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     See Barcelona Sants station information.

This page explains how to travel by train from Barcelona to other cities all over Europe, and how to buy tickets the cheapest way.  Train information is current for 2021.

Before you buy your tickets...

Take a moment to read these tips for buying European train tickets.  They answer the usual questions including "Do I need to book in advance or can I just buy at the station?", "Can I stop off?", "Are there Senior fares?" and the old favourite, "Should I buy an $800 railpass or buy a €35 point-to-point ticket online?".  Click here to understand how far ahead you can buy train tickets.

European train travel FAQ...

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Barcelona to other Spanish cities...

• Popular train routes from Barcelona...

    Barcelona to Madrid

    Barcelona to Malaga, Cordoba & Seville

    Barcelona to Granada

    Barcelona to Valencia & Alicante

    Barcelona to San Sebastian & Bilbao

    Barcelona to Santiago de Compostela, A Coruna & Vigo

    Barcelona to Ibiza by ferry

    Barcelona to Mallorca by ferry

  All Spanish long-distance trains and even many regional trains require seat reservation and have variable pricing, so yes, trains can 'sell out' although although outside busy holiday periods it's easy to buy tickets at the station on the day of travel if you want. 

  Renfe has airline-style fares for its long-distance trains, so tickets will be much more expensive bought on the day, much cheaper booked in advance with a cheap 'Promo' or 'Promo+' fare.  So ideally pre-book if possible.

  For more information, see the train travel in Spain page.

• How to buy tickets...

  Arguably the quickest & easiest way to buy Spanish train tickets is at www.raileurope.com with print-at-home tickets and all of Renfe's cheap prices shown.  Raileurope.com links directly to Renfe's ticketing system and sells Renfe's cheap fares at the same prices as Renfe themselves in €, £ or $ with the same print-at-home tickets, in plain English without any of Renfe's quirky translation or credit card acceptance problems.  Anyone from any country can use Raileurope.com as it accepts all international credit cards.  There's a small booking fee.  More about Raileurope.

  Note that in Spain, although infants under 4 go free, for journeys on any mainline long-distance train wholly within Spain, you'll need to obtain a free infant ticket at a Renfe ticket office before boarding, see the advice here.

• You can also buy just as easily at www.thetrainline.com, this also connects to Renfe's system, also with a small booking fee.

• You can of course buy tickets direct from Spanish Railways at www.renfe.com, with no booking fee.  The disadvantage is that Renfe.com has more than its fair share of quirks, so please read the advice on using Renfe.com here.  The quirks include some odd English translations and a reputation for rejecting a significant proportion of overseas credit cards with various error messages.  Although I have to say it has always worked OK with my credit card and it now also accepts PayPal.

• You can also book Spanish trains online in US$ in plain English with no payment problems at www.petrabax.com.  This is a US-based agency that also links to the Renfe ticketing system, so has the same trains and cheap prices, withd a small mark-up.  It issues the same print-at-home tickets as renfe.com, so anyone from any country worldwide can use it, including the United States, Canada & Australia.

Barcelona to Madrid by AVE or Ouigo....

• Every hour or two, high-speed AVE trains link Barcelona Sants with Madrid Atocha in as little as 2h30, faster (and a lot less hassle) than flying.

• AVE type S103 is usually used on this route, with 3 classes:  Turista (2nd class), Turista Plus (1st class seats without 1st class extras), Preferente (1st class, access to Sala Club lounge except with the cheapest tickets, meal and wine included in fare served at seat on weekdays).  More information about classes.  The trains all have a cafe-bar serving beer, wine, tea, coffee, snacks and some hot dishes.

• Fares start at €32, but vary dynamically like air fares, so book ahead for the cheapest prices.  Reservation is compulsory so trains can in theory sell out, and do so at very busy times, but there are usually places available even on the day.

• Booking usually opens 60 days ahead but Renfe are inconsistent in how far ahead they open bookings.

• Buy online at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com and print your own ticket.  More information about buying Spanish train tickets.

• Note that in Spain, although infants under 4 go free, for journeys on any mainline long-distance train wholly within Spain, you'll need to obtain a free infant ticket at a Renfe ticket office before boarding, see the advice here.

• NEW FROM 10 MAY 2021:  Barcelona to Madrid by lo-cost Ouigo train. Spanish railways are being opened up to competition, and from 10 May 2021, open-access operator Ouigo (www.ouigo.com, a subsidiary of SNCF French Railways) will operate up to 10 trains per day between Barcelona Sants & Madrid Atocha, competing with the AVE trains run by state-owned operator Renfe.  These Spanish Ouigo trains are a version of France's double-deck 300 km/h TGV Duplex Ouigo trains, but unlike the French Ouigo trains they have two classes (standard with seats arranged 2+2 across the car width and XL with larger seats arranged 2+1 across the car width) and there will be a cafe-bar.  Fares start at just €9, check times & buy tickets at www.ouigo.com.  Be warned that this lo-cost operation has airline-style baggage limits and extra fees for large bags, so check carefully when booking.

Barcelona to Malaga, Cordoba & Seville by AVE...

• Direct AVE-S112 high-speed trains leave Barcelona Sants at 08:30 and 15:50 every day for Cordoba & Seville, and at 15:50 for Malaga.

  It's beats flying:  Barcelona to Seville takes 5h25, Barcelona to Malaga 5h50, city centre to city centre with no formal check-in.  Flying is a relay-race of train, airport, flight, airport, bus, taking around 4 hours so saving very little time over the train and denying you the relaxing journey across Spain through the countryside at ground level, seeing the country you're supposed to be visiting.

  These trains leave Barcelona Sants on the high-speed line towards Madrid - you get great views of Montserrat on your right (see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montserrat_(mountain) soon after departure.  Just south of Madrid, a chord line allows the train to by-pass Madrid Atocha and join the Madrid-Andalucía high-speed line heading southwards.  It's pretty scenic, especially where the train speeds through the mountains, short tunnels alternating with viaducts across rocky valleys.

  Superb AVE-S112 trains are used on this route, with 3 classes:  Turista (2nd class), Turista Plus (1st class seats without 1st class extras), Preferente (1st class, access to Sala Club lounge except with the cheapest tickets, meal and wine included in fare served at seat on weekdays).  More information about classes.  The trains all have a cafe-bar serving beer, wine, tea, coffee, snacks and some hot dishes.

• Fares start at around €40 but vary dynamically like air fares, so book ahead for the cheapest prices.  Reservation is compulsory so trains can in theory sell out, and do so at very busy times, but there are usually places available even on the day.

• Buy online at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com and print your own ticket.  More information about buying Spanish train tickets.  Booking usually opens 60 days ahead but Renfe are inconsistent in how far ahead they open bookings.

• Note that in Spain, although infants under 4 go free, for journeys on any mainline long-distance train wholly within Spain, you'll need to obtain a free infant ticket at a Renfe ticket office before boarding, see the advice here.

Barcelona to Granada by AVE...

• There's a direct Barcelona to Granada AVE-S112 high-speed train every day, they have varied it's departure time but as I write this it leaves Barcelona Sants at 08:30 every day and arrives Granada at 14:52.

  It's city centre to city centre with no formal check-in.  Flying is a relay-race of train, airport, flight, airport, bus, taking around 4 hours so saving very little time over the train and denying you the relaxing journey across Spain through the countryside at ground level, seeing the country you're supposed to be visiting.

  These trains leave Barcelona Sants on the high-speed line towards Madrid - you get great views of Montserrat on your right (see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montserrat_(mountain) soon after departure.  Just south of Madrid, a chord line allows the train to by-pass Madrid Atocha and join the Madrid-Andalucía high-speed line heading southwards.  It's pretty scenic, especially where the train speeds through the mountains, short tunnels alternating with viaducts across rocky valleys.

  Superb AVE-S112 trains are used on this route, with 3 classes:  Turista (2nd class), Turista Plus (1st class seats without 1st class extras), Preferente (1st class, access to Sala Club lounge except with the cheapest tickets, meal and wine included in fare served at seat on weekdays).  More information about classes.  The trains all have a cafe-bar serving beer, wine, tea, coffee, snacks and some hot dishes.

• Fares start at €32 but vary dynamically like air fares, so book ahead for the cheapest prices.  Reservation is compulsory so trains can in theory sell out, and do so at very busy times, but there are usually places available even on the day.

• Buy online at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com and print your own ticket.  More information about buying Spanish train tickets.  Booking usually opens 60 days ahead but Renfe are inconsistent in how far ahead they open bookings.

• Note that in Spain, although infants under 4 go free, for journeys on any mainline long-distance train wholly within Spain, you'll need to obtain a free infant ticket at a Renfe ticket office before boarding, see the advice here.

Barcelona to Valencia & Alicante...

• Fast EuroMed trains link Barcelona Sants with Valencia & Alicante, and slower but cheaper articulated Talgo trains also operate on this route.

• Buy online at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com and print your own ticket.  More information about buying Spanish train tickets.  Booking usually opens 60 days ahead but Renfe are inconsistent in how far ahead they open bookings.

• If you're going to Valencia, the slower Talgos can be better, as they use Valencia Estacio del Nord in the city centre.  The fast EuroMed trains use the new Valencia Joaquin Sorolla station a little way from the city centre.  In Alicante, both train types use Alicant-Terminal.

• Note that in Spain, although infants under 4 go free, for journeys on any mainline long-distance train wholly within Spain, you'll need to obtain a free infant ticket at a Renfe ticket office before boarding, see the advice here.

Barcelona to San Sebastian & Bilbao...

• Every morning and late afternoon a comfortable high-speed Alvia train links Barcelona Sants with San Sebastian in 5h33, with a separate portion linking Barcelona Sants with Bilbao in 6h39.

  The train is fully-air-conditioned with Turista (2nd class) and Turista Plus (1st class) with a cafe-bar serving beer, wine, tea, coffee, snacks.

  The train rolls out of Barcelona with views of Montserrat on your right (see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montserrat_(mountain) on the high-speed line towards Zaragoza, this particular type of train travelling at up to 250km/h (155 mph).  Just beyond Zaragoza it slows to 30mph and passes seamlessly through a gauge-changing system where the wheels adjust from European standard gauge (the new high-speed lines are all standard 4' 8.5") to wider Iberian gauge (5' 6").  It then rolls across the plains on the classic lines calling at Pamplona, then climbs into the mountains to San Sebastian, twisting and turning.  A really lovely run!  The Bilbao portion is detached at Zaragoza and takes the direct line to Bilbao Abando station.

• Fares start at €25, but vary dynamically like air fares, so book ahead for the cheapest prices.  Reservation is compulsory so trains can in theory sell out, and do so at very busy times, but there are usually places available even on the day.

• Buy online at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com and print your own ticket.  More information about buying Spanish train tickets.  Booking usually opens 60 days ahead but Renfe are inconsistent in how far ahead they open bookings.

• Note that in Spain, although infants under 4 go free, for journeys on any mainline long-distance train wholly within Spain, you'll need to obtain a free infant ticket at a Renfe ticket office before boarding, see the advice here.

Barcelona to Santiago de Compostela, A Coruna & Vigo...

• Every day, an air-conditioned Alvia train links Barcelona Sants with Galicia, leaving mid-morning and arriving late evening.  It's a chill-out day across Spain, on an excellent air-conditioned train with cafe-bar, sit back and enjoy the ride.

  On Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays it leaves Barcelona Sants at 09:30 and goes to Vigo Guixar, arriving 23:06.

  On Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays it leaves Barcelona Sants at 09:30 and arrives Santiago de Compostela 22:06 & A Coruna 22:38.

• There's normally a sleeper train too, an excellent Spanish trenhotel with 1 & 2 berth compartments with en suite shower & toilet and reclining seats, but this isn't currently running due to Covid-19, so check online.

• Check times & book online at either www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com and print your own ticket.  More information about buying Spanish train tickets.  Booking usually opens 60 days ahead but Renfe are inconsistent in how far ahead they open bookings.

• Note that in Spain, although infants under 4 go free, for journeys on any mainline long-distance train wholly within Spain, you'll need to obtain a free infant ticket at a Renfe ticket office before boarding, see the advice here.

	Acciona Trasmediterranea ferry leaving Palma for Barcelona.  Similar ferries operate from Barcelona to Ibiza.
	The Balearia fast ferry to Mallorca.  That's the Columbus Monument at the foot of La Rambla in the background!

Barcelona to Ibiza by ferry...

• Acciona Trasmediterranea operate an overnight ferry from Barcelona to Ibiza on most nights of the week, around 22:00, arriving 07:00.  Times and dates vary, so see the Direct Ferries website or www.trasmediterranea.es, or call Acciona Trasmediterranea's UK agent, Southern Ferries on 0844 815 7785.  The ship sails from the Acciona terminal in central Barcelona, a few minutes' walk from the Columbus monument at the foot of La Rambla.

Barcelona to Mallorca by ferry...

• Overnight ferry:  There are two overnight ferries from Barcelona to Palma de Mallorca, both with restaurants, bars & cosy en suite cabins.  One is run by Acciona Trasmediterranea (www.trasmediterranea.es, UK agent Southern Ferries on 0844 815 7785), the other run by Balearia (www.balearia.com).

  Both ships usually sail from Barcelona around around 22:00 and arrive in Palma around 07:00.  You can check times & buy tickets using the Direct Ferries website.

  The Acciona & Balearia ferry terminals are both located in central Barcelona, a few minutes' walk from the Columbus monument at the foot of La Rambla.  I recommend Acciona, as they have the bigger, nicer ships which usually sail from right alongside the terminal so you can walk straight onto the ship, whereas the smaller Balearia ship requires an awkward shuttle bus transfer between the ferry check-in and the vessel in both Barcelona and Palma.

• Fast ferry...  On many days in summer Balearia operate a daytime fast ferry (SeaCat) from Barcelona to Alcudia, on the northeast corner of Mallorca near both Alcudia and Pollensa, calling at Minorca on the way.  This leaves from directly alongside the Balearia terminal in central Barcelona around 17:00 and arrives at 23:00.  See www.balearia.com or use the Direct Ferries website to check whether it is running on your dates of travel.  There will be plenty of taxis waiting at Alcudia ferry terminal, it's a 10 minute taxi ride to Pollensa.

• Train service on Mallorca:  There are two train lines on Majorca, from Palma to Inca & Soller, see www.tib.org & (for Soller) trendesoller.com 

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Barcelona to Gibraltar...

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Algeciras by train, taking the 11:00 high-speed AVE-S103 train from Barcelona Sants to Madrid Atocha then the 15:05 Intercity train from Madrid Atocha to Algeciras, arriving around 20:30.

  The trains are comfortable, air-conditioned with cafe-bar.  There's great scenery both on the high-speed line between Madrid and Cordoba through the mountains and on the classic line twisting through the hills to Algeciras, the Spanish town across the bay from Gibraltar, see a video of the journey here.

  Fares start at around €50.

  Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee, or at the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see this advice on using it first).  You print your own tickets.

• Step 2, take a bus or taxi from Algeciras to la Linea & walk into Gibraltar.

  A taxi from Algeciras railway station to La Linea costs €24.75 and takes about 22 minutes.  Taxis don't use the meter on this run, and aren't normally allowed to cross the border into Gibraltar.

  To go by bus, cross the roundabout outside Algeciras railway station and enter the San Bernado bus station, then take bus M-120 to La Linea for around €2.50.  Bus M-120 runs every 30 minutes Mon-Fri at xx.00 and xx.30 past each hour or every 45 minutes at weekends, journey time about 45 minutes to La Linea, for bus information see siu.ctmcg.es.

  La Linea is the Spanish town outside the border crossing to Gibraltar, and La Linea's bus stop and taxi rank are right outside the entrance to Gibraltar.  Walk through the Spanish then UK passport checkpoints into Gibraltar (5-10 minutes).  Then either (a) keep walking straight ahead of you into Gibraltar town, it's takes about 15 minutes to the centre or (b) take a frequent local Gibraltar bus from the border into town or (c) look for the taxi stop on the right just after the passport check and wait for a taxi to your hotel for a few pounds - Gibraltar taxis will accept euros.  The walk from the border to Gibraltar's Main Street takes you across Gibraltar airport's runway, though they stop cars and pedestrians when an aircraft is landing or taking off!   Map of Algeciras - La Linea - Gibraltar area.A

• Alternative via San Roque-La Linea station:  The closest station to Gibraltar is actually San Roque-La Linea, and all trains to Algeciras call here around 20 minutes before arriving at Algeciras.  So if you prefer, you can get off here and take a taxi to La Linea, or walk the 1.6 km (1 mile) to the Bar La Redonda bus stop on the main road on the M-120 bus route from Algeciras to La Linea.  Buses run to La Linea every 30 minutes weekdays, every 45 minutes weekends.  Taxis are usually available outside San Roque station, San Roque to the La Linea/Gibraltar border is about 16 km (10 miles) and it takes just over 30 minutes depending on traffic.

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Barcelona to London from €96...

• Barcelona to Paris by TGV, Paris to London by Eurostar, see the London to Spain page.

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Barcelona to Paris from €39...

Option 1, Barcelona to Paris by high-speed train in 6h25 from €39...  Click for full details

• High-speed TGV Duplex trains link Barcelona Sants with Paris Gare de Lyon every day in around 6h25, with departures from Barcelona at 10:05 & 14:00 all year round, and additional departures at 06:00 from late June to late August and at 16:10 from late May to late August (2021 dates to be confirmed).

• A flight from Barcelona to Paris takes up to 5 hours when ground transportation, check-in time and airport security are added.  The train takes hardly any longer but is the relaxing option with a chance to chill out and see Spanish & French countryside roll past your window, see here for the sights to see from the train on the way.  I recommend selecting an upper deck seat for the best views on thee impressive & comfortable 320km/h (199mph) double-decker trains, with a cafe-bar on board and power sockets at all seats.

• Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee.  You can also book at the French Railways website en.oui.sncf, in €, a bit more fiddly, but with no booking fee.  Booking normally opens 120 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

• See the TGV from Paris to Barcelona page for more details of times, fares, how to buy tickets & photos & a video guide to the journey.

Option 2, Barcelona to Paris by sleeper train via Latour de Carol - time-effective & scenic...

• This is a relaxed & scenic yet time-effective option, straight through the Pyrenees via the remote and lonely yet imposing international station at Latour de Carol.  Although seeing only a trickle of passengers, Latour de Carol's grand station is almost unique in being served by trains of three different track gauges:  Spanish broad gauge from Barcelona, French standard gauge to Toulouse and Paris, and French narrow gauge as it's the terminus for the celebrated Petit Train Jaune.  There are a few photos of the journey here.

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to La Tour de Carol (La Tor de Querol-Enveig in Catalan) by local train, leaving Barcelona Sants at 15:01 (15:10 on Saturdays) and arriving Latour de Carol at 18:07 (18:17 on Saturdays).  It's a scenic run up into the Pyrenees. 

  There's not much at Latour de Carol, it's something of a one-horse town in a broad valley ringed by beautiful mountains, so bring your own supplies or check that the Bistro de la Gare on the station forecourt will be open, see www.facebook.com/bistrotdutrainjaune - the bistro gets good reports!

  You will not, repeat, not find this train on any normal journey planners, so read the following paragraph carefully!!!!

  You can easily check times for the Barcelona Sants to La Tor de Querol train for your date of travel at the special Barcelona suburban trains website rodalies.gencat.cat/en, as this route is classed as a Barcelona suburban train in spite of being very rural.  You can also check it at www.renfe.com, but it will not be shown in the main Renfe journey planner, you have to do it like this:  Click Welcome  at the top for English, ignore the main journey planner, look down the page a bit and click Commuter trains & FEVE and then click Barcelona, then search from Barcelona Sants to La Tor de Querol-Enveig.

  The fare is a fixed-price €12, simply buy a ticket to Latour de Carol at the station in Barcelona, no advance booking is necessary or even possible.  It cannot sell out.

• Step 2, travel from Latour de Carol-Enveitg to Paris by Intercité de Nuit overnight couchette train, leaving Latour de Carol-Enveitg at 18:51, arriving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 06:52 next morning.

  This train has 1st class 4-berth couchettes, 2nd class 6-berth couchettes and reclining seats, see more information about Intercité de Nuit trains.  This train should run daily all year, but engineering work often affects it so check that it is running on your specific date of travel using www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

  In summer when it's light, the first hour and a half twisting and turning through the Pyrenees is beautifully scenic.  At Porté-Puymorens, the first station after Latour, the train passes the highest point on any normal standard-gauge railway in Europe, 1,562m (5,125 feet) above sea level.  Watch out for the impressive castle at Foix, on the left.  The railway from Foix to Toulouse opened in 1862, but the difficult line through the Pyrenees from Latour de Carol to Foix only opened in 1929.

  Fares start at €20 each way in a reclining seat, €35 in a 6-berth 2nd class couchette or €63 in a 4-berth 1st class couchette.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.  A couchette is recommended whatever your budget, for both comfort & security.

  Buy tickets for the overnight train from Latour to Paris at www.raileurope.com (in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or en.oui.sncf (more fiddly, in €, no fee).

  Booking should open up to 4 months ahead, but it is often less than this for the night train.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

  Tip:  If you find the Latour-Paris train isn't running on your date, try option 3 below, using the similar Cerbère-Perpignan-Paris overnight train.

Option 3, Barcelona to Paris by sleeper train via Cerbère/Perpignan...

• This is similar to option 2 above, but uses the Portbou-Perpignan-Paris overnight train rather than the Latour-Paris one.  It runs daily in summer, but usually only Fridays & Sundays in winter.

  You've a choice of connection from Barcelona, either a high-speed train from Barcelona to Perpignan via the modern high-speed line, or a local train on the classic line from Barcelona to Cerbère, just over the border in France.  Personally, I'd go via Cerebère, it's cheaper, and you get to settle into your couchette compartment earlier in the evening.  In summer when it's light, it's a lovely scenic run along the coast between Cerebère and Perpignan, through Port Vendres & Collioure.  Bring a bottle of wine!

• Step 1 if you choose to travel via Cerbère:  Travel from Barcelona to Cerbère by local train, leaving Barcelona Sants at 15:16 arriving Cerbère at 18:04.  This uses the classic line along the coast via Port Vendres, with great sea views.  This is a local train, you won't find it in normal journey planners, but you should be able to check times using rodalies.gencat.cat/en.  The fare is around €15, fixed-price, cannot sell out, no reservation necessary or possible, just buy this ticket at the station on the day.

• Step 1 if you choose to travel via Perpignan:  Travel from Barcelona to Perpignan by AVE S100 high-speed train, leaving Barcelona Sants at 16:36 arriving Perpignan at 17:57.  A cafe-bar is available.  This train uses the modern high-speed line and in summer when it's light you'll get great views of Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees.  Fares from €29 upwards, including reservation, book this train in advance at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.  You print your own ticket.

• Step 2, travel from Cerebère or Perpignan to Paris by Intercité de Nuit overnight couchette train, leaving Cerebère at 19:10 or Perpignan at 19:58, arriving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 06:52 next morning.  Timings may vary.

  This train runs daily in summer, but usually only on Fridays & Sundays at other times, check whether it runs on your date using www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

  This train has 1st class 4-berth couchettes, 2nd class 6-berth couchettes and reclining seats, see the photos & information here.

  Fares start at around €20 in a reclining seat, €35 in a 2nd class 6-berth couchette, €63 in a 1st class 4-berth couchette.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.  Booking should open up to 4 months ahead, but it's often less than this for these night trains.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

Barcelona to Narbonne, Perpignan, Montpellier, Nîmes, Lyon...

• Regular 320 km/h (199 mph) TGV Duplex & AVE services link Barcelona Sants with Narbonne, Perpignan, Montpellier & Nîmes.

• Fares start at €29 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Check train times & buy tickets to all these destinations at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both sites easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (more fiddly, in €, no fee).

  Booking normally opens 120 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

• Tip:  Plain Nîmes is the main station in the city centre.  Nîmes Pont du Gard is a new out-of-town station on the high-speed bypass line.  If you are visiting Nîmes, I recommend using the city centre station.  Similarly, Montpellier Saint-Roche is the main station in the city centre, Montpellier Sud de France is a new out-of-town station on the high-speed bypass line.

Barcelona to Bordeaux...

Option 1, via Narbonne - this is the fastest & easiest way, although not necessarily the cheapest...

• Step 1, take a high-speed AVE or TGV Duplex from Barcelona Sants to Narbonne in around 2 hours.

• Step 2, take an Intercité from Narbonne to Bordeaux St Jean in around 3h30.

• Barcelona-Narbonne starts at €29, Narbonne-Bordeaux at around €20.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Book from Barcelona to Bordeaux as one transaction at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both sites easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (more fiddly, only in €, no fee).  In the search results, look for options with just 1 change.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

Option 2, via San Sebastian - how about lunch in San Sebastian?

• This route takes longer, but is usually cheaper.  And I'd be tempted to go this way with a stop for lunch and a wander (or an overnight stop) in the lovely city of San Sebastian!

• Step 1, take one of the two daily Alvia trains from Barcelona Sants to San Sebastian (Renfe station), journey time around 5h33.

  If you take the morning train, you reach Bordeaux the same day, and could easily fit in a stop in San Sebastian for lunch and a look round.  If you take the late afternoon train you'll need to overnight in San Sebastian.  See the Barcelona-San Sebastian section above for photos of the excellent Alvia trains used on this route and a summary of this interesting and scenic journey. 

  Fares start at €28 in Turista or €38 in Turista Plus.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy a ticket at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.  Booking normally opens 60 days ahead, but this varies.  You print your ticket.

• Step 2, take the little Euskotren from San Sebastian Amara station to Hendaye, trains leave every 30 minutes through the day, journey time 37 minutes, fare around €2.50, no reservation necessary or possible, it's a metro, you just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on.

• Step 3, take a train from Hendaye to Bordeaux, trains leave regularly through the day, journey time 2h40.

  Some departures are TER regional trains, some are TGV.  TER trains have a fixed price of around €36 which you can buy at the station on the day, it cannot sell out.  TGVs require reservation and have dynamic pricing starting from €20. 

  Check times and buy online at www.raileurope.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, no booking fee).  You print your own ticket of can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

Option 3, via Latour de Carol... 

• Step 1, take the slow but cheap & scenic route from Barcelona Sants to Toulouse Matabiau via Latour de Carol as shown as option 2 in the Barcelona-Toulouse section below.  This involves local trains with no reservation required (or even possible) and fixed (cheap!) prices, so is good if you have to travel at short notice when TGVs are expensive or if you have a Eurail or Interrail pass and want to avoid hefty TGV passholder reservation fees.

• Step 2, then take an Intercité from Toulouse to Bordeaux St Jean taking around 2h07 with fares from €15 upwards.  Reservation is required for this bit, and prices are dynamic, cheaper if you book ahead, more expensive (over €40) bought on the day.

Barcelona to Toulouse & Carcassone...

Option 1, by high-speed train via Narbonne -  fastest, but reservation required, dynamic pricing so book ahead.

• From late March to late September there's a direct high-speed TGV Duplex every day from Barcelona to Carcassone & Toulouse, leaving Barcelona Sants at 18:30.  There are a variety of other daily departures all year round with one easy change at Narbonne.

• Fares start at €29 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Check times and buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both sites easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly, no fee).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

Option 2, straight through the Pyrenees via Latour de Carol - slower, cheaper, much more scenic.  Always €12 + €27 any day, any date.

• Alternatively, there's a cheap & scenic option from Barcelona to Toulouse taking the slow but direct route through the Pyrenees via Latour de Carol, no pre-booking necessary and if you don't want to book in advance it's much cheaper than the high-speed route.  It cannot sell out and you can even buy tickets on the day at the same price.

• You won't find this route listed on train booking websites because it involves two separate trains and two separate tickets, one of which is classed as a Spanish suburban train to cannot even be booked online, you just buy a ticket on the day at the station.  But it's easy to check times and use it, buying tickets on the day at the station.  Here's how...

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona Sants to Latour de Carol (Tor de Querol in Catalan) by local train, these leave every couple of hours, journey time 3h05, fare around €12, buy at the station with no advance booking necessary or possible.  This is a fixed-price open ticket which cannot sell out.  Easy!  You will not find this train on normal journey planners, so read the next paragraph carefully!!!!

  To check times for this train. use the special Barcelona suburban train website rodalies.gencat.cat/en/inici.  Alternatively, you can use www.renfe.com but ignore the main journey planner.  Click Welcome at the top for English, then COMMUTER TRAINS AND FEVE then select Barcelona as this train is classed as a Barcelona suburban route.  Then search for Barcelona Sants to Tor de Querol.

  If there's a wait between trains at Latour de Carol - as there usually is, the French and Spanish don't co-ordinate timetables - simply enjoy lunch, coffee or a beer at the station bistro, www.facebook.com/bistrotdutrainjaune.

• Step 2, then take a local TER train from Latour de Carol to Toulouse for a fixed-price €27 bought at Latour station, journey time 2h56.  These leave every few hours, you can check times for this leg at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

  This journey is also very scenic, as the train negotiates the Pyrenees for the first hour.  At Porté-Puymorens (the last station just before Latour) the train reaches the highest point on any normal standard-gauge railway in Europe, 1,562m (5,125 feet) above sea level.  Look out for the castle at Foix on the left.

Barcelona to Avignon, Marseille, Cannes & Nice...

Option 1, late afternoon departure by direct AVE train from Barcelona to Avignon & Marseille.  Stay overnight in Marseille, onwards to Cannes & Nice next day.  If you want to go from Barcelona to Cannes or Nice all in one day, see option 2 below - but I still reckon this option 1 is best, especially with a longer stopover in Marseille!

• Step 1, a direct AVE-S100 train leaves Barcelona Sants at 16:36 every day arriving Avignon TGV at 20:50 and Marseille St Charles at 21:33.

  The AVE train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  You'll get great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, you'll pass the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks, flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Narbonne & Montpelier, and Béziers cathedral, see the photos, tips & information here.

  Fares start at €29 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both sites easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly, no fee).  Booking normally opens 120 days ahead.  You print your own ticket.

• Stay overnight in Marseille.  Suggested inexpensive hotels with good reviews near Marseille St Charles station include the Ibis Marseille Centre Gare St Charles, Holiday Inn Express Marseille St Charles.

• Step 2, travel from Marseille to Cannes or Nice on any suitable train, trains leave regularly through the day, check times & buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both sites easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly, but no fee).  French trains open for booking up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

  For example, the 07:58 TER local train from Marseille St Charles arrives Nice Ville 10:40, or an 08:27 TGV arrives Nice 11:07, and so on.  But why not spend a morning in Marseille?  It's a wonderful city, well worth a look around, see the Marseille page.

Option 2, on a morning departure reaching Avignon & Marseille after lunch and reaching Cannes & Nice in the evening...

• Use the journey planner at www.raileurope.com to book from Barcelona Sants to Avignon, Marseille, Cannes or Nice.  There are various departures, but it pays to look carefully at the search results and choose one with fewest changes.  Raileurope.com is easy to use, accepts €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee, or you can book at SNCF's own site en.oui.sncf, in €, more fiddly, but no fee.

• You'll usually find an 08:15 departure by AVE train, a 10:05 departure by TGV Duplex and a 14:00 departure by TGV Duplex.  For Avignon or Marseille, look for journeys with just 1 change.  For Cannes or Nice, the best departure is at 10:05 with 2 changes (at Nimes & Marseille) reaching Nice around 20:07, or at 14:00 also with 2 changes reaching Nice around 22:37.  However, times vary so use www.raileurope.com to check times for your date.  Prices for each train vary dynamically, so just see what prices www.raileurope.com gives you.

• An afternoon in Lyon?  You could take the 08:15 AVE train from Barcelona Sants direct to Lyon Part Dieu arriving 13:20.  Have lunch in Lyon (see suggested restaurant!) then a pleasant wander around the old town for the rest of the afternoon.  Leave Lyon Part Dieu at around 18:06 by TGV Duplex arriving Cannes at 22:06 & Nice Ville at 22:37 with a picnic & bottle of wine for dinner aboard the train.  To book this, first book Barcelona to Lyon and add to basket, then book Lyon to Cannes or Nice and add to basket, then checkout.  Of course, stopovers in Perpignan, Montpellier, Nimes or Marseille are also possible!

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Barcelona to Brussels & Bruges from €88...

Option 1, by high-speed train in a single day, via Lyon so no need to cross Paris. The easiest way!

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Lyon by direct AVE-S100 high-speed train, leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:15 & arriving Lyon Part Dieu 13:20.

  The AVE train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  You'll get great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, you'll pass the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks, flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Narbonne & Montpelier, and Béziers cathedral, see the photos, tips & information here.

  Have lunch in Lyon, there are plenty of restaurants just outside the station.

• Step 2, travel from Lyon to Brussels by TGV leaving Lyon Part Dieu at 14:00.  At weekends it's direct to Brussels arriving Brussels Midi 17:43, Monday-Friday you change at Marne la Vallée arriving Brussels Midi 18:43.  Change in Brussels for Bruges.

• Fares start at €39 for Barcelona-Lyon and €25 for Lyon-Brussels.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Book this journey at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both sites easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly, but no fee) looking for this option.  It should come up in the results straight away, if it doesn't simply book each train separately, adding it to your basket and paying for both tickets as one transaction.  You print your own ticket.

Option 2, by high-speed TGV in a single day, via Paris...

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Paris by TGV Duplex leaving Barcelona Sants at 10:05 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 16:46.

  This impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's a scenic journey, too, see the scenery photos here & watch the video here.  From late June to late August there's usually an earlier train, leaving Barcelona at 06:00.

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Brussels by high-speed 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.

• The easiest way to buy tickets is at www.raileurope.com as you can then book Barcelona to Brussels all in one go as one easy transaction with print-your-own tickets for both trains.  Prices are in €, £ or $, you can use it wherever you live as all overseas credit cards are accepted. There's a small booking fee.  Booking for the TGV & Thalys usually opens 120 days ahead.

  Tip:  I recommend an upper deck seat on the TGV Duplex for the best views.  Raileurope.com shows you your seat number before you confirm & pay, and any seat number over 60 is on the upper deck.  If you don't get an upper deck seat, simply leave it in your basket & try again until you get an upstairs seat, then delete the tickets you don't want from your basket.

• Alternatively, you can book each train separately, although this takes more effort and is unlikely to make it any cheaper:  Book from Barcelona to Paris at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both sites easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly but no fee) and print out your tickets, then book the Thalys at www.thalys.com (in €, no booking fee) also with print-at-home tickets.  Connecting tickets within Spain can be booked direct with Renfe at www.renfe.com (but see advice on using it here) or (if you have any problems at the payment stage) alternative sites www.raileurope.com (in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.petrabax.com (in US$, with small mark-up).

Option 3, by high-speed TGV with overnight hotel in Paris...

• This is similar to the journeys explained above, but it's time-effective, involving an overnight stop in Paris.

• Day 1, travel from Barcelona to Paris by TGV Duplex leaving Barcelona Sants at 14:00, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 20:48. 

  This impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It's a scenic journey, too, see the scenery photos here & watch the video here..  From late May to late August there's usually also a later departure, leaving Barcelona Sants at 16:10, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 22:46.

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

• Stay overnight in Paris - see suggested hotels near the station.

• Next morning, take any Thalys high-speed train you like from Paris Gare du Nord to Brussels Midi, they leave every hour or so, journey time 1h20, fares from €29.  This way, you can arrive in central Brussels before 08:00 if you like.  Thalys trains have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the Thalys information page.

• Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com.  Book from Barcelona to Paris on day 1, add to basket, then book Paris to Brussels for day 2, add to basket and check out.  You can pay in €, £ or $, there's a small booking fee.  You can also book at www.thetrainline.com (also in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or at the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly but no booking fee).

Option 4:  Barcelona-Paris by overnight sleeper train, then high-speed train onwards to Brussels.

• This isn't much faster than using the late afternoon TGV to Paris and staying there overnight, but it can save money on a hotel.

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Paris overnight, via the Latour de Carol to Paris couchette train - see the section above for times, fares & how to buy tickets.

• Allow at least 60 minutes to change trains & stations in Paris by metro or taxi from the Gare d'Austerlitz to the Gare du Nord.

• Step 2, take a Thalys train from Paris Gare du Nord to Brussels Midi, they leave every hour or so, journey time 1h20, fare from €29.  Book the Thalys at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both sites easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.thalys.com (only in €, more fiddly, but no booking fee).

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Barcelona to Amsterdam from €74...

Option 1, Barcelona to Amsterdam in a single day by high-speed train...

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Paris by TGV Duplex leaving Barcelona Sants at 10:05 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 16:46.

  This impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's a scenic journey, see the scenery photos here & watch the video here.  From late June to late August there's usually also an earlier train, leaving Barcelona at 06:00.

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

  Allow at least 60 minutes to change trains & stations in Paris by metro or taxi from Paris Gare de Lyon to the Gare du Nord.

• Step 2, 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.

• The easiest way to buy tickets is at www.raileurope.com as you can then book Barcelona to Amsterdam all in one go as one easy transaction with print-at-home tickets for both trains.  Prices are in €, £ or $, you can use it wherever you live as all overseas credit cards are accepted.  There's a small booking fee.  Booking for the TGV & Thalys usually opens 120 days ahead.

  Tip:  I recommend an upper deck seat on the TGV Duplex for the best views.  Raileurope.com shows you your seat number before you confirm & pay, and any seat number over 60 is on the upper deck.  If you don't get an upper deck seat, simply leave it in your basket & try again until you get an upstairs seat, then delete the tickets you don't want from your basket.

  Tip:  To allow more time across Paris (I recommend at least an hour, but a little more wouldn't hurt) click More options and enter Paris (any station) as a via station, with a suitable duration.

• Alternatively, you can book each train separately, although this clearly takes more effort and is unlikely to make it any cheaper:  Book from Barcelona to Paris at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both sites easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly, but no fee) with print-your-own tickets, then book the Paris-Amsterdam Thalys at www.thalys.com also with print-at-home tickets and no booking fee.  Connecting tickets within Spain can be booked direct with Renfe at www.renfe.com (fiddly, and may reject some overseas payment cards, see advice on using it here) or much easier-to-use sites www.raileurope.com (in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.petrabax.com (in US$, with small mark-up).

Option 2, by high-speed TGV with overnight hotel in Paris...

• This is the same as option 1, but with an overnight stop in Paris to break up the journey.

• Travel from Barcelona to Paris by TGV Duplex, leaving Barcelona Sants at 14:00, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 20:48.  From late May to late August there's usually a later train, leaving Barcelona Sants at 16:10, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 22:46.

• Stay overnight in Paris, see suggested hotels near the station.

• Next morning, take any Thalys high-speed train you like from Paris Gare du Nord to Amsterdam Centraal, journey time 3h30 with fares from €35.  The 06:13 from Paris arrives Amsterdam 09:44, but by all means have a leisurely breakfast and take a later one, they leave every hour or two.

• Book at www.raileurope.com, first booking from Barcelona to Paris on day 1, add this to your basket, then book Paris to Brussels on day 2, add to basket and check out, paying for all tickets at one transaction.  Booking for the TGV & Thalys usually opens 120 days ahead.  You can pay in €, £ or $, small booking fee.  You can also book at the French Railways website en.oui.sncf, a bit more fiddly, only in €, but no booking fee.

  Tip:  I recommend an upper deck seat on the TGV Duplex for the best views.  Raileurope.com shows you your seat number before you confirm & pay, and any seat number over 60 is on the upper deck.  If you don't get an upper deck seat, simply leave it in your basket & try again until you get an upstairs seat, then delete the tickets you don't want from your basket.

Option 3:  Barcelona-Paris by overnight sleeper train, then high-speed train onwards to Amsterdam.

• This isn't much faster than taking the late afternoon TGV to Paris (when running) and staying there overnight, but it can save a hotel bill.

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Paris overnight, via the Latour de Carol to Paris couchette train with a scenic afternoon ride through the Pyrenees, see the Barcelona to Paris section above for times, fares & how to buy tickets.

• Allow at least 60 minutes to change trains & stations in Paris by metro or taxi from the Gare d'Austerlitz to the Gare du Nord.

• Step 2, take a Thalys train from Paris Gare du Nord to Amsterdam Centraal, they leave every hour or two, journey time 3h20.

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

  Book the Thalys at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly).

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Barcelona to Luxembourg...

Option 1, Barcelona to Luxembourg in a single day...

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Paris by TGV Duplex leaving Barcelona Sants at 10:05 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 16:46.

  The 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Book an upper deck seat for the best views.  It's a scenic ride, see here for the sights to see from the train on the way.

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

  Allow at least 60 minutes to change trains & stations in Paris from the Gare de Lyon to the Gare du Nord.

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Luxembourg by TGV, leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 18:40 Sat & Sun arriving Luxembourg 20:52 or 19:40 Mon-Fri, arriving Luxembourg 21:52. 

  The TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. 

  Fares start at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com, you can then buy all your tickets together in one place, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem.

  Booking usually opens 120 days ahead.  Try booking from Barcelona to Luxembourg as one transaction, if you have any problems, book each train separately, adding each to your basket and checking out at the end.  You print your own tickets.  There's a small booking fee.

  Tip:  I recommend clicking More options, entering Paris (any station) as a via station, with a stopover duration of 1 hour.  This ensures a robust connection, by default the SNCF ticketing system allows cross-Paris connections as short as 40 minutes, which I consider far too tight for comfort.

  Tip: I recommend an upstairs seat on the TGV Duplex for the best views.  Raileurope.com shows you your seat number before you confirm & pay, and any seat number over 60 is on the upper deck.  If you don't get an upper deck seat, simply leave it in your basket & try again until you get an upstairs seat, then delete the tickets you don't want from your basket.

  Alternatively, you can book each train at the French Railways website en.oui.sncf, a little more fiddly, in €.

Option 2, Spanish cities to Luxembourg with overnight stop in Paris...

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Paris by TGV Duplex leaving Barcelona Sants at 14:00, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 20:48.

  The 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Book an upper deck seat for the best views.  It's a scenic ride, see here for the sights to see from the train on the way.

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

• Stay overnight in Paris, see suggested hotels near the station.

• Step 2, next morning travel from Paris to Luxembourg by TGV.  On Mondays-Fridays the 07:28 from Paris Gare du Nord arrives Luxembourg at 09:45.  On Saturdays, the 07:40 from Paris Gare du Nord arrives Luxembourg at 09:52.  On Sundays, the 10:29 from Paris Gare du Nord arrives Luxembourg at 12:52.  Or there are later trains.

  The TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. 

  Fares start at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead.

• Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com, you can then buy all your tickets together in one place, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem.

  Booking usually opens 120 days ahead.  First book from Barcelona to Paris, add to basket, then book from Paris to Luxembourg for the following day and add that to your basket, then check out.  You print your own tickets.  There's a small booking fee.

  Alternatively, you can book each train at the French Railways website en.oui.sncf, a little more fiddly, in €.

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Barcelona to Geneva, Zurich & Switzerland from €69...

Option 1, Barcelona to Switzerland in a single day, leaving 08:15...

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Lyon by AVE-S100 high-speed train, leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:15 and arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 13:20.

  The AVE train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  You'll get great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, you'll pass the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks, flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Narbonne & Montpelier, and Béziers cathedral, see the photos, tips & information here.

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

• Step 2, travel from Lyon to Geneva by TER regional train, leaving Lyon Part Dieu at 14:38 and arriving Geneva at 16:35.

  This is a lovely ride through the Jura mountains and along the Rhône.  2nd class only.  The fare is a fixed-price €29.60.

• Buy tickets from Barcelona to Geneva at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or at the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, a little more fiddly, no fee).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own tickets.

• Step 3, take an onward train from Geneva to anywhere in Switzerland, check times and buy tickets at either www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or the Swiss Railways website www.sbb.ch (in €, no fee).  If you buy in advance you may find Swiss Supersaver fares available, saving up to 70% off regular Swiss rail fares.  Booking for Swiss trains opens 60 days ahead.

Option 2, Barcelona to Switzerland in a single day, leaving at 10:05 daily...

• This follows exactly the same route as option 1 but leaves an hour later and involves two changes of train rather than one.

• Leave Barcelona Sants at 10:05 by TGV Duplex, change at Nimes onto a TGV & Lyon Part Dieu onto a TER regional train arriving Geneva 18:35.

• Then take an onward train from Geneva to anywhere in Switzerland, check times and buy tickets at either www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or the Swiss Railways website www.sbb.ch (in €, no fee).  If you buy in advance (but less than 30 days ahead) you may find Swiss Supersaver fares available, saving up to 50% off regular Swiss rail fares.

• Book from Barcelona to Geneva at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) and add an onward ticket also at www.thetrainline.com.  Or book  Barcelona-Geneva at the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly, but no booking fee) then onward Swiss tickets at the Swiss Railways website www.sbb.ch.

Option 3, Barcelona to Avignon or Marseille in the evening, overnight stop & morning free, then afternoon TGV to Geneva...

• This option is well worth considering as Avignon & Marseille are both great stopover cities.  Avignon town centre is 3 miles from Avignon TGV station, there is a shuttle train or taxis available.  Marseille St Charles is in Marseille city centre a stroll from the Vieux Port.

• Day 1, travel from Barcelona to Avignon or Marseille by AVE-S100 high-speed train, leaving Barcelona Sants at 16:36 and arriving Avignon TGV at 20:50 & Marseille St Charles at 21:33.

  The AVE train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In summer when it's light, you'll get great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, you'll pass the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks, flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Narbonne & Montpelier, and Béziers cathedral, see the photos, tips & information here.

  Fares start at €29 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both sites easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly, but no fee).  Booking normally opens 120 days ahead.  You print your own ticket.

• Stay overnight in Avignon or Marseille.  Inexpensive hotels with good reviews just outside Marseille St Charles station include the Ibis Marseille Centre Gare St Charles, Holiday Inn Express Marseille St Charles.

• Day 2, travel from Marseille or Avignon to Geneva, leaving Marseille St Charles at 08:10 or Avignon TGV at 08:48 by TGV high-speed train to Lyon Part Dieu.  Then take the next TER regional train to Geneva, arriving 12:35.

  By all means spend a morning in Marseille or Avignon and take the later 12:10 from Marseille, 12:48 from Avignon TGV, also changing at Lyon Part Dieu, arriving Geneva 16:35.

  Fares for the TGV start at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class, this varies like air fares, so book ahead.  The TER costs a fixed-price €29.60.

  Book this journey at either at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both sites easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, a bit more fiddly, but no booking fee).  Booking for French trains opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own tickets or can show mobile tickets on your smartphone.

  There's more great scenery up the Rhone Valley and through the mountains to Geneva.  There's a cafe-bar on board and power sockets at all seats.  Change in Geneva for onward trains to Lausanne, Montreux, Bern, Zurich, booking onward tickets at www.thetrainline.com or www.sbb.ch.

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Barcelona to Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome & Italy from €68...

So many people want to travel this route, and many of them mistakenly think you have to fly.  You don't.  You can travel cheaply and time-effectively by comfortable and civilised train with an overnight stop at wonderful Marseille into the bargain and perhaps some time in Nice.  The scenic train ride along the Côte d'Azur and Italian Riviera can be a highlight of your trip...

Option 1, Barcelona to Milan in a single day, from the Pyrenees to the Alps with lunch in Lyon...

• Day 1, travel from Barcelona to Lyon by AVE-S100 high-speed train, leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:15 and arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 13:20.

  The AVE train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  You'll get great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, you'll pass the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks, flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Narbonne & Montpelier, and Béziers cathedral, see the photos, tips & information here.

  Fares for this train start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Have lunch in Lyon (see suggested brasserie near Lyon Part Dieu), then transfer from Lyon Part Dieu to Lyon St Exupéry by Rhône Express tram, a tram runs every 15 minutes, journey time 30 minutes.  If you'd rather head of to St Exupéry sooner rather than later, there's a basic self-service restaurant as well as a waiter-service restaurant in the terminal building adjacent to St Exupéry TGV station and linked to it by walkway.

• Day 1, travel from Lyon to Turin & Milan by TGV, leaving Lyon St Exupéry 16:38 & arriving Turin Porta Susa 20:22 & Milan Porta Garibaldi 21:50.

  This is a lovely ride at low speed snaking through the Alps, see the photos & video here.  The train has a cafe-bar & power sockets at all seats, sit back and enjoy the ride.

  Fares start at €29 in 2nd class or €44 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Stay overnight in either Turin or Milan.  Personally I'd choose Turin, a lovely city even if you're not a fan of the 1969 Michael Caine film The Italian Job which was set there.  I'd allow some time for a look around next morning...

  In Turin I suggest the Hotel Torino Porta Susa or Hotel Diplomatic, Best Quality Hotel Dock Milano or small Al Porta Susa B&B, all right next to Turin Porta Susa station where the TGV arrives and where your onward train leaves next morning, with good or great reviews.  Alternatively, the excellent Turin Palace Hotel is in the centre right next to Porta Nuova station, a 7 minute taxi ride, 3-stop €1.50 metro ride or 20 minute walk from Porta Susa, but next morning you can board your train to Venice, Florence, Rome or Naples at Porta Nuova station where these trains start their journey.

  In Milan, the AC Milano Hotel (a Marriott Lifestyle Hotel) is 350 yards from Milan Porta Garibaldi and gets good reviews.

• Day 2, take a morning train to anywhere in Italy...

  For Florence, Rome or Naples take a 300 km/h (186 mph) Frecciarossa train from Turin Porta Nuova, Turin Porta Susa, Milan Centrale or Milan Porta Garibaldi to Florence SMN from €19.90, to Rome Termini or Naples Centrale from €29.90.  There are regular departures throughout the day, Turin-Florence takes 2h48, Milan-Florence takes 1h40, Turin-Rome 3h55, Milan-Rome 2h55.

  Alternatively, you can travel on a competing privately-run Italo train from Turin or Milan to Florence, Rome and Naples (www.italotreno.it).

  For Verona or Venice take a 186mph  Frecciarossa high-speed train from Turin Porta Nuova, Turin Porta Susa or Milan Centrale to Verona Porta Nuova or Venice Santa Lucia.  Milan to Venice takes 2h35 from €19.90.  Turin to Venice takes 3h25 from €19.90.  It's easier to change in Turin as that's a same-station change.  In Milan, a transfer from Porta Garibaldi to Centrale is a 25 minute walk or €6 10 minute taxi ride.

  For Cinque Terre take a train from Milan Centrale to Monterosso, some direct in as little as 2h57 from €19.90, or there are other departures involving a change.  There are also trains from Milan Centrale to Genoa (1h32) and Pisa (3h47).

• How to buy tickets...

  The easiest way to buy tickets is to use www.raileurope.com, as you can buy all the tickets together in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee.  Booking normally opens 120 days ahead.  About Raileurope.

  Go to www.raileurope.com, book the direct morning train from Barcelona Sants to Lyon Part Dieu for day 1 and add this to your basket.  Then book the direct afternoon train from Lyon St Exupéry to Turin or Milan and add that to your basket.  Then book a train from Turin or Milan to your final Italian destination for the following morning, add to basket and check out.  Raileurope.com can book both Trenitalia and Italo trains, you'll see both operators listed.

  For the TGV you can print your ticket or select a mobile ticket to show on your smartphone.  Italian high-speed trains are ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on board.

• How to buy tickets, advanced...

  You can of course book each train separately with the relevant operator, with no booking fee.  This means more work and it won't necessarily make it any cheaper.

  Step 1, book from Barcelona to Lyon at the French Railways website, en.oui.sncf.  Step 2, use en.oui.sncf again to book Lyon to Turin or Milan.  Step 3, now buy onward Italian train tickets online from Milan or Turin to anywhere in Italy at either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in plain English, they'll refund seat61 users the €3.50 booking fee if you email seat61@italiarail.com afterwards) or Trenitalia site www.trenitalia.com, but for that you'll need to use Italian-language place names and it has a few quirks so see this advice on using it.  Both sites sell the same tickets at the same prices and both usually offer ticketless travel, you simply quote your booking reference on the train.

Option 2, by high-speed train to Marseille, overnight stop, Thello train from Marseille to Genoa & Milan.

• Day 1, travel from Barcelona to Marseille by AVE high-speed train, leaving Barcelona Sants at 16:36 & arriving Marseille St Charles at 21:33.

  This AVE-S100 train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In summer when it's light, you'll get great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, you'll pass the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks, flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Narbonne & Montpelier, and Béziers cathedral, see the photos, tips & information here.

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

  Book this train at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both sites easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly, but no booking fee).  You print your own ticket.

• Stay overnight in Marseille and spend some time next morning exploring the city - see the Vieux Port, Eglise Notre Dame de la Garde, and if you stay a day or two you can even take a ferry to the terrible Chateau d'If of Count of Monte Cristo fame, see the Marseille page.  Inexpensive hotels with good reviews just outside Marseille St Charles station include the Ibis Marseille Centre Gare St Charles & Holiday Inn Express Marseille St Charles.

• Day 2, travel from Marseille to Italy by Thello train, leaving Marseille St Charles at 11:28 arriving Genoa Piazza Principe 17:05 & Milan Centrale 18:53.  This train is still subject to confirmation for 2021.

  This comfortable Thello train has a cafe counter and power sockets at all seats, fares start from just €30 if you book ahead.  There's lovely scenery along the Italian Riviera, too.  There's more lovely scenery along the Italian Riviera.

  Book from Marseille to anywhere in Italy using either www.raileurope.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, a small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (also easy to use, they'll refund their booking fee if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (a bit more fiddly, you need to use Italian language place names, see advice on using it).  For Thello & onward Italian high-speed trains it's ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on board.

• Day 2 evening, change at Milan for a Frecciarossa high-speed train leaving Milan Centrale at 19:10 and arriving Florence SMN at 21:04, or another Frecciarossa leaving Milan Centrale at 19:25 and arriving Rome Termini at 22:40.  A Frecciarossa leaves Milan Centrale at 19:15 arriving Verona Porta Nuova at 20:28 & Venice Santa Lucia at 21:42.

  Fares from Milan to Florence or Venice start at €19.90, to Rome or Naples from €29.90.  Connections to Pisa & Rome are also possible changing at Genoa rather than Milan, see what the system suggests.

Option 3, Barcelona to Milan in a single day via Geneva - via the Alps!

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Lyon by AVE-S100 high-speed train, leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:15 and arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 13:20

  The AVE train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  You'll get great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, you'll pass the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks, flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Narbonne & Montpelier, and Béziers cathedral, see the photos, tips & information here.

  Fares start at €29 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or 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 €, a little more fiddly, no booking fee).  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

• Step 2, travel from Lyon to Geneva by TER regional train, leaving Lyon Part Dieu at 14:38 and arriving Geneva at 16:35.

  This is a pleasant journey through the Jura and along the Rhone.  The fare is a fixed-price €29.60.  2nd class only.

  Buy a ticket at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, a little more fiddly, no booking fee).  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.  You can usually book Barcelona to Geneva as one transaction.

• Step 3, travel from Geneva to Milan by EuroCity train, leaving Geneva at 18:39 and arriving Milan Centrale at 22:40.

  Fares start at €29 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Buy a ticket at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easiest, their €3.50 booking fee will be refunded if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com.  It's ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on the train.

• Stay overnight in Milan.  Hotels near the station with good reviews: Made to Measure Business, 43 Station Hotel, Starhotel Echo or Starhotel Anderson.

• Step 4, take an onward train from Milan to Venice or Florence from €19.90, or to Rome or Naples from €29.90 booked at either www.raileurope.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (also easy to use, they'll refund their booking fee if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (more fiddly, you need to use Italian language place names).  It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board the train.

• Alternatively, you could stay overnight in Geneva (hotels near the station with good reviews include Hotel Cornavin Geneve, Hotel Les Arcades, ibis Styles Geneva Gare) and travel from Geneva to Italy next day.  There's a direct 07:39 to Venice Santa Lucia arriving 14:40, with fares from €39 booked at either www.raileurope.com or www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com.

Option 4, Barcelona to Rome by cruise ferry...

• How about a cruise by ferry?  Another excellent option is the Grimaldi Lines cruise ferry from Barcelona to Civitavecchia (an hour by regional train north of Rome).  The ferry usually sails daily around 22:15 and arrives around 18:45 next day, but check times, fares, and book online using the Direct Ferries website or at www.grimaldi-lines.com.  Grimaldi Lines also run a ferry several times a week between Livorno and Barcelona, and between Valencia and Salerno, near Naples.

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Barcelona to Lisbon from €78...

Option 1, by AVE to Madrid then Madrid to Lisbon by sleeper train - the fastest & most time-effective option.

• Step 1, take a high-speed AVE train from Barcelona Sants to Madrid Atocha in just 2h40 from around €45.  They leave almost every hour, you can leave Barcelona as late as 17:25, but by all means take an earlier one and spend a day or an afternoon in Madrid.  Transfer by local train from Madrid Atocha to Madrid Chamartin.  Allow at least 90 minutes in Madrid to transfer between trains.

• Step 2, take the Lusitania trainhotel overnight sleeper train from Madrid to Lisbon, leaving Madrid Chamartin at 21:50 and arriving Lisbon Oriente at 07:20 and Lisbon Santa Apolonia 07:30 next morning.  A wonderful and time-effective way to reach Portugal from Barcelona, and it saves a hotel bill too.  The Lusitania has cosy shared 4-berth Turista sleepers, 1 & 2 bed Preferente sleepers with washbasin, and Gran Clase 1 & 2 bed sleepers with en suite shower & toilet, plus a cafe-bar serving drinks, snacks and hot meals.

• The easiest way to buy tickets is at www.raileurope.com as you can book Barcelona to Lisbon all in one go as one journey. 

  Raileurope.com connects to the Spanish (Renfe) ticketing system to sell the same cheap prices as Renfe themselves, but in Plain English with no card acceptance problems and you simply print out your own ticket.  Prices are in €, £ or $, you can use Raileurope.com wherever you live as it accepts all international credit cards. There's a small booking fee.

  Tips:  Booking for the Lusitania opens 60 days before departure, although Barcelona to Madrid by AVE may open up to 90 days ahead.  To adjust the stopover time in Madrid to give yourself more time there, simply click More options enter Madrid and select the number of hours you want.  Raileurope.com defaults to Lisbon Oriente, so I recommend selecting Lisbon Santa Apolonia (for the city centre) specifically. 

  You can also book it easily at www.petrabax.com in US$, with a small mark-up.

  You can of course book direct with Spanish Railways at www.renfe.com in € with no booking fee, but see this advice on using renfe.com as it explains all the odd translations and types of fare and sleeper, with help if your credit card is rejected.  You will need to book and pay for each leg (Barcelona-Madrid and Madrid-Lisbon) as a separate booking.  It's much easier to use Raileurope.com.

• For Porto, book a Lisbon Santa Apolonia to Porto Campanhã ticket at the Portuguese Railways website www.cp.pt, which is the only site that can sell Portuguese tickets.  Fares start at just €15.

• For Faro & the Algarve, book a ticket from Lisbon Oriente to Faro or Albufeira at www.cp.pt.  Fares start at just €15.

Step 2, take the overnight sleeper train from Madrid to Lisbon...

Option 2, by daytime trains with an overnight stop in Madrid - if you prefer day trains to sleepers...

• Day 1, travel from Barcelona Sants to Madrid Atocha in as little as 2h40 on any high-speed AVE you like with fares from around €46.

• Stay overnight in Madrid.  The classic Hotel Mediodia is across the road from Atocha with good reviews, or try the NH Hotel Madrid Atocha or Only YOU Hotel Atocha, also across the road from the station.

• Day 2, travel from Madrid Atocha to Lisbon Santa Apolonia on a series of local daytime trains as shown here.

Option 3, by high-speed train to Seville & bus to Faro in the Algarve.  Overnight stop in Faro, train to Lisbon next day - via the Algarve...

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Seville by AVE-S112 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:30 and arriving Seville Santa Justa at 14:02.

  Fares start at around €46.  Fares vary like air fares so book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this at www.raileurope.com (easiest, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, only in €, may reject some international credit cards).

• Step 2, travel from Seville to Faro by bus.  Buses run from Seville Plaza de Armas to Faro several times daily, journey time around 3h40, fare around €16-€20.

  Buses are run by Damas, Eva-Bus & Alsa amongst others, you can check times & buy tickets for various bus companies all in one place at Omio.com.  You print your own ticket.

• Step 3, travel from Faro to Lisbon Oriente by air-conditioned Intercity or Alfa Pendular train in between 3h and 3h45.  Check times and buy tickets from €15 at the Portuguese Railways website www.cp.pt.

• Alternatively, you can travel from Barcelona to Seville on the afternoon AVE-S112 leaving  Barcelona Sants at 15:50 and stay overnight in Seville.  Then take a bus to Faro next morning, and an afternoon train to Lisbon.  Allow plenty of time (an hour or two) between bus and train in Faro, just in case of delay.

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Barcelona to Porto...

Option 1, using the Madrid-Lisbon sleeper train...

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Madrid by high-speed AVE in 2h30, then take the overnight Trenhotel Lusitania from Madrid to Lisbon Santa Apolonia, as shown in the Barcelona to Lisbon section above.

• Step 2, travel from Lisbon Santa Apolonia to Porto Campanhã by air-conditioned Intercity or Alfa Pendular train in around 2h45.  Check times and buy tickets from €15 at the Portuguese Railways website www.cp.pt.  I'd allow at least an hour between trains in Lisbon.

  Tip:  You can arrive in Porto earlier by changing from the sleeper to a northbound train at Coimbra or Entroncamento rather than Lisbon, but as the price is the same, it's better to get more sleep and change in Lisbon!

  Tip:  Trains from Lisbon arrive at Porto Campanhã, but tickets are valid for a free transfer by CP suburban train from Porto Campanhã to the beautiful Porto São Bento station which is right inside the old city and a city attraction in its own right.  Suburban trains link Campanhã & São Bento stations every 5-15 minutes taking 4 minutes.

Option 2, Barcelona to Vigo, overnight stop, then regional train to Porto...

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Vigo by high-speed air-conditioned Alvia-S130 train with cafe-bar, leaving Barcelona Sants at 09:30 on Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays arriving Vigo Guixar at 23:06.

  Fares start at €25 in Turista or €29 in Turista Plus.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, only in €, may reject some overseas credit cards, see this advice on using it).

• Stay overnight in Vigo.  The NH Collection Vigo hotel & cheaper Hotel Atlantico Vigo are both near the station with great reviews.

• Step 2, travel from Vigo to Porto by express regional train.  There are 2 trains per day, leaving Vigo Guixar at 08:58 & 19:56 and arriving at Porto Campanhã around 1h22 later.  The fare is around €15.  Buy a ticket at www.raileurope.com or www.renfe.com and print it out.

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Barcelona to Faro & the Algarve...

Option 1, Barcelona to Seville by high-speed train, Seville to Faro by bus - fastest & cheapest, Barcelona to Faro in a single day...

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Seville by AVE-S112 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:30 and arriving Seville Santa Justa at 14:02.

  Fares start at around €46.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this at www.raileurope.com (easiest, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, only in €, may reject some international credit cards).

• Step 2, travel from Seville to Faro by bus.  Buses run from Seville Plaza de Armas to Faro several times daily, journey time around 3h40, fare around €16-€20.

  Buses are run by Damas, Eva-Bus & Alsa amongst others, you can check times & buy tickets for various bus companies all in one place at Omio.com.  You print your own ticket.

• Alternatively, you can travel from Barcelona to Seville on the afternoon AVE-S112 leaving  Barcelona Sants at 15:50 and stay overnight in Seville.  Then take a bus to Faro next morning.

Option 2, using the Madrid to Lisbon sleeper train - the all-train option...

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Madrid in 2h30, then take the overnight Trenhotel Lusitania from Madrid to Lisbon Oriente, as shown above.

• Step 2, travel from Lisbon Oriente to Faro by air-conditioned Intercity train in around 3h30.  Check times and buy tickets from €15 at the Portuguese Railways website www.cp.pt.  I'd allow at least an hour between trains in Lisbon.

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Barcelona to Andorra...

• There's no train to Andorra, but there are 6 or 7 buses a day from Barcelona Sants station to Andorra La Vella, capital of Andorra, journey time 3 hours 15 minutes, fare around €30.50, see www.autocarsnadal.com.  You can buy tickets online at www.andorradirectbus.es.

• There are also competing Alsa and Eurolines buses which you can book at Omio.com (formerly GoEuro.com).

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Barcelona to Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin & Germany from €75...

Option 1:  Barcelona to Cologne or Frankfurt in a day.  On to Hamburg or Berlin next day.

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Paris by TGV Duplex, leaving Barcelona Sants at 10:05 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 16:46.

  This impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's a scenic journey, too, see the scenery photos here & watch the video here.  From late June to late August there's usually an earlier train, leaving Barcelona at 06:00.

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

  Buy a ticket at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.  You print your own ticket.

  Allow at least 1 hour to change trains & stations from Paris Gare de Lyon to the Gare du Nord (for Cologne) or Gare de l'Est (for Frankfurt).

• Step 2 for Cologne, travel from Paris to Cologne by Thalys train, leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 17:55 and arriving Cologne Hbf at 21:15. 

  Fares start at €35 in 2nd class or €79 in 1st class.

• Step 2 for Frankfurt, travel from Paris to Frankfurt by ICE, leaving Paris Gare de l'Est at 19:06 and arriving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 22:58.

  Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

• Step 3 for Hamburg, Berlin:  Stay overnight in Cologne and take any onward train you like next day.

• Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com, you can then buy all your tickets together in one place, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem.

  Try booking from Barcelona to Cologne or Frankfurt as one transaction, if you have any problems, book each train separately, adding each to your basket and checking out at the end.  You print your own tickets.  Booking for the TGV & Thalys usually opens 120 days ahead.

  Tip:  If booking the whole trip in one go, I recommend clicking More options, entering Paris (any station) as a via station, with a stopover duration of 1 hour.  This gets you a more robust connection, by default the SNCF ticketing system allows cross-Paris connections as short as 40 minutes, which I consider far too tight for comfort.

  Tip: I recommend an upstairs seat on the TGV Duplex for the best views.  Raileurope.com shows you your seat number before you confirm & pay, and any seat number over 60 is on the upper deck.  If you don't get an upper deck seat, simply leave it in your basket & try again until you get an upstairs seat, then delete the tickets you don't want from your basket.

  Alternatively, you can book each train separately, although it's more effort and unlikely to make it materially cheaper, other than avoiding a booking fee:  Book from Barcelona to Paris at the French Railways website en.oui.sncf, then book the Thalys to Cologne at en.oui.sncf or the ICE to Frankfurt at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.

Option 2:  Barcelona to Cologne, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Berlin & Germany with overnight stop in Paris...

• Day 1, travel from Barcelona to Paris by TGV Duplex, leaving Barcelona Sants at 14:00 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 20:48.

  This impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's a scenic journey, too, see the scenery photos here & watch the video here.  A later 16:10 departure from Barcelona is usually available from late May to late August.

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

  Buy a ticket at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly).  You print your own ticket or can select a mobile ticket to show on your smartphone.

• Stay overnight in Paris, see suggested hotels near the station.

• Day 2, take onward high-speed trains to anywhere in Germany next morning, leaving Paris around 07:00 you could be in Frankfurt at 10:58, Cologne 11:15, Berlin 15:28, Munich 13:27.  By all means have a leisurely breakfast and take later trains...

  Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Check train times from Paris to anywhere in Germany and buy tickets using the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

• Alternatively, this whole trip can easily be booked in one place at www.raileurope.com, as this connects directly to the Renfe system and the French SNCF system and the German DB system.  Book from Barcelona to Paris looking for the direct afternoon train with 0 changes.  Add to basket.  Then book from Paris to anywhere in Germany for the following day, add to your basket and check out.  You'll get print-at-home or collect-at-station tickets for both trains.  You can pay in €, £ or $, there's a small booking fee.

Option 3:  Barcelona to Cologne, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Berlin & Germany, with overnight stop in Marseille...

• Day 1, travel from Barcelona to Marseille by AVE S100 high-speed train, leaving Barcelona Sants 16:36 and arriving Marseille St Charles 21:33.

  The AVE train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In summer when it's light, you'll get great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, you'll pass the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks, flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Narbonne & Montpelier, and Béziers cathedral, see the photos, tips & information here.

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

  Buy a ticket at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee).  Booking normally opens 120 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

• Stay overnight in Marseille...  Inexpensive hotels with good reviews near Marseille St Charles station include the Ibis Marseille Centre Gare St Charles & Holiday Inn Express Marseille St Charles.

• Day 2, travel from Marseille to Frankfurt by direct TGV Duplex, leaving Marseille St Charles 08:10 and arriving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf 15:58.

  Change at Karlsruhe, Mannheim or Frankfurt for onward ICE & IC trains to Cologne, Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, www.bahn.de will give you train times from Marseille to anywhere in Germany on this departure.

  Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book from Marseille to anywhere in Germany at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You can also book at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com at the same prices, which would keep all your bookings in one place with one retailer.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

• Alternatively, you can easily book the whole trip in one place at www.raileurope.com, as this connects directly to the Renfe system and the French SNCF system and the German DB system.  Book from Barcelona to Marseille looking for the direct afternoon train with 0 changes.  Add to your basket.  Then book from Marseille to Frankfurt again looking for the direct train with 0 changes, add to your basket and check out, paying for both tickets as one transaction.  You'll get print-at-home or collect-at-station tickets for both trains.  You can pay in €, £ or $, there's a small booking fee.

Option 4:  Barcelona to Geneva by TGV, overnight stop, Geneva to Munich next day...

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Lyon by AVE-S100 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:15, arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 13:20.

  The AVE train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  You'll get great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, you'll pass the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks, flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Narbonne & Montpelier, and Béziers cathedral, see the photos, tips & information here.

  Book from Barcelona Sants to Lyon at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both sites easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly, but no fee).

• Step 2, take the 14:38 TER regional train from Lyon Part Dieu to Geneva, arriving 16:35, also book this at www.raileurope.com, www.thetrainline.com or en.oui.sncf.

• Stay overnight in Geneva.  Hotels with good reviews near the station include Hotel Cornavin Genève, Hotel Les Arcades, ibis Styles Geneva Gare.  Hotels in Switzerland can be expensive, if you're on a budget you can book budget private rooms in a one-star hotel or backpacker hostel near the station using www.hostelworld.com.

• Step 3, next day, take a Swiss domestic train to Zurich then a comfortable EuroCity train to Munich, for example leaving Geneva 07:42, a quick & easy change at Zurich HB, arriving Munich Hbf at 15:04, or there's another one leaving Geneva at 09:42, change at Zurich HB, arriving Munich Hbf at 17:04.

  Book from Geneva to Munich as one transaction from €39.90 at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.  Look for options with just 1 change.  Be careful to avoid any departure marked BUS in the search results, only pick departures marked IC, EC or IR, EC.

Option 5:  Barcelona-Paris by overnight sleeper train, then high-speed train onwards to Germany.

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Paris overnight via the Latour de Carol to Paris couchette train with a scenic afternoon ride through the Pyrenees, see the Barcelona to Paris section above for times, fares & how to buy tickets.

• Allow at least 60 minutes to change trains & stations in Paris by metro or taxi from the Gare d'Austerlitz to the Gare du Nord.

• Step 2, take a high-speed train from Paris to Cologne (3h30 from €35), Frankfurt (3h40 from €39.90), Hamburg or Berlin.  Check times & fares at www.raileurope.com or www.bahn.de.

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Barcelona to Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck & Austria from €88...

Option 1, Barcelona to Geneva by TGV, Zurich to Vienna by sleeper train - The most time-effective option...

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Lyon by AVE-S100 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:15, arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 13:20.

  The AVE train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  You'll get great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, you'll pass the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks, flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Narbonne & Montpelier, and Béziers cathedral, see the photos, tips & information here.

  Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.  Fares very like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Step 2, travel from Lyon to Geneva by TER regional train, leaving Lyon Part Dieu at 14:38 & arriving Geneva at 16:35.

  The fare is a fixed-price €29.60.  2nd class only.  There's some nice scenery as the train runs along the river Rhone.

  Book from Barcelona Sants to Geneva at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both sites easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly, no fee).  You print your own ticket.

• Step 3, travel from Geneva to Zurich by Swiss Intercity train, leaving Geneva at 17:15 and arriving Zurich HB at 19:56.

  Buy this ticket at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or the Swiss Railways website www.sbb.ch (in CHF) and print it out.  You may find a cheap supersaver fare if you pre-book.

• Step 4, travel from Zurich to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Zurich HB at 21:40 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 07:55. 

  The train has modern double-deck sleeping-cars with 1 & 2 berth sleepers with washbasin, and 1 & 2-berth deluxe sleepers with en suite shower & toilet, and a few 3-berth sleepers with washbasin.  It also has couchettes (4-berth & 6-berth compartments) and ordinary seats.

  Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

Option 2, Barcelona to Geneva by TGV, overnight stop in Geneva, onwards to Austria next day by railjet...

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Lyon by AVE-S100 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:15, arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 13:20. 

  The AVE train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  You'll get great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, you'll pass the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks, flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Narbonne & Montpelier, and Béziers cathedral, see the photos, tips & information here.

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

• Step 2, travel from Lyon to Geneva by TER regional train, leaving Lyon Part Dieu at 14:38 and arriving Geneva at 16:35.

  The fixed-price fare is €29.60.  2nd class only.  It's a pleasant journey, through the Jura and along the Rhône.

  Book from Barcelona Sants to Geneva at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both 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.

• Stay overnight in Geneva.  Suggested hotels with good reviews near the station include Hotel Cornavin Geneve, Hotel Les Arcades, ibis Styles Geneva Gare.  Hotels in Switzerland can be expensive, if you're on a budget you can book budget private rooms in a one-star hotel or backpacker hostel near the station using www.hostelworld.com.

• Step 3, next day take a frequent Swiss domestic train from Geneva to Zurich HB then a smart Austrian railjet train from Zurich HB to Innsbruck Hbf, Salzburg, Linz or Vienna Hbf.  For example the 07:42 from Geneva would get you to Innsbruck Hbf at 14:11, Salzburg at 16:03 or Vienna Hbf at 18:30, or there's a later 09:42 arriving two hours later.  This is a really lovely journey through the wonderful Arlberg Pass, see the Arlberg Pass scenery video.  Have your camera ready!

  Geneva to Innsbruck starts at €29.90, Geneva to Salzburg or Vienna starts at €39.90.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this as a Geneva-to-Austria transaction at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (in €, same fares, a little more fiddly).  You print your own ticket.

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Barcelona to Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo & Scandinavia...

Option 1, with overnight stop in Cologne...

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Paris by TGV Duplex, leaving Barcelona Sants at 10:05 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 16:46.

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

  Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, both sites easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee.  Booking normally opens 120 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.  See here for more photos, video guide & booking advice.

• Change trains & stations in Paris by metro or taxi.  Always allow at least 60 minutes between trains, ideally more.

• Step 2, take the Thalys high-speed train leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 17:55 arriving Cologne Hbf Hbf at 21:15.  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com from €35.  You print your own ticket.

• Stay overnight in Cologne.  The good & inexpensive Ibis Hotel Köln-am-Dom is ideal as it's part of Cologne station itself, with an entrance to the left of the main station entrance - many of its rooms have a cathedral view.  Also near the station with good reviews are the Breslauer Hof Am Dom, Hotel Domspitzen, CityClass Hotel Europa am Dom, Hilton Cologne, Excelsior Hotel Ernst am Dom.

• Step 3 for Copenhagen:  Take an InterCity train from Cologne Hbf to Hamburg and an onward Danish IC3 intercity train to Copenhagen.  Book from Cologne to Copenhagen at www.bahn.de and you'll see various departures from €39.90 with 1 change, for example the 08:09 from Cologne arriving Copenhagen at 17:33.  You print your own ticket.

  Step 3 for Stockholm:  It's just about possible to travel from Cologne to Stockholm in a day with changes at Hamburg, Copenhagen & Malmo, using a through ticket from just €39.90 booked at www.bahn.de.  Depending on the day and date, you can leave Cologne Hbf at 08:09 and arrive at 23:41, see what bahn.de gives you.  There may be some tight connections but with a through ticket you're protected and will be taken forward by later trains if there's a delay and you miss the onward train.  Alternatively, stay overnight in Copenhagen and take an onward 125mph X2000 train to Stockholm on day 3, from around €23 booked at www.sj.se (Swedish Railways).

  Step 3 for Oslo & Norway:  Take an InterCity train to Hamburg and onward Intercity train to Copenhagen.  Book this at www.bahn.de and you'll see various departures from €39.90 with 1 change, for example the 08:09 from Cologne Hbf arriving Copenhagen at 17:33.  You print your own ticket.  Stay overnight in Copenhagen, then take a train from Copenhagen to Oslo with 1 change at Gothenburg, booked from €46 at www.sj.se (Swedish Railways).  Alternatively, spend a day exploring Copenhagen and take the overnight cruise ferry to Oslo with comfortable en suite cabins, bars and restaurants, see www.dfds.co.uk.

Option 2, with overnight stops in Marseille & Hamburg - two overnight stops, but might suit you better...

• Day 1, travel from Barcelona to Marseille by AVE-S100 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 16:36 & arriving Marseille St Charles 21:33.

  The AVE train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In summer when it's light, you'll get great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, you'll pass the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks, flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Narbonne & Montpelier, and Béziers cathedral, see the photos, tips & information here.

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

  Buy a ticket at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly).  Booking normally opens 120 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can select a mobile ticket to show on your smartphone.

• Stay overnight in Marseille.  Inexpensive hotels with good reviews just outside Marseille St Charles station:  Ibis Marseille Centre Gare St Charles, Holiday Inn Express Marseille St Charles.

• Day 2, travel from Marseille to Hamburg, leaving Marseille St Charles at 08:10 by TGV Duplex, changing at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf and arriving Hamburg Hbf at 20:30.

  Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book from Marseille to Hamburg at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or smartphone.

  Tip:  Change Duration of transfer from standard to at least 30 minutes to avoid tight connections.

• Stay overnight in Hamburg.  The Hotel Reichshoff Hamburg is just 200m from the station, features art deco-based design and gets great reviews.  Other hotels next to Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski.  If you're on a budget, private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf start at around £33 for one person or £49 for two people booked at www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 3, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by Danish IC3 intercity train leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:55 and arriving Copenhagen 13:33.

  Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.

  If you're only going as far as Copenhagen, book from Hamburg to Copenhagen at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or smartphone.

• For Stockholm, take an X2000 train from Copenhagen Stockholm, leaving Copenhagen at 14:19 and arriving Stockholm Central at 19:36.

  You should book from Hamburg to Stockholm as one transaction from €59.90 at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.  Book Hamburg to Stockholm departing 08:55 using this special link which I have set up with the necessary parameters.

• For Malmö or Gothenburg, Öresund Link trains run hourly from Copenhagen to Gothenburg in 3h53 and every half hour or better from Copenhagen to Malmö in 39 minutes.

  Book from Hamburg to Malmö or Gothenburg (= Göteborg Central) as one transaction from €39.90 at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.

• For Oslo & Norway, travel as far as Copenhagen, then take the overnight cruise ferry with bars, restaurants and en suite cabins to Oslo, She sails from Copenhagen daily around 16:30, arriving in Oslo around 09:45, see www.dfds.co.uk for times, prices & online tickets.

Hamburg to Copenhagen by Danish IC3...  This is the late afternoon Hamburg-Copenhagen IC3 leaving platform 5 at Hamburg Hbf on a busy summer day.  The yellow stripe above the windows indicates first class, located at one end of both 3-car units.  More information about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.

2nd class seats on a IC3 train.  Larger photo.		An IC3 train to Copenhagen at Hamburg.

Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000 train seen here at Copenhagen main station...		2nd class seats on an X2000 train from Copenhagen to Stockholm.

X2000 bistro car...		X2000 bistro car seating area...		Bistro self-service...

Winter scenery from a train between Copenhagen & Stockholm. Courtesy of Radoslav Sharapanov

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Barcelona to Helsinki & Finland...

Option 1, using a Finnlines ferry from Germany to Helsinki - the easiest option...

• Day 1, travel from Barcelona to Paris by TGV Duplex leaving Barcelona Sants at 14:00, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 20:48.

  From late May to late August there's usually also a later departure, leaving Barcelona Sants at 16:10, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 22:46.

  This impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It's a scenic journey, too, see the scenery photos here & watch the video here.

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

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or en.oui.sncf (more fiddly, in €, no fee).  Booking normally opens 120 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can select a mobile ticket to show on your smartphone.

  Change trains & stations in Paris by metro or taxi.

• Stay overnight in Paris, see suggested hotels near the station.

• Day 2, travel from Paris to Hamburg, you'll usually find a departure from Paris Gare de l'Est at 09:06, changing at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf and arriving Hamburg Hbf at 17:54.

  Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Check times & buy a ticket at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

• Day 2, transfer from Hamburg Hbf to the Travemünde ferry terminal by train+bus and sail from Travemünde to Helsinki with Finnlines, see the Trains from Hamburg page for full details of the transfer, check-in arrangements & ferry crossing.

  Finnlines sail from Travemünde in northern Germany to Helsinki every day, boarding from 22:30 to 24:00 and arriving Helsinki Vuosaari ferry terminal at 09:00 2 nights later (Day 4 from Spain).

  Check sailing dates, times & book the ferry at www.finnlines.com or using the Direct Ferries website.

• Book onward trains within Finland at the Finnish Railways website www.vr.fi.

Option 2, by train to Stockholm, then ferry to Helsinki...

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Barcelona to Prague & the Czech Republic...

Option 1, by day trains to Zurich then sleeper to Prague...

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Lyon by AVE-S100 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:15, arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 13:20.

  The AVE train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  You'll get great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, you'll pass the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks, flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Narbonne & Montpelier, and Béziers cathedral, see the photos, tips & information here.

  Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.  Fares very like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Step 2, travel from Lyon to Geneva by TER regional train, leaving Lyon Part Dieu at 14:38 and arriving Geneva at 16:35.

  The fare is a fixed-price €29.60.  2nd class only.  There's some nice scenery as the train runs along the river Rhone.

  Book from Barcelona Sants to Geneva at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both sites easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly, no fee).

  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

• Step 3, travel from Geneva to Zurich by Swiss Intercity train, leaving Geneva at 17:15 and arriving Zurich HB at 19:56.

  Buy this ticket at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or the Swiss Railways website www.sbb.ch (in CHF) and print it out.  You may find a cheap supersaver fare if you pre-book.

• Step 4, travel from Zurich to Prague by sleeper train, leaving Zurich HB at 21:40 and arriving Prague Hlavni at 10:57 (day 3 from Spain).

  This train has an excellent modern Czech sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartment (choice of standard with washbasin or deluxe with shower & toilet) - there are no couchettes on this train, just a sleeping-car.  There's no restaurant car, so take you own picnic and bottle of wine.  The beds convert to seats for the daytime part of the journey, and there's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the standard sleepers.  The train arrives at Prague Hlavni station, 15 minutes walk from Prague's historic old town.

  Fares start at €79 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €99 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper or €129 in a single-bed sleeper.

  Book the Zurich-Prague sleeper at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz/eshop and print your own ticket.  This is the only website where this sleeper can be booked online.

Option 2, by day trains with overnight stop in Paris...

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Paris by TGV Duplex leaving Barcelona Sants at 14:00 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon 20:48.

  This is a fascinating journey with plenty to see, see the photos & video here.

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

  Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both sites easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (more fiddly, in €, but no booking fee).  Booking opens 120 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

• Stay overnight in Paris, see suggested hotels near the station.  Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi.

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Munich, leaving Paris Gare de l'Est at 09:06 by TGV Duplex to Mannheim with connection to Munich arriving 15:28.

  Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.raileurope.com (in €, £ or €, small booking fee) or the German Railways website www.bahn.de (in €, no booking fee).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your smartphone.

• Step 3, travel from Munich to Prague by express train, leaving Munich Hbf at 16:43 and arriving Prague Hlavni at 22:21.

  This train is now fully air-conditioned with power sockets at all seats and free WiFi in most cars, see the Munich to Prague page for more details & photos of the trains.

  Fares start at €15 in 2nd class or €35 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz and print your own ticket.  Booking normally opens 90 days ahead.

Option 3, by day trains with overnight stop in Munich...

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Paris by TGV Duplex, leaving Barcelona Sants at 10:05 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 16:46.

  This is a fascinating journey with plenty to see, see the photos & video here.

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

  Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, both sites easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee.  Booking normally opens 120 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

  Change trains & stations in Paris by metro or taxi.

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Munich by TGV Duplex leaving Paris Gare de l'Est at 17:55, direct to Munich on Saturdays, change at Stuttgart on other days, arriving Munich Hbf around 23:30.

  Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (with small booking fee) or at www.bahn.de (no booking fee).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

• Stay overnight in Munich.   The Sofitel Munich Beyerpost, Eden Hotel Wolff, InterCity Hotel or (budget) the Pension Locarno are all right next to the station with good or great reviews.

• Step 3, travel from Munich to Prague by direct train, there's an 08:43 arriving 14:21 or there are earlier or later trains, see the Munich to Prague page for a timetable & more information.  All these trains are air-conditioned with power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Fares start at €15 in 2nd class or €35 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz.  Booking normally opens 90 days ahead.  You print your own ticket

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Barcelona to Bratislava & Slovakia...

Option 1, by day trains to Switzerland then nightjet sleeper train.  The most time-effective option...

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Lyon by AVE-S100 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:15, arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 13:20.

  The AVE train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  You'll get great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, you'll pass the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks, flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Narbonne & Montpelier, and Béziers cathedral, see the photos, tips & information here.

  Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.  Fares very like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Step 2, travel from Lyon to Geneva by TER regional train, leaving Lyon Part Dieu at 14:38 and arriving Geneva at 16:35.

  The fare is a fixed-price €29.60.  2nd class only.  There's some nice scenery as the train runs along the river Rhone.

  Book from Barcelona Sants to Geneva at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both sites easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly, no fee).

  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

• Step 3, travel from Geneva to Zurich by Swiss Intercity train, leaving Geneva at 17:15 and arriving Zurich HB at 19:56.

  Buy this ticket at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or the Swiss Railways website www.sbb.ch (in CHF) and print it out.  You may find a cheap supersaver fare if you pre-book.  Swiss domestic tickets open for booking 60 days ahead.

• Step 4, travel from Zurich to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Zurich HB at 21:40 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 07:55. 

  The train has modern double-deck sleeping-cars with 1 & 2 berth sleepers with washbasin, and 1 & 2-berth deluxe sleepers with en suite shower & toilet, and a few 3-berth sleepers with washbasin.  It also has couchettes (4-berth & 6-berth compartments) and ordinary seats.

  Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

• Step 5, when you reach Vienna, simply buy a ticket for €11.20 and hop on the next hourly regional express train from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna, no reservation necessary or possible, journey time 1h07, see the timetable here.  Check times at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.

Option 2, by day trains with overnight stop in Geneva.  The most scenic option...

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Lyon by AVE-S100 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:15, arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 13:20.

  The AVE train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  You'll get great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, you'll pass the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks, flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Narbonne & Montpelier, and Béziers cathedral, see the photos, tips & information here.

  Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.  Fares very like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Step 2, travel from Lyon to Geneva by TER regional train, leaving Lyon Part Dieu at 14:38 and arriving Geneva at 16:35.

  The fare is a fixed-price €29.60.  2nd class only.  There's some nice scenery as the train runs along the river Rhone.

  Book from Barcelona Sants to Geneva as one journey at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both sites easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly, but no fee).

  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

• Stay overnight in Geneva.  Suggested hotels with good reviews near the station include Hotel Cornavin Geneve, Hotel Les Arcades, ibis Styles Geneva Gare.  Hotels in Switzerland can be expensive, if you're on a budget you can book budget private rooms in a one-star hotel or backpacker hostel near the station using www.hostelworld.com.

• Step 3, travel from Geneva to Bratislava, leaving Geneva at 09:15 by Swiss Intercity train and changing onto the 12:40 railjet train from Zurich HB to Bratislava Hlavna, arriving 21:51.

  This direct Zurich-Bratislava train started running in December 2018, with bistro-restaurant, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  The journey takes you through the beautifully scenic Arlberg Pass, see the photos & video on the Arlberg Pass page.  Have your camera to hand!

  By all means try booking Geneva-Bratislava at www.thetrainline.com, but you may need to split the booking, first booking Geneva-Vienna from €39 at www.thetrainline.com then booking Vienna-Bratislava from €19 on the same train, RJX 167 leaving Vienna at 20:42.

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Barcelona to Budapest & Hungary...

Option 1, by day trains to Switzerland then EuroNight sleeper train.  The most time-effective option...

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Lyon by AVE-S100 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:15, arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 13:20.

  The AVE train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  You'll get great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, you'll pass the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks, flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Narbonne & Montpelier, and Béziers cathedral, see the photos, tips & information here.

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

• Step 2, travel from Lyon to Geneva by TER regional train, leaving Lyon Part Dieu at 14:38 and arriving Geneva at 16:35.

  The fare is a fixed-price €29.60.  2nd class only.  There's some nice scenery as the train runs along the river Rhone.

  Book from Barcelona to Geneva as one journey at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both sites easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (more fiddly, in €, but no booking fee).

  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

• Step 3, take a Swiss domestic train from Geneva to Zurich HB, these run every half hour, there's usually one around 17:15 arriving 19:56.  You've now time for steak-frites and a beer at the Brasserie Federal inside Zurich HB.

• Step 4, take the sleeper train from Zurich to Budapest, leaving Zurich HB at 21:40 and arriving Budapest Keleti at 09:19.

  The Zurich-Budapest portion of this train has a comfortable air-conditioned Hungarian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments and an air-conditioned carpeted Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin.

  Fares start at €49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, €69.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €88.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

  Book from Geneva to Budapest at either www.thetrainline.com (easiest, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, more fiddly) looking for journeys with 1 change onto the 21:40 NJ (Nightjet) train from Zurich.  You print your own ticket.  If you book Geneva-Budapest the price will include the journey from Geneva to Zurich on any suitable Swiss domestic train that day, it doesn't have to be the specific train the journey planner shows.

  Tip:  There's no restaurant car, so have dinner before boarding your sleeper, see suggested restaurants on the Zurich HB station page.  That page also explains where you can stock up with snacks & a bottle of wine for that midnight feast in your sleeper.

  Tip:  If you like, you can check the consist for this train, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz.  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Switzerland & click nj.

Option 2, by day trains with overnight stop in Geneva.  The most scenic option...

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Lyon by AVE-S100 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:15, arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 13:20.

  The AVE train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  You'll get great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, you'll pass the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks, flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Narbonne & Montpelier, and Béziers cathedral, see the photos, tips & information here.

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

• Step 2, travel from Lyon to Geneva by TER regional train, leaving Lyon Part Dieu at 14:38 and arriving Geneva at 16:35.

  The fare is a fixed-price €29.60.  2nd class only.  There's some nice scenery as the train runs along the river Rhone.

  Book from Barcelona Sants to Geneva as one journey at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both sites easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly, but no fee).

  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

• Stay overnight in Geneva.  Suggested hotels with good reviews near the station include Hotel Cornavin Genève, Hotel Les Arcades, ibis Styles Geneva Gare.  Hotels in Switzerland can be expensive, if you're on a budget you can book budget private rooms in a one-star hotel or backpacker hostel near the station using www.hostelworld.com.

• Step 3, travel from Geneva to Zurich by Swiss train leaving Geneva at 07:15, changing onto the 10:40 railjet train from Zurich HB to Budapest Keleti arriving 21:19.

  The railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  The journey takes you through the beautifully scenic Arlberg Pass, see the photos & video on the Arlberg Pass page.  Have your camera to hand!

  By all means try booking Geneva-Budapest at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at, but you may need to split the booking, first booking Geneva-Vienna from €49.90 then booking Vienna-Budapest from €19.90 on the same train, RJX 165 leaving Vienna at 18:42. If you split the booking, make a Zurich-Budapest seat reservation separately as shown here.

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Barcelona to Bucharest & Romania...

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Budapest as shown above.

• Step 2. travel by sleeper train from Budapest to Brasov & Bucharest as shown here.

  Or if you prefer, stay overnight in Budapest and take a daytime train the following day.

• For example, you can travel from Barcelona to Zurich on day 1, take the overnight sleeper from Zurich to Budapest, spend day 2 exploring Budapest, then take the overnight sleeper to Brasov & Bucharest arriving on day 3.

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Barcelona to Ljubljana, Zagreb, Belgrade & Sofia...

Option 1, using the Zurich-Zagreb sleeper...

• Day 1, travel from Barcelona to Geneva by daytime trains as shown above.

• Day 1 evening, travel from Geneva to Zurich by Swiss domestic train then take the comfortable Croatian sleeper train from Zurich to Ljubljana & Zagreb as shown here, arriving Ljubljana at 08:13 & Zagreb at 10:43 on day 2.

  Important:  Until at least 10 July 2021 the Zurich-Zagreb sleeper train is diverted to avoid repair work in the Karawanks Tunnel between Austria & Slovenia, it won't serve Ljubljana and will arrive in Zagreb at 11:27.

• Day 2, continue to Belgrade by daytime train arriving early evening, as shown here.

• Day 3, travel from Belgrade to Sofia & Bulgaria as shown on the Belgrade to Sofia page.

Option 2, via Marseille & Venice...

• Day 1 afternoon, travel from Barcelona to Marseille by direct AVE.

• Stay overnight in Marseille.

• Day 2, travel from Marseille to Milan and then on to Venice.

  See the Barcelona to Venice section for full details & how to buy tickets, and suggested hotels in Marseille.

• Stay overnight in Venice.

• Day 3 early morning (Monday-Friday only), travel from Venice to Trieste then Trieste to Ljubljana by regional trains, then on to Zagreb, see the timetable & Venice-Ljubljana-Zagreb journey guide here.  Alternatively, any day of the week, spend a morning & early afternoon in Venice then take the afternoon train Venice-Trieste-Ljubljana, see the timetable & journey information here.

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Barcelona to Warsaw, Krakow & Poland...

Option 1, Barcelona to Warsaw with overnight stop in Paris - the fastest option, runs Sunday to Thursday only...

• Day 1, travel from Barcelona to Paris by TGV Duplex leaving Barcelona Sants at 14:00, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 20:48.

  From late May to late August there's usually also a later departure, leaving Barcelona Sants at 16:10, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 22:46.

  This impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It's a scenic journey, too, see the scenery photos here & watch the video here.

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

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or en.oui.sncf (more fiddly, in €, no fee).  Booking normally opens 120 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can select a mobile ticket to show on your smartphone.

  Change trains & stations in Paris by metro or taxi.

• Stay overnight in Paris, see suggested hotels near the station.

• Day 2, travel from Paris to Warsaw in a day.  Remarkably, high-speed trains make it possible to travel from Paris to Warsaw in a single day, at least on Mondays-Fridays.  It's not possible at weekends.

  You'll usually find a journey leaving Paris Gare de l'Est around 07:08, changing Mannheim & Berlin Hbf, arriving Warsaw Centralna 23:04.

  It's a chill-out journey across Europe, using a 320 km/h double-deck TGV Duplex with cafe-bar & power sockets at all seats between Paris & Mannheim, a superb high-speed ICE train with bistro-restaurant, free WiFi & power sockets at all seats from Mannheim to Berlin, and a EuroCity train with restaurant car from Berlin to Warsaw.  In Berlin, you have time between trains to wander past the Reichstag to the Brandenburg Gate, just 15 minutes walk from Berlin Hbf.

  Paris-Berlin starts at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class, then Berlin-Warsaw starts at €27.90 in 2nd class or €37.90 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest fares.

  To buy tickets, first check your train times.  Go to the German Railways website www.bahn.de, enter Paris to Warsaw with departure time set to 07:00, but make sure you change Duration of transfer from Standard to at least 40 minutes.  If you don't do this you get unnecessarily tight connections which aren't advisable for such a journey, especially as you're going to book separate tickets either side of Berlin.  When you run this enquiry you'll see silly-money €240+ fares, just ignore these, just note down the trains you need.

  Now split the booking like this:  First use www.bahn.de to book the trains you want from Paris to Berlin.  Then use it again to book the train you want from Berlin to Warsaw. 

  Booking from Paris to Berlin opens up to 6 months ahead.  Booking from Berlin to Poland normally opens only 60 days ahead.  You print your own tickets or can show them on your laptop or smartphone.

Option 2, Barcelona to Warsaw & Krakow using the Zurich-Vienna sleeper - the next fastest option, runs every day...

• Day 1, travel from Barcelona to Lyon by AVE-S100 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:15, arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 13:20.

  The AVE train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  You'll get great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, you'll pass the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks, flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Narbonne & Montpelier, and Béziers cathedral, see the photos, tips & information here.

  Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.  Fares very like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Day  1, travel from Lyon to Geneva by TER regional train, leaving Lyon Part Dieu at 14:38 and arriving Geneva at 16:35.

  The fare is a fixed-price €29.60.  2nd class only.  There's some nice scenery as the train runs along the river Rhone.

  Book from Barcelona Sants to Geneva as one journey at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both sites easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly, no fee).

  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

• Day 1, travel from Geneva to Zurich by Swiss Intercity train, leaving Geneva at 17:15 and arriving Zurich HB at 19:56.

  Buy this ticket at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or the Swiss Railways website www.sbb.ch (in CHF) and print it out.  You may find a cheap supersaver fare if you pre-book.  Booking for Swiss domestic trains opens 60 days ahead.

• Day 1, travel from Zurich to Vienna by EuroNight sleeper train, leaving Zurich HB at 21:40 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 06:34 on day 2. 

  The train has a Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 berth sleepers with washbasin, and a Hungarian couchette car with 4-berth & 6-berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  Its final destination is Budapest, see the Zurich to Budapest page for photos & tips.

  Fares start at €49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, €69.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €88.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

  Important:  Make sure you book the EuroNight (EN) train arriving Vienna at 06:34.  Another portion of the same train is a Nightjet (NJ) which detaches, runs slower, and arrives Vienna at 07:55, which is too tight a connection with the train to Krakow.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

• Day 2, travel from Vienna to Krakow by EuroCity train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 08:10 arriving Krakow Glowny at 13:51.

  This is a comfortable train with restaurant car.  Change at Katowice for Warsaw, arriving Warsaw Centralna at 15:24.

  Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this using www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead if it's a direct train, only 60 days if a connecting train within Poland is involved.

Option 3, Barcelona to Warsaw & Krakow with overnight stops in Paris & Berlin - runs daily...

• Day 1, take the 14:00 TGV Duplex from Barcelona Sants to Paris Gare de Lyon arriving 20:48.

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

  Book this at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or en.oui.sncf (a bit more fiddly, in €, but no fee).  You print your own ticket or can show it on your smartphone.  Change trains & stations in Paris.

• Stay overnight in Paris, see suggested hotels near the station.

• Day 2, travel from Paris to Berlin, there are various options from €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class with a change at either Mannheim, Frankfurt or Cologne.  For example, leave Paris Gare de l'Est at 09:06, change at Mannheim and arrive Berlin Hbf at 17:27.

  Check prices at www.raileurope.com (in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.bahn.de (in €, no booking fee) and print your own ticket. 

• Stay overnight in Berlin, the 3-star Meininger Hotel is ideal as it's right next to Berlin Hbf and a 10-minute walk from the Reichstag or a 15-minute walk from the Brandenburg Gate, it's inexpensive and gets good reviews.  If you want to push the boat out, try the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is right next to the Brandenburg Gate, 15 min walk from the station.  More hotels in Berlin.  If you're on a tight budget, see www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 3 for Warsaw:  Travel from Berlin Hbf to Warsaw Centralna in 5h30 on any EuroCity train you like, see the timetable here.  Daily except Sundays the 05:43 from Berlin Hbf will get you to Warsaw Centralna at 11:11 with breakfast in the restaurant car.  Or have a leisurely breakfast and take the daily 09:37 arriving 15:19.  By all means take a later train to have a morning in Berlin.

  Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or smartphone.

• Day 3 for Krakow, Katowice, Wroclaw:  Travel from Berlin to Krakow by air-conditioned EuroCity train Wawel, leaving Berlin Hbf at 10:37 every day, arriving Wroclaw 14:47, Katowice 16:44 & Krakow Glowny 17:39.  The Wawel is comfortable & air-conditioned with restaurant car, treat yourself to lunch and a beer or two.

  Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or smartphone.

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Barcelona to Vilnius, Riga, Tallinn...

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Warsaw as shown above.

• Step 2, travel from Warsaw to Vilnius as shown here.

• For example, you can travel from Barcelona to Paris on day 1 and Paris to Berlin on day 2.  If you then leave Berlin on the 05:43 EuroCity train to Warsaw, you can reach Kaunas in Lithuania in the evening of day 3, with connections to Vilnius.

• Step 3, for onward travel from Vilnius to Riga, see here.

• Step 4, for onward travel from Riga to Tallinn, see here.

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Barcelona to Kiev, Lviv & Ukraine...

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Vienna as shown in the Spain to Vienna section above.

  You travel travel from Barcelona to Zurich on day 1, then take the Nightjet sleeper train from Zurich to Vienna, arriving in the morning of day 2.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Lviv & Kiev by direct sleeping-car as shown on the Trains from Vienna page.

  You leave Vienna in the late afternoon and arrive Lviv next morning & Kiev in the afternoon (day 3 from Barcelona).

The Vienna-Kiev sleeping-car at Kiev Pass.  Photos courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.

The Vienna-Kiev sleeper about to leave Vienna Hbf... Courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.		The sleeper corridor.  Courtesy Helmut Uttenthaler.		1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper compartment.

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Barcelona to Moscow, St Petersburg & Russia...

Option 1, Barcelona to Moscow using the Paris-Moscow Express, once a week all year.

• Day 1, travel from Barcelona to Paris by TGV Duplex, leaving Barcelona Sants at 10:05 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 16:46.

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

  Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, both sites easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee.  Booking normally opens 120 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.  See here for more photos, video guide & booking advice.

• Day 1, take the Paris-Moscow Express, run by Russian railways once a week, leaving Paris Gare de l'Est at 18:58 on Thursdays, arriving Warsaw the following afternoon and arriving Moscow Byelorusski around 10:10 two nights later (i.e. day 3).  See the London to Moscow page for full details, how to buy tickets, photos & video guide.

  Change in Moscow for St Petersburg, see the train travel in Russia page.

• Don't forget to arrange both your Russian visa and Belarus transit visa as the train runs via Belarus.  See important update about travel to Russia through Belarus.

Standard sleepers with washbasin on the Paris-Moscow Express:  1st class 2-berth or 2nd class 4-berth.  More photos & information.

VIP sleeper with en suite toilet & shower on the Paris-Moscow Express...  More photos & information

Option 2, to Moscow via Paris & the Berlin-Moscow sleeper, twice a week.

• Day 1, take the 14:00 TGV Duplex from Barcelona Sants to Paris Gare de Lyon arriving 20:48, with fares from €39.

  Book this at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, a small booking fee) or the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (a bit more fiddly, in €).  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

  Change trains & stations in Paris by metro or taxi.  From late May to late August there's usually also a later TGV leaving Barcelona at 16:10.

• Stay overnight in Paris - see suggested hotels near the station.

• Day 2, travel from Paris to Berlin, there are various options with a change in either Mannheim, Frankfurt or Cologne.

  Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Check times & prices at www.raileurope.com (in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.bahn.de (in €, no booking fee)

  Do not risk any tight connection in Berlin, allow hours not minutes - for example, you can leave Paris Gare de l'Est at 07:20, change at Mannheim and arrive Berlin Hbf around 15:28.

• Day 2, travel from Berlin to Moscow by direct Russian sleeper train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 20:08 on Mondays & Saturdays, arriving at Moscow Belorussky station at 21:24 next day.

  This train is an articulated Spanish-built Talgo train branded Strizh (Russian for swift) which started running in 2016.  It has ordinary seats, 2nd class 4-berth sleepers, 1st class 1 or 2 berth sleepers with washbasin and deluxe 1 or 2 berth sleepers with en suite shower & toilet.  There's a restaurant & bistro car.  See photo of 2-berth sleeper on this train.

  Russian track gauge is 5', but most of Europe (including the UK) is 4' 8½", so at Brest on the Belarus frontier the Talgo train runs through a special gauge-changing shed and the axles automatically adjust to the new gauge.  Once in Russia, the scenery is rolling hills, birch tree forests, and villages of small wooden houses.  Approaching Moscow, you may glimpse the plaques on the station building marked '1812' and '1942' as the train passes through the small station of historic Borodino...

  You can book the Berlin-Moscow train at the Russian Railways website www.rzd.ru and print your own ticket, it's a little fiddly but usually works, or you can easily buy it online with English language after-sales service if you need it, using the Real Russia online system here.

  Don't forget to arrange both your Russian visa and Belarus transit visa as the train runs via Belarus.  See my important update about travel to Russia through Belarus.

  Change in Moscow for St Petersburg, see the train travel in Russia page.

Option 3, via Vienna & Kiev - avoiding Belarus...

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Vienna as shown in the Barcelona to Vienna section above.

  You travel from Barcelona to Zurich on day 1, taking the Nightjet sleeper from Zurich to Vienna, arriving in the morning of day 2.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Lviv & Kiev by direct sleeping-car as shown on the Trains from Vienna page.

  You leave Vienna in the afternoon of day 2 and arrive Lviv & Kiev next day (day 3 from Barcelona).

• Step 3, travel from Kiev to Moscow by sleeper train.  There are several sleeper trains to choose from, for example one leaves Kiev at 19:36 arriving Moscow Kievskaya station at 10:09 the next morning (day 5 from Spain).

  The fare is around €92 with a bed in 4-berth kupé or €180 with a bed in a 2-berth spalny vagon.

  You can ask www.polrail.com to book this for you too, or you can book tickets from Kiev to Moscow at the Ukrainian Railways site booking.uz.gov.ua/en/ booking from Kyiv to Moskva Kievskaya.  You collect tickets at the station in Kiev.  Feedback appreciated!

  Change in Moscow for St Petersburg, see the train travel in Russia page.

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Barcelona to Athens & Greece...

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Milan as shown in the Barcelona to Italy section above.

  You travel from Barcelona to Lyon and Lyon to Milan in a single day, day 1.

• Stay overnight in Milan:  Hotels near Milan Centrale with good reviews include the Made to Measure Business, 43 Station Hotel, Starhotel Echo or Starhotel Anderson.

• Step 2, travel from Milan to Athens as shown on the Trains from Milan page.

  You travel from Milan to Bari by train on day 2, then sail overnight from Bari to Patras in Greece.  A bus/train combo gets you to Athens early evening (day 3 from Barcelona).

2 or 4-berth cabin with private toilet & shower.		Relaxing on deck...

At sea, passing Cephalonia & Ithaca.  This is what travel to Greece should be like!

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Barcelona to Istanbul & Turkey...

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Munich as shown above.  You might also try Barcelona to Budapest as shown here.

• Step 2, in Munich or Budapest you can pick up the London-Paris-Munich-Budapest-Istanbul route explained in detail on the London & Paris to Istanbul page.

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Railbookers custom-made tours

If you just want to buy train tickets at the cheapest price, book online as shown on this page.  However, if you want someone to sort out your whole trip for you, arranging all your trains, hotels and transfers, and to look after you if anything affects your arrangements, talk to Railbookers.  Railbookers can custom-make a train trip around Europe to your own specification.  Just tell them what you want and they'll advise you on the best trains, routes & hotels.  They get good reports and a lot of repeat business!  They now have offices in the UK, North America and Australia.

  UK call 0207 864 4600, www.railbookers.co.uk. 

  US call free 1-888-829-4775, see website.

  Canada call free 1-855-882-2910, see website.

  Australia call toll-free 1300 971 526, see website. 

  New Zealand call toll-free 0800 000 554 or see website.

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Hotels in Barcelona

Suggested hotels near Barcelona Sants station...

If you're just staying overnight between trains, here are some hotels near Barcelona Sants with good or great reviews:

• Hotel Barcelo Sants, 4-star, situated directly above Barcelona Sants station, great reviews, the recommended choice.

• 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.

• On a tight budget, a bed in a dorm at the highly-rated Ten-To-Go Hostel or Meeting Point Hostel a stone's throw from Barcelona Sants starts at €20 or so.

Suggested Barcelona hotels near the old quarter...

If you're staying longer, find a hotel in the old quarter where the sights are - perhaps on La Rambla itself.  Here are some hotels with good or great reviews:

• Hotel DO Plaça Reial (5-star, fabulous, around £200+).

• Hotel Espana (4-star, around £190, one of Barcelona's most historic & well-known hotels in a quiet location just off La Rambla).

• Hotel MonteCarlo (4-star), Hotel Jazz (3-star with roof-top pool, from around £160 per night).

• Hotel Catalonia Portal de l'Angel (3-star with outdoor swimming pool, Gothic quarter, around £130 for a double).

• Hotel Curious (2-star, 50m from Las Ramblas, from around £90 for a double).

Other hotel sites worth trying...

www.tripadvisor.com is the place to find independent travellers' reviews of all the main hotels.

Backpacker hostels...

www.hostelworld.com:  If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels.  Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in most cities at rock-bottom prices.

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Travel insurance & VPN

Always take out travel insurance...

Never travel overseas without travel insurance from a reliable insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover.  It should also cover cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible limit.  An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy myself.  Here are some suggested insurers.  Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.

In the UK, reliable insurers include Columbus Direct.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over 65, see www.JustTravelCover.com - 10% discount with code seat61.

You can use Confused.com to compare prices & policies from many different insurers.

        If you live in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland or the EU, try Columbus Direct's other websites.

  If you live in the USA try Travel Guard USA.

A Curve card saves on foreign transaction fees...

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then charge you a currency conversion fee.  A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month at time of writing.  The balance goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.

How it works:  1. Download the app for iPhone or Android.  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to most European addresses including the UK.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, just like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance onto whichever of your debit or credit cards you choose.  You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I have a Curve Blue card myself - I get some commission if you sign up to Curve, but I'm recommending it here because it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card - they'll give you £5 cashback through that link, too.

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  VPNs & why you need one explained...

When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure.  A VPN means your connection to the internet is encrypted & always secure, even using unsecured WiFi.  In countries such as China where access to Twitter & Facebook is restricted, a VPN gets around these restrictions.  And lastly, you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geographic restrictions which some websites apply - for example one booking site charges a booking fee to non-European visitors but none to European visitors, so if you're not located in Europe you can avoid this fee by browsing with a UK IP address using a VPN.  VPNs & why you need one explained.  ExpressVPN is a best buy and I use it myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription, and I get a small commission to help support this site.

 

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