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      Select your destination... ----------- Most popular ----------- Somewhere else in Spain... Amsterdam Brussels & Bruges Cordoba Geneva & Switzerland Florence Lisbon Madrid Malaga Nice Paris Perpignan Porto Rome San Sebastian Seville Toulouse Venice Zurich ---------- All destinations --------- Alicante Amsterdam Andorra Basel (Basle) Berlin Bern (Berne) Bratislava Bruges Brussels Budapest Cannes Carcassonne Cologne Copenhagen Cordoba Dusseldorf Faro & the Algarve Florence Frankfurt Geneva Gothenburg Granada Hamburg Innsbruck Istanbul Kiev & Ukraine Krakow Lausanne Lisbon London & UK Luxembourg Lyon Luzern (Lucerne) Madrid Malaga Malmo Milan Montreux Moscow Munich Naples Nice Oslo & Norway Paris Perpignan Porto Prague Rome St Moritz St Petersburg Salzburg San Sebastian Seville Stockholm Toulouse Valencia Venice Vienna Warsaw Zermatt Zurich

       Click here if your journey starts in another city.

       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 2018.

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 from around €46, two or three direct high-speed AVE trains daily.  As fast as flying and a lot more scenic.

  Barcelona to Malaga in 5h50 from around €46, two or three direct high-speed AVE trains daily.  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 8h15 by high-speed AVE day train with 1 change.

• 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 and easiest way to buy Spanish train tickets is to buy them online at www.loco2.com with print-at-home tickets and all of Renfe's cheap prices shown.  Loco2 links directly to Renfe's ticketing system and sells Renfe's cheap fares at the same prices as Renfe themselves in either € or £ with the same print-at-home tickets and no booking fee, in plain English without any of Renfe's quirky translation or credit card acceptance problems.  Anyone from any country can use Loco2 as it accepts all international credit cards.

  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.

• Alternatively, you can buy tickets direct from Spanish Railways at www.renfe.com, also with print-at-home tickets.  The only advantage over Loco2 is that it allows you to pick a specific seat from a seat plan graphic unless you choose the cheapest Promo fare (Loco2 allocates your seat, but allows you to see the proposed seat number before you pay, so you can always check a seating plan and re-book if you don't like it).  The disadvantage is that Renfe.com has more than its fair share of quirks, so if you want to use it 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, although they add 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.loco2.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 a better option than 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.loco2.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.loco2.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.loco2.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 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 09:25 & 13:20 all year round, and additional departures at 06:10 from 2 July to 27 August 2018 and at 16:20 from 2 June to 27 August 2018.

• 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 www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu.  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.

• Step 2, travel from Latour de Carol-Enveitg to Paris by Intercité de Nuit overnight couchette train, leaving Latour de Carol-Enveitg at 19:21, arriving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 06:49 next morning.

  This train has 1st class 4-berth couchettes, 2nd class 6-berth couchettes and reclining seats, see more information about Intercité de Nuit trains.  This train should run daily all year, but engineering work often affects it so check that it is running on your specific date of travel using www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu.

  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 www.loco2.com (prices in €, £ or $) or www.trainline.eu (prices in €).  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.

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 www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu to find times & prices and buy tickets between Barcelona and all these destinations.

Barcelona to Toulouse & Carcassone...

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

• There's usually one high-speed AVE train per day direct from Barcelona to Carcassone & Toulouse, leaving Barcelona Sants around 18:30, see the photos on the AVE S100 page.  And there are a variety of other daily departures with one easy change at Narbonne.

• Fares start at just €29 if you pre-book, check times and buy tickets at www.loco2.com (in €, £ or $) or www.trainline.eu (in €).  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 www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu.

  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...

• A very comfortable direct AVE train leaves Barcelona Sants at 16:45 arriving Avignon TGV at 20:42 and Marseille St Charles at 21:26, see the photos on the AVE S100 page.  Fares start at €49 if you pre-book at www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu.  Earlier departures are possible with a change of train at Perpignan or Montpellier, you can check times and buy tickets at either www.loco2.com (in €, £ or $) or www.trainline.eu (in €).

• For Cannes & Nice, why not take the 16:45 AVE train and stay in Marseille overnight, then travel on to Cannes or Nice next morning.  For example the 06:30 TER local train from Marseille St Charles arrives Nice Ville 09:06, or an 08:31 TGV arrives Nice 11:06, and so on.  Suggested inexpensive hotels with good reviews just outside Marseille St Charles station:  Ibis Marseille Centre Gare St Charles, Holiday Inn Express Marseille St Charles.  Marseille is a wonderful city, well worth a look around, see the Marseille page.  Alternatively, by all means travel from Barcelona to Cannes or Nice in a single day, just use www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu to find times & prices and buy tickets.

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Barcelona to Brussels from €88...

Option 1, by high-speed TGV in a single day, with no need to cross Paris.  The easiest option!

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Lyon on the direct morning AVE-S100 high-speed train, leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:25 and arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 13:20.

  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 direct TGV leaving Lyon Part Dieu at 14:00 and arriving Brussels Midi at 17:43.

• 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 either www.loco2.com (in €, £ or $) or www.trainline.eu (in €) 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'll get print-at-home tickets.

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

• Step 1, take either the 09:25 or 13:20 double-decker TGV Duplex from Barcelona Sants to Paris Gare de Lyon in around 6h25 from €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 2 July to 27 August 2018 there will also be an earlier train, leaving Barcelona at 06:10.

• 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 high-speed Thalys train from Paris Gare du Nord to Brussels Midi in 1h20 from €35.

• For example...

  Leave Barcelona Sants at 09:25, Paris Gare de Lyon arrive 15:53.  Leave Paris Gare du Nord 17:25, Brussels Midi arrive 18:47.

  Leave Barcelona Sants at 13:20, Paris Gare de Lyon arrive 19:53.  Leave Paris Gare du Nord 21:25, Brussels Midi arrive 22:47 (times vary).

• The easiest way to buy tickets is using www.loco2.com as you can then book Barcelona to Brussels all in one go as one easy transaction with print-at-home or collect-at-station tickets for both trains.  Prices are in €, £ or $, you can use it wherever you live as all overseas credit cards are accepted and there's no booking fee.  Booking for the TGV & Thalys usually opens 120 days ahead.

  Tip:  I recommend an upstairs seat on the TGV Duplex for the best views.  Loco2 shows you your seat number before you confirm & pay, and any seat number over 60 is on the upper deck.  If you don't get an upper deck seat, simply leave it in your basket & try again until you get an upstairs seat, then delete the tickets you don't want from your basket.

• Alternatively, you can book each train separately, although this takes more effort and is unlikely to make it any cheaper:  Book from Barcelona to Paris at www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu with print-at-home or collect-at-station tickets, then book the Thalys at www.b-europe.com or www.thalys.com also with print-at-home tickets.  Connecting tickets within Spain can be booked direct with Renfe at www.renfe.com (but see advice on using it here) or (if you have any problems at the payment stage) alternative sites www.loco2.com (in €, £ or $, no fee) or www.petrabax.com (in US$, with a small mark-up).

Option 3, by high-speed TGV with overnight hotel in Paris, runs 2 June to 27 August 2018

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

• Travel from Barcelona to Paris by TGV Duplex leaving Barcelona Sants at 16:20, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 22:45.  This train runs 2 June to 27 August 2018.

• 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 Brussels Midi, they leave every hour or so, journey time 1h20, fare from €29.  This way, you can arrive in central Brussels before 08:00 if you like.

• Booking at www.loco2.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 also book at www.trainline.eu.

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

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

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

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

• Step 2, take a Thalys train from Paris Gare du Nord to Brussels Midi, they leave every hour or so, journey time 1h20, fare from €29.  Book the Thalys at www.loco2.com or www.b-europe.com.

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Barcelona to Amsterdam from €74...

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

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Paris by TGV Duplex, leaving Barcelona Sants at 09:25 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 15:53.  It's a comfortable & scenic journey on an impressive 200mph double-deck high-speed train, see the scenery photos here & watch the video.

  From 2 July to 27 August 2018 there's also an earlier TGV, leaving Barcelona Sants at 06:10.

  Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.  Book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Allow at least 1 hour to change trains & stations in Paris by metro or taxi from Paris Gare de Lyon to the Gare du Nord.

• Step 2, take a high-speed Thalys train from Paris Gare du Nord to Amsterdam Centraal in just 3h20 from €35 in 2nd class or €79 in 1st class.  If you took the 09:25 from Barcelona, you can connect with a Thalys leaving Paris Nord at 17:25 and arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 20:42.

• The easiest way to buy tickets is using www.loco2.com as you can then book Barcelona to Amsterdam all in one go as one easy transaction with print-at-home or collect-at-station tickets for both trains.  Prices are in €, £ or $, you can use it wherever you live as all overseas credit cards are accepted and there's no booking fee.  Booking for the TGV & Thalys usually opens 120 days ahead.

  Tip:  I recommend an upstairs seat on the TGV Duplex for the best views.  Loco2 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 materially cheaper:  Book from Barcelona to Paris at either www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu with print-at-home or collect-at-station tickets, then book the Paris-Amsterdam Thalys at www.b-europe.com or www.thalys.com also with print-at-home tickets.  Connecting tickets within Spain can be booked direct with Renfe at www.renfe.com (but see advice on using it here) or (if you have any problems at the payment stage) alternative sites www.loco2.com (in €, £ or $, no fee with a debit card) or www.petrabax.com (in US$, with a small mark-up).

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

• This is similar to the journey explained above, but more time-effective, with an overnight hotel stop in Paris.

• Travel from Barcelona to Paris by TGV Duplex.  From 2 June to 27 August 2018 you can leave Barcelona Sants at 16:20, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 22:45.  Any day all year round you can leave Barcelona Sants at 13:20, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 19:53.

• 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 3h20 with fares from €35.  The 06:22 from Paris arrives Amsterdam 09:42, but by all means have a leisurely breakfast and take a later one, they leave every hour or two.

• Book at www.loco2.com as above, 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.

  Tip:  I recommend an upstairs seat on the TGV Duplex for the best views.  Loco2 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 www.loco2.com or www.b-europe.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 www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu.

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

Option 1, Barcelona to Switzerland by 08:25 AVE high-speed train in a single day...

• Step 1, travel from Barcelona to Lyon by AVE-S100 high-speed train, leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:25 and arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 13:20.

  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 Part Dieu to Geneva by TER regional train, leaving Lyon Part Dieu at 14:37 and arriving Geneva at 16:35.  This is a lovely ride through the Jura mountains.  The fare for this train is a fixed €28.60.

• To buy tickets, book from Barcelona to Geneva at www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu.  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 by 09:25 high-speed TGV in a single day...

• This is a variation on option 1, it follows exactly the same route but leaves an hour later and involves two changes of train rather than one.

• You leave Barcelona Sants by TGV Duplex at 09:25, change at Valence & Lyon Part Dieu (both also TGVs) arriving Geneva at 17:00.

• Book from Barcelona to Geneva at www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu and print your own tickets.

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 plenty of 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 16:45 and arriving Avignon TGV at 20:43 or Marseille St Charles at 21:26.

  Fares from €29 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class, book this train at either www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu and 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 and enjoy a free morning there next day.

• Day 2, travel from Avignon or Marseille to Geneva by direct TGV high-speed train leaving Marseille St Charles at 13:46 or Avignon TGV at 14:28 and arriving Geneva at 17:18.

  Fares from €39, book this train at either www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu and print your own ticket.

  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 16:45 & arriving Marseille St Charles at 21:26.  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 www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu, you print your own ticket.

• Stay overnight in Marseille and perhaps 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 Milan...

  On Mondays & Sundays all year and every day from 26 March to 17 September 2018 there's a direct Thello train leaving Marseille St Charles at 11:27 and arriving Milan Centrale at 18:50.  This comfortable Thello train uses Frecciabianca carriages with fares from just €30.  There's lovely scenery along the Côte d'Azur and the Italian Riviera, past rocky headlands, bays, yacht-filled harbours and millionaires' villas.

  Book from Marseille to anywhere in Italy at either www.loco2.com or www.italiarail.com.  On arrival, spend a moment or two taking in the magnificent architecture of Milan Centrale, it's quite a station...

  On days when the direct Marseille-Milan train isn't running, travel from Marseille to Nice on any French domestic train you like, with regular departures taking 2h35, check times & buy tickets at www.loco2.com.  For example, a TER train usually leaves Marseille at 09:58 arriving Nice 12:39.  Some trains are TGVs (running at normal speed on the classic line) with reservation required and dynamic fares from €15 upwards, others are TER regional trains (usually double-deckers) with a €35 fixed-price ticket which you can buy on the day, valid on any train to Nice with no seat reservation necessary or possible.  This is a lovely journey all along the Côte d'Azur, past rocky headlands, bays, yacht-filled harbours and millionaires' villas.  Enjoy!

  Then travel from Nice to Milan by direct Thello train, leaving Nice Ville at 14:15 every day and arriving Milan Centrale at 18:50.  This comfortable Thello train offers fares from just €15.  There's lovely scenery along the Italian Riviera.

  You can book from Nice to anywhere in Italy using either www.loco2.com or www.italiarail.com.

  If you want to spend more time in Marseille or Nice, there's a later Thello train from Nice to Milan, leaving Nice Ville at 18:07 and arriving Milan Centrale at 22:50, but obviously without any same-day onward connections to Florence, Venice and so on.

• Day 2 evening, change at Milan for a Frecciarossa high-speed train leaving Milan Centrale at 19:20 and arriving Florence SMN at 20:59 & Rome Termini at 22:40.  Another Frecciarossa leaves Milan at 19:30 Mondays-Fridays & Sundays and arrives Naples Centrale at 23:17.  A Frecciarossa leaves Milan Centrale at 20:15 arriving Verona Porta Nuova at 21:28 & Venice Santa Lucia at 22:40.  Fares from Milan to Florence or Venice start at €19.90, to Rome or Naples from €29.90.

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, a Spanish AVE-S100 high-speed train leaves Barcelona Sants every day at 08:25, change at Lyon Part Dieu onto a TER regional train arriving Geneva at 16:35.  Other options also 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 Valence you take 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 www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu (can be used by anyone, Geneva may be 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 22:37, this runs via the famous Simplon route.  fares start at €29 booked at either www.loco2.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 www.loco2.com, www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com.  It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board the train.

• Alternative step 2:  Stay overnight in Geneva and travel from Geneva to Italy next day.  There's even a direct 07:39 to Venice Santa Lucia arriving 14:40, with fares from €39 booked at either www.loco2.com, 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.

• Step 2, then 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.  Allow at least 90 minutes in Madrid to transfer between trains.  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 sleepers, 1 & 2 bed private 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 using www.loco2.com as you can book Barcelona to Lisbon all in one go as one journey. 

  Loco2 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. they charge no booking fee and you simply print out your own ticket.  Prices are in €, £ or $, you can use Loco2 wherever you live as it accepts all international credit cards.

  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.  Loco2 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 small mark-up.

  You can of course book direct with Spanish Railways at www.renfe.com in euros, 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 Loco2.

• For Porto, book a Lisbon Santa Apolonia to Porto Campanhã ticket at the Portuguese Railways website www.cp.pt.

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

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, you can check times & buy tickets for several bus companies all in one place at GoEuro.com and 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 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 09:25 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 15:53.  Fares from €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class booked at www.loco2.com (can be used by anyone, no booking fee, print-at-home tickets) or www.trainline.eu (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 3h17 from €35 in 2nd class or €79 in 1st class, booked at www.b-europe.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 17:10 from Paris Gare de l'Est arriving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf around 20:58.

• Alternatively, this whole trip can easily be booked in one place at www.loco2.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-at-home or collect-at-station tickets for both trains.

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 13:20 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 19:53, with fares from €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class booked at www.loco2.com (can be used by anyone, no booking fee, print-at-home tickets) or www.trainline.eu (can be used by anyone, no booking fee, print-at-home tickets).  A later 16:20 departure from Barcelona is available from 2 June to 27 August 2018.

• 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 15:25, 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-at-home tickets using the German Railways website www.bahn.de.

• Alternatively, this whole trip can easily be booked in one place at www.loco2.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.

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 16:45 and arriving Marseille St Charles at 21:26, with fares from €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class booked at www.loco2.com (can be used by anyone, no booking fee, print-at-home tickets) or www.trainline.eu (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 08:05 and arriving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 15:58.  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 www.loco2.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.

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

• Step 1, take the 08:25 AVE-S100 high-speed train from Barcelona Sants to Lyon Part Dieu, arriving 13:20.  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 www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu.

• Step 2, take the 14:37 TER from Lyon Part Dieu to Geneva, arriving 16:35, also book this at www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu. 

• Spend the night in Geneva.  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 Swiss domestic train to Zurich then a comfortable EuroCity train to Munich, for example leaving Geneva 06:12, a quick & easy change at Zurich, arriving Munich 13:29, or by all means take a later train.  You can book from Geneva to Munich as one transaction from €39 at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.  Be careful to avoid any departure with BUS marked in the search results.

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

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

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

• Step 2, take a high-speed train from Paris to Cologne (3h30 from €35), Frankfurt (3h40 from €39.90), Hamburg or Berlin.  Check times & fares at www.loco2.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, take the 08:25 AVE-S100 high-speed train from Barcelona Sants to Lyon Part Dieu, arriving 13:20.  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 14:37 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 www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu.  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, Salzburg, Linz or Vienna.  For example the 07:42 from Geneva would get you to Innsbruck 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.trainline.eu (easiest to use, overseas payment cards no problem) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices, but more fiddly).  You print your own ticket.

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

• Step 1, take the 08:25 AVE-S100 high-speed train from Barcelona Sants to Lyon Part Dieu, arriving 13:20.  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 14:37 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 www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu.  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.trainline.eu (easiest to use, overseas payment cards no problem) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices, but more fiddly) and print your own ticket.

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Barcelona to Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo...

• Step 1, take the 09:25 TGV Duplex from Barcelona Sants to Paris Gare de Lyon arriving 15:53, with fares from €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class, booked at www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu.  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 www.b-europe.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 EuroCity 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 09:09 from Cologne arriving Copenhagen at 18:26.  You print your own ticket.  The Hamburg to Copenhagen train goes onto a ferry between Puttgarden & Rødby, one of the few places in Europe where trains still get shunted onto ships.  It's an interesting experience in its own right - you must leave the train and go upstairs into the ship's passenger accommodation during the crossing.  See photos, tips & information for the Hamburg to Copenhagen journey.

• 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 and Copenhagen, 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 05:09 and arrive at 21:39, 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 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 EuroCity train to Copenhagen.  Book this at www.bahn.de and you'll see various departures from €39.90 with 1 change, for example the 09:09 from Cologne arriving Copenhagen at 18:26.  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 13:20 TGV Duplex from Barcelona Sants to Paris Gare de Lyon arriving 19:53, 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 www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu with print-at-home tickets.

• Stay overnight in Paris & change stations in Paris.

• Step 2, take the 09:06 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 www.loco2.com or www.bahn.de with print-at-home tickets.

• Step 3, take the direct 16:44 train from Munich to Prague arriving 22:31, 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 with print-at-home tickets.

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

• Step 1, take the 09:25 TGV Duplex from Barcelona Sants to Paris Gare de Lyon arriving 15:53, with fares from €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class, booked at www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu with print-at-home tickets.

• Change trains & stations in Paris

• Step 2, take the 17:55 TGV Duplex to Stuttgart with connection to Munich (it's a direct train on Saturdays) arriving around 23:20.  Fares from €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class booked at www.loco2.com, www.trainline.eu or www.bahn.de with print-at-home tickets.

• Stay overnight in Munich.   Try the Sofitel Munich Beyerpost, Eden Hotel Wolff, InterCity Hotel or (budget) the Pension Locarno, all these hotels are right next to the station with 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 14:31, 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 Budapest & Bratislava...

• Step 1, take the 08:25 AVE-S100 high-speed train from Barcelona Sants to Lyon Part Dieu, arriving 13:20.  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 14:37 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 www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu.  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 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 (if you're going to Bratislava) or Budapest, leaving Zurich at 21:40 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 07:55 & Budapest Keleti at 09:24.

  The Zurich-Vienna part of 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. 

  The Zurich-Budapest part of this train has a modern 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 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 Zurich to Vienna or Budapest at either www.trainline.eu (easiest) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at looking for the 21:40 NJ (Nightjet) train with 0 changes.  You simply print your own ticket.  Tip:  You can save money on the (expensive) Geneva-Zurich Swiss domestic ticket by using www.trainline.eu or www.oebb.at to book through from Geneva to Vienna or Budapest.  The inclusive price will include the transfer by any suitable Swiss domestic train from Geneva.

• For Bratislava, get off in Vienna and take one of the hourly trains from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna (= main station), journey time just 1h06.  The fare is around €15 bought at the station on the day, no reservation necessary or possible.

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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 09:25 TGV Duplex from Barcelona Sants to Paris Gare de Lyon arriving 15:53 with fares from €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class, booked at www.loco2.com (can be used by anyone, no booking fee, print-at-home tickets) or www.trainline.eu (can be used by anyone, no booking fee, print-at-home tickets).  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 13:20 TGV Duplex from Barcelona Sants to Paris Gare de Lyon arriving 19:53, with fares from €39, booked at www.loco2.com (can be used by anyone, no booking fee, print-at-home tickets) or www.trainline.eu (can be used by anyone, no booking fee, print-at-home tickets).  Change trains & stations in Paris.  From 2 June to 27 August 2018 there's also a later TGV leaving Barcelona at 16:20.

• Stay overnight in Paris.

• 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 www.loco2.com or www.bahn.de 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 at 15:28.  Transfer from Berlin Hbf to Berlin Ostbahnhof by frequent S-Bahn trains.

• Day 2 in the  evening, travel from Berlin to Moscow by new direct Russian sleeper train, leaving Berlin Ostbahnhof at 20:22 on Mondays & Saturdays, arriving at Moscow's Belorussky station next day at either 19:50 (late March to late October) or 20:50 (late October to late March).  It started running in December 2016.  Map of Moscow showing Kurskiy station.

  This train is an articulated Spanish-built Talgo train branded Strizh (swift).  It has ordinary seats and sleeping-cars with 2nd class 4-berth compartments, 1st class 1 or 2 berth compartments with washbasin and deluxe 1 or 2 berth compartments with en suite shower & toilet.  There's also 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 train runs through a 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 works, see my advice for using rzd.ru here, 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.

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

• Day 1, take the 13:20 TGV Duplex from Barcelona Sants to Paris Gare de Lyon arriving 19:53, with fares from €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class, booked at www.loco2.com (can be used by anyone, no booking fee, print-at-home tickets) or www.trainline.eu (can be used by anyone, no booking fee, print-at-home tickets).  Change trains & stations in Paris.

• Stay overnight in Paris.

• 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 www.loco2.com or www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.  For example, leave Paris Gare de l'Est at 09:06, change at Mannheim and arrive Berlin Hbf at 17:28.

• 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 06:37 Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity train daily except Sundays arriving Warsaw Centralna at 12:55, from €29.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class also booked at www.bahn.de and also with print-at-home tickets.

  If you're only going as far as Warsaw or catching the train to Kiev, there's also a later Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity train at 09:37 arriving 15:55 which runs every day.  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 Polonez sleeper train to Moscow, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 16:25 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays and arriving Moscow Belorussky station next day at 12:11 (late March to late October) or 13:11 (late October to late March) (day 4 from Barcelona).  You can arrange tickets via reliable Polish ticketing agency www.polrail.com or online (if it's feeling co-operative!) at en.oui.sncf, which might work - tickets are sent by regular post to most countries except the USA, but you MUST make sure Europe (other countries) remains selected top right with the EU flag showing.

• Day 3, for Kiev & Moscow, an overnight train called the Kiev Express links Warsaw to Kiev every day, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 17:50 and arriving Kiev around 11:02 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 020 3327 0761, 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 & other cities

Other hotel sites worth trying...

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

• www.booking.com is my own preferred hotel booking system (Hotels Combined being a search/comparison system).  It has a simple interface, a good selection in most countries worldwide, useful online customer reviews of each hotel, and decent prices, usually shown inclusive of unavoidable extras such as taxes (a pet hate of mine is systems that show one price, then charge you another!).

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 & health card

Take out decent travel insurance, it's essential...

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, try Columbus Direct or use Confused.com to compare prices & policies from many different insurers.

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

        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.

Get a spare credit card, designed for travel with no currency exchange loading & low or no ATM fees...

It costs nothing to take out an extra credit card.  If you keep it in a different part of your luggage so you're not left stranded if your wallet gets stolen, this is a form of extra travel insurance in itself.  In addition, some credit cards are significantly better for overseas travel than others.  Martin Lewis's www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money explains which UK credit cards have the lowest currency exchange commission loadings when you buy something overseas, and the lowest cash withdrawal fees when you use an ATM abroad.  Taking this advice can save you quite a lot on each trip compared to using your normal high-street bank credit card!

 

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