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Historic train and bus discounts open up the young summer
Summer will be much more mobile for thousands of young people in Madrid, Barcelona and the rest of Spain. The Government has launched a new edition of the Verano Joven programme, with discounts of up to 90% on trains and buses for people aged 18 to 30.
The measure will be in force from 1 July to 30 September and is intended to make breaks, family visits, study trips, festivals and holidays easier without transport taking up a large part of the budget. For many young people, it could make the difference between staying at home and travelling through several cities during the summer.
The highest discounts will apply to medium-distance trains and scheduled state-run buses, with reductions of 90% off the ticket price. On Avant services, the reduction will be 50%, while on high-speed and long-distance services the discount will also be 50%, capped at 30 euros per ticket.
The measure directly affects Madrid and Barcelona because both cities act as major departure and arrival hubs. From Madrid, young people will be able to travel towards Andalusia, the Valencian Community, Castile and León or the northern peninsula with much cheaper tickets. From Barcelona, the programme opens up options towards Zaragoza, Madrid, Girona, Tarragona, Valencia or longer routes by train and bus.
The plan also includes a 50% discount on the Interrail Global Flexible pass for 10 days within two months, provided it is bought through Renfe. This extends the proposal beyond Spain and makes summer an opportunity for those who want to travel around Europe at a lower cost.
To access the reductions, it will be compulsory to register on the programme's website and obtain a personal, non-transferable code. That code must be entered when buying tickets from participating companies, so it is advisable to complete the process before beginning to book trips.
This year's edition will have 130 million euros in public investment, ten million more than in 2025. Since its launch, the programme has benefited millions of young people and made collective transport a more attractive alternative to the private car.
The impact may be felt at stations, on buses and on weekend routes throughout the summer. More young people travelling means more movement between cities, more spontaneous getaways and a cheaper way to connect studies, leisure, family and holidays without relying so much on the car.