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Rock of Gibraltar, seen from a taxi near La Linea. |
This page explains how to travel by train from Gibraltar to other European cities and how to buy tickets. Click here to buy tickets starting in another city.
I want to go from Gibraltar to...
Before you buy your tickets
Take a moment to read these tips for buying European train tickets. It answers all the usual questions, "Do I need to book in advance or can I buy at the station?", "Can I stop off?", "Are there Senior fares?" and that old favourite, "Should I buy an $800 railpass or a 35 point-to-point ticket?". How far ahead can you buy train tickets?
European train travel FAQ
Gibraltar to Madrid & Barcelona
Option 1, morning departure
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Step 1, transfer from Gibraltar to La Linea to Algeciras:
Walk (15 minutes), take a taxi (£5-£6) or take one of the frequent buses (£1) from Gibraltar town to the border with Spain and walk through British and then Spanish passport control into La Linea. In La Linea, you'll find a taxi rank and bus stop right outside the border.
Now either take a taxi from La Linea to Algeciras railway station for a fixed price of 24.75, journey time around 35 minutes (taxis don't use the meter on this run) or take an M-120 bus from La Linea to Algeciras bus station, journey time 45 minutes.
On weekdays, buses leave La Linea every 30 minutes at xx.15 and xx.45 past each hour, at weekends they run every 45 minutes. The fare is 2.50. In Algeciras, the buses stop just 50 metres away from the railway station. For bus information see siu.ctmcg.es.
Alternatively, your hotel may be able to arrange a private transfer direct from Gibraltar town to Algeciras station for around £50 - however, neither Gibraltar taxis nor Spanish taxis will normally cross the border.
Alternatively, San Roque-La Linea is actually the closest station to Gibraltar. If you prefer to pick up the train there, you can take a taxi the 16 km (10 miles) from La Linea to San Roque-La Linea station.
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Step 2, travel from Algeciras to Madrid, leaving Algeciras at 10:30 or San Roque-La Linea at 10:46, change at Antequera-Santa Ana, arriving Madrid Atocha 17:10.
You travel from Algeciras to Antequera-Santa Ana by air-conditioned regional train, then on to Madrid by high-speed AVE with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. You'll see the wonderful scenery shown in this Gibraltar to Madrid video.
Fares start at 22 in standard class or 39 in comfort class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy a ticket for this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, may reject some overseas cards, read this advice on using it first).
Booking opens 60 days ahead, but this varies greatly. You print your own ticket.
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Step 3, travel from Madrid to Barcelona by high-speed AVE leaving Madrid Atocha at 19:00, arriving Barcelona Sants at 21:30.
On Saturdays, you leave Madrid Atocha at 18:30, arriving Barcelona Sants at 21:20.
The S103 AVE has standard & comfort class and a cafe-bar. If you have a Premium ticket you can use the Sala Club at Madrid Atocha.
Fares start at 17.05 in standard class or 68.05 in comfort class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy a ticket for this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, may reject some overseas cards, read this advice on using it first).
Booking opens 60 days ahead, but this varies greatly. You print your own ticket.
Option 2, afternoon departure
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Step 1, transfer from Gibraltar to La Linea to Algeciras:
Walk (15 minutes), take a taxi (£4-£6) or take one of the frequent buses (£1) from Gibraltar town to the border with Spain and walk through British and then Spanish passport control into La Linea. In La Linea, you'll find a taxi rank and bus stop right outside the border.
Now either take a taxi from La Linea to Algeciras railway station for a fixed price of 24.75, journey time around 35 minutes (taxis don't use the meter on this run) or take an M-120 bus from La Linea to Algeciras bus station, journey time 45 minutes.
On weekdays, buses leave La Linea every 30 minutes at xx.15 and xx.45 past each hour, at weekends they run every 45 minutes. The fare is 2.50. In Algeciras, the buses stop just 50 metres away from the railway station. For bus information see siu.ctmcg.es.
Alternatively, your hotel may be able to arrange a private transfer direct from Gibraltar town to Algeciras station for around £50 - however, neither Gibraltar taxis nor Spanish taxis will normally cross the border.
Alternatively, San Roque-La Linea is actually the closest station to Gibraltar. If you prefer to pick up the train there, you can take a taxi the 16 km (10 miles) from La Linea to San Roque-La Linea station.
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Step 2, travel from Algeciras to Madrid by Intercity train, leaving Algeciras at 14:58 or San Roque-La Line 15:09 & arriving Madrid Atocha 21:10.
The Intercity train is an articulated air-conditioned Talgo train with cafe-bar. It takes the classic curvaceous line from Algeciras to Antequera-Santa Ana, where it is propelled through a gauge-changing shed. This adjusts axles adjust from Iberian gauge, (5'6") to standard gauge (4'8½), used for Spanish high-speed lines. It then joins the high-speed line for a scenic dash through the mountains to Madrid. You'll see the wonderful scenery shown in this Gibraltar to Madrid video guide.
Fares start at 22 in standard class (2nd class) or 39 in comfort class (1st class). Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy a ticket for this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, may reject some overseas cards, read this advice on using it first). Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but this varies. You print your own ticket.
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Stay overnight in Madrid. The classic Hotel Mediodia is across the road from Atocha with good reviews, or try the NH Hotel Madrid Atocha or Only YOU Hotel Atocha, also across the road from the station.
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Step 3, travel from Madrid to Barcelona on any train you like, journey time as little as 2h30. More about Madrid to Barcelona trains.
Fares start at 17.05 in standard class or 68.05 in comfort class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy a ticket for this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, may reject some overseas cards, read this advice on using it first). Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but this varies. You print your own ticket.
1. Transfer from Gibraltar to La Linea & Algeciras by bus or taxi, or take a taxi to San Roque station.
2. Algeciras or San Roque to Madrid by Intercity train
3. Madrid to Barcelona by AVE.
These superb-quality AVE high speed trains are amongst the classiest trains in Europe. They have three classes, Comfort (premium 1st class seating), Comfort (1st class seating) and Standard (2nd class). AVE trains run at up to 310 km/h (193 mph) over the Spanish high-speed lines.
Gibraltar to London
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See the London to Gibraltar page this covers travel in both directions.
Gibraltar to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam
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Day 1 transfer from Gibraltar to La Linea to Algeciras:
Walk (15 minutes), take a taxi (£4-£6) or take one of the frequent buses (£1) from Gibraltar town to the border with Spain and walk through British and then Spanish passport control into La Linea. In La Linea, you'll find a taxi rank and bus stop right outside the border.
Now either take a taxi from La Linea to Algeciras railway station for a fixed price of 24.75, journey time around 35 minutes (taxis don't use the meter on this run) or take an M-120 bus from La Linea to Algeciras bus station, journey time 45 minutes.
On weekdays, buses leave La Linea every 30 minutes at xx.15 and xx.45 past each hour, at weekends they run every 45 minutes. The fare is 2.50. In Algeciras, the buses stop just 50 metres away from the railway station. For bus information see siu.ctmcg.es.
Alternatively, your hotel may be able to arrange a private transfer direct from Gibraltar town to Algeciras station for around £50 - however, neither Gibraltar taxis nor Spanish taxis will normally cross the border.
Alternatively, San Roque-La Linea is actually the closest station to Gibraltar. If you prefer to pick up the train there, you can take a taxi the 16 km (10 miles) from La Linea to San Roque-La Linea station.
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Day 1, travel from Algeciras to Madrid, leaving Algeciras at 10:30 or San Roque-La Linea at 10:46, change at Antequera-Santa Ana, arriving Madrid Atocha 17:10.
You travel from Algeciras to Antequera-Santa Ana by air-conditioned regional train, then on to Madrid by high-speed AVE with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. You'll see the wonderful scenery shown in this Gibraltar to Madrid video guide.
Fares start at 22 in standard class (2nd class) or 39 in comfort class (1st class). Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy a ticket for this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, may reject some overseas cards, read this advice on using it first). Booking opens 60 days ahead, but this varies greatly. You print your own ticket.
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Day 1, travel from Madrid to Barcelona by high-speed AVE leaving Madrid Atocha at 19:00, arriving Barcelona Sants at 21:30.
On Saturdays, you leave Madrid Atocha at 18:30, arriving Barcelona Sants at 21:20.
The S103 AVE has standard & comfort class and a cafe-bar. If you have a Premium comfort class ticket you can use the Sala Club at Madrid Atocha.
Fares start at 38 in standard class (2nd class) or 48 in comfort class (1st class). Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy a ticket for this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, may reject some overseas cards, read this advice on using it first). Booking opens 60 days ahead, but this varies greatly. You print your own ticket.
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Stay overnight in Barcelona. Suggested hotels close to Barcelona Sants station with good or great reviews include the Hotel Barcelo Sants (4-star, great reviews, directly above Barcelona Sants station itself, recommended), AC Hotel Sants by Marriott (4-star, just 50m from the station), Hotel Catalonia Roma (3-star), Hostal Baler (2-star), Hotel Transit (1-star), Meeting Point Hostel (inexpensive private rooms & dorm beds).
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Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Paris by TGV Duplex, leaving Barcelona Sants at 09:28 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 16:18.
Book an upper deck seat for the best views as the train round the southern end of the Pyrenees, passes the Fort de Salses near Narbonne, rolls past colonies of flamingos on the ιtangs in southern France, then speeds along the scenic Rhone Valley towards Paris. There's a cafe-bar on board and power sockets at all seats. If you have a 1st class ticket for the TGV you can use the Sala Club at Barcelona, details here. More about the Barcelona-Paris journey and see the video.
Fares start at 39 in 2nd class or 59 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy a ticket for this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in , more fiddly). Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.
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Cross Paris by metro or taxi from the Gare de Lyon to the Gare du Nord. Always allow at least 60 minutes between trains.
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For Brussels
Cross Paris by metro or taxi from the Gare de Lyon to the Gare du Nord. Always allow at least 60 minutes between trains.
Travel from Paris to Brussels by Eurostar (formerly Thalys) leaving Paris Gare du Nord around 17:25 arriving Brussels Midi around 18:47.
Eurostars have 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).
Fares start at 35 in 2nd class or 79 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.
Buy a ticket for this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in , more fiddly). Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.
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For Amsterdam
Cross Paris by metro or taxi from the Gare de Lyon to the Gare du Nord. Always allow at least 60 minutes between trains.
Travel from Paris to Amsterdam by Eurostar (formerly Thalys), leaving Paris Nord at 17:25 & arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 20:44.
Eurostars have 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more about Eurostar (formerly Thalys). If you take the summer-only 06:00 from Barcelona, a Eurostar (formerly Thalys) leaves Paris Nord at 14:25 & arrives Amsterdam Centraal 17:44.
Fares start at 35 in 2nd class or 79 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.
Buy a ticket for this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in , more fiddly). Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.
Gibraltar to Switzerland
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Day 1, travel from Gibraltar to Barcelona using either the morning or afternoon departure as shown above & buy tickets as shown.
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Stay overnight in Barcelona. Suggested hotels close to Barcelona Sants station with good or great reviews include the Hotel Barcelo Sants (4-star, great reviews, directly above Barcelona Sants station itself, recommended), AC Hotel Sants by Marriott (4-star, just 50m from the station), Hotel Catalonia Roma (3-star), Hostal Baler (2-star), Hotel Transit (1-star), Meeting Point Hostel (inexpensive private rooms & dorm beds).
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Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Geneva, leaving Barcelona Sants 09:28, change Montpellier Saint-Roch & Lyon Part Dieu, arriving Geneva 18:35.
You travel from Barcelona to Montpellier by impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. You'll get great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, you'll pass the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks just after Perpignan, flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Narbonne & Montpelier, and Bιziers cathedral, see the photos, tips & information here.
You then travel from Montpellier to Lyon on another TGV also with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, and from Lyon to Geneva along the Rhτne by TER regional train.
Fares from Barcelona to Lyon start at around 39 in 2nd class or 59 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Lyon to Geneva costs a fixed-price 33.40, 2nd class only.
Buy tickets from Barcelona to Geneva at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, small booking fee) or at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in , a little more fiddly, no fee). Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own tickets.
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Day 2, take an onward train from Geneva to anywhere in Switzerland. Check times and buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, small booking fee) or the Swiss Railways website www.sbb.ch (in CHF). If you buy in advance you may find Swiss Supersaver fares available, saving up to 70% off regular Swiss rail fares. Booking for Swiss trains opens 60 days ahead.
Gibraltar to all other destinations
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Gibraltar to Germany, Scandinavia, Poland:
Travel to Paris as shown above, then see the Trains from Paris page.
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Gibraltar to the South of France, Andorra, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia:
Travel to Barcelona as shown above, then see the Trains from Barcelona page.
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Gibraltar to Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Ukraine...
Consider travel via Paris or via Barcelona. Travel to Paris as shown above, then see the Trains from Paris page. Or travel to Barcelona as shown above, then see the Trains from Barcelona page.