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Train route from Malaga to lisbon using eurail pass

  • June 23, 2025
  • 4 replies
  • 92 views
S
Full steam ahead

Hi fellow travellers

I’m looking for route suggestions to travel from Malaga to lisbon.  Hopefully using my eurail pass. I understand that the high speed trains require a seat reservation.  

I’ve also been reading that seat reservations will have to be made at a train station in Spain.  Is this still the case? I’m travelling in October and the Eurail website states that seat reservations can only be made 90 days in advance.  I’m hoping I can make the seat reservations online🤞

Thanks team in advance.

Sab

 

Best answer by eurocity101

You could also take a bus between Sevilla and Faro and take one of the more frequent trains between Málaga - Sevilla and Faro - Lisbon.

Portuguese trains can only be booked at the station in Portugal but there are almost always spots left, even last minute.

Or there is this similar itinerary to the one above but it takes longer:

AVE: Málaga M. Z. - Ciudad Real 8:22 - 10:32 (10€ reservation)

R: Ciudad Real - Badajoz 11:36 - 16.05 (1.50€ reservation on happyrail)

Break in Badajoz

R: Badajoz - Entroncamento: 19:41 - 21:26 no reservation

IC: Entroncamento - Lisboa Santa Apolonia: 21:29 - 22:30 (5€ reservation, should be possible to get onboard the previous train, I assume the connection is hold, there are also later trains in case).

Be aware that in general, some trains are not running or run on a different route on certain weekdays in Spain.

    4 replies

    R
    Railmaster
    Forum|alt.badge.img+10
    • rvdborgt
    • Railmaster
    • June 23, 2025

    Reservations for Spanish trains can be made online on:

    • raileurope.com (no extra fees)
    • happyrail.com (booking fee €1.50 per person and train plus a credit card fee of 3.5%, which is not legal AFAIK but it's still there)
    • eurail.com (booking fee €2 per person and train)

    It varies which website can book which train. Renfe sometimes does unannounced things, which can break all or some of the booking websites.

    Sometimes booking an entire journey works; sometimes you need to book each train separately.

    Booking horizon varies a lot, between many months and a few weeks in advance. Renfe don't seem to have a clear system and do as they please.

    Booking Spanish trains is a lot of trial and error. The trains themselves are quite OK.

    If you have questions about booking a particular train, then please always mention route, date and departure time.

    Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.
    S
    Schelte
    Full steam ahead
    Forum|alt.badge.img+6
    • Schelte
    • Full steam ahead
    • June 24, 2025

    There are very few trains across the Spanish-Portuguese border. From Málaga, you'd have quite a long journey and will need to switch trains in Seville, Mérida, Badajoz and Entroncamento before reaching Lisbon. A bus from Seville to Lisbon (not covered by the pass) is probably more pleasant.

    Interrailing seems difficult at first sight, but it's pretty amazing.
    S
    E
    Railly clever
    Forum|alt.badge.img+3
    • eurocity101
    • Railly clever
    • Answer
    • June 24, 2025

    You could also take a bus between Sevilla and Faro and take one of the more frequent trains between Málaga - Sevilla and Faro - Lisbon.

    Portuguese trains can only be booked at the station in Portugal but there are almost always spots left, even last minute.

    Or there is this similar itinerary to the one above but it takes longer:

    AVE: Málaga M. Z. - Ciudad Real 8:22 - 10:32 (10€ reservation)

    R: Ciudad Real - Badajoz 11:36 - 16.05 (1.50€ reservation on happyrail)

    Break in Badajoz

    R: Badajoz - Entroncamento: 19:41 - 21:26 no reservation

    IC: Entroncamento - Lisboa Santa Apolonia: 21:29 - 22:30 (5€ reservation, should be possible to get onboard the previous train, I assume the connection is hold, there are also later trains in case).

    Be aware that in general, some trains are not running or run on a different route on certain weekdays in Spain.

    I'm NOT working for Interrail/Eurail.
    R
    S
    Full steam ahead
    • sabyj
    • Author
    • Full steam ahead
    • June 24, 2025

    Thanks everyone for taking the time to respond. Muchly appreciated.🙂

     

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