Barcelona to Avignon

We did the reverse last summer... from Arles, and I think we changed in Avignon. I believe the Avignon-Barcelona leg was direct. Fast train, maybe 3 hours? Super easy, I would definitely take the train!

Kim

thanks so much for the info.

I don't see any direct trains now, but there will be a schedule change between now and August and there may be some seasonal trains added for the summer travel season. Right now, I see a train with a single change in Nimes leaving Barcelona Sants at 9:25 to Avignon Centre, just outside the old city walls. There is also a TGV station a little ways outside of town, but did not see any direct trains there now. There are bus and local train connections from the TGV station to Avignon Centre.

We will have to hope that a direct train opens up as we are not very good at getting on/off trains w/our luggage. It's usually quite a step up or down for us. Thanks for your input.

SNCF, the French railway lines can provide assistance at all stations you might be using.
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As always, "pack light" is the Rick Steves motto.

What day of the week will you be traveling to Avignon?

Just looking at the schedule for next Wednesday, I see a non-stop departing at 4:45 PM and arriving at 8:42 PM. The earlier trains all have one change (occasionally more), which I understand you want to avoid. This train goes to the TGV station that's about 4 miles from the center of Avignon. You'll probably want to get a taxi from there.

Important: You'll be able to save a lot of money by buying those train tickets quickly after they go on sale--assuming you are rock-solid on your travel timing. Just scanning the fares, I see everything from 44 euros to 125 euros per person. You'll need to buy early to get the tickets for 44 euros or close to that, and they'll be non-changeable and non-refundable. It's possible that the fare could go higher than 125 euros.

The train will be much simpler than taking a plane. You'd have to fly to Marseille then get a train from there.

Definitely take the train. When I took the train from Barcelona to France in 2011 I think we had to change trains at the border, but maybe that has changed. That train station was small and easy to change trains there. Train travel is so much easier than air travel. It helps to travel light, avoiding large heavy suitcases.

A lot has changed on that route since 2011. You don't have to change trains at the border, since track improvements and international agreements were completed. Total travel time is faster. French TGVs (also may be branded as Spanish AVE) run directly from Barcelona twice per day to Paris (stops include Nimes), once to Lyon (stops include Nimes), and once to Marseille (stops include Nimes, Aix TGV and Avignon TGV stations).