Madrid AVE train to Sevilla - scenic??
 

Is this a scenic ride or would we be better off flying? We are trying to cram a lot in 9 days. We will be flying from Sevilla to Barcelona. Thank you.

It's been a few years but I don't remember it being spectacular. Mostly airid countryside.

The AVE ride from Madrid to Seville is not very scenic but it is fast. Would use the AVE instead of flying from Madrid unless you were already at the airport in Madrid.

I'll have to agree with the above. Not much to look at, especially at the speed you're traveling. It all goes by in a flash, more or less.

Yes, it goes fast, but you see more than you would from a plane!

A few years back, we took the train from Madrid to Seville, and flew from Seville to Barcelona. The train was a lot less hassle than flying, and more comfortable. And, since I wasn't going to be able to travel slowly through the area between Madrid and Seville, the scenery I saw through the train window was all I was going to get to see. Fast, but better than nothing.

And if your interested in 'green' travel, a train has much less environmental impact per person than a plane.

No secenic ride but very convenient . Train stations are closer thatn airports too.

I would agree with the other posters that the train ride is not very scenic, but quick and convenient. I can't imagine that it isn't easier, faster, and more economical than flying.

Don't know if this still applies, but at the time we took the AVE for this trip in 2005, the railroad offered a complete refund of the ticket price if the train arrives more than 5 minutes late. As it happened, we came to a complete stop for some indeterminate reason about halfway through the trip, and we eventually arrived about 10 minutes late. We went to the station in Sevilla, filled out a simple refund form, and within 30 days all 4 ticket prices were credited to us in full ... no hassles!

Can't beat that price, phillyboy! That rule has been in place since AVE began service in 1992; but to date I've never been able to take advantage of it. AVE Trains have always arrived on time or early.

No scenery worth bothering about but they do have a Movie. We saw the Tom Hanks - Denzel Washington Movie about AIDS on AVE several years ago. A few of the Spanish people watching the movie in our Carriage were crying their eyes out.
BTW
See Maribel's post on 'where shall I go in Spain by train?' Renfe just came out with advance-purchase deeply discounted fares. You might even reconsider & take a Hotel Tren Sevilla - Barcelona.

Thanks for all the great advice. We will stick with the train for the convenience and lower cost. Nedsireland - Regarding Seville to Barcelona, what is Hotel Tren? I did see Maribel's post on discounted renfe tickets.

Not scenic at all, but very efficient.

kathyv,
There's a Tren Hotel that departs Seville at 9:22 pm, arriving in Barcelona at 8:06 the next morning.
But I would book a cheap flight on Click Air or Vueling.