By Train in Seville and Western Andalusia

By Train

Seville, Jerez, and Cádiz all lie on the main rail line from Madrid to southwestern Spain. Trains leave from Madrid for Seville (via Córdoba) almost hourly, most of them high-speed AVE trains that reach Seville in 2 1/2 hours. Two of the non-AVE trains continue on to Jerez and Cádiz; travel time from Seville to Cádiz is 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Trains also depart regularly for Barcelona (3 daily, 11 hours), Cáceres (1 daily, 6 hours), and Huelva (4 daily, 1 1/2 hours). From Granada, Málaga, Ronda, and Algeciras, trains go to Seville by way of Bobadilla, where, more often than not, you have to change. A dozen or more local trains each day connect Cádiz with Seville, Puerto de Santa María, and Jerez. There are no trains to Doñana National Park, Sanlúcar de Barrameda, or Arcos de la Frontera or between Cádiz and the Costa del Sol. In Seville, the sprawling Santa Justa station is on Avenida Kansas City. Cádiz's station is on Plaza de Sevilla near the docks. Jerez's station is on Plaza de la Estación, off Diego Fernández Herrera, in the eastern part of town. Al Andalus is a vintage 1920s luxury train that makes a weekly six-day trip in season from Seville to Córdoba, Granada, and Antequera, with side trips to Carmona and Jerez.

North Americans can purchase a Eurorail Spain Pass, available in both first- and second-class sections, which allows three days of unlimited travel within a two-month period for $225/$113 (adult/child) for first class and $175/$88 (adult/child) for second class.

Train Information

Eurorail (www.raileurope.com/us) RENFE (902/240202. www.renfe.es).

Train Stations

Cádiz-Estación (Av. de Gibraltar (Cortadura). 956/251010). Huelva-Estación (Av. de Italia. 959/246666). Jerez de la Frontera-Estación (Pl. de la Estación s/n. 956/342319).

Seville-Estación Santa Justa (95/454-0202).