Barcelona via the Pyrenees
- Travel by Eurostar and high-speed TGV to Toulouse
- Continue through the Pyrenees with lovely mountain scenery en route to Barcelona
- Enjoy three full days in Barcelona including a day trip to Tarragona
- Return to London with a night in the heart of Provence en route
- Decide when you would like to travel
- Adapt the route to suit your plans
- Upgrade hotels and rail journeys
- Add extra nights, destinations and/or tours
- Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations, where required
- 6 nights’ handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast
- Day return journey to Tarragona from Barcelona
- City maps and comprehensive directions to your hotels
- Clearly-presented wallets for your rail tickets, hotel vouchers and other documentation
- All credit card surcharges and complimentary delivery of your travel documents
Suggested Itinerary
Catch a train from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord. Cross to the Gare Montparnasse, where you connect onto a TGV service which will take you speeding through France down to Toulouse. On arrival, check in at the Grand Hotel d’Orleans (or similar) where you have an overnight stay.
There’s time this evening to head out into the city of Toulouse, known as the ‘Pink City’ because of the terracotta bricks used in many of its historic buildings.
Leave Toulouse this morning and catch a regional service, taking you through ever more mountainous scenery until you reach Latour de Carol, near the Spanish border. Here, you can board a Spanish train for the journey through to Barcelona. On arrival, check in for a 4-night stay at the Catalonia Born (or similar).
Enjoy three full days at leisure in the Catalan capital. Barcelona is an exuberant city with a jam-packed calendar of events and plenty to see and do. Among the most popular attractions is the Barrio Gotico (Gothic Quarter) home of the city’s historic cathedral and the world-famous Picasso Museum. Also well-worth visiting is la Rambla, the pedestrianised boulevard leading down to the sea and the iconic Sagrada Familia, designed by Antoni Gaudi and still unfinished after 100 years of building work. We would recommend booking skip-the-line tickets in advance if you want to visit here. Please ask for details.
You also have a free day of travel with your interrail passes. We suggest travelling to the historic city of Tarragona, which is about 50 minutes away by train. But you might also like to visit the pretty coastal town of Sitgès.
After breakfast today, leave from Barcelona Sants station and catch a regional train across the French border to the Pyrenees town of Cerbère. From here, a French service will take you to Avignon. Here, check in at the Hotel de l’Horloge (or similar) for an overnight stay.
Located on the banks of the River Rhône, Avignon was the seat of popes for 400 years and still boasts its medieval Palais des Papes, which forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage listed historic centre of the city. Why not spend an extra night here so that you have time to explore?
Leave Avignon today for a journey by high-speed TGV back to Lille or Paris. Connect onto the Eurostar for a short hop under the English Channel to the UK. During the summer, there are also direct services from Avignon to London on certain days of the week.
Typical hotels on this itinerary
Toulouse
This conveniently located hotel sits just opposite Toulouse-Matabiau and Marengo train stations, within walking distance of the city centre. All air-conditioned bedrooms are individually decorated, with free Wi-Fi internet access, a kettle and an en suite bathroom. There is a menu of regional specialities available at the restaurant and during the summer, guests can enjoy a drink in the bar or hotel garden.
Barcelona
Occupying a 19th century residence in the El Born district of Barcelona, the Catalonia Born offers comfortable accommodation within easy reach of the city’s main attractions. The hotel features a rooftop swimming pool and a snack bar where you can enjoy free snacks and drinks during the afternoon and evening. Bedrooms are decorated in a classic style with air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi access.
Avignon
Overlooking the pretty Place de l’Horloge in the centre of Avignon, the Hotel de l’Horloge occupies a traditional 19th century building with antique furnishings and elegantly decorated bedrooms. All of these feature air-conditioning, sound-proofing and complimentary Wi-Fi access.
Upgrade your accommodation
Barcelona
Hotel Arts Barcelona rises 44 stories above the seafront, making this Barcelona hotel’s façade of blue glass and exposed steel a true beacon of luxury. From a contemporary collection of art, to award-winning dining, this luxury Barcelona hotel provides guests with unparalleled access to all this vibrant destination has to offer.
Avignon
The boutique Hotel La Mirande is situated in the heart of Avignon, with bedrooms overlooking the Palais des Papes. This historic hotel features 27 air-conditioned bedrooms with oak-wood parquet flooring and silk-lined curtains. Afternoon tea can be enjoyed on the hotel’s quiet terrace and in the evening, the Michelin starred restaurant offers gourmet dining in a beautiful setting.
