Transport for Tour of Southern Spain
I've been to the south of Spain a few times and was hoping to make another trip in the near future. My plan is fly from JFK or ORD to Madrid to Sevilla (obviously assuming this is the cheapest route available).
I then want to stay in Sevilla for 4-5 days. Then head south to Ronda, Marbella, Malaga, and Grenada.
What is the cheapest (yet still reasonably comfortable) method to travel between these Spanish cities?
Best Answer
What is the cheapest (yet still reasonably comfortable) method to travel between these Spanish cities?
As you asked for the cheapest way, in my experience that would be the bus; those are generally cheaper than trains in Spain. (What surprised me is that on some routes the bus is also faster than train.) Connections are frequent and the buses are generally very comfortable.
Granted, it was back in 2005 when I travelled more in Spain (including Andalusia), but I suppose the situation hasn't changed too much.
The train answer mentioned Madrid to Málaga as an example (cheapest fare 35 € when booked in advance). On ALSA, the trip costs 23-24 € (no advance booking required). As another example, 8 hrs night bus from Cádiz to Madrid is just 25 € with Socibus.
Photo credit: http://autocaresdemadrid.blogspot.com/
There are several bus companies (partial list) operating in southern Spain. I don't know if there's one website to see all timetables though. What I did was simply go to the bus station in each city or town, check timetables there & buy the ticket; this worked fine. (Or google e.g. "sevilla cadiz bus" to find relevant company website with timetables.)
Btw, while you're in Andalusia, I'd recommend Cádiz, on the Costa de la Luz, less than 2-hour (12.20 €) bus trip from Seville (though not exactly on your planned route).
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How do you get around southern Spain?
The best way to travel long distances in Spain is to book the high-speed train or AVE (Alta Velocidad) which run between most major cities. A train ride from Barcelona to Madrid covers some 500km (311 miles) in just 2hrs 40 minutes, while a train from Madrid to Seville takes around the same time.What is the best way to travel in southern Spain?
The best way to experience Southern Spain is to hire a car and take a road trip. Traveling by car allows you to see more sights and adds flexibility to your travels. One of the most logical starting points would be Malaga. Fly into Malaga's Pablo Picasso Airport, and head off from there.What is the best mode of transportation in Spain?
Trains are quite honestly the best way to travel around Spain. There are different train services in the country that offer unique and competitive services. You can even find train rides for as low as 20 euros and you can also find trains that would ask you hundreds of euros for the same ride.How many days do you need in southern Spain?
However, if you don't have a lifetime just to devote to exploring one region of one country (like everyone else), plan to set aside at least ten days for a southern Spain itinerary. In ten days, you can see a lot of the region without being too rushed and really get a feel for the culture and history.ROAD TRIP SOUTHERN SPAIN | Our First Impressions of Andalucía
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Answer 2
I wouldn't go by bus, at least from Madrid to Sevilla, so boring. Instead i would go by ave (high speed train) that is more expensive but as they said above, if booked in advance the ticket could be cheaper than the bus.
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