Option 1, morning departure...

• Step 1, transfer from Gibraltar to La Linea to Algeciras:

  Walk (15 minutes), take a taxi (£4-£6) or take one of the frequent buses (£1) from Gibraltar town to the border with Spain and walk through British and then Spanish passport control into La Linea.  In La Linea, you'll find a taxi rank and bus stop right outside the border.

  Now either take a taxi from La Linea to Algeciras railway station for a fixed price of €24.75, journey time around 35 minutes (taxis don't use the meter on this run) or take an M-120 bus from La Linea to Algeciras bus station, journey time 45 minutes.

  On weekdays, buses leave La Linea every 30 minutes at xx.15 and xx.45 past each hour, at weekends they run every 45 minutes.  The fare is €2.50.  In Algeciras, the buses stop just 50 metres away from the railway station.  For bus information see siu.ctmcg.es.

  Alternatively, your hotel may be able to arrange a private transfer direct from Gibraltar town to Algeciras station for around £50 - however, neither Gibraltar taxis nor Spanish taxis will normally cross the border.

  Alternatively, San Roque-La Linea is actually the closest station to Gibraltar.  If you prefer to pick up the train there, you can take a taxi the 16 km (10 miles) from La Linea to San Roque-La Linea station.

• Step 2, travel from Algeciras to Madrid by Intercity train, leaving Algeciras at 08:43 or San Roque-La Line 08:58 & arriving Madrid Atocha 14:05.

  The Intercity train is an articulated air-conditioned Talgo train with cafe-bar.  It takes the classic curvaceous line from Algeciras to Antequera-Santa Ana, where it is propelled through a gauge-changing shed.  This adjusts axles adjust from Iberian gauge, (5'6") to standard gauge (4'8½), used for Spanish high-speed lines.  It then joins the high-speed line for a scenic dash through the mountains to Madrid.  You'll see the wonderful scenery shown in this Gibraltar to Madrid video guide.

  Fares start at €28 in Turista (2nd class) or €38 in Turista Plus (1st class).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy a ticket for this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, may reject some overseas cards, read this advice on using it first).  Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but this varies.  You print your own ticket.

• Step 3, travel from Madrid to Barcelona by high-speed AVE leaving Madrid Atocha at 15:00 daily, arriving Barcelona Sants at 17:30.

  The S103 AVE has Turista, Turista Plus & Preferente classes and a cafe-bar.  If you have a Preferente class ticket (including Promo+, but not a Promo fare) you can use the Sala Club at Madrid Atocha.

  Fares start at €38 in Turista (2nd class) or €48 in Turista Plus (1st class).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy a ticket for this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, may reject some overseas cards, read this advice on using it first).  Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but this varies.  You print your own ticket.

Option 2, afternoon departure...

• Step 1, transfer from Gibraltar to La Linea to Algeciras:

  Walk (15 minutes), take a taxi (£4-£6) or take one of the frequent buses (£1) from Gibraltar town to the border with Spain and walk through British and then Spanish passport control into La Linea.  In La Linea, you'll find a taxi rank and bus stop right outside the border.

  Now either take a taxi from La Linea to Algeciras railway station for a fixed price of €24.75, journey time around 35 minutes (taxis don't use the meter on this run) or take an M-120 bus from La Linea to Algeciras bus station, journey time 45 minutes.

  On weekdays, buses leave La Linea every 30 minutes at xx.15 and xx.45 past each hour, at weekends they run every 45 minutes.  The fare is €2.50.  In Algeciras, the buses stop just 50 metres away from the railway station.  For bus information see siu.ctmcg.es.

  Alternatively, your hotel may be able to arrange a private transfer direct from Gibraltar town to Algeciras station for around £50 - however, neither Gibraltar taxis nor Spanish taxis will normally cross the border.

  Alternatively, San Roque-La Linea is actually the closest station to Gibraltar.  If you prefer to pick up the train there, you can take a taxi the 16 km (10 miles) from La Linea to San Roque-La Linea station.

• Step 2, travel from Algeciras to Madrid by Intercity train, leaving Algeciras at 15:03 or San Roque-La Line 15:18 & arriving Madrid Atocha 20:35.

  The Intercity train is an articulated air-conditioned Talgo train with cafe-bar.  It takes the classic curvaceous line from Algeciras to Antequera-Santa Ana, where it is propelled through a gauge-changing shed.  This adjusts axles adjust from Iberian gauge, (5'6") to standard gauge (4'8½), used for Spanish high-speed lines.  It then joins the high-speed line for a scenic dash through the mountains to Madrid.  You'll see the wonderful scenery shown in this Gibraltar to Madrid video guide.

  Fares start at €28 in Turista (2nd class) or €38 in Turista Plus (1st class).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy a ticket for this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, may reject some overseas cards, read this advice on using it first).  Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but this varies.  You print your own ticket.

• Step 3, travel from Madrid to Barcelona by AVE, leaving Madrid Atocha at 21:25 daily except Saturdays, arriving Barcelona Sants at 23:55.

  The high-speed AVE S103 has Turista, Turista Plus & Preferente classes and a cafe-bar.  If you have a Preferente class ticket (including Promo+, but not a Promo fare) you can use the Sala Club at Madrid Atocha.

  Fares start at €38 in Turista (2nd class) or €48 in Turista Plus (1st class).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy a ticket for this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, may reject some overseas cards, read this advice on using it first).  Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but this varies.  You print your own ticket.

1. Transfer from Gibraltar to La Linea & Algeciras by bus or taxi, or take a taxi to San Roque station.

Bus M-120 at Algeciras bus station		Rock of Gibraltar, seen from a taxi near La Linea.

2.  Algeciras or San Roque to Madrid by Intercity train...

The Intercity train from Algeciras (formerly branded Altaria) arrived at Madrid Atocha.

Cafe-bar, with bar stools...		Turista Plus seats...

Turista seats...		Algeciras station, across the road from the bus station.

Andalusian scenery seen from the train.  The rail line from Algeciras is one of my favourite routes, especially the part from Algeciras to Antequera, a scenic treat.  Watch the video...

3. Madrid to Barcelona by AVE...

These superb-quality AVE high speed trains are amongst the classiest trains in Europe.  They have three classes, Preferente (premium 1st class seating), Turista Plus (1st class seating but without any food) and Turista (2nd class).  AVE trains run at up to 300km/h (186 mph) over the Spanish high-speed lines.

An S103 AVE train as used between Barcelona & Madrid Atocha, seen at Madrid Atocha station..  Taking as little as 2h30, it's faster than flying.  See virtual tour

Turista (2nd class) on an AVE S103.		Turista Plus (premium 2nd class)  seating.

Preferente class (1st class) seating (formerly Club) on the AVE train.  A meal with wine is included on Mondays-Fridays.		Madrid Atocha station.  One of my favourite stations, the old trainshed has been preserved and turned into a tropical garden.  AVE trains arrive in the adjacent modern extension.  See the Madrid Atocha station guide.

• Day 1 transfer from Gibraltar to La Linea to Algeciras:

  Walk (15 minutes), take a taxi (£4-£6) or take one of the frequent buses (£1) from Gibraltar town to the border with Spain and walk through British and then Spanish passport control into La Linea.  In La Linea, you'll find a taxi rank and bus stop right outside the border.

  Now either take a taxi from La Linea to Algeciras railway station for a fixed price of €24.75, journey time around 35 minutes (taxis don't use the meter on this run) or take an M-120 bus from La Linea to Algeciras bus station, journey time 45 minutes.

  On weekdays, buses leave La Linea every 30 minutes at xx.15 and xx.45 past each hour, at weekends they run every 45 minutes.  The fare is €2.50.  In Algeciras, the buses stop just 50 metres away from the railway station.  For bus information see siu.ctmcg.es.

  Alternatively, your hotel may be able to arrange a private transfer direct from Gibraltar town to Algeciras station for around £50 - however, neither Gibraltar taxis nor Spanish taxis will normally cross the border.

  Alternatively, San Roque-La Linea is actually the closest station to Gibraltar.  If you prefer to pick up the train there, you can take a taxi the 16 km (10 miles) from La Linea to San Roque-La Linea station.

• Day 1, travel from Algeciras to Madrid by Intercity train, leaving Algeciras at 08:43 or San Roque-La Line 08:58 & arriving Madrid Atocha 14:05.

  The Intercity train is an articulated air-conditioned Talgo train with cafe-bar.  It takes the classic curvaceous line from Algeciras to Antequera-Santa Ana, where it is propelled through a gauge-changing shed.  This adjusts axles adjust from Iberian gauge, (5'6") to standard gauge (4'8½), used for Spanish high-speed lines.  It then joins the high-speed line for a scenic dash through the mountains to Madrid.  You'll see the wonderful scenery shown in this Gibraltar to Madrid video guide.

  Fares start at €28 in Turista (2nd class) or €38 in Turista Plus (1st class).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy a ticket for this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, may reject some overseas cards, read this advice on using it first).  Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but this varies.  You print your own ticket.

• Day 1, travel from Madrid to Barcelona by high-speed AVE leaving Madrid Atocha at 15:00 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 17:30.

  The S103 AVE has Turista, Turista Plus & Preferente classes and a cafe-bar.  If you have a Preferente class ticket (including Promo+, but not a Promo fare) you can use the Sala Club at Madrid Atocha.

  Fares start at €38 in Turista (2nd class) or €48 in Turista Plus (1st class).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy a ticket for this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, may reject some overseas cards, read this advice on using it first).  Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but this varies.  You print your own ticket.

• Stay overnight in Barcelona.  Suggested hotels close to Barcelona Sants station with good or great reviews include the Hotel Barcelo Sants (4-star, great reviews, directly above Barcelona Sants station itself, recommended), AC Hotel Sants by Marriott (4-star, just 50m from the station), Hotel Catalonia Roma (3-star), Hostal Baler (2-star), Hotel Transit (1-star), Meeting Point Hostel (inexpensive private rooms & dorm beds).

• Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Paris by high-speed TGV Duplex, leaving Barcelona Sants at 10:05 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 16:46.

  Book an upper deck seat for the best views as the train round the southern end of the Pyrenees, passes the Fort de Salses near Narbonne, rolls past colonies of flamingos on the étangs in southern France, then speeds along the scenic Rhone Valley towards Paris.  There's a cafe-bar on board and power sockets at all seats.  If you have a 1st class ticket for the TGV you can use the Sala Club at Barcelona, details here.  More information about the Barcelona-Paris journey and see the video.

  Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy a ticket for this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

• Cross Paris by metro or taxi from the Gare de Lyon to the Gare du Nord.  Always allow at least 60 minutes between trains.

• For Brussels...

  Cross Paris by metro or taxi from the Gare de Lyon to the Gare du Nord.  Always allow at least 60 minutes between trains.

  Travel from Paris to Brussels by Thalys train leaving Paris Gare du Nord around 18:25 arriving Brussels Midi around 19:47.

  Thalys trains have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the Thalys information page.

  Fares start at €35 in 2nd class or €79 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Buy a ticket for this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

• For Amsterdam...

  Cross Paris by metro or taxi from the Gare de Lyon to the Gare du Nord.  Always allow at least 60 minutes between trains.

  Travel from Paris to Amsterdam by Thalys, leaving Paris Nord at 19:25 & arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 22:44.

  Thalys trains have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the Thalys information page.  If you take the summer-only 06:00 from Barcelona, a Thalys leaves Paris Nord at 14:25 & arrives Amsterdam Centraal 17:44.

  Fares start at €35 in 2nd class or €79 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Buy a ticket for this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.