Question re: high speed AVE Train from Madrid to Barcelona

[musiclawyer]

I will be in Madrid in mid-june with my family. We already have reserved a two night stay in Barcelona a few days later. Should I worry about buying train ticket now, or would purchase there in Madrid a few days in advance be ok? I have no idea is seats on these trains are scarce or not.

[tjwmason]

1. I don't know the Spanish system per se

But when I've used British, French and Italian railways booking a couple of days in advance is fine.

[montanto]

2. I've never been on that train,

but I find that having tickets in advance gives me peace of mind. No doubt buying two days before will get you there though.

[grace0418]

3. I would purchase in advance. That train books up pretty quickly and the lines at

ticket counters can be long. Especially for high speed trains.

Also, leave time to find your way around Atocha, it can be pretty confusing. But maybe that was just the haze we were in since we went straight from Barajas airport to Atocha to hop the train for Barcelona.

Ooooooh, I am so jealous! We were just there in October and I'd go back again in a heartbeat. Barcelona especially is one of my favorite cities in the world, although Madrid rocks as well. Have an AWESOME time!

[yellowdogintexas]

4. oh I would go too..we went 25 years ago. Did not get to BArcelona

but we loved Madrid, Toledo, Granada, SEville, Cordoba, Segovia, Avila, Zaragoza and the northern coast ..mostly Santander

If you have a few days in Madrid, you could possible just purchase the ticket as soon as you get to Espana but for peace of mind getting it before you leave might be best. That is where the internet is so wonderful. We didn't have the intertubes when we went.

[musiclawyer]

5. Thank you all

[kay1864]

6. At least try to buy via their website if you can

If you go through a US travel broker, you'll pay extra. Years ago I paid WAY too much for a Paris-Amsterdam ticket by buying in the US.