NEW TRAIN ROUTE CONNECTING BARCELONA TO MALAGA LAUNCHES 15 DECEMBER

December 15^th will see the launch of a new rail service between Malaga and Barcelona, connecting two of the countries most popular cities. The new train route will allow travellers to navigate the country in a more sustainable way. The train will be run by rail service Iryo and will offer two daily departures, each journey will last five hours and fifty minutes and tickets are already available for 2025.

Along the route, the train will make stops at three popular cities, namely Cordoba, Madrid and Zaragoza. Here are five suggestions for an activity in each of the cities.

Stop one – Barcelona:

Hike to Tibidabo

Tourists can get off the beaten track in Barcelona and take on the two-hour hike from Plaça John F. Kennedy to the top of Mount Tibidabo. At the top visitors will find the Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Tibidabo theme park.

Stop two – Cordoba:

Visit the Patios de Cordoba

Whilst the Patios de Cordoba really come alive in the first fortnight of May each year, when they open to visitors as part of the contest to see which will be crowned the best garden, it is possible to visit them year-round, such as The Viana Palaca. Find the full list of Patios available to visit here.

Stop three – Madrid:

Visit the Royal Botanical Garden

Located near the Prado Museum, visitors can take a wander through its diverse plant collections, and visit the turtles that sunbathe in the pond.

Stop four – Zaragoza:

Visit Harinera ZGZ

Housed in a former flour factory, this community cultural centre offers workshops and events centered on recycling, upcycling, and sustainable art. It’s a great place to learn about local projects and community-driven sustainability efforts.

Stop five – Malaga:

Walk El Caminito del Rey

Located a short distance from Malaga, El Caminito del Rey is an iconic hike along a narrow path built into the steep walls of a gorge. The hike takes around four hours and is a great way for visitors to do something both cultural and sustainable.