• Home
  • About Me
  • Contact

The Lithuanian Abroad

  • Start here!
  • Travel Spain
    • Madrid
    • Barcelona
    • Cadaqués
    • Mallorca
    • Santander
    • Valencia
    • Canary Islands
  • Move to Spain

Barcelona, BLOG, Destinations, Madrid, Spain, Travel Spain · June 14, 2021

Go from Madrid to Barcelona for only 9€ with the new OUIGO trains

If you have ever tried to move around Spain and go from one city to another you might have realized the following thing: Taking high-speed trains in Spain is expensive. Really expensive. I have paid more than 100€ to go from Barcelona to Madrid with the AVE train from RENFE at least a couple of times. And that hurts. Usually, it is even cheaper to go by plane. But in May 2021, the Ouigo trains finally have been inaugurated in Spain, which changes everything. They promised to offer low-cost and high-speed trains to and from four main cities in Spain (Madrid, Barcelona, Tarragona & Zaragoza). And the starting price of the OUIGO trains is 9€! So how are these low-cost trains and what do you have to keep in mind when taking them? I will tell you below 🙂

OUIGO TRAINS IN SPAIN

By the way, if you ever take the train to Madrid, I wrote a low-cost guide for the city that you can find here.

Travelling by Train in Spain is expensive

I normally would spend 60€-80€, sometimes more than 100€ to go to Barcelona or Madrid by train. Compared to e.g. Germany, I feel that this is crazy-expensive. Until now, Renfe was the only company offering national train rides. So sometimes I even ended up taking the plane to go to Barcelona from Madrid, just because it was too expensive to go by train! But now, I finally will be able to travel by train in Spain all the time!

What kind of company is OUIGO?

OUIGO is a French company that offers affordable high-speed train rides. Their operating system is similar to the one from Ryanair or Easyjet, where ticket prices are cheap but you need to pay for extras on top. So why are those trains so exciting? They promise train rides with a starting price of 9 Euros per trip. This means that traveling by train in Spain will be much more affordable!

What you need to know about the OUIGO trains

First of all, there are several trains going per day. I feel like many people were afraid those trains would only leave once per day in the early morning making it difficult to get them. But that is not true. To give you an example: There are five trains per day going from Madrid to Barcelona and back. The earliest train leaves at seven in the morning and the latest at nine in the evening. So there is no need to rush to book your tickets.

Also, I have heard things like “Oh yes, those trains will be cheap but it will take them ages to go from one place to another”. And no, that is absolutely not true. OUIGO claims to offer “high-speed, affordable” trains. The train rides just take as much time as the RENFE trains.

I have heard several persons calling OUIGO the Ryanair of trains. How true is that? Well, let’s put it like this: The OUIGO ticket prices are really cheap, but you have to pay for extras or additional luggage as well. In total, if you want your trip to be a little more comfortable, you can book a better seat or Wi-fi (for a cost), but you do not have to! I made a little summary of things you should know when traveling with OUIGO:

What you need to keep in mind:

  • You can only book tickets online. It is not possible to purchase a OUIGO ticket at the train station
  • Like in lowcost airlines, small luggage is free. You must pay for bigger pieces of luggage
  • You have to pay 30 Euros if you want to change your ticket. You can just book a flexible ticket instead, which costs 7 Euros more
  • Does not let you choose what type of seat you want, if you want to choose your seat you have to pay 9Euros more
  • You can take your pet with you while travelling, assuming it is part of the “hand luggage”. If it is not, you have to pay 40 Euros
  • The more you book in advance the cheaper your OUIGO ticket will be
  • There are electric sockets available next to all seats in the train.

Wait, what about the luggage?

According to OUIGO’s website, a regular ticket includes “1 handbag and 1 cabin luggage per passenger”. If you are confused by that, its the same as it is flying with Ryanair. You can take one cabin-size suitcase and a bag/backpack. If you want to take more, one additional piece of luggage costs 5 Euros.

Are OUIGO tickets actually 9 Euros?

OUIGO has a huge marketing claim saying they offer high-speed affordable train tickets starting from 9 Euros, but how true is that? Well, if you actually want to get those cheap tickets you have to book quite far in advance- I am talking about three, four months in advance. If you want to book only a couple of weeks in advance you might get lucky and get a ticket for 15 or 19 Euros. Personally, I have not been able to get those really cheap tickets, simply because I do not plan that far in advance. But I have paid 19 Euros for a ticket, which I still find very affordable!

How comfortable is travelling by OUIGO?

In my opinion, the trains are quite comfortable. Since train rides do not usually take long I did not feel like there are less comfortable than other trains. The only thing I missed was reclining seats, and I had the feeling that there was less space than in RENFE trains, but that did not bother me. In total, I am really happy that we finally have affordable trains here in Spain!

What about you? Have you ever tried the new OUIGO trains? Did you like them?

Posted In: Barcelona, BLOG, Destinations, Madrid, Spain, Travel Spain · Tagged: Cheap Trains in Spain, Ouigo, Trains in Spain, Travel by Train, Travel Spain

You’ll Also Love

gifts and souvenirs from madrid title photoGifts and Souvenirs from Madrid: The ultimate Guide
madrid quotes title photo32 Quotes about Madrid that will make you fall in love with the city
free museums in madrid palacio de cristal25 free museums in Madrid you have to visit during your stay
Next Post >

How to Find a Job in Spain

Hola, cómo estás?

title photo

Welcome to The Lithuanian Abroad! My name is Gabriele and I write about my life in Spain and my experiences while travelling. Here, you can find tips for moving to Spain, travel guides and other useful information for planning your Spain trip!

Saludos,
Gabi

Archives

Search

Don't miss these!

hey there!

It's Gabriele! Feel free to reach out on any of the following social media platforms. I would love to get in touch! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Find me on Instagram!

When the question is salmon croissant 🥐 or avoc When the question is salmon croissant 🥐 or avocado toast 🥑 the correct answer is: BOTH! 🥰🤤
But seriously, how good do they look like? 🙌
.
.
#madrid #madridfood #madridfoodie #madridfoodguide #madridfoodporn #madridbrunch #brunchinmadrid #madridcomida #foodiemadrid #foodmadrid #madridblogger #madridblog #madridfusion #madridcafe #brunchgoals #awayabroad #expatslife #expatblogger #expatblog #moveabroad
#ad Let’s be honest: Was “improve a language” also one of your New Years' resolutions? 🎉
I know it’s hard to focus on improving a language when you have a full-time job or it just does not fit into your schedule. That’s why I have the perfect solution for you: Learning languages with Lingoda 💻 
My code GABRIELE30 gives you 30% off of your first payment at Lingoda (Sprint excluded)
Lingoda’s benefits include:
- Flexible online classes at any time of the day ⏰ 
- Qualified native-level teachers 👩‍🏫 
- Small Groups of up to 5 people, private classes are also possible 👩🏼‍💻
Your perfect chance to finally improve your German, English, Spanish or French skills! 😎
(Code GABRIELE30 is valid until the 24th of April) Link in Bio! 😍
#lingoda #lingoda2022 #languageclasses #languageskills #learnspanish #learnenglish #learngerman #germanclasses #languages #languagevideos #spanishclasses #englishclasses #onlinelanguageschool #languageschool #learninglanguages #languages #aprenderidiomas #aprenderingles #expat #expats #immigrants #moveabroad #liveabroad #lifeabroad
Do you like travelling in off-season? 🤔 We rec Do you like travelling in off-season? 🤔
We recently went to Portugal and visited Lisbon and the Algarve 🏖. We had such a great time and really enjoyed our holidays. But one small detail was different: No crowded places, no queues in front of attractions and no overcrowded parking lots. Because we were travelling during off-season 👫
And wow, I really liked it! 🤩 During the last couple of years I have been to Portugal, Mallorca and to several places in the South of Spain during off-season. And I will definitely continue doing so! 👏🥰
Benefits include:
➡️Cheaper prices for accommodation, renting a car or other fun activities 💰
➡️ It is so much easier to get around by car: no crowded parking lots and less traffic jams. Public transport is not as crowded 🚎 
➡️No crowded beaches, monuments or restaurants 🏖 
➡️ The opportunity to take unique photos, because, you got it, no crowds 😜
➡️ You can be more flexible and spontaneous and book places to stay & activities last-minute ⏱
Can you think of other things? ☺️
The only disadvantage might be not ideal weather, but the right company will make you forget all about it, right? 👯‍♂️
What about you? Do you like travelling in off-season? 🧳
.
.
#lisboa #lisboa🇵🇹 #lisbon #lisbonportugal #lisbonlovers #lisbontravel #travellisbon #lisbontram #lisbontrip #lisbonstreets #lisbonstreetart #lisbonrestaurants #visitlisbon #visitlisboa #lisbongram #lisboatravel #lisboaportugal #lisboalovers #portugaltravel #visitportugal #portugalgram #streetsoflisbon #clublifedesign #clublifedesigncommunity #clublifedesignfamily #expat #expatblogger #expatblog
A summary of all places we saw in the Algarve in P A summary of all places we saw in the Algarve in Portugal 🇵🇹 
1. Algar Seco 🐚
Probably my favourite place from all that we have seen in the Algarve! 😍These rocks and caves have been sculpted for hundreds of years by the wind. Surrounded by stunning blue water!
2. Benagil Cave 🏞
The most impressive cave in the Algarve. It is not advised to swim around to the cave, but you can do a boat tour or rent a stand up paddle board to reach it⛵️Very beautiful!
3. The city of Lagos ⛱
Lagos is a beautiful small town in the Algarve. The city is famous for its stunning beaches, cliff formations and history 🏝
4. The beaches surrounding Lagos 🏖
If you are already in Lagos, you don’t need to go far to find beautiful beaches. And I am still sad we could not make it to “Ponta da Piedade” due to bad weather! Put it on your list! 🏞
5. Praia da Bordeira 🏄🏼‍♀️
A gorgeous beach on the west coast of the Algarve. It is very popular amongst surfers. Perfect for a long beach walk. Just be careful, as it does get very windy!🍃
6. Sagres Fortress 🏰
This fortress is located at the Southern tip of the Sagres peninsular and was built to protect the city from North African raiders. It offers great panoramic views over the ocean 🌊 
.
.
Have you ever been to one of these? 🤩
.
#algarve #algarveportugal #algarveportugal🇵🇹 #algarvecoast #algarvelover #algarvelovers #lagosportugal #algarseco #benagil #benagilcave #portugal🇵🇹 #visitportugal #portugalgram #travelportugal #portugaltravel #portugaltravel #femaletravelbloggers #femaletraveler #algarvetourism #algarvebeach #expattravel #expattraveler #portugalguide
Hola everyone! 😊 Just me, sitting in front of M Hola everyone! 😊
Just me, sitting in front of Monasterio Pedralbes, like mentioned in my last reel. Por si las moscas 🪰 you did not know about it, you should definitely check it out! 😝
Have you guys ever been here? 😍
.
.
#barcelona #visitbarcelona #travelbarcelona #barcelonaspain #explorebarcelona #barcelonacity #barcelonagram #travelspain #spaintravel #spaintrip #barcelonatrip #barcelonaexperience #barcelona🇪🇸 #spaintraveler #expat #expatliving #expatlife #expatblogger #expatwoman #expatblog #expats #expattravel
(En 🇪🇸 abajo) I had so much fun responding t (En 🇪🇸 abajo)
I had so much fun responding to the questions you sent yesterday 😊 And if you didn't have time to read all the answers, here is a small summary: 
I am Gabriele 👩🏻‍🦰 I am 25 years old and I moved to Spain 5 years ago. I went to university in Dresden in Germany and did an exchange semester in León in the North of Spain. I currently live in Madrid and I am absolutely in love with the city 😍 
I create videos and content about traveling, culture shocks, interesting expressions, moving abroad, or other stuff that I find interesting. Oh and food, of course, I forgot food 🥓🥘🥐
-----
🇪🇸: Me la pasé muy bien respondiendo a las preguntas que enviasteis ayer😊 Y si no tuvisteis tiempo de leer todas las respuestas, aquí tenéis un pequeño resumen: 
Soy Gabriele 👩🏻‍🦰 tengo 25 años y llevo 5 años en España. Fui a la universidad en Dresde en Alemania e hice un semestre de intercambio en León en el norte de España. Actualmente vivo en Madrid y estoy absolutamente enamorada de la ciudad 😍 
Creo vídeos y contenido sobre viajes, choques culturales, expresiones interesantes, la vida el extranjero u otras cosas que me parecen interesantes. Ah y sobre la comida, por supuesto, se me olvidaba la comida 🥓🥘🥐
.
.
#spain #movetospain #spaintravel #travelspain #viajesespaña #barcelona #madrid #travelbarcelona #travelmadrid #moveabroad #expat #expatblogger #expatslife #expatblog #expats #expatwoman #lifeabroad #learningspanish #learnspanish #clublifedesigncommunity #clublifedesignfamily #spaintravels #spaintraveler
thelithuanianabroad
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

Copyright © 2022 The Lithuanian Abroad · Theme by 17th Avenue

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT

Share

Blogger
Delicious
Digg
Email
Facebook
Facebook messenger
Google
Hacker News
Line
LinkedIn
Mix
Odnoklassniki
PDF
Pinterest
Pocket
Print
Reddit
Renren
Short link
SMS
Skype
Telegram
Tumblr
Twitter
VKontakte
wechat
Weibo
WhatsApp
Xing
Yahoo! Mail
Powered by WP Socializer

Copy short link

Copy link
Powered by WP Socializer