Seville is the one Andalusian city where the train makes the whole trip feel easy: you board at Atocha after breakfast and step out at Santa Justa in time for a late-morning coffee, with the Giralda a short bus ride away. The question most people bring to madrid to seville is not how to get there but whether to bother staying the night. Our short answer: you can do it in a day, but you shouldn’t.
This guide covers the high-speed train in detail, the coach, what a day in Seville can realistically hold, and why one night changes everything. For the wider rail network out of the capital, see our trains from Madrid guide; for the other big route, our Madrid to Barcelona guide compares the train with flying. Fares, timetables and opening hours were checked in October 2026 against the operators’ and venues’ own sites.
Madrid to Seville at a Glance
| Option | Route | Time | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renfe AVE and Avlo | Madrid Puerta de Atocha–Almudena Grandes → Sevilla Santa Justa | Check the timetable for your date | Renfe’s route page gives 07:00 as its first departure from Madrid |
| OUIGO | Madrid → Sevilla Santa Justa, stopping at Córdoba | 2h40 to 2h41 on the departures shown in October 2026 | Adult fares advertised from €9; arrive 30 minutes before departure |
| iryo | Madrid → Seville | Check iryo’s site | A third high-speed operator on the line |
| Coach (Socibus) | Madrid → Seville | Much longer than the train | Check departures and fares on Socibus’s own booking site |
The Train: Atocha to Santa Justa
The high-speed train is the obvious way to make this trip. Trains leave from the high-speed terminal at Madrid Puerta de Atocha–Almudena Grandes and arrive at Sevilla Santa Justa, on Avenida Kansas City, east of the historic centre.
Renfe: AVE and Avlo
Renfe’s route page lists AVE, low-cost Avlo and Larga Distancia trains on Madrid–Seville, with the first departure from Madrid at 07:00. AVE fares are sold as Básico, Elige Estándar, Elige Confort and Prémium, and an AVE ticket allows up to three pieces of luggage with a combined weight of 25 kg and combined dimensions of 290 cm, each no bigger than 85 × 55 × 35 cm. An AVE or Larga Distancia ticket also includes a free Cercanías journey, the Combinado Cercanías, which covers the ride to Atocha from your nearest commuter station; our Cercanías guide explains the network.
OUIGO
OUIGO advertises Madrid–Seville tickets from €9 for adults and, on the timetable shown on its site in October 2026, runs the trip in 2h40 to 2h41 with a stop at Córdoba. Its displayed Madrid departures were at 06:55, 11:40 and 21:00, and Seville departures at 07:35, 10:37 and 17:02; take the booking screen for your date as the real timetable. OUIGO asks passengers to arrive 30 minutes before departure. As on every route it serves, the cheapest ticket covers a cabin bag rather than a full-size suitcase.
iryo
iryo is the third operator on the line. Its fares, luggage terms and timetable for Seville are on iryo’s own site; compare them with Renfe and OUIGO for your date before you book.
Which Train to Book
- Day trip: the earliest train down and the latest practical train back. Book both legs together so you know the return works before you commit.
- Big suitcase: Renfe’s AVE ticket includes up to 25 kg of luggage; price any bag on the low-cost fares before comparing.
- Lowest headline fare: OUIGO advertises tickets from €9; see what is left for your date.
- Flexible plans: pay for a fare with changes included rather than buying the cheapest ticket twice.
Arriving at Sevilla Santa Justa
Santa Justa is open from 04:30 to 00:30 Monday to Friday (except public holidays), and from 05:15 to 00:30 on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. It is not in the historic centre. City buses connect it with the rest of Seville: Adif lists line 21 to Plaza de Armas and line 32 to Plaza Duque. For the quickest route to the cathedral or your hotel, use the journey planner on TUSSAM’s site, the city bus operator, or take a taxi from the rank outside.
The Coach
Socibus runs coaches between Madrid and Seville. It takes far longer than the train, and it is worth it only if every train on your date is sold out or out of budget. Check departures, journey times and fares on Socibus’s own booking site.
Can You Do Seville as a Day Trip from Madrid?
Physically, yes. With an early train down and a late-afternoon or evening train back, you get several hours in the city. But the trip is long enough, and Seville is big enough, that a day return turns into a rush between two monuments with a train to catch at the end. We recommend one night, for four reasons.
1. The two big sights each take a good chunk of the day
Seville Cathedral and the Giralda tower are a single visit, and the cathedral suggests allowing about 75 minutes. General admission in 2026 is €13 online or €14 at the ticket office. Its visiting hours are seasonal, so check the daily schedule on the cathedral’s own site for your date.
The Real Alcázar, the royal palace across the square, takes visitors from 09:30 to 17:00 from October to March, and starts clearing the rooms at 17:45. General admission is €15.50, and the Cuarto Real Alto, the upper royal apartments, costs €5.50 on top. Book a timed slot online ahead of your visit.
2. The Alcázar closes early in winter
With the Alcázar’s visiting hours ending at 17:00 from October to March, and the cathedral not opening to visitors until 10:45 from Monday to Saturday, the two visits compete for the same window. Arriving from Madrid mid-morning, it is hard to do both properly and still have time to eat.
3. Seville is at its best in the evening
Much of the city’s life happens after dark: the walk along the river, a late dinner, the tapas bars of Santa Cruz and Triana. A day-tripper catching an afternoon train back, like OUIGO’s 17:02 departure shown in October 2026, sees none of it.
4. Three hours each way is a lot for one day
Add the trip to Atocha, the train itself and the ride from Santa Justa into town, and you are travelling for most of six hours to see two sights. For the same day out, cities closer to Madrid such as Toledo or Segovia give far more time on the ground; our best day trips from Madrid ranks them.
If You Do Go for the Day
- Book the first train down and a return you are sure you can make, on the same booking.
- Pick one of the two big sights, book it ahead, and spend the rest of the day walking.
- Take the bus or a taxi from Santa Justa rather than walking into the centre.
- Have lunch late, the way Seville does, and keep the last hour for the walk back to your train.
One Night: A Better Plan
Take a mid-morning train down, spend the afternoon at the Alcázar, and give the evening to the old town and Triana. The next morning, do the cathedral and the Giralda, walk to Plaza de España, and take an afternoon train back to Madrid. You see both of the big sights unhurried and the city at night, for the cost of one hotel room.
The Verdict
Take the train: it runs centre to centre, and three operators now compete on it. Compare all three, book early, and read the luggage rules before you pay. Then give Seville at least one night. As a day trip it is possible, but you spend half of it travelling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the train from Madrid to Seville?
OUIGO’s timetable in October 2026 showed 2h40 to 2h41 between Madrid and Sevilla Santa Justa, with a stop at Córdoba. Check the operator’s timetable for the exact time on your date.
Which station do trains to Seville leave from in Madrid?
Renfe’s trains leave from Madrid Puerta de Atocha–Almudena Grandes and arrive at Sevilla Santa Justa.
How much is the train from Madrid to Seville?
OUIGO advertises adult tickets from €9, but fares change by date. Compare Renfe, OUIGO and iryo for your date and include any luggage you need.
Is Seville worth a day trip from Madrid?
It is possible but rushed. With about three hours on the train each way, you can see one of the big sights properly and little else. One night lets you see the cathedral, the Alcázar and the city in the evening.
How do I get from Santa Justa to the centre of Seville?
Santa Justa is outside the historic centre. City buses 21 and 32 stop at the station, and there is a taxi rank outside.
Related Madrid Guides
- Trains from Madrid: every high-speed route
- Madrid to Barcelona: train, flight or bus
- Madrid’s AVE stations: Atocha and Chamartín
- Madrid Cercanías commuter trains
- Best day trips from Madrid
- Day trips from Madrid
Photo Credits
Renfe AVE train leaving Sevilla Santa Justa: AVE Hochgeschwindigkeitszug Sevilla Santa Justa by Leonhard. 628, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Platforms at Sevilla Santa Justa: 2016-11-13 Sevilla Santa Justa train station by Thomas Gartz, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Dome in the Real Alcázar of Seville: Alcázar Seville April 2019-11 by Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Plaza de España, Seville: Panorama at the Plaza de España in Seville, Spain by Randomsaucepan, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.