sevilla

Seville

I booked a last-minute trip down to Sevilla a few weeks ago hunting for the cheapest train tickets I could find. I managed it by finding a Ouigo train leaving at 3:15 pm on a Tuesday for just €17. For the return, I booked with Iryo, one of Ouigo’s competitors, on Friday night at 8:30 pm. That ticket was also €17. I had checked for fares on Saturday and Sunday, but they were significantly more expensive, usually ranging from €80 to €100. A midweek escape made the most sense.

The train ride from Madrid to Sevilla takes about three hours, so I’d be arriving around 6 pm. That’s fine, I told myself. Chill. And hopefully not too hot. Besides, Spanish cities really come alive in the late afternoon and into the evening.

I took the metro to Atocha station at 2:30 pm with just my Carhartt backpack. I packed light, though my laptop definitely added some weight. I paid extra for a larger, more comfortable seat on Ouigo. It’s not my favorite option for high-speed trains in Spain. I usually prefer Avlo, which is Renfe’s budget line. But I’m not going to pass up round-trip train tickets for about €34.

I was one of the first people in the train car, sitting in the sky deck. Since the train was leaving in the middle of the day, the section was mostly empty. A train attendant came by to check my ticket and confirm I was in the correct seat. We pulled away from the station with only four other people in the upper section. It was quiet and spacious, which made the ride feel pretty smooth.