How to get from Barcelona to Valencia, Spain?

Planning for your next trip to Spain and wondering how will you ever get from one city to the next? Wondering if you should fly, drive, take a train or bus? We've got you covered!

Getting from Barcelona to Valencia by train

This, in my opinion, is the best way to get from Barcelona to Valencia.

To get to Valencia, you can take the Renfe Euromed, which is a high-speed train that allows you to reach in 3 hours 10 minutes. The Euromed has a top speed of 220 km / h and when it travels, it is so stable that you can hardly feel the speed! If you think that's fast, there's also another faster train - the Renfe AVE which we also took while travelling from Valencia to Seville It cuts down travel time by about half for us (this in another blog post soon)!

We've also wrote extensively on a step-by-step guide to book your renfe tickets online, so hope that will help you in your booking process!

Besides the 3 hours 10 minutes, do also take into account that there will be luggage checks before you board the train so do give yourselves ample time to reach the station. We'll say about 30-40 minutes?

Another plus point for train travel would be the fact that most train stations are already situated within the city. This also cuts down the time taken to travel from and to your accommodation. For those who love travelling with heavy and large luggage, the price of these bulky items are also included in your fare. This means that you do not have the need to pay extra to bring an extra bag!

However, the cons of train travel is that it can be quite pricey (even more than flights) if you do not book before hand. But this can be circumvented by booking your train tickets in advance! :) For instance, if you book on the day itself, the train can cost about 35 euros and up for the high-speed trains, but it goes down to 18 euros two weeks in advance!

In summary, for train travels:

+ Total travelling time of below 4 hours

+ Gets you right into the heart of Valencia

+ No additional charges for luggage

- Tickets can be pricey if not booked in advance

Getting from Barcelona to Valencia by Flight

With numerous budget airlines in Europe nowadays, one may think that this would be the cheapest way to travel. Although it is definitely true that flying is a relatively cheap way to get from Barcelona to Valencia and the flight time is only less than an hour, there is not that many airlines that fly directly from Barcelona to Valencia. Many require a stop in Madrid before transiting to Valencia, which is, in my opinion, quite lame because it wastes a lot of precious time if you are not intending to visit Madrid.

However, we did find Vueling.com that flies direct for only 24 euros which is quite a steal! But considering that you'll have to take about 45 minutes to get to the airport from Barcelona's city centre, check in 2 hours before the flight time, and take another 45 minutes or so to get from Valencia Airport to the city centre, it can add up in terms of the time spent as well as the costs! So, I wouldn't suggest taking the flight if you are travelling within Spain!

In summary, for flight:

+ Relatively inexpensive, you can get good deals

- Total travelling time of about 5 hours including transfers to and fro city centre

Getting from Barcelona to Valencia by Driving

This is another popular option and is great for those who want to fit in smaller cities, such as Tarragona while travelling from Barcelona to Valencia. It is also quite a nice drive along the coast and you can find many car rental companies online or in Barcelona itself!

Do take note that should you drive, you should also find reputable car companies and you may want to find international chains that allow you to drop off your car at the destination rather than driving back to Barcelona. Also, driving in Spain requires you to have a valid international driving permit. They are quite strict on this and you won't be able to get your car even if you have already made reservations if you fail to show your permit!

In summary, for driving:

+ Make pit stops anytime, anywhere

- May be more expensive

- Taxing for the driving

- Requires you to get an international driving permit

Getting from Barcelona to Valencia by bus

Bus travels are the cheapest and you can get it as low as 5.70 euros on Alsa. They are also pretty quick - you'll reach within four hours and I would say that it is quite a competitive in comparison to train travels. However, bus rides can be bumpy and is not as smooth as travelling by train. Also, some buses may not have toilets or make pit stops so that means holding your pee for the next four hours! If all that's fine with you then the bus is really the next best option since it is not that far to get from Barcelona to Valencia! But for longer journeys, definitely pick the faster AVE trains!

In summary, for bus travels:

+ Cheapest!

+ Takes you directly to the heart of the city

- Bumpy rides