Spain truly does have it all when it comes to offering travellers unparalleled experiences. From gorgeous landscapes and sprawling beaches to rich history and world-famous museums and cuisine – not to mention incredible Modernisme architecture. Being a relatively small country, Spain is also easy to explore by train! Renfe will take you directly to the most popular bustling city centres and quaint, charming towns. Last year in October, one of our customers and his wife, Keith and Ruby, travelled with us from London to Barcelona and Madrid on a seven-day roundtrip train holiday.
It doesn't take long for any visitor to Barcelona or Madrid to realize that these are world-class cities. You could spend weeks exploring and never get bored. In
Barcelona, the best way to get to know the city is to do plenty of walking. For example, a stroll along the tree-lined boulevard of La Rambla (Barcelona's most famous boulevard) will introduce you to landmark buildings, such as the Gran Teatre del Liceu and the wonderful Boqueria Market. There are many quintessential things that make Barcelona unique – culture, award-winning restaurants, sandy beaches, spectacular squares, and tasting true paella – but foremost are Gaudi's many masterpieces like the Sagrada Familia.
Madrid isn't any less captivating. Outstanding museums, boutiques, cafés and gastropubs, and traditional tapas bars are the soul of the city. Visitors can immerse themselves in Madrileño culture by visiting the capital's main square, Plaza Mayor, which features over 200 balconies. The shops along Calle Preciados to the Gran Vía is the perfect way to catch a show, shop, dine, admire the domed rooftops, or simply enjoy the buzz of the city.
Aside from the major points of interest, like Retiro Park, all the little things travellers can discover while wandering through the various neighbourhoods will certainly be a highlight of any visit. Leaving from London St. Pancras International, Keith and Ruby boarded Eurostar to the Gare du Nord station in Paris. From there, they switched trains at Paris Gare de Lyon station toward Barcelona. And that's when the real journey began.
A Customer's Roundtrip Train Holiday from London to Barcelona and Madrid
Departure Date: 21 October 2018 Return Date: 29 October 2018 What was your favourite part of this train journey? While the train journeys were part of our holiday, they were superbly comfortable and stress-free. There was no hassle when finding space for our luggage. We enjoyed the relaxing buffet bar and all the great views along the way. Also, the trains that we used were very punctual!
Which destinations did you enjoy most? Why? The hotel in Barcelona was incredible, a very warm welcome upon arriving in the city. That evening we enjoyed a wonderful meal at a restaurant located just a few yards away. Following that first night, it was just Barcelona itself that we loved. It was not my first visit to the city but there's just something about this place that makes you want to return.
What did you discover about travelling by train in Spain? How completely stress-free and comfortable it is. We spent quite a few hours on trains in total and consider the experiences a great part of our holiday. They even had onboard movies!
Which train stations did you make use of? ① London St. Pancras International
② Paris Gare du Nord and Paris Gare de Lyon
③ Barcelona Sants
④ Madrid Atocha
What about the hotels? ① Balmes and Abba Sants in Barcelona
② Puerta De Toledo in Madrid
③ Grand Hotel Dore Paris in Paris
Main highlights of your holiday? In general, Barcelona, the excellent hotels, beautiful weather, and the food. The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid was certainly a highlight!
Did you go on any sightseeing tours? We used the hop-on, hop-off buses in both Barcelona and Madrid to get a quick introduction to the cities. Slowly riding past the Sagrada Familia was my personal favorite moment.
Did you share your Railbookers holiday experience with your friends and family? We did...mentioning Railbookers specifically! It wasn't just having the trains organised for us, it was the hotels as well.
What other destinations would you like to visit by train? We'd like to visit Bordeaux, Provence, Strasbourg and Germany.
Are you interested in visiting Barcelona and Madrid with Railbookers? Get in touch with one of our Rail Experts today!
