We will be spending 3 weeks visiting friends just south of Parma. Then we have only 12 days by public transport to reach Barcelona airport (not to visit Barcelona itself). Any suggestions on what and where to see on the way? The only place we've seen in southern France is Avignon. We're two fit retirees. We'll be travelling early September.
Posted by
France Southwest - Occitanie
3574 posts
From Parma to Barcelona, there are too many places to stay to list them all. Especially since by train you'll have at least three connections, the first in Milan, and then several possible combinations of connecting stations in France.
So you first need to determine which train route you can/want to take.
Then, whatever the route, there will be a great diversity of atmospheres and landscapes throughout southern France, from the Italian border to the Spanish border. It goes from the Lyon region in the east, then along the French Riviera, then Marseille, France's second-largest city, then Montpellier and the Camargue, ending near Perpignan, Collioure, and the Pyrenees Mountains.
Perpignan being the last major city further west from where you can take a direct train to Barcelona
Posted by
Irving
3547 posts
How many nights is twelve days?
From Parma, take a direct train to the Milano Rogoredo station (1h 45m) and sleep near the Milano Centrale station for three nights. After your second night in Milan, take a day trip to the Varenna-Esino station (Lake Como) and hop on a ferry to Bellagio. Afterwards, go back to Varenna and walk along its path before going back to the Milano Centrale station.
From the Milano Centrale station go to the Nice-Ville station and sleep in Nice for six nights. Fly nonstop from Nice to Barcelona.