Madrid has two main long-distance train stations. Puerta de Atocha, south of the center beside the Prado museum district, serves most high-speed trains to Seville, Córdoba, Málaga, Toledo and Valencia, and many to Barcelona. Chamartín, in the north of the city, serves most trains to northern Spain, such as Valladolid, León, Galicia and Asturias, plus some Barcelona and Valencia departures. Your ticket names the station, so check it before you leave the hotel.
Our planners route American travelers through both stations, and the boarding routine surprises most first-timers. It works more like a small airport than a US train station.
What are the stations’ full names?
On tickets and departure boards, Atocha appears as Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes, and Chamartín as Madrid-Chamartín-Clara Campoamor. When booking, choose Puerta de Atocha, not Atocha Cercanías, which is the commuter rail platform in the same complex.
How does boarding a high-speed train work at Atocha?
- Your driver drops you at the long-distance entrance.
- Your bags go through an airport-style security scanner.
- You wait in the departure hall, which has cafés, shops and restrooms. With a Prémium ticket, you can wait in the Sala Club lounge.
- About 15 to 20 minutes before departure, the screens show your boarding gate.
- Renfe staff check your ticket and ID at the gate, and you walk down to the platform.
Arrive about 30 minutes before departure, with your passport and the ticket on your phone or printed.
Which trains leave from which station?
| Destination | Usual Madrid station |
|---|---|
| Seville, Córdoba, Málaga, Granada | Puerta de Atocha |
| Toledo | Puerta de Atocha |
| Barcelona, Zaragoza | Puerta de Atocha or Chamartín |
| Valencia, Alicante | Puerta de Atocha or Chamartín |
| Valladolid, León, Galicia, Asturias | Chamartín |
Timetables change, so treat this as a guide and trust your ticket. Our AVE vs Alvia guide explains which train and which class to book, and our Madrid guide covers the city itself.
Rather skip the stations altogether? Tell your planner your route, and we book the seats, the drivers and the timing for you.
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