Paris, Barcelona & Madrid 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 Spain and 25 years' experience of travelling in the country, with the first-hand knowledge and connections of our partners at the official Spanish Tourist Office.

Added to that is our commitment to making sustainable travel not just a realistic option, but an immensely appealing option. Taking the train from to London to Madrid 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 Paris, Barcelona and Madrid, with mainly private tours where these are included. The Gaudí night visit will be shared with other visitors, but we promise they won't bite.

We think spring (April-June) and autumn (September-early November) are great times for this trip. Temperatures historically range from 15-25°C (59-77°F), rainfall is consistently fairly low and daylight length averages around 12 hours. In Barcelona, 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!

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. In Paris, the temperature averages out around 10-15°C (50-59°F) and rainfall is fairly consistent through the year, so that's not a big factor. As Europe's highest capital Madrid can be cold in winter, but you can again get days of lovely blue skies here. The average temperature is historically 5-10°C (41-50°F), so wrap up warm!

Barcelona and Paris are both year-round destinations, but we tend to advise against travel to Madrid in the height of summer. Things can get stiflingly hot, prompting most Madrileños to head for the countryside and coast during August, sending the city into a bit of a shutdown. Barcelona is a bit cooler because of the sea, but it can still be hot and busy at this time of the year.

The hotels we use in Paris, Barcelona and Madrid 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. More expensive doesn't always mean better.

This is a trip which rewards you getting out and about to explore the cities 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 audio tours are a lot of fun and share some great stories, but if you just want to sit and chill by the beach or if 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.

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 and Madrid, 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.

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!

We can adapt things to a certain level, such as potentially taking out or adding a night, or adding time elsewhere in Catalonia. The city has winegrowing areas to the west and the lovely beaches of the Costa Brava to the east. From Madrid, it's also very easy to connect with Seville and the south of Spain, or Bilbao/San Sebastián and the north.