Ultimate Barcelona with Paris by Train

As an Anglo-Spanish company, we have been inextricably linked to Spain since our beginnings in the 1990s. Therefore, it was with great pride that in 2023 Pura Aventura was handselected by TourSpain - the UK's official Spanish tourist board - to form a partnership based around promoting sustainable travel.

The trip you see before you bears the fruits of this collaboration. In doing so we are able to pair our love of Catalonia and 25 years' experience of travelling in the region, with the first-hand knowledge and connections of both the official Spanish and Catalan Tourist Offices.

Added to that is our commitment to making sustainable travel not just a realistic option, but an immensely appealing option. Taking the train from Paris to Barcelona absolutely ticks that box, bringing your carbon footprint down and the richness of your experience up.

Simply put, the result is a trip you cannot find elsewhere. You can put the mountain of guidebooks away and instead let us do all the thinking and all the logistics.

This is a private trip to Barcelona, with mainly private transfers and tours. The Gaudí night visit and Montserrat day will be shared with other visitors, but we promise they won't bite.

Barcelona and Paris are both year-round destinations. This is a trip which genuinely can be as enjoyable in winter as it can at any time of the year.

Paris has a fairly stable climate, with historically little variance in rainfall over the year. The temperature varies between an average of 5-10°C (41-50°F) in winter, 10-15°C (50-59°F) in spring and autumn/fall and 18-25°C (64-77°F) in summer. Daylight length varies between 8 hours in winter, 12 hours in spring and autumn/fall and 16 hours in summer.

Barcelona will be hot, hot, hot in the summer months, cool and crisp in the winter, but it's not a city which ever really packs up in the way that some others do. Here's an overview of what to expect, with the usual caveat of historic weather patterns becoming less helpful/consistent in a changing climate:

Spring (April through June) and autumn (September through November) can be lovely times to visit. Days tend to start fairly cool, warming up in the afternoon before settling back down again in the evenings. It's all very comfortable. If you want to swim, stick closer to the summer months. Rainfall is technically highest in May and October, but Catalonia has experienced some of its worst droughts in living memory recently. Things are getting drier, and warmer. So if it does rain on you, spare a thought for those tending vines and orchards in the hills around the city! Temperatures hover around 18-24°C (64-75°F).

Summer (July through early September) will be the busiest and hottest time of the year. We tend to advise you steer clear of these months where you can, though we understand that's not always possible. At this time of the year, we advise you to do your exploring early or later in the day. The sea is right there if you ever need to jump in, and also helps to keep things a little cooler than inland Catalonia. Temperatures are generally 25-30°C (77-86°F), rainfall is low and days are loooong.

We love coming to Barcelona in the winter months (late November through March). You can get consecutive days of blue skies, comfortable temperatures and some lovely late afternoon light at this time of the year. The city draws breath and feels quieter, not exactly quiet but certainly calmer. Sunset is between 17:30 and 19:30, the chance of rainfall is historically around 10% each day and temperatures range from 10-15°C (50-60°F).

The boutique hotels we use in Paris and Barcelona are all within a short walk of a well-connected Metro stop, as well as a choice of good restaurants and close to the heart of the city. We look for quiet and comfy rooms, good service and a bit of personality. We like some luxury touches, but not necessarily luxury for the sake of luxury. Please enquire for full details.

This trip includes train travel from London St Pancras to Barcelona via Paris on the way out. To return, it's simplest to fly back from Barcelona.

If you'd like to return via Paris, the 9-day version of this trip includes return train travel with a second night in the City of Light.

We could also continue your travels by train other cities such as Girona, Madrid, Seville or San Sebastián. If you want to add time in the vineyards or coast, we have options for that too. All you need do is ask...

As part of your trip you'll have your own travel app which is packed with background information, useful tips, sightseeing advice and personal recommendations from us and our team. This will help you plan your days, from your hotel's front door and back again. We'll give you everything you need for the week, including using the Metro (it's really easy) and how to explore each part of the cities. If something happens, you also have a 24/7 emergency contact for us.

No, though you'll find that Catalan is actually the lingua franca in Barcelona. This being a city, you'll be just fine. The only time you might struggle is if you go to a proper neighbourhood restaurant away from the tourist centre (there's a good one by Sants station). The language might be in Catalan only, though everyone speaks Spanish so if you've got some of that, this would be the time to use it. Aside from that, no te preocupes - you'll be fine.

In Paris, again you'll be fine in most places, even if it's just with a bit of pointing and gestering. Things like the Metro ticket machines can be put into English.

This is a trip which rewards you getting out and about to explore the city on foot, and the occasional eBike. Naturally, there are ways for you to dial this up and down as you go though.

We don't pack your days too tightly. Let's say have a self-guided walking tour that typically takes 3-4 hours to complete. Well that could very easily be stretched over a whole day if you stop for coffee and lunch, and pop into a museum, art gallery or some interesting shops. There's really no need to ever rush.

Equally, you don't have to do what we tell you. Yes the old town audio tour is a lot of fun and shares some great stories, but if you just want to sit and chill by the beach or a shower sets in outside, then you simply skip it or leave it for another day. There's a lot of flex built in, with time for you to adapt things.

The only fixed elements are the guided tours. The eBike excursion is designed for everyone. As long as you can ride a bike in a straight line, you'll be fine. Having a private guide means you can adapt things to you, so if you want to cover less ground and spend more time in one specific area, that's usually just fine.

In Montserrat, we encourage you to do a bit of a walk by riding the funicular up above the abbey. There's a simple circuit that anyone can do, reaching the smaller chapels and opening up views over the plains and limestone peaks. There's also a more adventurous option that involves a bit of clambering and ducking, but that's not for everyone. You'll have great views whichever direction you wander in.

That's the idea, yes. For example, Barcelona is a great city with some truly wonderful, world-famous monuments and galleries. But it's actually quite easy to leave without getting a real feel for the city and the people who call it home. We won't let that happen. As well as the time you spend with your guides, you'll also have lots of recommendations for interesting independent shops, bars and restaurants and if you're an adventurous sort then do have a go at speaking in Spanish. Although Catalan is the dominant language, they'll always dust off their Castilian to chat with anyone cultured enough to have a go!