London to Barcelona: Tapas & Train Rides (Self-Launched)
13 days · London to Barcelona (via Paris, Interlaken, Cinque Terre, Rome, Nice, Monaco)
G Adventures charges £2,100
No-markup version: ~£1,225 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, hostel-based version of G Adventures' 13-day "London to Barcelona: Tapas & Train Rides" — the same rail-and-city hopscotch through Paris, the Swiss Alps, the Italian Riviera, Rome, the French Riviera and Monaco, finishing in Barcelona. You book your own trains (or an Interrail pass), stay in the same style of multi-share hostels, and pick your own optional activities along the way. Roughly a third of the group-tour price, with far more freedom.
Day-by-day
London to Paris
Paris, France
Meet no one but yourself and head to London St Pancras for the Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord (~£40-70 booked 8+ weeks ahead, 2h20m). Check into a hostel in the 9th/10th or Marais, then wander to the Canal Saint-Martin or Montmartre for a first-night bar crawl with your dorm mates. Drinks in Paris run £6-9 a pint, so pace yourself.
🚌Eurostar London St Pancras → Paris Gare du Nord, ~£40-70
🛏Multi-share hostel dorm, central Paris (e.g. Generator Paris, St Christopher's Gare du Nord) — ~£28-40/night
- →Eurostar crossing
- →Evening wander in Montmartre or Canal Saint-Martin
- →Hostel bar social night
Paris — Eiffel Tower Picnic & Icons
Paris, France
Buy a baguette, cheese and wine (under £10) and picnic on the Champ de Mars in front of the Eiffel Tower — the classic G Adventures moment, done your way. Free walking tours (tip-based, ~£5) cover Notre-Dame, the Louvre exterior and the Marais. Optional: climb the Eiffel Tower stairs (~£11) or Montparnasse Tower for the view without the queue. Metro day pass ~£8.
🚌Paris metro day pass (Navigo Easy) ~£8
🛏Multi-share hostel dorm, central Paris — ~£28-40
- →Champ de Mars picnic
- →Free tip-based walking tour
- →Optional Eiffel Tower stairs climb ~£11
- →Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur wander
Paris to Interlaken
Interlaken, Switzerland
Long but spectacular rail day: Paris Gare de Lyon to Basel (TGV ~3h), then Basel to Interlaken Ost via Bern (~2h). Book on Trainline or via an Interrail pass. Arrive in the shadow of the Jungfrau and check into a hostel such as Balmers or Backpackers Villa. Swiss prices bite — eat from supermarkets (Coop/Migros) and cook in the hostel kitchen.
🚌Paris → Basel TGV (~£45-75) + Basel → Interlaken regional (~£25-35)
🛏Hostel dorm in Interlaken (e.g. Balmers, Backpackers Villa) — ~£32-45/night
- →Scenic Alpine rail crossing
- →Lake Thun/Brienz foreshore walk
- →Supermarket picnic dinner
Interlaken — Adventure Day
Interlaken, Switzerland
Self-book your adrenaline hit directly with local operators: canyoning (~£90-110) or tandem paragliding over Lake Brienz (~£160-190) — G Adventures charges similar or more as an add-on. Cheaper alternative: hike the Harder Kulm trail (free, funicular down ~£10) or swim in Lake Thun's clear water. Pre-book adventure slots online the night before to lock in spots.
🚌Local bus/train within Interlaken ~£6
🛏Hostel dorm in Interlaken — ~£32-45
- →Canyoning (self-booked, ~£95)
- →or Harder Kulm hike (free)
- →Lake swim
- →Interlaken orientation walk
Interlaken to Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre, Italy
Rail south through the Alps into Italy: Interlaken → Spiez → Milan (or via Domodossola) → Levanto/La Spezia, roughly 6-7 hours total (~£50-70 with advance regional tickets). Settle into a guesthouse in Riomaggiore or Manarola. Evening: cheap focaccia and a bottle of local white on the harbour rocks.
🚌Interlaken → Milan → La Spezia/Levanto trains, ~£50-70
🛏Guesthouse or hostel dorm in Riomaggiore/Manarola — ~£30-45/night
- →Alpine-to-Mediterranean rail crossing
- →Evening harbour in Riomaggiore
- →Focaccia tasting
Cinque Terre Coastal Hike
Cinque Terre, Italy
Buy the Cinque Terre Card (Trekking, ~£8-16 depending on season) for trail access plus unlimited village-hopping trains. Hike the coastal paths between Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia and Manarola — G Adventures covers exactly this on foot. Swim at Monterosso's beach, then eat pesto trofie in Vernazza. Trains between villages are frequent and included in the card.
🚌Cinque Terre village trains (included in Cinque Terre Card)
🛏Guesthouse or hostel dorm in Riomaggiore/Manarola — ~£30-45
- →Coastal trail hike (Monterosso–Vernazza–Corniglia)
- →Beach swim at Monterosso
- →Cinque Terre Card ~£12
Cinque Terre to Rome
Rome, Italy
Train from La Spezia to Rome Termini (~3.5-4h, £20-35 on regional/Intercity, more on Frecciarossa). Check into a hostel near Termini or Monti. Spend the afternoon on a free tip-based walking tour covering the Pantheon, Piazza Navona and Trevi Fountain — toss a coin, it's free. Dinner: cacio e pepe and pizza al taglio, ~£12.
🚌La Spezia → Rome train ~£20-35
🛏Hostel dorm in Rome (e.g. The Yellow, Generator) — ~£28-42/night
- →Free Rome walking tour
- →Trevi Fountain & Pantheon
- →Piazza Navona evening
Rome — Ancient Icons
Rome, Italy
Book Colosseum + Roman Forum skip-the-line tickets in advance (~£16 direct via CoopCulture, or ~£25 with a GetYourGuide guide). Add the Vatican Museums/Sistine Chapel (~£17 booked direct, ~£30 guided). Free options: Bocca della Verità, Capitoline viewpoint, Trastevere wander. Metro day pass ~£6. Eat in Trastevere for cheaper, better food than near the monuments.
🚌Rome metro/bus day pass ~£6
🛏Hostel dorm in Rome — ~£28-42
- →Colosseum & Roman Forum ~£16
- →Vatican Museums ~£17
- →Trastevere evening food crawl
Rome to Nice (French Riviera)
Nice, France
Long rail day north-west along the coast: Rome → Genoa/Ventimiglia → Nice, roughly 7-8 hours (~£35-55 with advance tickets; the coastal Ligurian stretch is gorgeous). Arrive on the Riviera, check into a hostel like Villa Saint Exupéry or a Vieille Ville guesthouse. Evening stroll the Promenade des Anglais and grab a socca (chickpea pancake, ~£3).
🚌Rome → Ventimiglia → Nice regional trains, ~£35-55
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Nice — ~£30-45/night
- →Ligurian coastal rail journey
- →Promenade des Anglais sunset walk
- →Socca snack in Vieux Nice
Nice & Monte Carlo Day Trip
Nice / Monaco
Take the scenic TER train from Nice to Monaco (~£4, 25 mins, runs along the cliffs). Wander the Casino de Monte-Carlo square, the Prince's Palace and the old town — sightseeing is free, gambling optional (G Adventures offers the casino as an add-on). Back in Nice: swim at the pebbly beach and eat a cheap pissaladière. Trains run late, so no rush.
🚌Nice ↔ Monaco TER return ~£8
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Nice — ~£30-45
- →Monaco old town & palace
- →Casino de Monte-Carlo exterior
- →Riviera beach swim
Nice to Barcelona
Barcelona, Spain
Either a scenic coastal train (Nice → Marseille → Portbou → Barcelona, ~9-10h, £40-60) or a cheap flight from Nice to Barcelona (~£25-50 if booked ahead). Check into a hostel in Eixample or El Born (e.g. Casa Gracia, Sant Jordi). First night: tapas crawl down Carrer del Blai or in Gràcia — pintxos from ~£2 each.
🚌Nice → Barcelona train ~£40-60 or flight ~£25-50
🛏Hostel dorm in Barcelona — ~£25-40/night
- →Arrival in Barcelona
- →Carrer del Blai pintxos crawl
- →Gothic Quarter night walk
Barcelona — Gaudí & Gothic Quarter
Barcelona, Spain
Book La Sagrada Família (~£23 direct, £30 guided) and Park Güell (~£9) online in advance — both sell out. Wander the Gothic Quarter's maze of medieval streets and Barcelona Cathedral for free, then relax on La Barceloneta boardwalk and beach. T-casual metro card (~£10 for 10 rides) covers everything. Evening: tapas and a vermut in El Born.
🚌Barcelona T-casual metro card ~£10
🛏Hostel dorm in Barcelona — ~£25-40
- →La Sagrada Família ~£23
- →Park Güell ~£9
- →Gothic Quarter & La Barceloneta
- →Tapas & vermut evening
Barcelona — Departure
Barcelona, Spain
Final morning: Boqueria Market for breakfast, a last beach walk, or Montjuïc's free viewpoints if time allows. Head to El Prat airport or the station for onward travel. If you're staying on, consider a day trip to Montserrat (train + cable car ~£15) — a perfect solo-traveller bonus day.
🚌Aerobús/metro to Barcelona El Prat airport ~£6
🛏—
- →La Boqueria Market
- →Optional Montserrat day trip ~£15
- →Departure
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,225 | £2,100 |
| Duration | 13 days | 13 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £875 per person (42%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,225
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does London to Barcelona: Tapas & Train Rides (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,225 per person for 13 days in London to Barcelona (via Paris, Interlaken, Cinque Terre, Rome, Nice, Monaco). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £2,100 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,225 — a saving of roughly £875 (42%) per person.
How long is the London to Barcelona (via Paris, Interlaken, Cinque Terre, Rome, Nice, Monaco) trip?+
This itinerary runs 13 days, covering 13 day-by-day stops through London to Barcelona (via Paris, Interlaken, Cinque Terre, Rome, Nice, Monaco).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a city-breaks, culture, hiking trip through London to Barcelona (via Paris, Interlaken, Cinque Terre, Rome, Nice, Monaco), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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