plus two airport transfers totalling four hours or more. For the Balearics and Canaries flying is the only practical option and fares are low.

When should I book Spanish trains?

Three to six weeks ahead for AVE routes, where the cheapest Básico fares sell first and prices climb steeply near the date. Ouigo and Avlo, the low-cost high-speed operators on the busiest corridors, are cheaper again but have restrictive baggage rules and depart from the same stations, which makes them good value.

Spain by Bus, Train or Plane: Which Wins Where

Spain has both the most extensive high-speed rail network in Europe and one of the cheapest long-distance bus networks. Which one to take is not a general preference — it flips route by route, and mostly on how far ahead you are booking.

The main routes compared

Route	AVE	Bus	Take
Madrid → Barcelona	2h30, €30–90	7–8h, €20–35	Train
Madrid → Seville	2h30, €30–75	6h, €20–30	Train
Madrid → Valencia	1h40, €25–60	4h, €15–28	Train
Madrid → Granada	3h20, €35–70	5h, €20–35	Either
Seville → Granada	3h, €30–45	3h, €25–35	Bus
Seville → Lagos (PT)	no rail	4h, €20–30	Bus
Barcelona → Valencia	3h, €25–45	4h30, €20–30	Train

The pattern: the AVE wins wherever the line is genuinely high-speed — the radial routes out of Madrid — and the bus wins where it is not, notably between Andalusian cities and anywhere crossing into Portugal.

The booking window matters more than the mode

Renfe fares are dynamic and climb steeply. A Madrid–Barcelona ticket at €30 booked six weeks ahead is €90 the week before. Buses barely move.

So the honest rule is: book AVE three to six weeks ahead and it beats everything; leave it late and the bus wins.

Look also at Ouigo and Avlo, the low-cost high-speed operators now running the Madrid–Barcelona, Madrid–Valencia and Madrid–Seville corridors. Same tracks, same stations, restrictive luggage rules, fares often half the standard AVE.

Buses, which are better than their reputation

ALSA dominates the intercity network, with regional operators filling in. Coaches are modern, air conditioned and comfortable, with reclining seats on long routes.

Two genuine advantages beyond price:

They reach places the railway does not. The white villages of Andalusia, much of Extremadura, and the Portuguese border crossings are bus-only.

They are flat-priced. A last-minute bus costs roughly what an advance bus costs, which makes them the right choice for an improvised trip.

Flying

Worth it for two cases only.

The islands. Balearics and Canaries — flying is the only practical option and fares from the mainland are low, often €30–70.

Very long mainland diagonals, such as Barcelona to Seville, where the rail journey exceeds five hours.

For Madrid–Barcelona, flying is slower once you count two airport transfers and security, and the train station is in the middle of both cities.

Local transport

City metros and buses are inexpensive: a single is typically €1.50–2.50, and multi-trip cards cut that substantially. Barcelona's T-casual gives ten journeys for around €12.55; Madrid's Metrobús card is similar.

Spanish cities are compact enough that walking covers most of a visit, and the metro is for the airport and outer districts.

The practical summary

Book the AVE three to six weeks out for the radial routes from Madrid and it is both fastest and cheapest. Use ALSA for Andalusian city pairs, anything crossing to Portugal, and last-minute travel. Fly only to the islands. And check Ouigo and Avlo on the big corridors before paying full AVE prices.