Okay, so folks have asked how I managed that Madrid to Mallorca trip mainly using the train. It wasn’t exactly just a train, let’s be real, Mallorca’s an island. But here’s how I went about it.
Getting Started: The Plan
First off, I decided I didn’t want to just fly. Wanted to see a bit of the country, you know? Slow travel, they call it. So, the idea was train from Madrid towards the coast, then ferry over to Mallorca. Sounded simple enough.
I started by looking up the train routes. Knew I needed to get from Madrid’s Atocha station towards either Barcelona or Valencia, as those are the main ports with ferries heading to the Balearic Islands. Checked out the Renfe website – that’s the main train operator in Spain. Spent a bit of time comparing times and prices.
Booking the Bits and Pieces
Ended up choosing a train heading to Barcelona. Booked my ticket online, got the confirmation email. Pretty straightforward stuff. Then, the ferry part. Had to figure out which ferry company lined up best with my train arrival. Looked at Balearia and Trasmediterranea, those are the big ones. Found one that left a few hours after my train was due in Barcelona, giving me some buffer time just in case.
- Booked the train ticket (Madrid to Barcelona).
- Booked the ferry ticket (Barcelona to Palma de Mallorca).
The Journey Itself: Train Leg
Got to Atocha station in Madrid. It’s a big place, but signage is decent. Found my platform, waited for the train. Hopped on, found my seat. The train itself was comfortable, gotta say. Smooth ride, quiet. Watched the Spanish countryside zip by. Grabbed a coffee and a snack from the cafe car. It’s a few hours, but quite relaxing actually.
The Switch: Train to Ferry
Arrived in Barcelona Sants station. Now, the port isn’t right next door. Had to get from the train station to the ferry terminal. Grabbed my bag, followed the signs for the metro initially, then decided a taxi might be easier with my luggage. Took a cab straight to the port where my ferry company was based. Checked in for the ferry, which involved showing my ticket and ID again. Then there was a bit of waiting around in the terminal.
The Journey Itself: Ferry Leg
Boarding the ferry was like boarding a big ship, obviously. Walked up the ramp, found my way inside. Ferries are big beasts. Some people book cabins, especially for overnight trips, but I just had a standard seat booked. Found a spot in one of the lounges. The journey across the sea takes a good few hours – mine was an overnight one. It’s not luxury, but it does the job. You can walk around, go out on deck (if it’s not too windy!), get food. I mostly just tried to get some sleep in the reclining seat.
Arrival in Mallorca
Woke up as we were getting close to Palma. Could see the island coming into view. The ferry docked, announcements were made, and then it was just a matter of walking off the ship and onto Mallorcan soil. Stepped out of the ferry terminal in Palma, grabbed my bags, and that was it. Journey complete. A bit more involved than flying, sure, but definitely an experience seeing the transition from mainland Spain out onto the water and arriving on the island.
