Barcelona rail day trip from madrid

While you’re in Madrid, take the opportunity to visit Barcelona for the day by train. Catch a high-speed rail connection direct from Madrid and travel across the heart of Spain to Barcelona. Then tour the city’s famous sights on a sightseeing bus tour that takes in Las Ramblas boulevard, Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia cathedral, the football fans’ favorite, F.C. Barcelona stadium Camp Nou, and much more. The tour follows two routes, taking in all the sights, and you can get on and off as you like. With return train and sightseeing bus tickets included, everything’s organized so you can enjoy the freedom of independent travel in Catalonia’s incomparable capital, Barcelona.

Day trips from Madrid to Barcelona by train are a great way to see the Spanish countryside. Departing from Madrid’s Puerta de Atocha train station, enjoy a three-hour train trip across Spain’s heartland to Barcelona’s Sants Station in the center of the city.

In Barcelona, go shopping along the city’s stylish Paseo de Gracia boulevard, visit tapas bars and the Picasso Museum in the Gothic Quarter, sightsee at your leisure and join a hop-on, hop-off bus tour to see Barcelona’s sights at your own pace. You’ll have terrific views from your double-decker sightseeing bus, and travel around Barcelona in comfort.

The hop-on, hop-off sightseeing buses follow two sightseeing routes, East and West, and cover all the city sights. Visit Gaudi's giant unfinished cathedral, La Sagrada Famila, get a bird's-eye view of the leafy promenade Las Ramblas, discover the Port Olímpic beachfront promenade and see the famous F.C. Barcelona football stadium.

Get on and off at convenient stops throughout your day in Barcelona, and swap between sightseeing routes. Learn about the history of Barcelona and its many sights as you listen to the comfortable audio system with earphones, provided in 12 languages. Each bus is staffed by a helpful stewardess, and a map and guide are provided so you can follow the route, note where the stops are located, and learn more about Barcelona’s sights.

Buses travel between stops on a 10- to 20-minute schedule, and each route takes around two hours to complete.

East Route
Highlights of the East Route include the leafy Plaça Catalunya, the medieval Gothic Quarter with its atmospheric cathedral, the yachts of the port area in Port Vell, the palm trees and beach esplanades of Barceloneta and Port Olímpic, the hilltop Tibidabo and Gaudi’s unfinished masterpiece the Sagrada Familia, the playful sculpture gardens at Parc Güell, and fanciful apartment buildings La Pedrera and Casa Batlló.

West Route
West Route highlights include Plaça Catalunya, the Gothic Quarter, the Christopher Columbus statue by the port, Miramar Gardens, Joan Miró museum, Montjuic Park, Poble Espanyol Spanish village, Plaça d’Espanya fountain, F.C. Barcelona Camp Nou, Av Diagonal, and Gaudi’s apartments La Pedrera and Casa Batlló.