We are taking the train from Bilbao to Genoa this fall and would like to break up the long train ride somewhere along the way in France. What city or town along that route would make a nice break from the train ride? Probably just a day or two.
Posted by
Washington DC
27206 posts
There's more than one possible route. I assume you know you're looking at over 24 hours on trains--at least according to the Deutsche Bahn?? For me that would call for an absolute minimum of two stopovers if I for some reason couldn't fly.
Since you're planning to break the trip somewhere, you aren't tied to the two routings the DB suggests. The 6:30 AM departure sends you all the way up to Paris. On that route the obvious stopover options are Biarritz, Bordeaux, Paris or Dijon. Paris would be a good choice, because you'd have to change stations there, anyway.
The 5 PM departure doesn't travel so crazily far north. The obvious stopover possibilities there are Biarritz, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Montpellier, Marseille, Antibes or Nice, but there are several other stops along the Riviera if you'd like to take you break there but neither Antibes nor Nice appeals.
You could of course travel to Barcelona and proceed from there, which would open up other options like Collioure and Narbonne.
Posted by
OP
72 posts
Thank you for your great suggestions. We'd rather not fly and have a good amount of time.
Posted by
Washington DC
27206 posts
OK. I haven't been to all those places, but I enjoyed Toulouse, Montpellier, Dijon, Antibes and Nice. Obviously, Paris is great. Marseille was not a particular favorite of mine, though I did find things to enjoy there. Biarritz is probably too close to Bilbao to fit your needs.
The thing about the coastal cities (Marseille, Antibes, Nice, etc.) is that most people like to visit several small towns while in that area, and it doesn't sound like your break(s) will be long enough to do that. So I sort of feel like--weather aside--one or two of the other options would be better. A couple of days in Dijon would allow a side-trip to Beaune. I couple of days in Toulouse would allow a side-trip to Albi. A couple of days in Montpellier would allow a day in the craft town of Pezenas (by bus) or in Arles or Nimes (the quickest trip).
Depending on when in the fall you plan to travel, you might appreciate time on the coast. You may not have had a lot of warm, sunny days in Bilbao.
Posted by
10 posts
I'd do at least 2 stops.
Bordeaux - this is more for practical reasons, since getting from Bilbao to Arles in 1 day is tricky
Arles
(The correct Italian name of Genoa is Genova, this is how you find it on train schedules).