Yikes -- after posting a question about booking rail tickets ahead, I just discovered on the AVE Web site that on my day of travel (March 3) I can get a ticket from Sevilla to Cordoba but there appears to be no availability from Cordoba to Madrid! Can that be true? If so, I still have the option of keeping my car and driving. . .

Hi Abbey,

I had the same problem about 2 years ago. It would appear that the weekend trains Madrid/Seville and vice versa are booked up very quicly. I did manage to get a seat in Business Class (can't remember what the spanish for this is) it cost a little more was was extremely comfortable.

Don't know if you have tried this but if not it might be worth a look.

Are you stopping over in Cordoba, or going directly from Seville to Madrid? I think there are at least a few of the AVEs which don't stop in Cordoba at all. I can't imagine that there would be no availability from Seville to Madrid, given the number of trains each day.

Are you sure they're full? I cannot believe they'd all be booked a whole month in advance. There are lots as they run every hour. It is a Friday so the late-afternoon and evening trains will be busy, but I still can't believe they'd be full this far in advance, unless there's some very special event that weekend.

True -- there seems to be availability from Sevilla to Madrid direct. The problem is Cordoboa to Madrid,and we really do want to be able to visit Cordoba en route. Looks like I missed the boat, so to speak.

take the bus to cordoba. stopover, see the sights you are interested in , then take afternoon bus tt madrid.

although the AVE is a joy to ride, probably not worth missing out on a city because of lack of seats.

or, keep the car. plenty to see on way to madrid..
almagro, (for example), and Consuegra, not to mention carmona (outside sevilla before cordoba).toledo, also, is not out of the way if you drive back to madrid.
a lot to do in one day, though , if you stop too much.

There are 13 trains leaving Cordoba for Madrid between 1700 and midnight. I just cannot believe that they would all be fully booked over a month in advance.

I hope you're right! I will keep checking the Web site. Also might try a travel agent to see if they have any magic. . .