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Barcelona to Paris Night Train - Experience and Considerations

Posted by (Colorado) on

Hi All,

Family of four (50 yo adults; 13 and 17 yo kids no mobility issues) are roughly planning to be in Barcelona 3-4 days (June 23-25/6), then Girona for 1-2 days and then onto Paris via train.

We have lodging booked for Paris starting June 28th and that date cannot be changed.

We have been planning on the fast train (during the day, kids like long car/train rides), but I was also thinking on whether the night train might be a good option to consider.

Myself and kids are good sleepers, my husband is not (course, he can't sleep well in most places, so not sure how much worse the train will be in comparison). We've never tried a night train.

I like the idea of saving on a hotel and freeing up some daylight for Girona/Figures. We could afford the 1st class 4 person berth if that is recommended, but aren't snobs, so if it's not necessary, we would choose the least expensive comfortable option.

I've reviewed the Man in Seat 61's guidance and I think the Option 2, via Cerbère (Barcelona to Paris) may work. I'd love some perspectives and inputs on this idea.

The downside, I see, is that we have plenty of days in Paris planned, not enough in Spain, so technically, we could take advantage of the daylight on the 28th in Figures (see the Dali Museum) and board the fast train to Paris in the afternoon.

Thank you in advance for your thoughts, opinions and sharing experience and knowledge!

Posted by
21140 posts

Sounds complicated. I think I would sacrifice 2 1/2 hours in Girona and take the TGV to Paris at a reasonable hour and spend the night in a comfortable hotel bed that stays in the same place all night, Then wake up refreshed and ready to take on the day, rather than groggy from a night of questionable rest, and maybe some cranky teenagers.

Posted by
7300 posts

French night trains are a bit basic; even the 1st class couchettes won't guarantee a good night's sleep. The trains are often too hot, or too cold, and there's a lot of movement. Going from Girona to Cerbère then the night train sounds like a tiresome hassle vs. the 5:30 direct TGV ride from Girona to Paris.

Posted by
7833 posts

If I was doing the sleeper then personally I would choose the :La Tour de Carol route.

It's about the same departure time from Barcelona. To me a more interesting route.

SNCF may have been forced to re-introduce domestic sleeper routes but all the impressions I have got of them is that they are pretty basic- not Night Jet or Euro Night standard. I am not impressed by only being couchettes and seats, as opposed to proper sleeper cars.

I would do it personally, travelling solo but with the children I really do wonder. and suspect the day train is the better option. The one up side is that you would book a whole couchette apartment out.

Now if RENFE would show even a vague interest in night trains and reintroduce the Paris to Barcelona and Paris to Madrid hotel trains it would be a different story.

Posted by
10621 posts

That used to be a pretty standard way we traveled in our 20s before kids while living in Paris. I always ended up with allergies and a cold. Some people want the window cracked, others don't. Someone lifts a shade and station light comes in. We'd be sharing with four strangers; I'd go for a four-person compartment. If I remember, in 2nd class you get a sheet, but it always moves so you end up sleeping on the vinyl that serves as the seat or backrest during the day. And the older trains on older rails rock, screech, brakes smell, stop in lots of stations with rail, car, and postal workers talking outside in the middle of the night. Try to avoid the end compartments over the wheels.
We did night trains Paris-Barcelona, Madrid--Cordoba,
Paris-Marseille, and Paris-Vienna several times.

Posted by
2492 posts

Those French sleepers are alibi sleepers. They exist so SNCF can tell the politicians in Paris that they are running night trains.

They are basic, old and I would not advise you to use them. Just take the direct TGV. My experience with night trains is that the time saved is not that great. You often end up just having a nap as soon as you can get your hotel room...

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