- To Madrid from Paris by train
- How to get from Paris to Madrid by bus
- Choosing wings
- The car is not a luxury
If you prefer to see several cities in one tourist trip at once and are looking for a way to get from Paris to Madrid, pay attention to air travel and train routes. Bus transfers can seem a bit tedious, but ticket prices are often the reason behind the popularity of this type of transport among budget-conscious travelers.
To Madrid from Paris by train
In Paris, trains heading towards the Spanish border leave from Montparnasse train station:
- It is located in the XV arrondissement of the French capital. The exact address for the navigator is 17 Boulevard de Vaugirard, 75741 Paris.
- You can get to Paris Montparnasse train station using the city metro. The Montparnasse - Bienvenüe station is nearby. The branches you need are 4, 6, 12 and 13.
- While waiting for their train in the station building, passengers can have a bite to eat in inexpensive cafes, use the services of a currency exchange office and ATMs.
- There is a 24-hour luggage storage service at the station, and you can buy cute little things in souvenir shops.
- Tourist information kiosks will help you get a map of Paris and other European cities.
The most popular trains with tourists to Madrid follow through Barcelona and Hendaye. In the first case, the travel time takes just over 9 hours. There will be a change in Barcelona. Tickets cost approximately 250 euros, and the timetables and prices are available at www.bahn.de. Trains via Hendaye will require a change and a small transfer between Hendaye and Irun stations. The total cost of tickets is about 210 euros, and you will have to spend a little longer than 12 hours on the road. The website www.renfe.com will help you to book tickets and find out all the details.
How to get from Paris to Madrid by bus
Traditionally, bus carriers keep prices much lower than railroad workers, and therefore, despite some discomfort from a long journey, thrifty tourists prefer to use their services. Several bus companies transport passengers from the French to the Spanish capital:
- ALSA is a Spanish carrier that runs from Gallieni on the Paris Metro. On the way to Madrid, passengers will have to spend 16 long hours, paying about 80 euros for a ticket. Schedule and other useful details can be found on the originator's website - www.alsa.es.
- Autocares Grupo Samar offers its passengers an 18-hour journey from Paris to Madrid for 90 euros. The route leads through Poitiers, Bordeaux and Biarizzas, and you can easily find the information you need at www.samar.es.
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The ubiquitous Eurolines also offers its services on the section between Paris and Madrid. The French branch of the company guarantees its customers an exciting trip for 150 euros, which lasts at least 22 hours.
Multimedia systems and individual sockets for recharging phones and computers will help to brighten up a long journey for all passengers of buses on European routes. All cars are equipped with dry closets, air conditioning systems and coffee machines, and luggage can be conveniently stowed in large cargo compartments.
Choosing wings
Despite its established reputation as the most expensive form of international transport, aviation has increasingly proven in recent years that times are changing. For example, a ticket from Paris to Madrid and back on board an Air Europa plane will cost only 79 euros. The flight is direct and the journey takes only 2 hours. The low-cost airlines Transavia France and EasyJet have about the same prices.
Most of the scheduled flights depart from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. Its terminals are located 23 km from the center of the capital. RER commuter trains will help you get to the airfield. They depart from the stations Gare du Nord, Châtelet-Les Halles, Saint-Michel, Luxembourg in the center of Paris. The price of a train ticket is about 10 euros, and the interval of their movement is 10-20 minutes, depending on the time of day.
Low-cost airlines fly more often from Paris Orly airport. You can get to Orly by OrlyBus buses or city bus N183. The journey will take from 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the congestion of the highways. Orly is also served by RER trains. Take Line B to get to Antony Station. There you must change to the Orlyval airport shuttle train. The total cost of the transfer will be no more than 12 euros.
The car is not a luxury
The two most beautiful European capitals are separated by only a little more than 1200 kilometers, and therefore a trip by a rented car can be a worthy alternative to both a flight and a train trip. Useful information for the traveler:
- The cost of one liter of fuel in Spain and France is 1.2 and 1.4 euros, respectively. The lowest gasoline prices are offered by filling stations near major shopping centers and outlets in Europe.
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Some of the highways in both countries have toll sections. The amount of payment, as a rule, is displayed at the entrance to such a section of the road. Payment can be made either by card or in cash.
- Parking in most European cities is paid. You can freely leave your vehicle on city streets only in the evenings and on weekends and holidays. In order to avoid misunderstandings, do not forget to check this information at each parking lot.
It is important to remember that compliance with traffic rules in Europe is not only a guarantee of safety, but also a guarantee that the economic component of travel does not cross all reasonable limits. Fines for traffic violations both in Spain and in France are very substantial. For example, a passenger or driver will have to pay from 130 to 200 euros for an unfastened seat belt.
All prices in the material are approximate and given as of January 2017. It is better to check the exact fare on the official websites of the carriers.
