rail travel spain free

You can travel around Spain for free by train this summer

Spanish authorities are extending a popular free rail ticket scheme in conjunction with operator Renfe.

Launched by Spanish authorities last year to help tackle the cost-of-living crisis for residents, the free train travel period was due to end this spring. However, authorities extended the program to December 2023, meaning travelers visiting Spain this summer can now take advantage.

Anyone can snap up the free tickets as long as they select multi-journey tickets. Multi-journey tickets include a minimum of 10 return trips. To be eligible for the offer, you must travel on commuter and medium-distance services operated by Renfe.

Play your (rail)cards right, and you could save money while you, ahem, Basque in the glow of San Sebastian and Bilbao, exploring great cities at your leisure.

Or, perhaps you'll want to zip between the coast of Barcelona and the Catalan countryside to maximize a short city break. There are plenty of ways the free train rides could boost your next adventure.

Just be careful with how you plan your itinerary. Many major train routes, including those high-speed journeys between Madrid and Barcelona, won't be part of the scheme. It may take a little longer than usual to reach your preferred destination.

You'll need to pay a deposit of 10 euros (around $11) for commuter services, known as Cercanías and Rodalies de Catalunya. You'll pay 20 euros (roughly $22) for medium-distance services, known as Media Distancia routes covering distances up to about 186 miles.

Related: 15 of the most beautiful villages in Spain

To get the deposit back, you must complete a minimum of 16 journeys by the end of 2023 — what a great travel incentive that is.

Last year, Renfe altered the ways you can book by limiting customers to two outgoing and two return journeys. This was to tackle "ghost reservations," whereby customers book multiple seats only to cancel them at the last minute without paying any cancellation fees.

The scheme's extension will cost the government around $764 million and will be funded directly by a new windfall tax on the country's banks and energy companies.

Minister of Finance María Jesús Montero hasn't ruled out extending the scheme into 2024, citing its potential impact on the environment as a reason to keep it in place.

"We are going to convert this policy into a structural one, and we will see the concrete results of public transport to reduce CO2. It is a priority policy in the coming years," she said.

Related: 4 European routes where you should take a train instead of a plane

By all accounts, the initial launch of the free tickets scheme has been a roaring success, with locals leaving their cars at home to take advantage of the offer in towns and cities across Spain.

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Spain Is Making Some of Its Trains Completely Free Starting in September

Now's the time to travel through Spain by train.

Spain is making its public train system absolutely free for travelers to use this fall.

This week, Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that travelers will be able to hop aboard various trains on the public train network, Renfe, for $0.

"This measure encourages to the maximum the use of this type of collective public transport to guarantee the needed daily commute with a safe, reliable, comfortable, economic and sustainable means of transportation, amid the extraordinary circumstances of the steady increase of energy and fuel prices," the Spanish Ministry of Transport said, according to CNN .

The free rail rides will apply to multi-trip tickets (those that include a minimum of 10 return trips) on cercanías (commuter services), rodalies (commuter routes in Catalonia), and medium-distance routes (those less than 300km, or about 186 miles). The free tickets,

The Guardian added, that the free tickets are aimed at residents but can be used by tourists as well. The free rides are not available for single-journey tickets or long-distance travel.

The free train rides will be available from September 1 to December 31, 2022. This new 100% discount is in addition to the previously announced discounts by the central Spanish government. Earlier this month, the government announced it would fund 30%-50% discounts on all public transport, including metros, buses, and trams, Time Out noted.

Spain isn't alone in offering free or discounted rides to locals and tourists this summer and fall.

German officials announced it launched a €9 unlimited monthly public transport ticket, which can be used on both local and regional transport, a promotion which is running now through the end of August. So maybe now really is the time to take that European train trip you've been dreaming about for your entire life.

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EXPLAINER: What you need to know about Spain’s free rail travel scheme from September 1

SPAIN’S rail operator is introducing a scheme from September 1 that offers free train travel on certain local and mid-distance journeys.

The scheme was announced by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez as a measure to limit the impact of rising inflation and the cost of living crisis and will run from September 1 until December 31.

Renfe ha expedido hasta hoy 316.749 abonos gratis de Cercanías y Media Distancia para viajar entre el 1 de septiembre y el 31 de diciembre de 2022. Del total de abonos adquiridos, el 78% son de Cercanías y el 22% de Media Distancia. https://t.co/nvxrwEcEgs — Renfe (@Renfe) August 30, 2022

The process for obtaining the free tickets is fully explained on the Renfe website (in Spanish) but here’s a simplified overview of the scheme and how to benefit from it.

 Who is eligible?

The tickets are available to anyone, both resident and non-resident, although the need to register and pay a deposit for a travel card makes it less of a convenient and money saving option for tourists.

In fact,the deal is not valid for a single or round-trip ticket so is best targeted at commuters as it offers repeated journeys with users  travelling to and from the same station in order to get the discounts.

Which trains?

The ticket scheme is available on routes offered by Cercanías, Rodalies, and Media Distancia (local and medium-distance journeys) and not on the high speed AVE or long distance Alvia services.

The train ticket allows passengers to get off and on at different stations for “Cercanias”.

However, for “Media Distancia” it is mandatory to get on and off on the specific station chosen when the ticket was purchased.

The “Avant” services offer a 50% of discount for the trains scheduled between September 1 and December 31.

For commuter discounts, users will have to use their ticket at least 16 times between September and December and then they will be refunded the discount at the end of the year.

Tickets are non-transferable.

How to book free tickets

You will need to either visit Renfe’s website or download the Renfe APP and register as a user or go in person to the train station.

Tickets will be issued with a QR code that can be scanned in and out of stations.

Renfe advise passengers to arrive earlier at the station and to avoid peak times.

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Nomad Guide

Live, travel and work remotely in Europe

Spain’s Free Trains Explained – How Travellers can Benefit

Spain is the latest European country to launch a scheme designed to entice people to its railways whilst reducing costs for existing travellers. You may have heard about it. Since its launch on September 1st, many international media outlets have run stories promoting free travel thanks to Spain’s free trains between now and the end of the year. It all sounds like a wonderful opportunity for travellers and digital nomads to explore the Iberian country this autumn without spending a cent. 

The reality is a little different though for those dreaming of seeing Spain by train for free. Once you dig a little deeper into the smallprint, you will soon realise you cannot simply jump on any train in Spain and travel where you want without spending any money. In fact, most long distance and all high-speed services are excluded from the “free” bit of the scheme, but there are still ways you can use it to your benefit if you are just visiting the country.

Table of Contents

Spain launches free trains throughout autumn – the basics, in which regions can you get passes, how to get your regional pass, examples of medium distance routes, how to get your media distancia abono, is it really free, do you need a passport to ride the train in spain, do you need to be a spanish resident, how long are the passes valid, are these passes better value than the usual train prices in spain, does a round trip count as two trips or as one, can i travel on avant and ave trains.

Spain’s free rail initiative is designed to reduce the cost of travel for commuters during these challenging economic times. Therefore it is centred around reducing and in some cases entirely wiping out the cost of passes or season tickets as opposed to one-way or return tickets for individual journeys. Therefore you need to register for a pass (abono) to benefit from the scheme. You cannot just get a free ticket for a single journey.

Essentially there are two ways in which visitors to the country can benefit from the scheme, assuming they aren’t here for specific work or study purposes which requires repetitive travel to the same destination.

The first, is by getting a pass for regional Cercanías/Rodalies services. Essentially the metropolitan rail networks in and around major cities such as Madrid and Barcelona. 

The second, is by getting a pass for a specific route on some “medium distance” trains which cover larger areas and mostly connect neighbouring regions, although there are some Media Distancia services which do actually cover really large portions of Spain. More on that below.

The other aspects of the scheme won’t really benefit casual visitors who are not making repetitive journeys as they only feature 50% discounts on season passes for the faster medium and long distance trains. You’d have to make A LOT of the same journeys to make it cost effective so for travellers and nomads looking to benefit, the only relevant parts are the Cercanías/Rodalies and Media Distancia passes.

Free Cercanías & Rodalies Regional Passes

The most viable way for travellers and digital nomads in Spain to actually get free train travel through this scheme is to go and base yourself in a city for a week or more and do lots of trips in and around that city using a pass for the Cercanias (commuter) trains – known as Rodalies in Catalunya. You need to pay a €10 deposit to get the pass but that will be refunded as long as you make 16 individual journeys between now and December 31st 2022.

These passes can be obtained for travel within any of the following metropolitan regions:

• Murcia/Alicante
• San Sebastian

These networks vary considerably in size. You’d have a hard time getting much out of your Zaragoza Cercanías abono for example given there are only six stations. However there are over 100 stations to choose from with the Barcelona Rodalies pass while Madrid and Valencia also have extensive regional networks with plenty of travel opportunities and interesting places to visit.

Note that these passes can be used on the railways only. They cannot be used on a city’s bus or metro network, although there are some reduced fares available on those services too.

You can buy most train tickets in Spain online and the same is true for these passes. The easiest way is to download the Renfe Cercanias app on your phone (make sure you get the right one as there are various Renfe apps) and complete the brief registration process.

You can then select the region (from those listed above) that you want to get a pass for. Click on the menu button in the top left corner and select BUY TICKETS – BUY. 

You are then directed to a screen where you must select an origin station and a destination station. It doesn’t really matter which ones you choose as the passes are valid for the whole network but you need to select two. Click on “Seleccione tarifa” and choose “Ab. Recurrente”.

The price should come up as €10 which is your deposit. Click on “BUY” and you will then reach a screen where you need to enter your passport or identity number. Once you’ve done that, you can complete your purchase with a debit/credit card and your €10 will be returned to you via the same method after your 16th journey. You may also be asked to create a 4-digit security code at some stage in the process for reasons that aren’t entirely clear!

You should be able to see your pass by going back to the menu and selecting BUY TICKETS – MY TICKETS. Your QR code will be there which will enable you to access the trains. If you have any problems, the abonos can also be purchased in stations by using ticket machines or at ticket kiosks.

Medium Distance Trains

The other way anyone visiting Spain during the latter months of 2022 may be able to get some benefit from this scheme is with the medium distance passes. These are only available on media distancia trains which are the slowest of the rail services which connect different cities and regions in Spain. In some cases, the journey time on media distancia services are two or three times as long as the high-speed AVE trains which are excellent but unfortunately aren’t included in the free passes.

Therefore this is not going to be the fastest way for you to get around Spain but if you’re someone who is looking to save as much money as possible whilst visiting the country, you can still potentially make some savings on the regular fares.

The main difference between the media distancia and cercanias passes is that in this case the passes are only valid for travel between two specific stations. You must enter and exit the train at one of the two and you can’t just jump off at intermediary stations either. Again you must make 16 journeys to get your deposit back, which in this case is €20.

That’s not going to be a realistic scenario for most casual visitors to Spain so to all intents and purposes, these passes are better viewed as a single or return ticket that can be purchased for €20. There is no limit to the amount of passes you can buy, so you could potentially purchase ones for several different routes.

You can view Spain’s media distancia rail map here . In theory, you can purchase the free abono (€20 unless you make 16 trips) for any direct link between two stations. In other words, you can’t just pick two points on the map and buy a pass unless there is a direct media distancia train that links to the two. Here are some examples of medium distance passes you could purchase:

• Madrid to San Sebastian
• Madrid to Seville
• Seville to Malaga
• Seville to Cadiz
• Valencia to Alicante
• Almeria to Granada
• Vigo to A Coruña
• Barcelona to Girona

To get your media distancia abono, you need to go to a station and find a Renfe ticket machine (make sure it is not a Cercanias/Rodalies machine) or ticket office. The process is then similar to the regional passes where you have to nominate an origin and destination (be sure to name the correct station as some cities have more than one), enter your passport/identity details and pay your deposit which in this case is €20.

However with this pass, you must also “formalise” any journey you wish to make. In other words, you have to select the specific train you want to travel on. It is wise to do this as far in advance as possible as many media distancia services are only once or twice daily and may well get fully booked during this promotional period. You can do this via the Renfe app (a different app to the Renfe Cercanias one), the Renfe website , self-service ticket machines and ticket offices at the station.

Spain’s “Free Train” Scheme – Frequently Asked Questions

For most nomads and travellers visiting the country, which is one of the most popular digital nomad destinations ,  the only realistic way to use the scheme without spending a cent would be to buy the Cercanias/Rodalies pass and make 16 journeys within that region. That would see your €10 deposit refunded.

For anyone here wondering how to get free train tickets in Spain, you may be a little disappointed as the inter-regional medium-distance passes are only really going to end up being free for commuters or anyone with a specific reason for going back/forth between two different places.

You need a passport or Spanish identity number to purchase tickets. In practice, it’s very rare that you are asked to show this when ticket inspectors come by and they normally just scan your barcode or QR code. However you’d be wise to carry it if you’re using the media distancia or other long distance services as they may be more vigilant at this time to prevent multiple people using the same pass. You won’t need it on Cercanias/Rodalies trains which can be entered by just scanning your QR code at the entry/exit barriers.

No. Although designed to be used by commuters in Spain, anyone can buy these passes.

Passes are valid from September 1st to December 31st 2022. There is no limit on how many times you can use them within that period.

A typical single journey on a Cercanias service is between 2 and 4 Euros depending on how far you are travelling. Therefore the €10 deposit Cercanias passes will pretty quickly pay for themselves even if you don’t quite make it to the 16 journey point where you get the deposit back.

As for the media distancia services, these are already the cheapest train tickets in Spain for intercity travel. In many cases, you will be able to find single tickets on some routes for less than €20, in which case it makes no sense to purchase the pass if you are not in need of a return ticket. However many of the longer media distancia trains do cost more than €20, in which case you’re obviously better off with the pass, even if you only use it once. You can easily check the cost of individual tickets via the usual methods (Renfe app/website/ticket machines).

It counts as two. Therefore to get your deposit back, you would need to make 16 individual trips or 8 round trips.

The Cercanias and Media Distancia passes are only valid on those specific services. You can’t use them on Avant or AVE trains which instead have season passes available at 50% the usual rate.

Mark Sochon

Mark is a freelance writer currently based in Madrid, Spain. He writes about travel and football and has visited most countries in the EU. He has lived and worked remotely from various cities across Iberia.

17 thoughts on “ Spain’s Free Trains Explained – How Travellers can Benefit ”

hi, thank you – this is one of the most helpful pages i could find on this topic, for non locals. i had 2 questions that I could not understand:

1. if i take a media distancia abono between girona and Valencia, I understand i need to select my train before travelling. but then can i break my journey and for eg. get off at Barcelona? or will the trip not get registered because i didn’t get off at Valencia and this would affect my ability to book future trips on the Girona -Valencia route?

2. the Media distancia map is quite broad. how do I know if there is a direct train connection between two cities (or is it not necessary for a direct train connection and i just need to “formalize” my trip on all connecting trains)?

thank you so much!

regards, ajay

Sorry for the delay getting back to you. I’ll try to answer your questions:

1. I don’t believe there are any media distancia services between Girona & Valencia but if there were you would always need to get on and off the train at either Girona or Valencia. I assume the ticket wouldn’t allow you to exit at Barcelona’s entry/exit gates in that case. In practice, you could probably get away with getting off at some smaller stations where they don’t check your ticket or have gates, but you’re not supposed to do that. In any case it’d then cause problems if you’re catching a later train where you’re not starting from one of the two stations on your abono.

2. It has to be a direct media distancia train but you’re right, it’s not that clear from the map! The best idea is to go to renfe.com and search for any routes you are interested in. Look for the letters “MD”. This means it’s a media distancia service for which you can use the abono. Note that MD-MD means two connecting media distancia services are required which effectively would require two abonos, although it will often be cheaper to just buy a single ticket if you’re only planning to do the journey once.

Also, FYI and anyone else, they have recently announced they are extending the scheme throughout 2023 too.

All the best!

Thanks for writing the guide, as per another comment it has helped make sense better than any of the other articles that I’ve read on the subject. It would be great if you could update this for 2023, for example you don’t mention Andalusia which I think is now included in the scheme?.

Hi thanks for your comment! The scheme has been extended throughout 2023 and as far as I’m aware, it still works in the same way across the country on Cercanias and medium distance trains. The first abono can be used until April 30th. After that, you need to pay a fresh deposit for a new one which presumably will be valid from May 1st until August 31st and again will be refunded if you use it enough.

Regarding Andalusia, you can still get abonos for the Cadiz and Seville area cercanias trains, as well any medium distance routes in the region.

Thank you for a very good explanation on how to travel for free in Spain

Is this the same in 2023 or had anything changed.

The scheme has been extended throughout all of 2023. You can currently purchase the abonos described in the article and they are valid from January 1st until April 30th and will be free if used enough. After that, you’ll need a new abono from May 1st which I assume will be for the following 4 months. Everything works in the same way as far as I can tell and there are also some free bus passes now for intercity travel too.

Is the above still value in 2023

Can I use Cercanías & Rodalies Regional Passes to travel from Barcelona to Madrid, or vice versa?

No, the Cercanias and Rodalies passes are only for travel in a specific region and the networks don’t expand beyond that area.

To travel from Barcelona to Madrid or vice-versa, your best option is to try to book in advance and look for the cheaper AVLO or Ouigo high speed services. You can often find one-way fares for less than 10 Euros if you book a couple of weeks or so in advance and are a bit flexible with days/times.

I have 2 questions 1. Once you reach 16 trips can you not use it for any more ? Or is 16 just the required amount to get refund?

2. If I paid cash not card in the ticket machine how do I get the refund? Thank you

Hi, you can use it more than 16 times. As many as you like. It’s just 16 is the point when you get a refund. Currently the cercanias passes are for the period 1st May to August 30th so you get unlimited use during that period and get your 10 Euros back if you hit 16 trips.

Would suggest paying with card or buying online via the Cercanias App . The refund should be automatic. If you pay with cash, keep the card and ask for a receipt. I imagine you’d still be able to go to some stations and ask for a refund, but it’s probably way simpler and less hassle to just buy with card.

Hi, do you know how to book the specific MD train you want to travel on once you’ve purchased the pass? Thanks!

Hi Carrie, you can do it in the Renfe app or on renfe.com. You need to click on “Mis abonos” and select the option “Nueva formalización”and then you should be able to select the exact train you want to travel on.

I shall be staying in Benalmádena over Christmas 23 and want to go to Seviile one day and Cordoba another. Does the €20 free pass allow this or can I only go to the same place repeatedly? If not can I buy two €20 passes if that works out cheaper than the train ticket? Must I return the same day or can I stay overnight in Seville and use the free pass to return the following day?

Hello, the 20 Euro passes allow unlimited travel in either direction between two destinations that have a direct “media distancia” train connection. Benalmadena is not served by media distancia trains, but you could use the 20 Euro pass to travel between Malaga & Seville for example. You could use a separate pass to go from Seville to Cordoba but there doesn’t appear to be direct media distancia trains between Malaga and Cordoba.

Overall, I’d say you’re not going to benefit too much from the passes but it might prove cost effective if you did a return from Malaga to Seville.

Can I use this pass for travel between Malaga and Cadiz and return? There is no direct connection between these cities, but can I therefore buy 2 passes? Between which cities would that then be? Perhaps one abono from Malaga an Seville and one from Seville to Cadiz? But in that case I dont want to go the whole way to Seville center, so can I chose a station where you change to Cadiz? I am not sure I am thinking right about these things, so please help me. One more question, can I make these reservation online from home? (Sweden)

Hi Bjorn, the fastest way with the media distancia trains would be to change in Dos Hermanas (just outside Seville). So in theory you could buy a Malaga-Dos Hermanas and Dos Hermanas-Cadiz abono for 20 Euros each. You can buy them online here and it’d be valid until the end of December.

Buying a return ticket from Malaga to Cadiz is only 47 Euros though, so you wouldn’t make a huge saving, assuming you are only doing the trip once.

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To Fight Inflation, Spain Offers Free Train Tickets

Rail passengers will be able to take free train journeys under 300 kilometers (186 miles) until the end of the year.

By Daniel Victor

• Sept. 1, 2022

In what government officials in Spain described as an effort to combat inflation and rising costs of living, train journeys under 300 kilometers (186 miles) will be available for free until the end of the year.

Under the initiative, which began on Thursday, passengers — both residents and tourists — will be eligible for free rides on local trains and medium-range routes between cities. It requires registering for a travel card, which requires a deposit, and is paid for by a government subsidy of 221 million euros ($221.6 million), according to Reuters .

There were early signs that the initiative was popular with riders. Raquel Sánchez, Spain’s minister for transportation, mobility and the urban agenda, said nearly 100,000 people had used the free admission in Madrid on Thursday morning, 50 percent more than “on a day like today” in 2019.

“The new passes are useful to help the pockets of the middle and working classes,” she wrote on Twitter in Spanish. Fares vary across the country, but a single ticket in Madrid costs between €1.70 and €8.70, depending on the distance.

Spain, like many other countries, is battling high inflation : Its inflation rate rose to 10.8 percent in July, a 38-year high . Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of Spain has largely blamed Russia’s war in Ukraine for the surging prices.

A similar effort just concluded in Germany, where the national rail service offered all-you-can-ride monthly rail tickets for €9, or $9. The initiative, paid for by a €2.5 billion government subsidy, proved popular with riders , and did not lead to overcrowding as feared, even though a quarter of the population bought tickets in the first month.

Both countries presented the initiatives partly as lifelines against rising costs of living, but also as having longer-term benefits of fighting climate change and reducing dependence on Russian oil. Germany’s government said its program saved nearly two million tons of carbon dioxide emissions, according to The Guardian .

The Spanish initiative is part of a €9.5 billion package , announced in June, aimed at helping people through the rising costs of living. It included €3.6 billion in tax cuts, raised pensions, and other subsidies and spending, according to Reuters.

Daniel Victor is a general assignment reporter based in London after stints in Hong Kong and New York. He joined The Times in 2012. More about Daniel Victor

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Free train tickets now available in Spain for travel between 1 Sept-31 Dec – full details

Please support  Spain in English with a donation.

As announced by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez  last month , many train journeys in Spain are FREE from 1 September until 31 December 2022 .

The measure is part of the government’s plan to combat the consequences of the economic crisis that has afflicted the income of millions of families and businesses, besieged by inflation, the energy bill, and the escalation in fuel prices and raw materials.

Spain’s Transport Ministry estimates that the scheme will benefit as many as 75 million journeys and attract between 15-20% more passengers than usual for the September-December period. It will particularly benefit commuters.

Free train tickets became available for pre-order from 24 August, and they are available for residents and non-residents of Spain, including tourists and visitors of all nationalities.

The process to obtain free train tickets is fully explained (in Spanish) on the RENFE website, by clicking here, as well as all the Frequently Asked  Questions (also in Spanish). It is also simplified in a video from RENFE  (see below). 

Here we publish the key points of how the process works and how to register and purchase tickets:

UPDATE : Please note that for ‘commuter’ travellers who are seeking to purchase multi-journey tickets (or ‘season tickets’) for travelling on a regular basis between Sept-Dec, we have found that it is easier to do this  directly at a train station than online. One of our contributors has done this by showing their ID at the station, only paying a €10 deposit, and has received a 4-month travel card for free travel between a town in Catalonia and central Barcelona (it actually states it is for Rodalies zones 1-6). The RENFE app was not required, and our contributor was not even asked if he had registered online with RENFE. The procedure detailed below is based on purchasing one-off tickets online :

• The free rail travel is available on RENFE’s Rodalies ,  Cercanías , Media Distancia and Avant services.
• Only these rail transport routes will be free of charge. People taking the metro or the bus will still have to pay, although there are also many reductions of between 30-50% for these public transport networks across Spain, depending on the region or ticket acquired. 
• Although the train tickets are free, you have to pay a small deposit in order to take advantage of the offer. For  Rodalies  and Cercanías  train services, it is a €10 deposit, and for Media Distancia it is €20 . As stated above, we recommend that frequent travellers who use season tickets (or multiple journey tickets), for example on Rodalies,  to get new tickets for the 1-4 month period at railway station ticket desks. They will be free of charge but users will have to pay a €10 deposit when buying them for the first time. Users will have to use the ticket at least 16 times between September and December. If they comply with this measure, they will get a refund of the deposit back at the end of the year. Tickets are non-transferable.
• To guarantee free travel, all deposits will be refunded when at least 16 trips are made in the four-month period of Sept-Dec. The refund will be made at the end of the four months. In the case of payment by card, the refund will be made automatically through the same means. In the case of payment in cash, the refund will be made through the ticket offices at stations.
• To acquire free tickets online , you must first register on renfe.com  (also try this link for registration in English , or choose language option if link still takes you to Spanish registration),  or on the RENFE and RENFE Cercanías Apps . The apps are available via Google Play for Android phones, on Huawei’s AppGallery, and on the App Store on your iPhone.
• Once using the app, you can purchase travel tickets through the Renfe Cercanías app except for Asturias, Santander and Ancho Métrico, where you can purchase tickets at self-service machines and station ticket offices.
• On the app, first you must select the area of Spain in which you’re going to use the free ticket offer. The app will show a scroll down menu with areas to choose. Find the part of the country you’ll use the train and hit accept.
• Next, open the side menu bar by clicking the three horizontal lines and select the ‘Buy Tickets’ (Comprar) option. Then click on ‘Buy’ .
• This will take you to another screen to set up your route origin and destination . Choose where you’re going to and from, and then below on the ‘select a fare’ choose ‘ AB recurrente.’ This will make a €10 charge appear, but this is only the deposit that will be returned to you if make a sufficient number of journeys.
• You will then be taken to a screen that invites you to log into your RENFE account. If you don’t have one, hit the ‘register’ button to do so (via web or app). You will be asked for your name, phone number and an ID document – either NIE or passport number.
• Next, you will be taken to a payment screen, and will have to register a credit or debit card to make the deposit payment.
• Finally, your ticket(s) will be in the ‘My Tickets’ section of the app, and there will be a QR code you can use to scan yourself in and out of stations. RENFE has said there will also be support staff at the station to read the QR code and thus facilitate access for season ticket holders.
• Overall, for the best way to benefit from the free travel tickets, RENFE recommends downloading the Renfe Cercanías App and registering, whenever possible, before 1 September . Arriving early at stations to validate your trip and if possible, avoid rush hours. Keep the QR or the card during the entire validity period of your subscription. Acquire your free travel subscription preferably with a debit or credit card.

We hope this information is helpful, and wish you safe free travelling. Please also support  Spain in English with a donation.

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I tried to use the above steps to get the pass between Barcelona and Girona, But I can only see all the local zone tickets of Barcelona only. It does not stand correct on the fact that mid range trains are free.

I read that this program now includes Avant trains. Trips of less than 300km qualify, is that correct?

Same thing here. Once I choose Barcelona, all available stations are local stations. I don’t see any mid-distance stations.

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Spain adds long-distance buses to its free train and transit journeys

Dec 1, 2022 • 7 min read

Spain is expanding its free public-transport program © pureshot / Shutterstock

Starting next year, many passengers who travel on long-distance coaches in Spain will be able to do so for free, the government confirmed on Tuesday.

Earlier this year, free train tickets were introduced for short and medium-distance journeys in Spain. The measure started on September 1 and was only meant to last for three months to help people struggling with rising energy costs – but its success led the government to extend it throughout the coming year.

Transport and mobility minister Raquel Sánchez confirmed on Tuesday that the program will expand again, this time to include long-distance coaches that are part of the state concession network.

As well as cutting commuters' costs in the cost of living crisis, the transport minister said the bus scheme would save more than 350 million liters of fuel, potentially preventing the emission of one million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere during 2023.

How does the free long-distance bus scheme work?

Currently, people can purchase tickets from companies who operate state-owned bus routes at a 50% discount – and next year, the discount will increase to 100%. It doesn't cover single journeys. To apply, you'll have to purchase season or multi-trip tickets (in batches of 10, 20 or 30) and pay a €20 deposit.

Thanks to the state's extensive bus network, covering 1,837 municipalities throughout the country, you can travel huge distances across Spain, from Madrid to Barcelona, Alicante to Murcia, Santander to Salamanca, Santiago de Compostela to Barcelona, and more.

It's not yet clear how many journeys a passenger has to take in order to get the deposit back. With the free train scheme, it's 16, but the government hasn't specified the details of the bus scheme yet. We will update this article when we have more information.

In the meantime, if you plan to travel to Spain next year, there are significant savings to be made across the rail network under the free train tickets scheme. Not just for locals, the scheme is aimed at passengers from all over the world, including American and European tourists to Spain. Here's what you need to know.

What train lines are covered by the free ticket scheme?

The policy includes rail journeys on  Cercanías , Rodalies  and Media Distancia rail lines that travel across short and medium distances, typically up to 186 miles (300km). 

Cercanías : These trains link the main cities with their metropolitan area. Cercanías operate in  Alicante , Barcelona, Bilbao, Cádiz, Madrid, Málaga,  Oviedo ,  Santander , San Sebastián, Sevilla,  Valencia  and  Zaragoza . 

Rodalies:  The same concept as Cercanías, just in the region of Catalonia.

Media Distancia (MD):  These trains usually link different cities, towns and villages within a single autonomous region.

The measure doesn’t include either long-distance train journeys or high-speed lines like AVE, Avant and Avlo. 

How do I apply?

You’ll need to download the Renfe app  (for iOS or Android ) and sign up for an account to purchase your free train tickets, or apply at railway stations. Once you’ve paid your deposit, you'll receive a QR code that can be used as a free ticket.

Visitors to Spain can sign up using their passport number.

Although tickets are free, passengers must pay a deposit of €20 for Media Distancia journeys and €10 for Cercanías. The deposit will be returned at the end of the year if you’ve completed a minimum of 16 journeys. (We recommend paying the deposit by card since if you pay by cash the refund process can take longer.)

Is it worth signing up as a tourist?

If you want to explore some less-visited regions, then yes. Even if you don’t complete the minimum 16 trips to qualify for the deposit refund, you can still make savings.

For example, say you’re visiting Barcelona  and you want to use the city as a base to explore the surrounding area. A Media Distancia round-trip ticket from Barcelona to Figueres costs €32 without the scheme, which is more expensive than the €20 deposit. So even if you don't complete the 16 trips needed to get your deposit back, you’re still saving €12 on one trip alone.

If you need some inspiration on where to go, below is a list of suggested itineraries that you could take under the free ticket network.

Spain by train: the best local and medium-distance itineraries

Easy train trips from madrid.

The capital of Spain is the main transportation hub in the country, with direct trains to almost every major city. Near Madrid, however, there are more than a few worthwhile cities located in the historical region of Castile , all of them excellent day trips from Madrid. 

Toledo is perhaps the most visited city close to Madrid . Home to sword artisans and one of the largest old towns in Europe, its historical city was declared a Unesco World Heritage site in 1986. It is composed of architectural masterpieces that reflect the mix of civilizations that have lived here for some 2000 years, including the Romans, Muslims, Jews and Christians.

Those looking for a culinary experience can take a train to Segovia , located less than 62 miles (100km) north of Madrid. The town is nationally famous for its  cochinillo asado (roasted piglet), always served crispy and washed down with local red wine. If the local food isn’t enough reason, Segovia is also home to the most well-preserved Roman aqueduct in the world, a Unesco World Heritage site since 1985. 

If you want to escape the crowds, you might want to try Cuenca , a fortified medieval town also Unesco-designated thanks to its unusual hanging houses and Spain’s first Gothic cathedral .

Easy train trips from Barcelona

The most popular city in Spain is the perfect base for exploring the region of Catalonia . 

First-timers should take the train to Girona , a 2000-year-old city founded by the Romans, which also contains one of the best-preserved Jewish quarters in the world. The entangled, medieval alleys of Girona’s old city were also a major filming location for Game of Thrones . Continue on the same train for an extra 30 minutes to reach Figueres, the birthplace of the painter Salvador Dalí. The city houses a museum that contains the largest collection of the artist’s work in the world . 

An easy, short train trip from Barcelona,  Sitges  is a bustling and sophisticated coastal town with whitewashed houses and restaurants serving Catalan cuisine. Do try xató , a local sauce made from almonds, vinegar and red pepper, typically eaten with anchovies, cod fish and salads. Sitges is also the center for LGTBIQ+ tourism in Spain. 

Consider getting off the beaten track by visiting Vic, a rarely visited town in the center of Catalonia, famous both for its medieval architecture and the best embotit (pork cold meat) around. Don’t forget to buy some fuet and llonganissa  from one of the many butchers in town. The locals from Vic are also known for having the strongest Catalan identity in the entire autonomous region. 

Easy train trips from Bilbao

Bilbao is the most populated city in the Basque Country . 

If you had to take one single train journey from here, we would recommend  San Sebastián (Donostia in the local language), the most refined city in Spain. Most Spaniards agree that San Sebastián offers the best food in the entire country, ranging from budget pinchos (local tapas) to a wide range of Michelin-star restaurants. 

Wine enthusiasts may have also heard of Rioja wines. They are all produced in the  Spanish region of the same name , with Logroño its capital. Every one of the city’s bars and restaurants has an extensive list of Rioja wines to try. Moreover, the old city gets particularly busy around 1pm and 7pm, when locals gather over a few glasses of wine and tapas before lunch and dinner respectively – an unmissable local experience. 

Easy train trips from Málaga

Málaga is the most cosmopolitan city in the region of Andalucía , and a transportation hub for the region. 

The regional capital of  Seville  is an open-air museum containing endless examples of jaw-dropping Moorish and Gothic architecture, like the Alcázar and the astonishing cathedral . Dance lovers can check out a flamenco performance in the city where the tradition burns brightest, while sports fans can head to a Sevilla FC or Real Betis match.

Often overlooked by tourists, Cádiz is an ancient port city on the southern coast of Spain known for local and friendly nightlife, especially during the summer season. February is an excellent time to come, too, since the carnival here is one of Spain’s best. Seafood is a big thing here, and locals tend to eat it fried. A must-try local specialty is tortita de camarones , consisting of deep-fried dough filled with shrimps.

Check schedules and ticket prices of tickets at  renfe.com . We recommend booking well in advance. 

This article was first published July 2022 and updated December 2022

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Spain launches free rail travel passes to fight inflation

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Free rail travel scheme begins in Spain to cut commuters’ costs

Initiative running to end of year will also benefit leisure travellers and tourists

A scheme allowing free travel on suburban and middle-distance trains has begun in Spain, the latest in a series of European public transport initiatives intended to address increasing fuel costs.

German rail fares returned to normal on Thursday after a three-month experiment with €9 (£7.75) tickets for a month’s unlimited travel on local and regional public transport networks.

Although Spain’s scheme, which runs until 31 December, is designed to help commuters cope with inflation, it will also, like Germany’s, benefit leisure travellers.

Passengers can obtain a rail pass via the national rail network Renfe’s app or at railway stations. They must nominate a destination and pay a deposit of €10 for suburban lines and €20 for middle-distance journeys, after which a QR code on the application will serve as a ticket.

The deposit will be refunded at the end of the year if the ticket holder has travelled at least 16 times to the specified destination.

The ticket applies to all destinations in the same zone as the specified station. In the case of Madrid or Barcelona, for example, it means free travel within a radius of about 30 miles (50km) of the city.

Visitors to Spain can sign up using their passport number, and for those using a city as a base to explore the surrounding area there are significant benefits. For example, a return ticket from Madrid to nearby Aranjuez costs €12.50, and to El Escorial, €8.10. Even by forfeiting the €10 deposit, there is a saving of €10.60 on just these two visits.

However, the real beneficiaries are commuters. “By the end of the year I will have saved €300 on my journey,” said Santiago Muñoz, who commutes from Barcelona to Sitges.

At the same time, metro fares in Barcelona have been reduced by up to 50%, also until 31 December. A 10-trip, multi-use bus and metro ticket that covers most of the city will cost €7.95.

In a further move to ease the impact of rising costs, the government has announced it will cut VAT on fuel bills from 21% to 5%, at least until the end of the year.

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The German scheme has been credited with saving about 1.8m tonnes of CO 2 emissions by encouraging people out of their cars and on to public transport.

Germany’s transport minister, Volker Wissing, has said he hopes to find a successor to the €9 ticket. “We know that we have triggered an enthusiasm for public transport that has probably never existed in Germany before,” he said.

Between 1 June and 31 August, 52m tickets were sold, a fifth of them to people who claimed to have never used public transport before. Publicity resulting from the ticket greatly exceeded that related to a subsidy on car fuel during the same period, which also ended on Wednesday. As well as the low cost, people praised the simplicity of the ticket, which cut through swathes of complicated tariffs that differ from region to region. Opponents criticised overcrowding and the fact the ticket did little to benefit those in rural areas who are far less well served by public transport.

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The ultimate guide to exploring Spain by train

By Matt Charlton

In July , the Spanish government declared that short to medium-distance train journeys would be free from Thursday 1 September 2022 until Saturday 31 December 2022 – an initiative focused on alleviating financial pressures on commuters. Commuters would buy a pass with a €10 deposit, and, if they took more than 16 medium-distance return journeys during this period, it would be reimbursed. But would this work for tourists? The short answer is no. The slightly longer answer is yes, but…

What tourists can do is take advantage of another branch of the offer – a 50 per cent discount on Spain’s high speed/long distance and Ave/ Alvia service – a 10 journey pass that would normally cost you €735, reduced to €367.50 (about £315), which included free journeys on various cities metro network. This allows you to see far-flung corners of famous hubs loved by locals but often overlooked by tourists. Dividing this by the 10 journeys you’re allowed, it works out to around €36 per journey, or about £31… who could resist? Not me.

Equipped with this pass, and with 10 days to spare, I planned to make my way from Bilbao, in the northern Basque region, to Malaga, at the southern tip of Andalucía. After I purchased my pass, the rest of the admin was conducted through the English language RENFE app. You enter your desired stations, the options are shown, you select your preference, and you receive a QR code to scan at the station – plus a little graphic shows you how much Co2 you’ve saved by not catching the plane.

London Gatwick to Bilbao with Vueling

My flight touched down in Bilbao on a gloomy early September day, into the light yet persistent chirimiri rain that the region is known for. My taxi driver for the short distance between the shuttle bus stop and my hotel ( NYX Bilbao ) had never heard of the initiative, but, after explaining to him in Duolingo Spanish, I’m dropped off. Overlooking the Belle Époque-rea Bilbao Concordia station – with the more sizable national Abando station lurking behind it – there are commanding views over the river.

Bilbao to Miranda de Ebro on an Alvia train (included in the pass) Miranda de Ebro to Vitoria Gasteiz on a Media Distancia train (€13 return)

I spent the morning navigating the twisting alleyways of Bilbao’s old town, finally strolling along the river and arriving at the Guggenheim Bilbao – a real catalyst for the city’s rejuvenation since its opening in 1997 – for a whistle-stop tour of its contemporary spaces. Arriving for my lunchtime train, my eye was immediately drawn to the giant stained-glass window over the main concourse depicting the workers of the region. Media Distancia trains – or medium-distance trains – are not included in the pass, but the small fee (€13) is worth it to discover sunny Vitoria Gasteiz, the capital of the region, and a buzzy, picturesque market city where a northern sensibility rubs up against a more Mediterranean atmosphere.

Miranda de Ebro to Vitoria Gasteiz on a return Media Distancia train Miranda de Ebro to Valladolid on an Alvia train (included in pass)

Alessia Armenise

Stacey Lastoe

Sarah James

Connor Sturges

After a fleeting visit to the Artium, a Basque contemporary art museum well worth a perusal, I am back on the train, and, via Miranda de Ebro, I arrive in Valladolid. A favourite weekend getaway for Madridians, I would only have ever happened upon this fantastic city by rail. I arrived on the weekend of their Saints Day, which only added to the fiesta atmosphere of an already lively metropolis. After sampling some award-winning tapas at Los Zagales , more akin to a tasting menu at a fine-dining restaurant, and stopping several times on a balmy night to listen to enthusiastically attended musical performances in every plaza, I wished I could spend more time here – but the clock was ticking.

Valladolid to Madrid on an Alvia train (included in the pass) Madrid to Toledo on a return Media Distancia train (€20)

I had heard so much about Madrid’s picturesque neighbour to the south, Toledo – famous for its steel, and where artist El Grego spent most of his life. Another Media Distancia fee was incurred, so I decided to forgo a taxi and do the half-hour walk instead. Several cobbles, steep gradients, and damaged tourists later, I arrived at my hotel – the stunning converted palace Eugenia De Montijo. I was a sweaty mess, but a massage in their spa soon resuscitated me. The gorgeous city is firmly on the tourist trail – but this doesn’t take away from how the Spanish light captures the mediaeval architecture in various stunning ways throughout the day.

The cities spaced out as I pushed further south, and so did my days. I allowed myself two days in all my subsequent stops, firstly to take advantage of the Cercanias, and secondly because beautiful weather was all but guaranteed. 

Toledo to Madrid on a return Media Distancia train Cercanías day trip to Guadalajara (included in the pass)

Madrid is a local's city, gnarly and beautiful, one that changes its clothes as soon as you look in the other direction. This hipster city, starting to rival Barcelona, is teeming with dive bars, ad-hoc music venues, vintage and vinyl shops and people who at least look like musicians... My hotel concierge recommended to me that the best use of my Madrid Cercanías (metro pass) would be to go to Guadalajara, 1hr on the C2. The scenic, sleepy town felt like a time capsule and was a welcome respite from the frenetic Spanish capital.

Madrid to Cordóba on an Ave train (included in the pass) Most Spanish stations are found on the edges of towns, not necessarily giving you the most attractive first impression. Thankfully, in Córdoba, this was short-lived - it was a 10-minute walk to Eurostars Palace, its modernist iron-clad edifice not popular with the locals, but as a non-invasive contrast to the old town which it sits next to, it felt bold and forward-looking. Cordoba does a much better job at melding a tourist hub with a local feel – on top of main draws such as its mosque, a building which succinctly tells the Andalusian story of religious invasion and repulsion, and Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, I also managed to track down some gems; Jugo Vinos Vivos, a natural wine bar in a charming bohemian environment, or El Rincon De Carmen, a pretty courtyard restaurant hidden behind curtains of ivy. 

Córdoba to Málaga on an Ave train (included in pass) Cercanías day trip to Benalmadena (included in the pass) Like a lairy older sibling, Málaga has much in common with its Andalusian brethren, but the differences shout that bit louder. Once an overlooked airport city, it’s now managed to balance a fly-and-flop influx with an air of sophistication. There are 42 museums, including one dedicated to Picasso – a Malaga native – and a flourishing cultural scene, including a theatre run by another Malaga native, Antonio Banderas, located in the uber-cool Soho district. Make sure to sink a sweet wine aperitivo at Antigua Casa del Guardia. Classy and fun Barcelo Malaga couldn’t be closer to the station if it tried, and Benalmadena, with its picturesque marina and golden beaches – 50 mins on the C1 – retains the feel of a local secret, having survived the overdevelopment of its neighbouring towns.

Total: €400.50 (around £350)

Final thoughts

The trains were reliable, clean, and comfortable, and best of all, there was no two-hour pre-arrival time or baggage claim. It is worth noting however that facemasks are still required, and there are brief security bag checks at most major hubs. It takes time to learn the rhythm of the system – what constitutes a Cercanías; the difference between a Media Distancia journey the same length as an Ave journey, and why the former is not included on your pass; which Cercanías to hop on to take you into Madrid as opposed to away from it… maybe that last one was just me.

It’s a way to take yourself out of the ordinary and see are more real, and grounded Spain. You leave with an impression of the country, and an appreciation of what the Spanish Government is doing for its citizens for a few precious months. The following day at Gatwick, my train was delayed.

Traveling to Europe? Book one of these new train trips.

Europe is in the midst of a great rail revival. An increased awareness of environmental issues , the many hassles of air travel and the mental effort required to drive long distances are all reasons for people to get back onto trains. European passenger numbers are on the rise again, if not quite at pre-pandemic levels .

In response, operators across the continent are investing in new services, tracks and special offers. And it’s only going to get better: Dozens of projects are in motion from the Baltic states to Portugal, with the European Union aiming to double high-speed rail traffic by 2030 and supporting “10 pilot projects to establish new rail services or improve existing ones” right now .

My family’s summer will involve a train journey from Paris to Barcelona, down the Rhône valley and along the Mediterranean coast, but you don’t have to travel at 200 miles an hour to get the best out of Europe’s rail network.

From slow trains to high-speed bargains, there are plenty of options if you’re traveling in Europe in the next few months.

1. New sleepers from Belgium and Sweden

The sleeper train revival is picking up speed. They seemed to be on the way out in 2016, when the government of France, their last stronghold, decided to cut funding for a number of services. Happily, many of those have since been restored, and other countries around Europe — most notably Austria, under the brand name Nightjet — are investing heavily in night trains.

This summer sees the debut of a service between Brussels and Berlin, two key political centers, run by a new company called European Sleeper . Customers can leave Brussels at 7:22 p.m. (or Amsterdam at 10:34 p.m.) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and arrive in Berlin at 6:48 a.m. Return trips depart on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. There are three types of tickets, starting at $85: a seat, a bed in a six-berth compartment or a bed in a three-bed compartment.

Other night trains have also recently been introduced, such as Stockholm to Hamburg , which started in the fall, or Paris to Vienna , which began in 2021.

I’ve traveled on night trains from Paris to the south of France on a number of occasions. The experience is not luxurious, but it’s generally cheaper than the cost of a flight and a room — and the beds, while slim, are surprisingly comfortable. Be warned, though: The romance of trundling across Europe in the dead of night can make it hard to sleep.

2. German rail pass for $50 a month

Last summer Germany’s national rail company, Deutsche Bahn, offered monthly passes for the country’s huge network for under $10, a response to cost-of-living problems caused by a sharp rise in costs for electricity, food, heating and mobility. The success of that project has led to the introduction of the Deutschland-Ticket , which will cost around $50 a month and allow unlimited travel on all trains, buses and city subway services, with the exception of the most direct and speedy intercity services.

The possibilities are enticing. Beer lovers, for example, could travel from Düsseldorf to Cologne to Bamberg and onward to Munich, hopping off for distinctive local brews along the way. Those in search of scenery, meanwhile, might prefer the West Rhine Railway, stretching down the Rhine from Cologne in the north to Mainz.

One thing to remember: The Deutschland-Ticket is only available as a rolling, app-based subscription. British train expert Mark Smith, better known online as the Man in Seat 61, recommends canceling by the 10th of the month to avoid being charged for more than a month.

3. The first 100-mph locomotive, in the U.K.

Given locomotives are a British invention, the rail network in the United Kingdom can be a disappointment. Yes, it’ll get you where you need to go, eventually, but services are often late, and there’s only one high-speed line, used by Eurostar and domestic services, from London into the Kentish countryside. The current national debate over ongoing construction of HS2 (High Speed 2) offers a reason: NIMBY -ish attitudes tend to triumph over the greater good.

No wonder Britons are wont to retreat into the past for comfort. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the world’s first fully authenticated 100-mph passenger locomotive, the Flying Scotsman; as a result, a number of special excursions are planned. For those who can afford it, the Centenary Weekender looks like the most appealing trip, from London to York and then Edinburgh, followed by a jaunt up Scotland’s beautiful East Coast.

The Flying Scotsman may be unique, but Europe is full of historical interest. There’s another anniversary, too: The Wuppertal Schwebebahn , a remarkable suspension railway that continues to operate, was completed in 1903 . And then there’s the Beaux-Arts Canfranc Station, opened as the crossing point from Spain to France in 1928, which was revived as a hotel this year .

4. A $7 high-speed train in Spain

Budget services are increasingly common in Europe, but no one is moving so fast as Spain’s Avlo , which runs high-speed, low-cost trains between Madrid and Barcelona, with tickets starting around $7. The network is expanding: From the start of June , there’s a new route from the Spanish capital to Andalusia, taking in Cordoba, Seville and Malaga.

In France, there’s Ouigo , which provides high-speed and standard services from Paris to cities all around the country, including Bordeaux, Marseille and Strasbourg. The advantage of the standard service — which offers tickets starting around $11 — is that prices don’t change, so you can get a last-minute bargain. The U.K., too, has a low-cost service , from London to Edinburgh via Newcastle, although tickets are not always such good value.

5. New subway lines in Turkey and England

Few cities have seen such huge investment and rapid improvement in subway provision as Istanbul. Earlier this year, a line connecting Istanbul Airport to the city opened, while other new lines and extensions are entering service all the time. It’s a remarkable turnaround for a city that had virtually no underground transport until 1989.

It’s not the only capital to be investing in underground trains, though. The experience of visiting Copenhagen has been transformed by the 2019 opening of the City Circle Line . Since last summer, visitors arriving at London Heathrow can reach the city center, and much besides , far quicker courtesy of 2022’s Elizabeth Line.

Paris, meanwhile, is in the foothills of a significant expansion program, Grand Paris Express , which will provide new connections in the city’s long-neglected suburbs. You can expect to see those services start to come online next year, when Paris hosts the Olympics and when Metro Line 14 will be extended to Orly, Paris’s second-largest airport.

NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

You can travel around France this summer for less than £50

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France is a popular destination for holiday goers, with its impressive architecture, fabulous cuisine, wonderful wine, and interesting history.

And if you’re thinking of visiting this summer then you might be able to see much more of the country for less than £50.

Following similar successful schemes in Germany and Portugal , France has announced the launch of a new nationwide unlimited travel pass for just €49 (£42) a month.

The unlimited travel pass  will come into effect between July and August, coinciding with the 2024 Olympics .

But there is a catch. It’s only available for those aged 26 and under.

Specifically, the unlimited travel pass will apply to journeys not only on France’s Intercity and TER trains, but also local buses, metros, and trams.

This means that travel across Ile-e-France — home to Paris — and high-speed TGV trains will require additional tickets and will not form part of the discount. 

So, you won’t exactly be in your Emily in Paris era, but you’ll still be able to explore places like Bordeaux and Marseille.

French president Emmanual Macron previously announced his intentions to introduce a national rail pass back in September 2023.

Que les moins de 27 ans puissent voyager en train de manière illimitée en France : devant Hugo, j’avais dit banco ! Le Pass Rail à 49€ par mois devient réalité dès cet été. Où irez-vous ? — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 3, 2024

He said this during an interview with YouTuber HugoDecrypte, and confirmed that the plans were inspired by Germany’s deutschlandticket.

‘I have asked the transport minister to launch it with all the regions that are willing to set up this system,’ Macron said at the time .

It was initially hoped that the travel pass would apply to all ages, but even so, 700,000 young people will be able to benefit from the pass.

Passes will be available to purchase from 15 June through SNCF-Connect.

How far in advance should you book a holiday?

Travel operator Ski Vertigo told Metro the best times to book 2024 summer getaways.

• For European trips, the sweet spot is 141 days — booking that far can lead to savings of 47%.
• For the Eurostar, it’s 120 days.
• For long-haul fights, you should book 178 days in advance, as this can give you a 54% reduction in costs.

Where else in Europe can I travel via train?

France is the latest European country to introduce these dreamy travel passes.

This craze all started with Germany’s €49 deutschlandticket, which applies to all public transport modes in the country for people of all ages.

Portugal’s €49 National Rail Pass is also available for people of all ages, although it doesn’t apply to buses, urban transport systems, and intercity routes.

Meanwhile, a three-day rail pass across various regions in Italy will cost €29, while five-day tickets are priced at just €49.

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Belgium’s aptly-named Youth Holiday Pass costs just €35 a month, with under-26s getting unlimited rail travel during school holiday periods.

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There’s unlimited rail travel across France this summer for less than £50 – but not for everyone

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France have announced the launch of a nationwide rail pass this summer for unlimited rail travel at just €49 (£42) a month.

The unlimited travel will apply to all journeys taken on the country’s TER and Intercity trains , however, French transport minister Patrice Vergriete confirmed that only those age 27 or younger will be eligible for the discounted pass.

High-speed TGV trains and travel in France ’s most populous region, Ile-de-France – home of the capital, Paris – are both excluded from the rail offer and require an additional ticket.

The new pass is expected to go on sale in June.

French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that “those under 27 can travel by train unlimitedly in France” on  X/Twitter . He added that the rail pass “becomes reality this summer” and asked: “Where would you go?”

The passes will be available to buy through SNCF Connect from June for young people to travel around France.

Vergriete said the Ministry of Transport estimates 700,000 young people will benefit from the low-cost travel using the rail pass this summer.

In 2020 and 2021, a summer rail pass temporarily existed for young people under 27 to travel in France for €29 (£24.87) a month.

The rail pass for 2024 is based on a similar scheme in Germany by the national operator Deutsche Bahn that runs without an age limit. The Deutschland Ticket allows travel by all means of local public transport for €49 per month.

Funding 80 per cent of measures to introduce the pass is expected to cost the government around €15 million, with individual regions responsible for footing the remaining 20 per cent of the bill.

The decision to introduce an age cap to the national rail pass and exclude the Ile-de-France area was met with disappointment from several of the French regions.

Criticism from the Hauts-de-France region said that though the rail pass was “favourable”, the Minister for Transport “lacked ambition” by introducing a discounted pass only for young people.

The president of the Normandy region, Hervé Morin, said: “If there must be a rail pass, it must be national and apply to the entire French network and must not exclude the Ile-de-France network through which most young people inexorably pass when going to another region by train.”

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