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Railbookers · Independent rail vacation

Paris and Catalonia

Paris to Catalonia rail trip through Girona, Barcelona, and Tarragona

Illustration of Paris and Catalonia

Railbookers runs this 11-day, 10-night independent rail vacation from Paris through Catalonia, using TGV and Renfe trains to link four cities. The trip opens with two nights in Paris, including Eiffel Tower access, a Seine river cruise, and Louvre Museum tickets. On day 3, a high-speed TGV train carries you south to Girona for two nights, where a small-group walking tour covers the medieval quarter and the Cathedral's Gothic nave. A short rail journey brings you to Barcelona for four nights, the longest stay of the trip, with a Gaudi architecture tour, a local food and drink tour, and a half-day trip to the Monserrat monastery. The final two nights are in Tarragona, a Roman-founded coastal city reached by a local scenic train. Each city gets enough time to explore at a relaxed pace rather than rushing through. This suits independent travellers who want history, architecture, and food built into a multi-city rail trip, with Rail Experts support handling the logistics rather than a full escort.

What to know before you look closer

  • Multiple hotel names are listed for Paris, Barcelona, and Tarragona; the property you get depends on availability and the tier selected, not a single fixed hotel per city.
  • Day 8 lists only the half-day Monserrat tour as included; the suggested morning visit to Park Guell is self-guided and not confirmed as part of the package.
  • The evidence does not list specific departure dates for this package; confirm availability with Railbookers before booking.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Paris

    Paris

    Welcome to Paris! On arrival head to your hotel for a two-night stay, then get out to explore the city with your included Hop-on Hop-off pass. In the evening why not speak to any of our knowledgeable Rail Experts about a night at the world-famous Moulin Rouge?

  2. Day 2overnight: Paris

    Paris

    It's a day to remember today, as you explore the very best the city has to offer. Included for you is a skip-the-line tour to the very top of the Eiffel Tower, a one-hour scenic, seine cruise, and tickets to the world-famous Louvre Museum. You also have another day of exploring the city with your handy hop-on hop-off pass which gives you the best views of the beautiful boulevards and arrondissements that make Paris so famous.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Girona

    Girona

    Ride the highspeed TGV train south to Girona today, and on arrival make your way to your hotel for a two-night stay. Much of the city was used when filming Game of Thrones, and the small alleys of the old town are full of local friendly restaurants for dinner.

  4. Day 4overnight: Girona

    Girona

    Enjoy a half-day small group walking tour of the city today and learn the vast history of its medieval and Jewish quarters, ramblas, old city walls, bridges over the Onyar river and many monuments. After, perhaps visit the Cathedral which has the widest Gothic nave in the world - second only of any church after St Peter's Basilica in Rome! Join the locals and enjoy an ice cream on the steps outside in the evening.

  5. Day 5overnight: Barcelona

    Barcelona

    Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before making the short journey to Barcelona, and check-in to your hotel for a four-night stay. Start exploring as soon as you arrive thanks to your included hop-on, hop-off pass!

  6. Day 6overnight: Barcelona

    Barcelona

    Get out early this morning and beat the crowds to see Antonio Gaudi's masterpieces on this small group tour. Skip the line at the most important sights and monuments of the city and discover the details which have meant the Sagrada Familia still remains unfinished since construction started in 1882!

  7. Day 7overnight: Barcelona

    Barcelona

    Have a lazy morning this morning, then enjoy a fascinating tour of some local bars and restaurants led by a knowledgeable guide. You'll get to taste some delicious tapas and local wines which only the locals know where to go to find!

  8. Day 8overnight: Barcelona

    Barcelona/Monserrat Day Trip

    Perhaps wander up to Park Guell this morning to enjoy a view across the rooftops of Barcelona from another of Gaudi's masterpieces, before joining a tour in the afternoon to the spiritual heart of Catalonia, Monserrat. The holy mountain has been one of Europe's top pilgrimage sites for hundreds of years, and you'll get to touch La Moreneta which is said to have been housed here by the Benedictine monks since 718 AD. This evening perhaps head to the evocative Gothic Quarter for your final night in Barcelona.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Tarragona

    Tarragona

    Take the local scenic train ride from Barcelona to the center of Tarragona today and settle into your hotel for a two-night stay. Perhaps head to the beach for some fresh Mediterranean air or stroll the Passeig Arqueologic to really soak up the city?

  10. Day 10overnight: Tarragona

    Tarragona

    Spend the day exploring the rich history and coastal charm of Tarragona at your own pace. You may wish to visit the impressive cathedral, once a Roman temple and later transformed through Visigothic and Moorish influences, or wander the city's ancient streets lined with Roman ruins and lively plazas. In the evening, treat yourself to dinner at one of Tarragona's excellent restaurants, where you can enjoy fresh seafood paired with stunning sea views.

  11. Day 11rail

    Your Journey Ends

    After breakfast this morning, check out of your hotel and take the short rail journey back to Barcelona, then head to the airport for your flight home. If you wish to extend your holiday, perhaps with an additional day in a different city, one of our Rail Specialists would be happy to help you with all the details.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3The high-speed TGV train travels south from Paris to Girona, a city whose old town was used as a filming location for Game of Thrones.
  • Day 4A half-day small-group walking tour of Girona covers the medieval and Jewish quarters, the old city walls, and the bridges over the Onyar river, plus the Cathedral, which has the widest Gothic nave in the world after St Peter's Basilica.
  • Day 6A small-group tour of Antonio Gaudi's architecture in Barcelona, with skip-the-line access to the Sagrada Familia, still unfinished since construction began in 1882.
  • Day 8A half-day guided tour to Monserrat, a pilgrimage site for hundreds of years, including the chance to see La Moreneta, said to have been housed there by Benedictine monks since 718 AD.
  • Day 9A local scenic train ride from Barcelona to Tarragona, a city on the Mediterranean coast reached in time to settle in for a two-night stay.

Included

  • Rail Travel as per the itinerary
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Paris
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Girona
  • 4 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Barcelona
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Tarragona
  • Skip the Line Eiffel Tower tickets
  • 2 Day Paris hop-on hop-off pass
  • Scenic Paris River Cruise
  • Louvre Museum tickets (closed on Tuesdays)
  • Small group walking tour in Girona
  • Hop-on, hop-off pass in Barcelona
  • Small group Gaudi tour, including skip the line access to Sagrada Familia and Park Guell
  • Local Food and drink tour in Barcelona
  • Half day guided tour to Monserrat

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. Rail travel is included as per the itinerary, using TGV and Renfe trains to connect Paris, Girona, Barcelona, and Tarragona.
Is this tour escorted or independent?
It is independent travel with Rail Experts support. You explore each city largely on your own, with small-group guided tours included in Girona, Barcelona (Gaudi architecture and a food and drink tour), and a half-day tour to Monserrat.
How long do you stay in each city?
Two nights in Paris, two in Girona, four in Barcelona, and two in Tarragona, over 11 days and 10 nights total.
What is included in the price?
Rail travel per the itinerary, hotel accommodation with breakfast in all four cities, skip-the-line Eiffel Tower tickets, a Paris hop-on hop-off pass, a Seine river cruise, Louvre Museum tickets, a small-group walking tour in Girona, a Barcelona hop-on hop-off pass, a small-group Gaudi tour with skip-the-line Sagrada Familia and Park Guell access, a local food and drink tour, and a half-day guided tour to Monserrat.
When does this tour run?
The evidence does not list specific departure dates for this package. Contact Railbookers to confirm availability.

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