Hello!
I'm looking for itinerary suggestions for a 7-9 day trip to southern France and/or northern Spain. The challenge in planning is a 2-3 day obligation in Lyon that would fall in the middle of the trip. I would love to visit Barcelona, but not sure that is realistic. Any ideas for itinerary that would make the Barcelona stop feasible? Or given the time crunch, just Paris and Lyon? Where would you focus your energies?
Many thanks!
Three major cities in a little over a week will be a test of endurance rather than an enjoyment. It is physically possible, especially if you arrange a multi-city plane ticket (fly in to Paris and out of Barcelona, or vice versa.) There is a mid-afternoon, five-hour direct train leaving Lyon for Barcelona each afternoon; other trains require a change. http://en.voyages-sncf.com/en/
easyJet flies non-stop twice a day between the two cities at quite low prices. It takes 1 hr/20, but add on all the time travelling to airports, check-in, luggage retrieval etc. and the time span becomes comparable. http://www.easyjet.com/en/
For both trains and planes, book as far ahead as possible for lowest prices.
This fall I flew into Nice, stayed near there for 6 nights in Villefranche sur Mer, then flew to BCN on Veuling, one of the cheap airlines where I had few days before joining a tour of Spain (the RS Best of Spain). When I landed in BCN, I took the train to Girona, where I spent one night seeing the sights. I could have spent 2 nights there as it was a marvellous little town with so much history.
I spent 5 night in BCN before the tour began. 2 days I took Viator tours. One was to Montserrat and a Cava winery and another to Tarragona and Sitges. Both day trips were great. Tarragona has many Roman sites; the tour took us to an Aqueduct outside the city which was absolutely lovely. It would have been difficult to get to on my own.
In BCN, many sites require advance tickets, easy to purchase online. Park Guell and touring the Palau Musica were 2 of them. One of the smaller Gaudi sites I walked into and waited only a few minutes in line but I passed another house which had a long line up. Sagrada Familia was included in my tour but I am certain advance tickets would be required; it was VERY busy. It was absolutely outstanding.
I think 2 places would be best for a holiday of that time frame, perhaps taking day trips if you are able. Moving from one place to another is time consuming and tiring; it always seems to take more time than expected. I took a trip to Italy and travelled on my own to Venice, Florence and Rome; the travel between cities days took a lot of time much more than I thought.
Enjoy your trip.
Just to get a better idea, which airports are you using? If I had not yet purchased tix, I would fly into Barcelona, take train to Lyon and then train to Marseille, departing from either Marseille or Barcelona. Don't put Marseille out of the running for a visit, interesting, gritty city. Easy day trips to Aix and Avignon or Nice. Anthony Bourdain recently picked Marseille as his most underrated destination. ✈️🚄
I'd consider going south from Lyon to enjoy Provence (consider Mayle trail locations and Avignon), then fly from Nice to Barcelona. I
Fly to Nice (for Cote d'Azur), or Marseille (for Provence), or Barcelona, spending your first 3 nights.
TGV to Lyon for your middle 3 nights.
TGV to Paris for your final 3 nights.
Wook82,
I find it easier to think in terms of nights instead of days.
So will you have 8 nights (7 days) or 10N (9 days)?
Is your obligation in Lyon part of the 7 - 9 day trip? If so, I'd spend my time in France.
If you have 10 nights, you could fly into Paris(4N) then travel to Lyon(2-3N) then south to Provence(3-4N) or vice- versa.
If you have 7 days, then I'd just visit Paris & Lyon.
I would definitely save Barcelona for another trip.
