I will have a five hour layover in Barcelona prior to taking a train up to Collioure, France. I’ve done this before & would like to know if there are some better alternatives. After a long flight, I’m looking for a place to relax & not worry about my bags. I’ve thought about spending more time at the airport prior to the train down to Sants, but the options seem to be fairly limited there as well.
Thanks, Rick
Posted by
Lake District, England
12395 posts
As on the other thread I don't know why you have a 5 hour wait at Barcelona, or indeed why you are routing via Perpignan, which is further north.
There is a local stopping train to Cerbere with TER connections onwards every 2 hours. Because it is a local Cercanias commuter train like all such local Cercanias trains in Spain they just doesn't appear on the main RENFE website/app, but on the Cercanias site.
Tickets can't be purchased ahead, you just turn up to the station and buy.
The Cercanias site is not the easiest to negotiate, but DB (German Railways) should give you all your options.
Posted by
Citizen of the World
4006 posts
Five hours at either Barcelona’s airport or at the Sants train station wouldn’t be my first or second choice.
Instead, you could take the train from the airport five minutes further to the next stop after the Sants train station—
the Passeig de Gracia train station. Passeig de Gracia avenue at street level is where you’ll see the historic mansions that Gaudi and others designed. The mix of architectural styles can be seen here at the “Block of Discord,” along with Barcelona’s top shopping district.
The sidewalk cafes here will be much more interesting on the Passeig de Gracia than what you’ll find at the airport.
You can store your luggage at locations available through the usual luggage storage operators such as Bounce, Stasher, and Radical Storage.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
13835 posts
Rather than sitting somewhere for 5 hours to take a train, have you looked at a bus that doesn't require such a long wait?