To buy train tickets within Spain, use the official Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (but see this advice first)  Or use www.loco2.com, www.raileurope-world.com or www.petrabax.com.

I want to go from Barcelona to...

      Select your destination... ----------- Most popular ----------- Somewhere else in Spain... Lisbon or Porto Paris Nice, Toulouse, Perpignan Amsterdam Brussels & Bruges Geneva, Zurich & Switzerland Rome, Florence, Venice & Italy ---------- All destinations --------- Alicante Amsterdam Andorra Basel (Basle) Berlin Bern (Berne) Bratislava Bruges Brussels Budapest Cannes Carcassonne Cologne Copenhagen 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 for journeys starting in another city.

       Click here for Barcelona Sants station info.

       Train information is current for 2017.

This page explains how to travel by train from Barcelona to other cities all across Europe & how to buy the cheapest tickets, usually online direct from the operators with print-at-home or collect-at-station tickets & no booking fees.  It doesn't matter where you live, in Europe, Asia, the USA or Australia, you can buy train tickets as shown below and save money over expensive railpasses or travel agent mark-ups.  On the other hand, if you'd rather someone sorted out your whole trip for you, see here.

Before you buy your tickets...

Take a moment to read these important tips for buying European train tickets.  They answer all 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 just go online & buy a €35 point-to-point ticket?".  And most important, click here to understand how far ahead you can buy train tickets.

European train travel FAQ...

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Buying train tickets for journeys within Spain:  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 Granada by time-effective sleeper train leaving Barcelona Sants at 8pm (not running from August until at least December 2015 due to engineering work).  Or 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 (give or take conversion into pounds) with the same print-at-home tickets and with no booking fee if you use a debit card, 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/renfe.  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.

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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...

Barcelona to Paris by by high-speed TGV train in 6h15 from €59...  Click here 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 4 July to 28 August 2017 and at 16:20 from 2 June to 28 August 2017.

• 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 €59 in 2nd class or €99 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.

Barcelona to Paris by overnight sleeper via Latour de Carol & the Pyrenees...  Time-effective & scenic too...

• 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!

  To check times for this local train go to www.renfe.com, 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.  This route is classed as a Barcelona suburban train in spite of being very rural.

  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.

• 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 06:52 next morning. 

  This train has 1st class 4-berth couchettes, 2nd class 6-berth couchettes and reclining seats.  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, enjoy the first hour and a half twisting and turning through the Pyrenees, it's very scenic indeed.  More information about Intercité de Nuit trains.

  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 pounds) or www.trainline.eu (prices in euros).  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...

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

  Fares start at just €39 if you pre-book.  You can check times and buy tickets at either 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.

• Option 2, the slower cheaper scenic route straight through the Pyrenees via Latour de Carol...

  There's also a cheap & scenic option from Barcelona to Toulouse taking the slow but direct route through Latour de Carol in the Pyrenees, no pre-booking necessary and if you are unable to book in advance it's cheaper than the high-speed route.

  You won't find this route listed on train booking websites as it involves two separate tickets and two separate trains, one of which is classed as a Spanish suburban train which isn't even bookable online.  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.  You can check times for this section at www.renfe.com but ignore the main journey planner, click Welcome at the top for English, then click COMMUTER TRAINS AND FEVE then select Barcelona as it's 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.

Barcelona to Marseille, Cannes & Nice...

• A very comfortable direct AVE leaves Barcelona Sants at 16:45 arriving Marseille St Charles at 21:25, see the AVE photos below.  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 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.  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 high-speed train, leaving Barcelona Sants at 07:20 and arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 12:26.

  The train is a comfortable Spanish AVE with cafe-bar, see the photos above.  This route is almost identical to that taken by the Barcelona-Paris TGVs, it's an enjoyable and scenic journey, see the scenery photos here & watch the video 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 €49 for Barcelona-Lyon and from around €26 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...

• Take either the 09:25 or 13:20 double-decker TGV Duplex from Barcelona to Paris Gare de Lyon in around 6h25 from €59 in 2nd class or €99 in 1st class.  This is a comfortable and scenic journey, see the scenery photos here & watch the video here.  From 3 July to 28 August 2017 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.

• 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, arrive Paris Gare de Lyon 15:53, leave Paris Gare du Nord 17:25, arrive Brussels Midi around 18:47.

• Or leave Barcelona Sants at 13:20, arrive Paris Gare de Lyon 19:53, leave Paris Nord 21:25, arriving Brussels Midi around 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 £ and you can use it wherever you live as all overseas credit cards are accepted.  If you use a debit card 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/renfe (in $, with a small mark-up).

Option 3, by high-speed TGV with overnight hotel in Paris, runs 2 June to 28 August 2017

• 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 28 August 2017.

• 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 €94...

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

• Step 1, take the 09:25 TGV Duplex from Barcelona arriving at Paris Gare de Lyon at 15:53 with fares from €59 in 2nd class or €99 in 1st class. 

  This is a comfortable & scenic journey on an impressive 200mph double-deck high-speed train, see the scenery photos here & watch the video.

  From 3 July to 28 August 2017 there will be an earlier train too, leaving Barcelona at 06:10. 

  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.  There's one 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 £ and you can use it wherever you live as all overseas credit cards are accepted.  If you use a debit card 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 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/renfe (in $, with a small mark-up).

Option 2, by high-speed TGV with overnight hotel in Paris, runs 2 June to 28 August 2017...

• This is similar to the journey explained above, but it's more time-effective, with an overnight hotel 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. 

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

• Next morning, take any Thalys 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, but this time you'd book 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.  Use the More options feature and enter Paris if you want more time in Paris.

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 €59...

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

• There's usually a TGV Duplex leaving Barcelona Sants at 09:25, change at Valence arriving Geneva at 17:00.  Other options are available, but times vary a lot, so check for your date of travel online as shown below.  You may prefer to take the 07:20 direct AVE high-speed train from Barcelona to Lyon, have lunch in Lyon, then pick up the 15:34 TGV from Lyon to Geneva arriving 17:00.

• 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.

• Book from Barcelona to Geneva at www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu (can be used by anyone, but can't sell every Barcelona-Geneva option - Geneva may be listed as Genève Cornavin).  Booking usually opens 92 days ahead. 

  Be aware that for Barcelona-Geneva journeys involving a Lyon-Geneva TER regional train (which cannot be e-ticketed), Trainline.eu may say unavailable, and Loco2 may insist on sending tickets to a UK address.  No problem, the solution is simple!  just book the Barcelona to Lyon TGV as one booking at www.trainline.eu or www.loco2.com so you get a print-at-home ticket, then buy the TER ticket as a second separate booking also at www.trainline.eu or www.loco2.com and hey presto, a collect-at-station option appears.

• Buy an onward ticket from Geneva to other Swiss cities separately either at the Swiss Railways website www.sbb.ch, or simply buy it when you reach Geneva as no reservation is necessary or possible, Swiss trains cannot 'sell out', and there's no price advantage in pre-booking Swiss domestic tickets.

• Add a connecting train from Madrid, Alicante etc. to Barcelona using the Spanish railways website www.renfe.com (see advice on using it here), or if you have any payment or other problems, at www.petrabax.com/renfe with cheap Promo or Promo+ tickets if you pre-book.  I'd allow at least 30 minutes to connect in Barcelona.

Option 2, Barcelona to Avignon in the evening, an overnight stop & a free morning in Avignon, then the afternoon TGV to Geneva...

• This option is well worth considering as Avignon is lovely.  The town centre is 3 miles from Avignon TGV station, there is a shuttle train or plenty of taxis available.

• Day 1, travel from Barcelona to Avignon by direct AVE high-speed train, leaving Barcelona Sants at 16:45 and arriving Avignon TGV at 20:42.

  Fares from €49, 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, 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 and enjoy a free morning there next day.

• Day 2, travel from Avignon to Geneva by direct TGV high-speed train leaving Avignon TGV at 14:17 and arriving Geneva at 17:17.

  Fares from €49, 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.

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Barcelona to Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome & Italy from €81...

So many people want to travel this route, and many of them 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 high-speed AVE train, leaving Barcelona Sants at 16:45 & arriving Marseille St Charles at 21:25.  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, booked at either www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu with print-at-home tickets.

• 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.  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 Saturdays & Sundays there's a direct Thello train leaving Marseille at 11:24 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.  Thello is a subsidiary of Trenitalia.  You can book from Marseille to anywhere in Italy using either www.loco2.com or www.italiarail.com.

  On Mondays-Fridays, travel from Marseille to Nice on any French domestic train you like, it takes 2h35 with regular departures, you can check times & buy tickets at www.loco2.com.  For example, a TER train usually leaves Marseille at 09:31 arriving Nice 12:02.  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 (often 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 14:08 and arriving Milan Centrale at 18:50.  This comfortable Thello train uses Frecciabianca carriages with 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 also 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 on any day of the week, 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 at 21:28 & Venice Santa Lucia at 22:40.  Fares from Milan to Florence or Venice start at €19, to Rome or Naples from €29.

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...

• Step 1, a double-deck TGV Duplex leaves Barcelona Sants every day at 09:25, change at Valence to arrive Geneva at 17:00.  Other options also available, but they vary a lot, so check for your date of travel online as shown below.  You may prefer to take the 07:20 direct AVE high-speed train from Barcelona to Lyon, have lunch in Lyon, then pick up the train from Lyon to Geneva arriving 17:00. 

  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.

  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.

  Be aware that for journeys involving a Lyon-Geneva TER regional train (which cannot be e-ticketed), Trainline.eu may say unavailable, and Loco2 may insist on sending tickets to a UK address.  No problem, the solution is simple!  just book the Barcelona to Lyon TGV as one booking at www.trainline.eu or www.loco2.com so you get a print-at-home ticket, then buy the TER ticket as a second separate booking also at www.trainline.eu or www.loco2.com and hey presto, a collect-at-station option appears.

• Step 2, take a train from Geneva to Milan leaving Geneva at 18:39 arriving Milan Centrale at 22:37, from €19 booked at either www.loco2.com (easy, and no fees if you use a debit card), www.italiarail.com (also easy, the small fee will be refunded if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com or www.sbb.ch (both 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, or to Rome or Naples from €29 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 €32 booked at either www.loco2.com, www.italiarail.com, www.trenitalia.com or www.sbb.ch.

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 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 if you use a debit card and you simply print out your own ticket.  Prices are in pounds, but 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/renfe with prices in $, 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 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 twice daily around 07:30 & 16:15, journey time around 3h40, fare around €16-€18. 

  The bus service is run jointly by Damas & Eva-Bus, www.damas-sa.es & www.eva-bus.com, and there may be additional buses in July & August.  You can book one-way or return journeys from Seville to Faro online at www.movelia.es, or one-way or return journeys starting in Faro at www.rede-expressos.pt. 

  Another company, www.alsa.es, also has buses Seville-Faro, with online booking in either direction so worth checking.

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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, fare around €29, see www.autocarsnadal.com.

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Barcelona to Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin & Germany from €94...

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 €59 in 2nd class or €99 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 Gare du Nord to Cologne in 3h17 from €35, booked at www.b-europe.com and print your own ticket.  For example, the 17:55 from Paris Nord arrives Cologne 21:15.

• For Frankfurt, take a high-speed TGV from Paris Est to Frankfurt (Main) Hbf in 3h48 from €39 in 2nd class or €79 in 1st class booked at www.bahn.de.  For example, there's usually one around 17:10 arriving Frankfurt 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 at 13:20 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 19:53, with fares from €59 in 2nd class or €99 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 28 August 2017.

• 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 in 2nd class or €69 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 high-speed AVE leaving Barcelona Sants at 16:45 and arriving Marseille St Charles at 21:25, with fares from €49 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 08:10 and arriving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 15:58.  Change in Frankfurt for onward ICE & IC trains to Hamburg, Cologne, Berlin with fares from €39 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 07:20 AVE high-speed train from Barcelona to Lyon Part Dieu, arriving 12:26.  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 15:34 TGV from Lyon Part Dieu to Geneva, arriving 17:17, 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 06:14, a quick & easy change St Gallen, arriving Munich 13:28, 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), 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 07:20 AVE high-speed train from Barcelona to Lyon Part Dieu, arriving 12:26.  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.

  Book from Barcelona Sants to Lyon at www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu.

• Step 2, take the 15:34 TGV from Lyon part Dieu to Geneva, arriving 17:17, also booked at www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu. 

• 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 then a smart Austrian Railjet train from Zurich to Innsbruck, Salzburg, Linz or Vienna.  This is a lovely journey through the wonderful Arlberg Pass, see the Arlberg Pass scenery video.

  Geneva to Innsbruck starts at €29, Geneva to Salzburg or Vienna from €39, book this as one Geneva-to-Austria transaction at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at, with print-at-home tickets.

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

• Step 1, take the 07:20 AVE high-speed train from Barcelona to Lyon Part Dieu, arriving 12:26.  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.

  Book from Barcelona Sants to Lyon at www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu.

• Step 2, take the 15:34 TGV from Lyon part Dieu to Geneva, arriving 17:17, also booked at www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu. 

• Step 3, take a Swiss domestic train from Geneva to Zurich, these run every half hour, there's usually one around 18:18.  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 Wiener Walzer from Zurich to Vienna,  leaving Zurich at 21:40 and arriving Vienna Hauptbahnhof 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, see the sleeper photos here.  Fares from €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 Austrian Railways www.oebb.at 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 €59 in 2nd class or €99 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 at 21:15.  Book this at www.b-europe.com from just €35.  You print your own ticket.

• Stay overnight in Cologne.  Suggested hotels near to Cologne Hauptbahnhof with good reviews (and starting with the cheapest) include 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 to Hamburg and an onward train to Copenhagen.  Book from Cologne to Copenhagen at www.bahn.de and you'll see various departures from €39 with 1 change, for example the 09:09 from Cologne arriving Copenhagen at 18:18.  You print your own ticket.  The Hamburg to Copenhagen train goes onto a ferry between Puttgarten & 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.

• Step 3 if you're going to Stockholm:  It's just possible to travel from Cologne to Stockholm in a day with changes at Hamburg and Copenhagen, using a through ticket from just €39 booked at www.bahn.de.  Depending on the day and date, you can leave Cologne at 05:10 and arrive at 19:39, or at 09:08 arriving at 23:39, 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 train to Copenhagen.  Book this at www.bahn.de and you'll see various departures from €39 with 1 change, for example the 09:08 from Cologne arriving Copenhagen at 18:22.  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 €59 in 2nd class or €99 in 1st class, booked at www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu with print-at-home tickets.  there's a later 16:20 departure in June-August, see the Paris to Barcelona by TGV page.  .

• Stay overnight in Paris & change stations in Paris.

• Step 2, take the 09:10 TGV Duplex from Paris Gare de l'Est to Mannheim with connection to Munich arriving around 15:28.  Fares from €39 in 2nd class or €69 in 1st class booked at either www.loco2.com, www.trainline.eu or www.bahn.de with print-at-home tickets.

• Step 3, take the direct 17:02 ALEX train from Munich to Prague arriving 22:41, fares from just €15 in 2nd class or €35 in 1st class booked at www.cd.cz/eshop with print-at-home tickets.  See the Munich to Prague page for more details.

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 €59, 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 in 2nd class or €69 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 ALEX 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 09:01 arriving 14:41, or there are earlier or later trains, see the Munich to Prague page for full details.

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Barcelona to Budapest & Bratislava...

• Step 1, take the 07:20 AVE high-speed train from Barcelona to Lyon Part Dieu, arriving 12:26.  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.  Book from Barcelona Sants to Lyon at www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu.

• Step 2, take the 15:34 TGV from Lyon part Dieu to Geneva, arriving 17:17, also booked at www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu. 

• Step 3, take a Swiss domestic train from Geneva to Zurich, these run every half hour, there's usually one around 18:18.  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 EuroNight sleeper Wiener Walzer 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, see the sleeper photos here. 

  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 the Austrian Railways www.oebb.at looking for the 21:40 EN (EuroNight) 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.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 €59, 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 Fridays, 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 €59, 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 June to late August 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 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 18:50 on Sundays & Mondays, arriving at Moscow's Belorussky station next day at either 18:11 (late March to late October) or 19:11 (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.

• Day 1, take the 13:20 TGV Duplex from Barcelona Sants to Paris Gare de Lyon arriving 19:53, with fares from €59 in 2nd class or €99 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 in 2nd class or €69 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-Warszawa Express daily except Sundays arriving Warsaw Centralna at 12:55, from €39 in 2nd class or €59 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, there's also a later Berlin-Warszawa Express at 09:37 arriving 16:00, this 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 15:50 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays and arriving Moscow Belorussky station next day at 11:45 (late March to late October) or 12:45 (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 http://en.voyages-sncf.com (you MUST select 'Other Countries (EUR)' top right!).

• Day 3, for Kiev & Ukraine, an overnight train called the Kiev Express links Warsaw to Kiev every day, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 16:10 and arriving Kiev around 08:35 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.

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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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