Zaragoza is one of the most visited Spanish cities. Ancient architectural monuments and modern buildings are harmoniously combined here. In this article, we will show you how to get from Barcelona to Zaragoza by land transport. The move will be short-lived, and the experience gained will more than pay for the money and effort spent.
What are the ways
The fastest way to get to Zaragoza from Barcelona is by train. High-speed rail transport covers the route in less than an hour and a half. The bus trip will save you some money, especially if you buy your tickets in advance. Traveling by car will be beneficial for a large family or a friendly company.
| Way | Cost, EUR | Travel time |
|---|---|---|
| Train | 15.9 | 2 h 1 min |
| Bus | 5.45 | 3 h 30 min |
| Automobile | rent - about 20, fuel - 40.5 | about 3 hours |
Train ride
More than 35 trains run between Barcelona and Zaragoza per day. These are high-speed trains and less fast regional trains.
The first train to Zaragoza leaves at 6:05 and the last at 21:05. The minimum travel time is 1 hour 23 minutes, the maximum is 5 hours 2 minutes.
The best option is to take the ALVIA train, which will take you to Zaragoza in just two hours, which is 35 minutes longer than the AVE, and for a ticket you will pay 15.9 euros instead of 37.3 euros. The prices for travel documents are given taking into account the preliminary purchase (at least one month in advance).
Conveniently, you can take the ALVIA train from Barcelona at 7:30 to start an exciting walk around Zaragoza at 09:31.
From Barcelona, trains leave from Barselona Sants Train Station. On weekdays, the station is open from half past four in the morning until half past midnight. On weekends and holidays, it opens at five in the morning.
It is convenient to get to Barselona Sants by metro. You need to take trains on the L5 or L3 line and get off at Sants station. Also, municipal buses run to the station: 27, 32, 78, 109, 115, H10 and V17.
Another way to get there is the FGC train (you should take the Estació de Barcelona Sants stop).
In Zaragoza, all trains - both high-speed and regional - arrive at the Zaragoza Delicias station.
The station building is striking in size. The state-of-the-art train station houses a shopping center, hotel and recreation area. The station is located just 2 kilometers from the city center, which can be easily overcome on foot, spending only half an hour.
You can get to any area of Zaragoza by public bus or taxi. If you plan to get to the city center, you will have to pay about 11 euros for a taxi service, and the journey will take only 10 minutes. Buses 34 and 51 run to the historic center, the ticket for which costs about 1 euro.
Railways in Spain play an important role in the country's transport network. High-speed trains can compete with air travel. Given the high demand for rail travel, the carrier offers several ways to purchase travel documents:
- at the register;
- at the ticket machine;
- on the official site.
To purchase tickets at the box office, you must provide the correct information to the cashier.
Not many station employees know English. Therefore, if you are not fluent in Spanish, the best option is to write the necessary information on a sheet and submit it to the cashier.
To buy a travel document, you need to name the date and time of travel, departure and arrival stations, carriage class, fare, number and age of passengers. Accordingly, you will first have to study the schedule on the RENFE website.
When buying a ticket from the machine, you can change the language to English, which will greatly simplify the process. By default, the station where the terminal is located is indicated.
Ticket purchase process:
- Select the arrival station and specify the type of ticket: one way or both ways.
- Set the date (the default is current).
- Select the number of travel documents according to the age of the passengers (adult, child, passenger over 60 or under 26). After that, you will be able to see the cost of the ticket.
- Check the details and proceed to payment. The terminal accepts bills and coins, but gives change only in euro cents. You can also pay by credit card.
You can also buy a ticket online on the official RENFE website. The search form is located right on the home page:
- Indicate the starting and ending points, mark the dates.
- Select a suitable time from the list; if necessary, change the tariff.
- Click on the cost to proceed to payment.
- Fill in your personal data in the appropriate fields, enter your current email address.
- Enter your payment card details to make a payment.
The ticket that arrives by email must be printed.
How to get there by bus
Buses in Spain are a cheap and comfortable form of public transport. The Barcelona-Zaragoza route is operated by ALSA, with 17 direct buses a day.
The ticket price starts from 5.45 euros. You will spend only three and a half hours on the way. The first bus leaves at 7:00 and the last leaves at 23:59. There is also a 1:00 night flight.
Buses leave from Estacio Nord station. From the center of Barcelona, you can get to the bus station by taxi: a trip costing about 10 euros will only take 10 minutes. Taking bus no. 54 will take you to Estacio Nord in five stops.
Also, the city center and the bus station are connected by the red metro line L1, you need to go to Plaza Catalunya.
The bus stop in Zaragoza is located near the train station.
A bus ticket can be bought at the bus station ticket offices, ticket machines or on the carrier's website. Purchasing a travel document at the ticket office requires knowledge of Spanish.
To be sure that the cashier understands you, you need to write the data on a piece of paper. Indicate the cities of departure and arrival, the date and time of departure, the number of passengers, and also indicate whether you need a one-way or round-trip ticket.
You can quickly buy a travel document at the ticket machine located at the bus station. The machine accepts both cash and bank cards. Instructions on how to buy a ticket from the machine:
- Select departure and arrival stations, specify the date and number of passengers.
- Select a suitable time and rate from the list, and on the next page the location.
- The carrier will offer to buy insurance that can be canceled.
- Pay and receive your ticket.
The most profitable way to purchase a travel document is through the ALSA website.
On the main page, select the departure and arrival stations, indicate the date and number of travelers, check the box: one way or the other way.
- Find the right flight time. You have the opportunity to view the route ("See Itinerary" button). The following information will open to you:
- departure station;
- arrival station;
- intermediate stops.
- Now go to buy your ticket. If the lowest tariff was selected, the system will warn that it is non-refundable. You must agree by clicking on the appropriate button. If you notice that the cost has increased, it means that the price includes insurance, which you can refuse.
- Now select a seat on the bus, save the changes and enter your personal information: last name and first name, passport details, email.
- Pay with your bank card. The received travel document can be printed or saved to a smartphone.
Car travel
You can also travel by car. The journey takes only about 3 hours, as the distance from Barcelona to Zaragoza is 300 km.
From Barcelona, take the A2 motorway, which will become AP-2. There will be toll road sections along the way. A one-way trip will require 30 liters of fuel. The cost of gasoline in Spain is 1.35 euros / liter.Thus, a total of 40.5 euros will be required for fuel.
The main expense item is car rental. You can rent a car in Spain both in the office and on the official website of the company. The cost depends on the class of the car, the average minimum price is 20 euros.
You can order a car on the official websites of Centauro, Europcar and Hertz.
The driver must be over 26 years old and have at least one year of driving experience. In this case, you need to have a valid payment card with the required amount on the account. The presence of international rights is not a prerequisite.
The car rental company blocks a deposit of 500 euros or more on the card. If you are going to return the car with a full tank, then a certain amount for fuel will be blocked on the card.
In Spain, they take traffic rules very seriously, especially speed limits. In 2021, the following speed limits are set:
- outside the settlement - 90 km / h;
- in the city - 50 km / h;
- road - 100 km / h;
- highway - 120 km / h;
- Autobahn - at least 60 km / h.
Children under 12 years old should only ride in special child seats in the back seat. Drivers should pay close attention to markings, road signs and signs. Private vehicles are prohibited from driving in the taxi and public transport lane. Rather high fines are imposed for traffic violations.
On the BlaBlaCar website you can find passing cars. The cost of such a trip is about 14 euros.
The only drawback is the inability to plan the trip in advance. Basically, drivers submit offers 1–2 days before departure. However, if you are traveling light and alone, then thanks to this option, you can save money and quickly and comfortably get from Barcelona to Zaragoza.
Finally
Barcelona and Zaragoza are 300 kilometers apart. The train will take you from one city to another in just one and a half to two hours. A large number of flights per day allows everyone to choose a convenient time for themselves.
The cheapest trip is by bus: you will only spend an hour and a half longer on the way than by train.
If you have a driving license, rent a car and plan your trip yourself.
