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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 2020.

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:  See the train travel in Spain page...

• Popular train routes from Barcelona...

  Barcelona to Madrid in as little as 2h30 from around €32, with departures almost every hour.  Faster than flying.

  Barcelona to San Sebastian in 5h33 from as little as €25, direct morning & afternoon departures.  As fast as flying and a lot more scenic.

  Barcelona to Seville in 5h25 or Barcelona to Malaga in 5h50 by AVE high-speed train, fares from around €46, departures at 08:30 & 15:50 every day with a third train on certain days.  As fast as flying and a lot more scenic.

  Barcelona to Alicante in 4h55, regular departures by EuroMed trains or slower Talgo trains.

  Barcelona to Granada in 6h25 by direct AVE high-speed train leaving at 06:50 daily.

• 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. 

• How to buy tickets: 

  Arguably the quickest & easiest way to buy Spanish train tickets is to buy them online at 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.  A small booking fee applies.  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....

• 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 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.

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 & Malaga, with a third train on busy days.

  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 €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 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 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.

Barcelona to San Sebastian...

• Every morning and late afternoon a comfortable high-speed Alvia train links Barcelona Sants with San Sebastian in 5h33.

  The train is fully-air-conditioned with Turista (2nd class) and Preferente (1st class) plus a small 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!

• 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 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.

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Barcelona to London from €119...

• See the London to Spain page for full details.

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Barcelona to Paris...

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 10:10 & 14:00 all year round, and additional departures at 06:00 from 27 June to 31 August 2020 and at 16:10 from 29 May to 30 August 2020.

• 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, you can easily book online at Raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies.  You can also book at en.oui.sncf, in €, a bit more fiddly but with no booking fee.  You print your own ticket.

• 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.

  Note:  There's some bustitution on this route until 7 February 2021, due to repairing the tunnel at Toses.  Bus replacement for part of journey, with extra journey time so you'll need to leave Barcelona earlier.

• 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 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 from €20 each way in a reclining seat, €35 in a 6-berth 2nd class couchette or €63 in a 4-berth 1st class couchette.  A couchette is recommended whatever your budget, for both comfort & security.

  Buy tickets for the overnight train from Latour to Paris at either Raileurope.com (in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or oui.sncf (a bit more fiddly, in €, but no booking fee.  Anyone from any country can book using either of these sites as you'll get print-at-home or collect-at-station tickets, all international credit cards are accepted.

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

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

• This is very 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 on the modern line from Barcelona to Perpignan, or a local train along the coast on the classic line from Barcelona to Cerbère, just over the border in France.

• 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 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 raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.  Booking should open 90 days ahead, but often less than this.

  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.

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

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

• For Narbonne, Perpignan, Montpellier & Nîmes there are regular direct 186mph TGV Duplex & AVE services with fares from €29 if you pre-book.  Just use Raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com or oui.sncf to find times & prices and buy tickets between Barcelona and all these destinations.

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 starts at around €20 upwards.  Reservation is required, and fares are dynamic, getting more expensive as departure date approaches so book in advance.

• Book from Barcelona to Bordeaux as one transaction at Raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both sites accept €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or en.oui.sncf (a bit more fiddly, in €, but no booking fee).  In the search results, look for options with just 1 change.  You print your own ticket.

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 direct Alvia trains from Barcelona Sants to San Sebastian (Renfe station), journey time around 5h33 with fares from just €28.  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.  Buy a ticket at www.thetrainline.com or Raileurope.com.

• 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, 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 Raileurope.com (€, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or oui.sncf (in €, no booking fee).

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 if you pre-book, check times and buy tickets at Raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both sites accept €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or en.oui.sncf (in €, no booking fee).  Reservation is required, tickets are only valid on the specific train you book, and fares get more expensive as departure date approaches so book in advance.

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 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 comfortable direct AVE train leaves Barcelona Sants at 16:36 every day arriving Avignon TGV at 20:50 and Marseille St Charles at 21:33, see the photos & travel tips on the AVE S100 page.

  Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €55 in 1st class.

  Book at either Raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or en.oui.sncf (in €, a bit more fiddly, but no booking fee).  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 Raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or en.oui.sncf (in €, a bit more fiddly, but no booking fee).

  For example, the 07:58 TER local train from Marseille St Charles arrives Nice Ville 10:39, or an 08:28 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 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 $, a small booking fee applies or you can book at SNCF's own site en.oui.sncf, in €, a bit more fiddly, but no booking fee.

• You'll usually find an 08:10 or 08:20 departure by AVE train, a 10:10 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 10:10 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 Raileurope.com to check times for your date.  Prices for each train vary dynamically, so just see what prices Raileurope.com gives you.

• An afternoon in Lyon?  You could take the 08:20 (08:10 at weekends) AVE train from Barcelona Sants direct to Lyon Part Dieu arriving 13:20 (13:10 at weekends).  Have lunch in Lyon (suggestion here!) 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 on the direct morning AVE-S100 high-speed train, leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:20 (08:10 at weekends) and arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 13:20 (13:10 at weekends).

  The train is a comfortable Spanish AVE S100 train with cafe-bar, see the train photos, scenery photos & 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 & arriving Brussels Midi 17:43.  Change in Brussels for Bruges.

• Fares start at €39 for Barcelona-Lyon and from around €25 for Lyon-Brussels.  Fares work like air fares, so book early for the cheapest rates and avoid busy days or dates.

• Book this journey at raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or en.oui.sncf (in €, a bit more fiddly, but no booking 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 double-decker TGV Duplex leaving Barcelona Sants at 10:10 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 16:46.  Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.  This is a comfortable and scenic journey, see the scenery photos here & watch the video here.  From 27 June to 31 August there's also an earlier train, leaving Barcelona at 06:00.

• 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 Brussels by high-speed Thalys train leaving Paris Gare du Nord around 18:25 and arriving Brussels Midi around 19:47, with fares from €35.

• The easiest way to buy tickets is using 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.  A small booking fee applies.  Booking for the TGV & Thalys usually opens 120 days ahead.

  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 this takes more effort and is unlikely to make it any cheaper:  Book from Barcelona to Paris at raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (in in €, £ or $, small booking fee applies) or oui.sncf (in €, a bit more fiddly but no booking 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 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 is a comfortable and scenic journey, see the scenery photos here & watch the video here.

  From 29 May to 30 August 2020 there's also a later departure, 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 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.

• Booking at Raileurope.com as above, this time you'd book from Barcelona to Paris as one journey 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.  You can pay in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies.  You can also book at www.thetrainline.com (also in €, £ or $, with small booking fee) or at 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 raileurope.com (in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $) or www.thalys.com (only in €, 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 10:10 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 16:46.  It's a comfortable & scenic journey on an impressive 200mph double-deck high-speed train, see the scenery photos here & watch the video.

  From 27 June to 31 August 2020 there's also an earlier TGV leaving Barcelona Sants at 06:00, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon 12:48.

  Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.  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, take a Thalys high-speed train from Paris Gare du Nord to Amsterdam Centraal in 3h20 from €35 in 2nd class or €79 in 1st.

  If you take the 10:10 from Barcelona, a Thalys leaves Paris Nord at 19:25 & arrives Amsterdam Centraal at 22:44. 

  If you take the summer-only 06:00 from Barcelona, a Thalys leaves Paris Nord at 14:25 & arrives Amsterdam Centraal 17:44.

• The easiest way to buy tickets is using 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.  A small booking fee applies.  Booking for the TGV & Thalys usually opens 120 days ahead.

  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.

  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 raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (small booking fee applies) or en.oui.sncf (in €, a bit more fiddly, but no booking 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 Raileurope.com (in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or www.petrabax.com (in US$, 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.  Any day all year round you can leave Barcelona Sants at 14:00, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 20:48.  From 29 May to 30 August 2020 you can leave Barcelona Sants at 16:10, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 22:46.

• Spend the night 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 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 $, a small booking fee applies.  You can also book at en.oui.sncf, a bit more fiddly, only in €, but no booking fee.

  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.

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, fare from €35.  Book the Thalys at raileurope.com (in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or www.thetrainline.com.

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Barcelona to Luxembourg...

• Travel from Barcelona Sants to Paris Gare de Lyon by TGV, see the Barcelona to Paris by TGV page.

• Allow at least an hour to change trains & stations in Paris.  You can do the whole journey in one day or stop overnight in Paris.

• Travel from Paris Gare de l'Est to Luxembourg by direct TGV, fares from €25.

• Book this at Raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both sites allow you to pay in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or en.oui.sncf (in €, a bit more fiddly, but no booking fee).  You may find it easier to book Barcelona-Paris first, add to basket, then book Paris-Luxembourg and add to basket, looking for direct trains in each case.

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

Option 1, Barcelona to Switzerland in a single day, leaving 08:20 weekdays, 08:10 weekends...

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Lyon by AVE-S100 high-speed train, leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:20 (08:10 at weekends) and arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 13:20 (13:10 at weekends).

  This is a comfortable and scenic journey around the southern end of the Pyrenees with great views of Mt Canigou, along the south of France past the flamingos on the étangs (lakes) and Béziers cathedral, then up the Rhone valley.  It takes exactly the same scenic route as the TGVs from Barcelona to Paris as far as Lyon, so watch the first part of the Barcelona to Paris video here to see what the journey is like.  The excellent Spanish AVE S100 train  has a cafe-bar and all seats have power sockets.

  Fares for this train start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class, fares are dynamic so book early 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.  The fare for this train is a fixed €28.60.

• To buy tickets, book from Barcelona to Geneva at Raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both sites allow you to pay in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or en.oui.sncf (in €, a bit more fiddly but no booking fee).  You print your own tickets.

• Step 3, take an onward train from Geneva to anywhere in Switzerland, check times and buy tickets at the Swiss Railways website www.sbb.ch.  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.

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

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

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

• Book from Barcelona to Geneva at Raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both sites allow you to pay in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or en.oui.sncf (in €, a bit more fiddly, but no booking fee).

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 direct AVE-S100 high-speed train, leaving Barcelona Sants at 16:36 and arriving Avignon TGV at 20:50 or Marseille St Charles at 21:33.

  Fares from €29 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class, book this train at either at Raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both sites allow you to pay in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or en.oui.sncf (in €, a bit more fiddly but no booking fee).  You print your own ticket.

  Enjoy the scenery round the southern end of the Pyrenees and across the south of France, see the scenery photos here and watch the first part of the Barcelona to Paris video here.  The train has a cafe-bar and power sockets at all seats.

• 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, changing onto a 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 from €15 for the TGV and €29 for the TER, book this journey at either at Raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both sites allow you to pay in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or en.oui.sncf (in €, a bit more fiddly but no booking fee).  You print your own tickets.

  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.sbb.ch.

By AVE from Barcelona to Lyon, Avignon or Marseille...

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Barcelona to Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome & Italy from €69...

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

• Day 1, travel from Barcelona to Marseille by AVE-S100 high-speed train, leaving Barcelona Sants at 16:36 & arriving Marseille St Charles at 21:33.  It's a swish Spanish AVE train, all seats have power sockets & there's a cafe-bar on board.

  Fares from Barcelona to Marseille start at just €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.

  Book this train at either Raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both sites allow you to pay in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or en.oui.sncf (in €, a bit 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 comfortable Thello train has a cafe counter and power sockets at all seats, fares start from just €15 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 Raileurope.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or www.italiarail.com (also easy to use, they'll refund their €3.50 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, but no booking fee).  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.

Barcelona to Marseille by AVE high-speed train...

Nice to Milan by Thello train...

Option 2, Barcelona to Milan in a single day via Geneva - via the Alps!

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Geneva, leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:20 weekdays or 08:10 weekends by AVE-S100 high-speed train, changing at Lyon Part Dieu onto a TER regional train arriving Geneva at 16:35.

  Other departures are available, but they vary a lot so check for your date of travel online as shown below.

  This is a comfortable and scenic journey, as far as Lyon you follow exactly the same route as the TGVs from Barcelona to Paris, watch the first part of the Barcelona to Paris video here.

  Book from Barcelona to Geneva at Raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both sites allow you to pay in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly but no booking fee).  Geneva is sometimes listed as Genève Cornavin).  Booking usually opens 92 days ahead.

• Step 2, take a train from Geneva to Milan leaving Geneva at 18:39 arriving Milan Centrale at 22:40, this runs via the famous Simplon route.  fares start at €29 booked at either Raileurope.com (easy, in €, £ or $, no booking fee), www.italiarail.com (also easy, their €3.50 fee will be refunded if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (a bit more fiddly).  You print your own ticket.

• Step 4, stay overnight in Milan and book any onward trains from Milan to Venice or Florence from €19.90, or to Rome or Naples from €29.90 at either Raileurope.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or www.italiarail.com (also easy to use, they'll refund their €3.50 if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (more fiddly, you need to use Italian language place names, but no booking fee).  It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board the train.

• Alternative step 2:  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 Raileurope.com or www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com.

Option 2, 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 at the Seat61 ferry shop or 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 Portugal...

Barcelona to Lisbon from €78.  Onwards to Porto or Faro...

• 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 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.  A small booking fee applies.

  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.

Gran Clase sleeper, in evening mode with the seats folded out...		...return from the cafe-bar to find the beds made up...		Gran Clase sleepers have a toilet & shower...		The trainhotel from Madrid to Lisbon is an articulated Spanish Talgo train.  Seen here at Madrid Chamartin station.

The trainhotel's café-bar serves drinks & food.  Grab a barstool early, it gets crowded later on!		4-berth tourist class sleepers (Turista Cama) are cosy & inexpensive...  They convert from beds to seats as shown.

Barcelona to Faro & the Algarve by train + bus via Seville...

• As well as the overnight all-train option via Madrid & Lisbon shown above, you can also take a direct AVE train from Barcelona to Seville then a bus to Faro.

• Step 1, take the 08:30 morning AVE-S112 high-speed train from Barcelona Sants to Seville Santa Justa, from around €46 booked at www.renfe.com or (easier) arriving Seville at 14:02.  Or you could take the 15:50 AVE and stay overnight in Seville.

• Step 2, now take a bus from Seville to Faro.  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, check times & buy tickets for various bus companies all in one place at Omio.com (formerly GoEuro.com).  You print your own ticket.

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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 one day by high-speed trains...

• Step 1, take a morning TGV Duplex from Barcelona to Paris leaving Barcelona Sants at 10:10 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 16:46.  Fares from €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class booked at raileurope.com (can be used by anyone, no booking fee, print-at-home tickets) or www.thetrainline.com (can be used by anyone, no booking fee, print-at-home tickets). 

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

• For Cologne, take a high-speed Thalys train from Paris to Cologne in 3h20 from €35 in 2nd class or €79 in 1st class, booked at raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com and print your own ticket.  For example, the 17:55 from Paris Gare du Nord arrives Cologne Hbf 21:15.

• For Frankfurt, take a high-speed TGV from Paris to Frankfurt in 3h48 from €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class booked at www.bahn.de.  For example, there's usually one around 19:06 from Paris Gare de l'Est arriving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 22:58.

• This whole trip can easily be booked in one place at raileurope.com, as this connects directly to the Renfe system and the French SNCF system and the German DB system.  Book from Barcelona to Cologne, Frankfurt or other station in Germany as one journey.  If you want a longer stopover in Paris, simply click More options and enter Paris (any station) and however many hours you want.  You'll get print-your-own tickets for both trains.  A small booking fee applies.

Option 2:  Barcelona to Cologne, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Berlin & Germany by high-speed trains with overnight stop in Paris...

• Day 1, take a TGV Duplex leaving Barcelona Sants at 14:00 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 20:48, with fares from €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class booked at raileurope.com (can be used by anyone, no booking fee, print-at-home tickets) or www.thetrainline.com (can be used by anyone, no booking fee, print-at-home tickets).  A later 16:10 departure from Barcelona is available from 29 May to 30 August 2020.

• Spend the night in Paris, see suggested hotels near the station.

• Day 2, take onward high-speed trains to anywhere in Germany next morning, from €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Leaving Paris around 07:00 you could be in Frankfurt at 10:58, Cologne 11:15, Berlin at 15:28, Munich at 13:27.  Or by all means have a leisurely breakfast and take later trains.  You can get Paris to Germany times, prices & print-your-own tickets using the German Railways website www.bahn.de.

• Alternatively, this whole trip can easily be booked in one place at 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 $, a small booking fee applies.

Option 3:  Barcelona to Marseille by direct TGV, overnight stop, Marseille to Frankfurt & Germany by direct TGV...

• Day 1, travel from Barcelona to Marseille by direct AVE S100 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 16:36 and arriving Marseille St Charles at 21:33, with fares from €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class booked at Raileurope.com (can be used by anyone, no booking fee, print-at-home tickets) or www.thetrainline.com (can be used by anyone, no booking fee, print-at-home tickets).

• Spend the night in 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, next morning take the direct TGV Duplex leaving Marseille St Charles at 08:10 and arriving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 15:58 (15:52 on some dates).  Change in Frankfurt for onward ICE & IC trains to Hamburg, Cologne, Berlin with fares from €39.90 booked as one Marseille to Germany transaction at the German railways website www.bahn.de - if booking to a destination beyond Frankfurt, it can help to click Add intermediate stops and enter Frankfurt (Main) Hbf.

• Alternatively, you can easily book the whole trip in one place at 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 $, a small booking fee applies.

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 08:20 weekdays or 08:10 at weekends, arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 13:20 weekdays or 13:10 at weekends.

  This is a comfortable and scenic journey.  As far as Valence you take exactly the same route as the TGVs from Barcelona to Paris, so watch the first part of the Barcelona to Paris video here to see what the journey is like.  Have lunch in Lyon, there are plenty of restaurants just outside the station.

  Book from Barcelona Sants to Lyon at Raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly, no booking fee).

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

• Spend the night 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 09:42, a quick & easy change at Zurich HB, arriving Munich Hbf at 17:47.

  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 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, 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 08:20 weekdays or 08:10 at weekends, arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 13:20 weekdays or 13:10 at weekends.  Fares from €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.

  This is a comfortable and scenic journey.  As far as Valence you take exactly the same route as the TGVs from Barcelona to Paris, so watch the first part of the Barcelona to Paris video here to see what the journey is like.  Have lunch in Lyon, there are many restaurants just outside the station.

• Step 2, now take the 14:38 TER regional train from Lyon Part Dieu to Geneva arriving 16:35, fixed fare around €29.

  Book from Barcelona Sants to Geneva as one journey at Raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.  You print your own ticket.

• Spend the night 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, Geneva to Salzburg or Vienna starts at €39.  Book this as one Geneva-to-Austria transaction at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, overseas payment cards no problem, a small booking fee applies) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices, more fiddly, but no booking fee).  You print your own ticket.

Option 2, Barcelona to Geneva by TGV, Zurich to Vienna by sleeper train:  The time-effective option...

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Lyon by AVE-S100 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:20 weekdays or 08:10 at weekends, arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 13:20 weekdays or 13:10 weekends.  Fares from €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.

  This is a comfortable and scenic journey.  As far as Valence you take exactly the same route as the TGVs from Barcelona to Paris, so watch the first part of the Barcelona to Paris video here to see what the journey is like.  Have lunch in Lyon, there are many restaurants just outside the station. 

• Step 2, now take the 14:38 TER regional train from Lyon Part Dieu arriving Geneva at 16:35, fixed fare €28.60.

  Book from Barcelona Sants to Geneva as one journey at Raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or oui.sncf (in €, a bit more fiddly, but no booking fee).  You print your own ticket.

• Step 3, take a Swiss domestic train from Geneva to Zurich, these run every half hour, there's usually one around 17:15 arriving Zurich HB at 19:56.  You can buy a ticket at the station, no prior reservation necessary, or save time by buying it online at www.sbb.ch and printing it out.  There may be supersaver fares available if you pre-book.

• Step 4, take the Nightjet sleeper train from Zurich to Vienna,  leaving Zurich HB at 21:40 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 07:55.  The train has couchettes (4-berth & 6-berth compartments) and modern double-deck sleeping-cars with 4-berth sleepers, 1 & 2 berth sleepers with washbasin, and 1 & 2-berth deluxe sleepers with en suite shower & toilet.

  Fares start at €59 in 6-berth couchettes, €69 in 4-berth couchettes, €99 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €139 with a single-bed sleeper.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, overseas payment cards no problem, a small booking fee applies) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices, more fiddly, bit no booking fee) and print your own ticket.

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Barcelona to Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo...

• Step 1, take the 10:10 TGV Duplex from Barcelona Sants to Paris Gare de Lyon arriving 16:46, with fares from €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class, booked at raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.  Both sites can be used by anyone, no booking fee, print-at-home tickets.  See here for more photos, video guide & booking advice.

• Change trains & stations in Paris.

• Step 2, take the Thalys high-speed train leaving Paris Gare du Nord around 17:55 arriving Cologne Hbf Hbf at 21:15.  Book this at raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com from just €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 if you're going to 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 if you're going to 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 if you're going to 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.

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Barcelona to Prague...

Option 1, by day trains with overnight stop in Paris...

• Step 1, take the 14:00 TGV Duplex from Barcelona Sants to Paris Gare de Lyon arriving 20:48, with fares from €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.  There's a later 16:20 departure 2 June to 27 August 2018, see the Paris to Barcelona by TGV page.  This is a fascinating journey, see the photos & video here.

  Book this train at Raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or en.oui.sncf (a bit more fiddly, in €, but no booking fee).  You print your own ticket.

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

• Step 2, take the 09:04 TGV Duplex from Paris Gare de l'Est to Mannheim with connection to Munich arriving at 15:28.  Fares from €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

  Book this train at either Raileurope.com (in €, £ or €, a small booking fee applies) or www.bahn.de (in €, no booking fee).  You print your own ticket or can show it on your smartphone.

• Step 3, take the direct 16:43 train from Munich to Prague arriving 22:17, fares from just €15 in 2nd class or €35 in 1st class.  See the Munich to Prague page for more details & photos of the trains.  This train is now fully air-conditioned with power sockets at all seats and free WiFi in most cars.

  Book this train at www.cd.cz/eshop and print your own ticket.

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

• Step 1, take the 10:10 TGV Duplex from Barcelona Sants to Paris Gare de Lyon arriving 16:46, fares from €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.

  Book this train at either Raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or en.oui.sncf (a bit more fiddly, in €, but no booking fee).  You print your own ticket.

• Change trains & stations in Paris by metro or taxi.

• Step 2, take the 17:55 TGV Duplex to Stuttgart with connection to Munich (it's a direct train to Munich on Saturdays) arriving around 23:30.  Fares from €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

  Book this train at Raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (with small booking fee) or at www.bahn.de (no booking fee).  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, take a direct train from Munich to Prague from just €15 in 2nd class or €35 in 1st class booked at www.cd.cz/eshop with print-at-home tickets.  There's an 08:43 arriving 14:17, or there are earlier or later trains, see the Munich to Prague page for full details.  All these trains are air-conditioned with power sockets at all seats and free WiFi in most cars.

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Barcelona to Bratislava...

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 08:20 weekdays or 08:10 at weekends, arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 13:20 weekdays or 13:10 at weekends.  This is a comfortable and scenic journey.  As far as Valence you take exactly the same route as the TGVs from Barcelona to Paris, so watch the first part of the Barcelona to Paris video here to see what the journey is like.  Have lunch in Lyon, there are many restaurants just outside the station.  Fares from €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.

• Step 2, now take the 14:38 TER regional train from Lyon Part Dieu arriving Geneva at 16:35, fixed fare €28.60. 

  Book from Barcelona Sants to Geneva as one journey at either Raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or en.oui.sncf (a bit more fiddly, in €, but no booking fee).  You print your own ticket.

• 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 can buy a ticket at the station, no prior reservation necessary, or save time by buying it online at www.sbb.ch and printing it out.  There may be supersaver fares available if you pre-book, but less than 30 days ahead.

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

  This train has couchettes (4-berth & 6-berth compartments) and modern double-deck sleeping-cars with 4-berth sleepers, 1 & 2 berth sleepers with washbasin, and 1 & 2-berth deluxe sleepers with en suite shower & toilet. 

  Fares from €59 in 6-berth couchettes, €69 in 4-berth couchettes, €99 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129 in a single bed sleeper. 

  Book from Geneva to Vienna at either www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, a small booking fee applies) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (no booking fee) looking for journeys with 1 change onto the 21:40 NJ (Nightjet) train.  You simply print your own ticket.  If you book from Geneva to Vienna the price will include the connecting train from Geneva to Zurich by any suitable Swiss domestic train that day, it doesn't have to be the one the journey planner shows.

• 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 1 hour 6 minutes.  You can check times using 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 08:20 weekdays or 08:10 at weekends, arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 13:20 weekdays or 13:10 at weekends.  This is a comfortable and scenic journey.  As far as Valence you take exactly the same route as the TGVs from Barcelona to Paris, so watch the first part of the Barcelona to Paris video here to see what the journey is like.  Have lunch in Lyon, there are many restaurants just outside the station.  Fares from €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.

• Step 2, now take the 14:38 TER regional train from Lyon Part Dieu to Geneva, arriving 16:35, fixed fare around €29. 

  Book from Barcelona Sants to Geneva as one journey at either Raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or en.oui.sncf (a bit more fiddly, in €, but no booking fee).  You print your own ticket.

• Spend the night 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 Zurich by Swiss domestic train leaving Geneva at 09:15 and changing onto the 12:40 railjet train from Zurich HB direct to Bratislava Hlavna arriving 21:51.  This new direct Zurich-Bratislava train started running in December 2018, with bistro-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-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..

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 08:20 weekdays or 08:10 at weekends, arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 13:20 weekdays or 13:10 at weekends.  Fares from €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.

  This is a comfortable and scenic journey.  As far as Valence you take exactly the same route as the TGVs from Barcelona to Paris, so watch the first part of the Barcelona to Paris video here to see what the journey is like.  Have lunch in Lyon, there are many restaurants just outside the station.

• Step 2, take the 14:38 TER regional train from Lyon Part Dieu to Geneva, arriving 16:35, fixed fare around €29.

  Book from Barcelona Sants to Geneva as one journey at either Raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or en.oui.sncf (a bit more fiddly, in €, but no booking fee).  You print your own ticket.

• 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 €59 in 6-berth couchettes, €69 in 4-berth couchettes, €99 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129 in a single bed sleeper. 

  Book from Geneva to Budapest at either www.thetrainline.com (easiest, a small booking fee applies) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (no booking fee) looking for journeys with 1 change onto the 21:40 NJ (Nightjet) train from Zurich.  You simply 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 08:20 weekdays or 08:10 at weekends, arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 13:20 weekdays or 13:10 at weekends.  Fares from €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.

  This is a comfortable and scenic journey.  As far as Valence you take exactly the same route as the TGVs from Barcelona to Paris, so watch the first part of the Barcelona to Paris video here to see what the journey is like.  Have lunch in Lyon, there are many restaurants just outside the station.

• Step 2, take the 14:38 TER regional train from Lyon Part Dieu to Geneva, arriving 16:35, fixed fare €28.60. 

  Book from Barcelona Sants to Geneva as one journey at either Raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or en.oui.sncf (a bit more fiddly, in €, but no booking fee).  You print your own ticket.

• Spend the night 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 domestic train leaving Geneva at 07:15, changing onto the 10:40 railjet train from Zurich HB direct to Budapest Keleti arriving 21:19.  The railjet train has a bistro-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 €39 then booking Vienna-Budapest from €19 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 Ljubljana, Zagreb & Belgrade...

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.  Until 4 October 2020 you arrive Ljubljana at 08:13 & Zagreb at 10:43 on day 2.  From 5 October 2020 onwards you arrive Zagreb at 11:27, the train runs via Graz and no longer calls at Ljubljana.

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

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, Kiev & Moscow...

Option 1, to Warsaw or Moscow via the Paris-Moscow Express, once a week all year.

• Day 1, take the 10:10 TGV Duplex from Barcelona Sants to Paris Gare de Lyon arriving 16:46 with fares from €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class, booked at either Raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or en.oui.sncf (a bit more fiddly, in €, but no booking fee).  You print your own ticket.  This is a comfortable and scenic journey, see the photos & video here.

• 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.

Option 2, to Moscow via Paris & the Berlin-Moscow sleeper express, runs 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 Raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or en.oui.sncf (a bit more fiddly, in €, but no booking fee).  You print your own ticket.

  Change trains & stations in Paris.  From 29 May to 30 August 2020 there's also a later TGV leaving Barcelona at 16:10.

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

• Day 2, take a train from Paris to Berlin, there are various options from €39.90 upwards with either a change in Mannheim, Frankfurt or Cologne, check prices at Raileurope.com (in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or www.bahn.de (in €, no booking fee) and print your own ticket.  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.

Option 3, to Warsaw, Kiev or Moscow via Paris, Berlin & Warsaw, runs every day (this route avoids Belarus)

• Day 1, take the 14:00 TGV Duplex from Barcelona Sants to Paris Gare de Lyon arriving 20:48, with fares from €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st.

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

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

• Day 2, take a train 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, check prices at Raileurope.com (in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or www.bahn.de (in €, no booking fee) and print your own ticket.  For example, leave Paris Gare de l'Est at 09:04, change at Mannheim and arrive Berlin Hbf at 17:27.

• Stay overnight in Berlin, the 3-star Meininger Hotel is ideal as it's right next to Berlin Hauptbahnhof 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, take the 09:37 Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity train arriving Warsaw Centralna at 15:33, from €29.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class also booked at www.bahn.de with print-at-home tickets.

  There's also an earlier Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity train at 05:43 Mondays-Saturdays arriving 11:33.  See Warsaw Centralna station & city information.  Warsaw's historic old town is a 20 minute walk from Centralna station - if you fancy a modest splurge, the celebrated Ufukiera restaurant (www.ufukiera.pl) is excellent and right on the square in the heart of Warsaw's old town.  The Palace of Culture (a wedding cake style Soviet skyscraper and distinctive Warsaw landmark, www.pkin.pl) is right next to the station and has a viewing terrace on the 30th floor.

• Day 3 for Krakow, catch any fast train from Warsaw to Krakow, it takes just a couple of hours, from around €20 booked at www.intercity.pl.

• Day 3 for Moscow & Russia, catch the overnight sleeper train to Moscow leaving Warsaw Centralna at 19:15 every day and arriving Moscow Belorussky at 16:58 next day (day 4 from Barcelona).  You can check times at the Russian Railways website www.rzd.ru.

  This train uses impressive Austrian-built sleeping-cars with 4-berth compartments built in 2014, see photos of this type of sleeper here & see panorama photo inside one of these modern sleepers.  Each compartment can be sold as 1st class 1-berth, 1st class 2-berth or 2nd class 4-berth.  The train consist of two or three sleeping-car which start their journey in Prague.  There's a bistro car in Poland and a Russian restaurant car is attached between Brest (on the Polish/Belarus border) & Moscow.

  You can book this train by contacting reliable Polish train ticketing agency www.polrail.com - their booking system is at http://booking.polrail.com.  Tickets can be collected in Warsaw or (at extra charge) shipped to any address worldwide.

Alternatively, you can book with Russian Railways at www.rzd.ru although it's a little quirky and may not accept some overseas credit cards.

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

• Day 3, for Kiev & for Moscow avoiding Belarus, an overnight train called the Kiev Express links Warsaw to Kiev every day, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 18:05 and arriving Kiev at 11:00 next day (day 4 from Barcelona).  This train has comfortable Ukrainian 1, 2 & 3 bed sleepers with washbasin.  There's no restaurant car, so take a picnic and perhaps some wine or beer.  You can book this train through reliable Polish agency www.polrail.com who have an online ordering system at http://booking.polrail.com.  Tickets can be collected in Warsaw or (at extra charge) shipped to any address worldwide.  Polrail are also pretty good at arranging the return reservation back from Kiev as they have close contacts with Ukrainian Railways.

• Day 4 for Moscow, catch an overnight train from Kiev to Moscow.  There's usually one leaving Kiev around 19:30 arriving Moscow Kievskaya around 10:00 next morning.  You can arrange this through www.polrail.com.

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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. Use code MAN61 to get £5 cashback after signing up and using your Curve card the first time.

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.  NordVPN & ExpressVPN are the two best buys and I use ExpressVPN myself.

 

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