Medieval Train from Madrid

The Medieval Train is a Renfe tourist train that leaves Madrid-Chamartín in the morning, stops at Alcalá de Henares and Guadalajara and reaches Sigüenza before midday. It has run since 2005 and only on some Saturdays in spring and autumn. In November 2026, Madrid Tourism listed the new season as to be confirmed: check dates and prices on the Renfe website before planning.

The journey

When you board the train, a procession of medieval characters welcomes you. During the journey, of a little over an hour and a half, there is theatre, magic tricks and medieval music, and Sigüenza sweets are handed out: the tourist office mentions the truffles from the Poor Clares and the doncelitos from Pastelería Venus. It is an excursion designed for families.

For reference, in the 2024 season the train left Chamartín at 10:00, passed Alcalá at 10:28 and Guadalajara at 10:48, and reached Sigüenza at 11:37. The return left at 19:45 and reached Chamartín at 21:24. Times may change from one year to the next.

The day in Sigüenza

On arrival, council guides in period dress take the group through the old town: the Plaza Mayor, the Romanesque churches, the Casa del Doncel and the church of Santiago, with the Romanesque interpretation centre, the castle parade ground and the medieval city. After that there is free time for lunch and strolling; you have almost eight hours in the city. In 2024, the ticket gave a 10% discount on à la carte dishes at some of the town's restaurants.

The guided tour does not include the cathedral, but the tourist office recommends devoting the afternoon to it: the cathedral and the Doncel hold the chapel with the famous tomb, El Greco's Annunciation and the cloister tapestries, and are visited together with the Diocesan Museum. On train days there are medieval stalls in the Plaza Mayor, and before the return the council gives travellers a small gift.

Prices and sales

In 2024, the return ticket cost €45 for adults and €20 for under-14s; under-4s without a seat did not pay. It included the journey with actors and tasting, the guided tour of the old town and participation in prize draws on the journey. It was sold at stations with advance sales, travel agencies, by phone on 912 320 320 and on the Renfe website. Prices for the coming season have not been published.

If it does not match your date

Sigüenza has a train from Madrid all year round, so you can make the same excursion on your own and join the guided monument tour, which covers the castle, the medieval town and Santiago.