Public transportation in Spain

• Spain is the land of excellent public transportation. The extensive network of trains in, to and from Spain is one of the main modes of transportation.
• The capital of Spain has a great subway network and many cabs that will take you anywhere for a good price.
• The second largest city, Barcelona, has numerous transportation options. From metros to buses and streetcars to cabs.

Travel in Spain: Public transportation throughout the country

If you think things are well organized in the Netherlands, you haven't been to Spain yet. First, there are multiple ways to travel throughout the country and second, they are not nearly as expensive as in the Netherlands. It is well arranged, reliable and convenient. Train transportation consists not only of a simple rail network, Spain also has a good number of lines of high-speed trains that race throughout the country at over 300 km/h. The most famous company is 'AVE' (Alta Velocidad Española). In addition, 'Media Distancia' trains from 'RENFE' are the most obvious trains to travel on. The buses in Spain are, in a word, luxury. When you travel with the so-called 'autocars,' you find yourself in a bus with air conditioning, a TV screen and access to electricity. Then, of course, there are the scheduled buses as you find in every country.

Public transportation in Madrid

Madrid is a large city, it therefore has a large network with many options for getting around. Public transportation in Madrid is subsidized by the government and this makes it pleasantly cheap to travel on. The subways in Madrid go everywhere. It is an extensive network that is still expanding daily. Waiting is almost non-existent, as a metro leaves about every 3 minutes. Madrid has about 185 bus lines throughout the city. Buses struggle in Madrid as they have to compete with the extensive metro network. Nevertheless, they manage to distinguish themselves by offering night services (frequency: every 30 minutes) that get everyone back home safely after going out. White cars with a red diagonal stripe on the sides, you see them all over the city. They are the cabs of Madrid. You can pull them over, but there are also a huge number of cab stands and parking lots. Cabs are cheaper than in the Netherlands, which makes it attractive to travel by cab.

Public transport in Barcelona

Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain, and it also offers numerous options for getting around by public transportation at a good price. The most obvious option for getting around is the metro. It is fast, safe and cheap and with 9 metro lines, all hot spots are easily accessible. Barcelona's metro network is operated by two companies: 'TMB' and 'FGC,' but the integrated ticketing system allows you to travel with both companies on one ticket. On Saturdays, the subways run all night.

The bus is not the fastest mode of transportation since the city is a big fan of one-way streets. As a result, buses often have to detour. That said, it is a good mode of transportation. Like a real city, Barcelona also has streetcars. These streetcars mainly take you to the neighborhoods on the outskirts of the city. As in Madrid and countless other cities, there are more than a thousand cabs in Barcelona. They can be recognized by their black color with yellow doors.