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If you have children, grandchildren or young friends living in Spain, this is worth passing on. The Spanish government has just approved the fourth edition of its Summer Youth Programme, giving people aged 18 to 30 the chance to travel around Spain, and even parts of Europe, at a fraction of the normal cost this summer.

 

The discounts run from July 1 to September 30 and are available to anyone born between January 1 1996 and December 31 2008 who holds Spanish nationality or legal residency in Spain. That includes young people with NIE cards, so expat families are covered too.

 

The headline discount is 90% off medium-distance trains, narrow-gauge services and state-run buses. High-speed and long-distance trains, including AVE services from operators Renfe, Ouigo and Iryo, are half price, with a maximum saving of €30 per ticket. Avant services also come with a 50% reduction. For those with a sense of adventure, there is also a 50% discount on a 10-day Interrail Global Flexible Pass, valid for two months, when purchased through Renfe.

 

To access the discounts, young people need to register in advance on the Ministry of Transport's dedicated website at https://www.transportes.gob.es/transporte-terrestre/bonificaciones-transporte-2026/verano-joven, which will go live in the coming days. Registration must be completed at least 24 hours before buying the first ticket. Once identity is verified using a DNI, NIE or passport, a code is issued that can be applied when purchasing tickets online.

 

Transport Minister Óscar Puente said the programme has become something young people genuinely look forward to. "Recipients increasingly expect and use it," he noted, adding that "more and more people are becoming aware of it and incorporating it into their summer travel plans." The government also points to wider benefits, arguing that cheaper public transport reduces the use of private vehicles, cutting CO2 emissions and road accidents, while helping connect young people with rural parts of Spain they might not otherwise visit.

 

The growth in take-up has been steady since the programme launched in 2023. In that first year, 1.3 million young people registered, rising to 1.4 million in 2024 and then a record 1.55 million in 2025, when 6.8 million trips were taken, around 30% more than the previous year. Across all four editions combined, four million young people have made 16 million discounted journeys. This year's budget has been increased by €10 million to €130 million to keep pace with demand.