Madrid to Seville is a short domestic hop — barely an hour in the air with Iberia or Vueling — but it’s also one of Spain’s best high-speed rail corridors, and the AVE train runs city-centre to city-centre in about two and a half hours. This guide covers who flies the route, what a fair fare looks like in euros, and when flying actually beats the train.
Route: Madrid (MAD) → Seville (SVQ)
Distance: approximately 390 km (240 miles)
Non-stop flight time: about 1 hour
Direct flights: Yes — Iberia (with regional partner Air Nostrum) and Vueling fly non-stop. Note the high-speed AVE train is a strong alternative on this route.
Fares from Madrid to Seville (EUR)
This is a domestic route, so fares stay low most of the year and swing mainly around Seville’s big events. Holy Week (Semana Santa) and the April Feria de Abril are the priciest and busiest weeks; midsummer is quieter because Seville is fiercely hot. The table below shows when the route is busiest. We no longer print per-month fare estimates here, because they were never measured.
| Month | Demand |
|---|---|
| January | low |
| February | low |
| March | medium (Semana Santa varies) |
| April | high (Feria de Abril) |
| May | medium |
| June | medium |
| July | low (very hot) |
| August | low (very hot) |
| September | medium |
| October | medium |
| November | low |
| December | medium-high (holidays) |
As a reference, a genuinely good return on this route lands around €35–€50, and a typical fair price is roughly €70–€90. Because the trip is so short, always compare the all-in flight cost (including a bag and the airport transfers at both ends) against the high-speed train before booking.
Airlines on this route
Only a couple of carriers fly this domestic hop non-stop:
- Iberia — the most frequent operator, flown by regional partner Air Nostrum; reliable timekeeping and the widest choice of daily departures.
- Vueling — the low-cost option out of Madrid, often with the cheapest headline fares if you travel light.
There is no genuinely cheaper one-stop routing worth taking on such a short domestic leg — the real alternative is the ground option. The AVE and other high-speed trains (Renfe AVE, iryo and Ouigo) run roughly 2h20–2h40 between Madrid Atocha and Seville Santa Justa, both stations right in the city centre, and are frequently faster door-to-door than flying once you add airport time and security.
When to book & how to save
- Book early for the events. Semana Santa and the April Feria de Abril sell out and spike both flight and train prices — lock these in months ahead.
- Compare against the train. On this corridor the AVE is often quicker and comparably priced city-to-city; only fly if a flight slot fits your schedule better or is genuinely cheaper all-in.
- Travel light. Vueling’s lowest fares are cabin-bag only — add a checked bag and the flight can cost more than the train.
- Go midweek and off-event. Tuesday to Thursday departures outside the spring festival weeks are the cheapest and least busy.
- Fly in high summer for the lowest fares if you can handle the heat — July and August are quiet in Seville.
Arriving in Seville
Flights land at Seville Airport (SVQ), about 10 km northeast of the centre. The EA airport bus runs to the city (Santa Justa station and Plaza de Armas) in around 30–35 minutes for roughly €4, and a taxi to the centre costs about €25–€30 on the fixed daytime tariff. There is no train or metro link to the airport, so budget for the bus or a taxi. If you take the AVE instead, you arrive right in the centre at Santa Justa with no transfer needed.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the flight from Madrid to Seville?
The non-stop flight takes about 1 hour gate to gate. Door to door, though, the high-speed AVE train (around 2h30 city-centre to city-centre) is often just as fast or faster once you add getting to the airport, security and the transfer into Seville at the other end.
Are there direct flights from Madrid to Seville?
Yes. Iberia (operated by Air Nostrum) and Vueling both fly non-stop from Madrid to Seville, with several departures a day between them. On such a short domestic route there’s no useful one-stop alternative — the main choice is flying versus the high-speed train.
How much does it cost to fly from Madrid to Seville?
A typical economy return runs about €40–€120. Good deals dip to around €35–€50, usually midweek and outside the spring festival weeks, while Semana Santa and the April Feria de Abril push fares toward the top of the range.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Madrid to Seville?
July, August, January, February and November are usually the cheapest months to fly. Avoid Holy Week and the April Feria de Abril, which are Seville’s busiest and most expensive weeks.
Is it better to take the train or fly from Madrid to Seville?
For most travellers the train wins. The AVE and other high-speed services run city-centre to city-centre in about 2h30 with no airport transfers or security queues, and fares are often similar. Fly only if a flight time suits you better or is clearly cheaper once you include a bag and both airport transfers.
Which airlines fly from Madrid to Seville?
Iberia (via regional partner Air Nostrum) and Vueling operate the non-stop flights. Iberia offers the most departures and the best punctuality; Vueling is the low-cost option and often has the cheapest headline fare if you travel with cabin baggage only.
Which airport do I fly into in Seville?
You arrive at Seville Airport (SVQ), about 10 km northeast of the centre. There is no train or metro to the airport, so use the EA airport bus (around €4, 30–35 minutes) or a taxi (about €25–€30) to reach the city.
How far in advance should I book?
For ordinary travel a few weeks ahead is fine, but for Semana Santa and the April Feria de Abril book as early as you can — those weeks fill up and prices climb sharply on both flights and trains. Midweek, off-event dates give you the most flexibility and the lowest fares.
Route and schedule details from current airline schedules; last reviewed July 2026. Indicative economy returns — always check the live fare before booking.
