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Train travel in Europe is getting cheaper!
After it was announced that travelers will soon be able to hop on a train from Amsterdam to Berlin for less than their breakfast combo bill, not to mention the ultra-cheap commute from Paris to Brussels, it’s time for Spain to up its game:
Six years in the making, French operator Ouigo has impressed the Spanish market by launching routes from Spain’s capital Madrid to 3 other incredible destinations in the sun-drenched southern end of the country, from just $9:
French cheap Ouigo makes its debut in Spain!
It’s been more than half a decade of deliberations and conversations, but Ouigo España officially bowed out on January 16 with their first return trip from Madrid.
More specifically, they will offer ultra-low-cost trips from Madrid to the Andalusian cities of Seville and Malaga, with stops in Cordoba, with ttickets cost €9 as standardor about $9.25, and up to 35,000 seats per week.
It goes without saying that Renfe, the Spanish national railway company, is far from receptive to their new competitor.
For example, a one-way ticket from Madrid to Seville costs $41.75 on Renfe, significantly more than Ouigo’s recently introduced fare of $9, which has naturally drawn criticism from Spain’s Transport Minister Óscar Puente.
According to Puente, Ouigo’s lowering of prices is an ‘unfair’ tactic because it is putting pressure on Renfe itself to lower its own rates in response to maintaining competitive position.
That was him quoted say that, ‘unless the French operator agrees to the idea of losing money for the ten years it has committed to the existence of not the most profitable high-speed corridors in Spain, it will have to increase prices‘.
In response, the general manager of Ouigo Spain, Hélène Valenzuela, has reiterated that they receive ‘no’ subsidies from the French government and have reassured customers that they will keep prices low despite the clash with Renfe.
That’s not the only market in which Ouigo and Renfe will compete in 2025: Renfe is introducing trains between Barcelona, in southeastern Spain, and the French city of Toulouse.
Anyway, Fare wars are usually great news for travelerswho always come out on top when competitors try to price each other out of the market:
Timetables for the new Ouigo trains
Ouigo trains leave from there Seville from Madrid (Puerta de Atocha – Almudena Grandes) twice a day, at 7:40 AM (arrival at 10:25 AM) and 3:14 PM (arrival at 6:02 PM).
Nasty Malaga instead, trains in the Andalusian coast are expected to depart from the same station in Madrid at 7.19am and 3.23pm, arriving at María Zambrano station in Malaga at 10.17am and 6.11pm respectively.
That’s the same route you can use to get there Cordoba from Madrid with Ouigo’s low prices: before reaching their terminus in Malaga, the trains will call at Cordoba at 9:10 am, leaving at 7:19 am and 5:05 pm for the second daily departure.
Seville
Royal palaces, colorful neighborhoods and delicious food
Seville is the capital of Andalusia and one of Spain’s most vibrant city breaks, with the country’s most beautiful public square, the stately canalside Plaza de España, and a monumental historic center that combines medieval Moorish charm and Renaissance grandeur.
The Royal Alcazar is one of the most emblematic monuments in Spain, built by Muslim conquerors during the Middle Ages, and La Giralda is a former minaret, now masquerading as a bell tower, offering a breathtaking panorama over the ocher cityscape.
You can enjoy delicious food in Triana, which is filled with restaurants pescado and the traditional of Andalusia gazpacho soup at affordable prices, sometimes for less than $15and don’t miss the bustling Mercado de Feria, a covered marketplace with more than 100 food stalls selling fresh produce and local delicacies.
Malaga
Golden sandy beaches, relaxed atmosphere and Roman ruins
Located on the azure Mediterranean coast, Malaga is Andalusia’s premier seaside resort and a proven sunny retreat whatever the season: with an average of 320 days of sunshine per yearIt’s no wonder that British and Germans have been flocking here since March.
Malaga’s biggest attraction is undoubtedly the palm-lined, golden-sand Malagueta Beach, the perfect rival to Barcelona’s trendy Barceloneta, except it’s more relaxed, although you shouldn’t miss the ancient wonders dotted around the historic center. .
These include the Alcazaba, a Moorish fortress stretching over a range of central hills overlooking the urban sprawl, Gibralfaro Castle, famous for its many viewpoints, and the Roman Theater. a well-preserved site from the 1st century dating from the reign of Emperor Augustus.
Cordoba
Picturesque old town, Moorish mosques and cheap prices
The lesser known of the three, Cordoba, is a gem in inland Andalusia that recently made headlines as a popular alternative for Americans to overcrowded Barcelona, thanks to its beautiful, whitewashed old town and cheaper prices.
The most striking structure in the old center of Cordoba is the Great Mosque, which, like several other Andalusian wonders, is attributed to the Muslim conquest of Spain: built in the 8th century and with some 1250 Moorish columns and stones walls. carved arches.
As for the price: if you eat out in the city, you should know a plate of it Andaluz salmorejo will probably cost you about $8, and nights in downtown hotels start from just $52–checkout Hotel Riviera or Hotel Maestre for the lowest possible rates.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
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