It is never too late to try things

Interrailing has definitely been a younger generation’s way to travel around Europe. It is easy, relatively cheap and a great way to explore the continent. TV shows like “Race Across the World” actually prove that there is a train available to nearly anywhere and the fares and comfort can vary across the continents.

As we missed out on interrailing in our youth, we decided to see what is like travelling by train across the border so we booked our first train trip from Paris to Barcelona.

But first… 24hrs in Paris

The flight from Manchester to Paris Charles de Gaulle is a short one and getting to centre of Paris is pretty straightforward. The easiest way is to use the RER train which runs every 15 min and stops at every key stations for metro or outbound travel (Garde de Norde or Chatelet-Les Halle).

We got off at Chatelet-les- Halle and decided to walk along the Seine to our hotel near Garde de Lyon station where we would be boarding our Barcelona bound train.

Of course, we had to grab what can described a quintessential French lunch consisting of a fresh baguette, vanilla flan and éclair and we sat on one of many benches along the Seine enjoying a great view of the Eiffel Tower.

On our route to the hotel, we made a detour to see the Notre Dame cathedral which is still being rebuilt after the fire in 2019. The spectacular gothic front of the cathedral can be admired from a raised viewing platform where you can take your time to examine every intricate detail of this masterpiece.

The Best View of Paris

With only a few hours left  to explore Paris, one of the best ways to take in the beauty of the city is to get to Montmartre and watch the sunset on the hill in front of the Sacre Coeur cathedral.

The metro in Paris is easy to navigate and the stop for Montmartre is well signposted. Once we got off at Anvers stop, it was another 10-12 min to walk up to the hill where you can either take the stairs to the top (prepare for a good leg workout though) or get to the top by a funicular.

In the summer, the hill outside the cathedral tends to get quite crowded before the sunset but it is well worth it as the views over Paris are simply breath taking.

We walked back to the metro station past the hustle and bustle and the flashing lights of the night club district. The most distinctive landmark here is Moulin Rouge with its famous windmill which was still missing when we were there.

Montmartre must be one of my favourite places to visit whilst in Paris. It is has an atmosphere, quaint streets and an artistic past.

We are off to Barcelona

After a few hours of breathing in, eating and drinking the French culture we had an early start to catch the train from Gare de Lyon to Barcelona.

The station itself is a work of art. Dating back to the 19th century, it features an impressive clock tower and le Train Bleu restaurant which has been given a Parisian national heritage status. The station operates trains going to the south of France and also to the other European countries like Switzerland, Italy and Spain.

We were travelling first class on the TGV which is France’s high speed rail. The whole boarding experience was really easy. The TGV trains on this route are double deckers so we decided to sit upstairs for better views. The seats in the first class are wider and quite comfy which was ideal for a 6 hour journey ahead.

There is a food carriage where you can get drinks and food but unlike the first class trains in the UK the food here is not complimentary.

The train travels with a speed up to 300 km/h and the change of the landscape from the north to the south of France is a noticeable one. From the undulating countryside with villages and farms nesting in small valleys, past rivers, vineyards to the snow capped peaks of the Pyrenees. The last stretch of the journey is along numerous lakes where, speed permitting, you can spot pink flamingos in the shallow waters.

The train journey passed reasonably quickly and soon we reached the bustling Barcelona Sants station.

The Journey Stops in Tarragona

We did not stop in Barcelona but travelled another hour along the coast to Tarragona which is an a very pretty and quite relaxed coastal town. The old town here has an impressive cathedral and the narrow quaint streets are lined with pretty colourful houses.

Tarragona is a good place to stay whilst exploring Costa Brava. It is not far from a pretty town of Sitges to the east and only one train stop away from the seaside resort of Salou and Portaventura which is the biggest theme park in Spain.

Pros and Cons of Travelling by Train

It was a great way to see the changing landscape of the country and travelling in first class was a bonus. Of course, it took longer to reach our destination but it was a more scenic and more memorable route. There are so many options out there for travelling by train across Europe and we only just dipped our toes. Where to next?