Self-Launched Paris to Madrid: France, Andorra & Spain in 10 Days

Arrive in Paris and get settled into your hostel or budget hotel in a central arrondissement. The Metro is your best friend here — a carnet of 10 tickets costs around £15 and covers the whole city. Spend the afternoon wandering the Marais district or strolling along the Seine to shake off jet lag. In the evening, consider a self-guided walk past Notre-Dame, Île de la Cité and the illuminated bridges — entirely free. If you want to push the boat out, book an optional Paris by Night panoramic tour via GetYourGuide for around £30.

🚌Arrive by international flight into CDG or Orly; take the RER B train to central Paris (~£11)

🛏Generator Paris (dorm ~£30/night) or budget en-suite hotel such as ibis Paris Gare de Lyon (~£70/night)

• →Arrive and check in to budget hostel/hotel (e.g. Generator Paris or St Christopher's Inn)
• →Pick up a 10-trip Metro carnet (~£15) from any Metro station
• →Free evening stroll along the Seine and past Notre-Dame
• →Optional: Paris by Night panoramic tour via GetYourGuide (~£30)

A full day to explore Paris properly. Take the RER C from central Paris to Versailles (£7 return) and buy your Palace of Versailles ticket online in advance (£20) to skip the queues. Head back to the city in the afternoon and climb the hill to Montmartre, visiting the Sacré-Cœur basilica for free and soaking up the artistic neighbourhood. In the evening, explore the lively Place du Tertre and neighbourhood bars.

🚌Metro and RER C — covered by existing carnet

🛏Generator Paris or ibis Paris Gare de Lyon (same as Day 1)

• →RER C train to Versailles (~£7 return)
• →Palace of Versailles self-guided visit — book tickets online in advance (~£20)
• →Free visit to Sacré-Cœur basilica in Montmartre
• →Wander the artists' square at Place du Tertre
• →Optional: Moulin Rouge area evening stroll (show tickets available separately from ~£120 if desired)

Start the morning at the Eiffel Tower — book your ticket online well in advance for the second-floor lift access (~£20). Follow up with a Bateaux-Mouches or Vedettes du Pont Neuf Seine cruise (~£15, bookable on GetYourGuide or direct). After lunch, collect your bags and jump on a TGV or Intercités train from Paris Montparnasse to Tours (~£25–£40 booked in advance via SNCF Connect). Tours is the gateway to the Loire Valley châteaux.

🚌Paris Metro to Montparnasse station; SNCF train to Tours (~1hr 15min, ~£25–£40 booked ahead on sncf-connect.com)

🛏Hôtel de l'Univers Tours or budget equivalent (~£60–£75/night); alternatively Auberge de Jeunesse Tours for a dorm (~£25)

• →Eiffel Tower second-floor lift access — pre-book online (~£20)
• →1-hour Seine river cruise via Bateaux-Mouches or Vedettes du Pont Neuf (~£15)
• →Free afternoon walk around Trocadéro and Champ de Mars
• →TGV/Intercités train Paris Montparnasse → Tours (~£25–£40)

An ambitious travel day covering the length of western France, much as the group tour does by coach. Take the early train from Tours to Bordeaux Saint-Jean (~£30–£50, ~2hrs on SNCF). Spend 2–3 hours exploring Bordeaux on foot: stroll the Place de la Bourse, admire the Port of the Moon UNESCO waterfront, and pop into the Cathedral of Saint Andrew — all free. Then board a direct train or bus from Bordeaux to Lourdes (~£20–£35, ~2hrs). Check in and, if visiting between late March and October, join the free nightly candlelight procession at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes.

🚌SNCF trains Tours–Bordeaux and Bordeaux–Lourdes; book via sncf-connect.com or Trainline

🛏Hôtel Alba Lourdes or Hôtel Padoue (~£55–£70/night); budget option: Auberge de Jeunesse Lourdes (~£20 dorm)

• →Morning SNCF train Tours → Bordeaux (~2hrs, ~£30–£50)
• →Free walk around Bordeaux: Place de la Bourse, Port of the Moon, Cathedral of Saint Andrew
• →Afternoon SNCF train/FlixBus Bordeaux → Lourdes (~2hrs, ~£20–£35)
• →Free candlelight procession at the Lourdes Sanctuary (late March–end October)
• →Visit the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception — free entry

This is the most transport-intensive day of the trip but hugely rewarding. Take an early bus or train from Lourdes to Carcassonne (~£20–£30 via SNCF/FlixBus, ~2hrs). Walk the free outer ramparts of the medieval cité — entry to the inner castle costs ~£10. Grab lunch in Carcassonne, then take a regional bus or taxi-share toward Foix (~1hr, £10–£15) to see the striking Château de Foix (entry ~£8). From Foix, pre-arrange a shared shuttle or take a bus via Ax-les-Thermes toward Andorra la Vella (FlixBus or Flixbus-connected coach, ~£15–£20). Andorra is a duty-free principality — many travellers stock up on cheaper goods here. Stop at the Romanesque Sant Joan de Caselles church on the way in (free).

🚌Combination of SNCF regional trains, FlixBus and local bus/shared taxi — book SNCF legs on sncf-connect.com; Andorra coach via autocars.ad or Flixbus

🛏Hotel Panorama Andorra or budget equivalent (~£55–£75/night)

• →SNCF train or FlixBus Lourdes → Carcassonne (~2hrs, ~£20–£30)
• →Walk the medieval walls of Carcassonne (outer ramparts free; inner castle/Château Comtal ~£10)
• →Lunch in Carcassonne — budget crêperie or brasserie (~£12)
• →Regional bus or taxi Carcassonne → Foix (~1hr, ~£10–£15)
• →Visit Château de Foix (~£8 entry)
• →Coach or shared shuttle Foix → Andorra la Vella (~1.5hrs, ~£15–£20)
• →Free visit to Sant Joan de Caselles Romanesque church
• →Evening stroll along Andorra la Vella's duty-free commercial street

Take the morning Andbus or Alsa coach from Andorra la Vella to Barcelona (~£15–£20, ~3.5hrs). Ask the driver to drop at Manresa or change at Barcelona Nord bus station, then take the FGC train from Plaça Espanya to Montserrat (~£10 return including the rack railway/cremallera). Explore the stunning mountain sanctuary and the Basilica of Santa Maria de Montserrat — free entry to the basilica; museum costs ~£8 if you wish to visit. Be sure to watch the boys' choir perform (free, times posted at the sanctuary). Arrive in Barcelona by late afternoon, check in, and take a first walk along La Rambla.

🚌Alsa/Andbus coach to Barcelona; FGC commuter train + rack railway to Montserrat; Barcelona Metro from Sants/Nord to accommodation

🛏Generator Barcelona (dorm ~£30) or budget hotel such as ibis Barcelona Centre (~£70–£85/night)

• →Alsa/Andbus coach Andorra la Vella → Barcelona or Manresa (~3.5hrs, ~£15–£20)
• →FGC train + Aeri cable car or Cremallera rack railway to Montserrat from Plaça Espanya (~£10 return combo ticket)
• →Free entry to Basilica of Santa Maria de Montserrat
• →Watch the Escolania boys' choir (free — check timetable at abadiamontserrat.cat)
• →Arrive Barcelona and check in; evening walk along La Rambla

A full day in Barcelona — one of Europe's most exhilarating cities. Take a self-launched panoramic walk covering the main sights: Park Güell (free outer areas; ticketed terrace ~£8, book at parkguell.barcelona), Passeig de Gràcia with Gaudí's Casa Batlló and La Pedrera exteriors (free), the Gothic Quarter and Barcelona Cathedral (free). Head down to the waterfront at Barceloneta beach and the Maremagnum complex near Columbus Square. Book a Sagrada Família visit independently via sagradafamilia.org (~£26 basic entry; towers ~£36) — pre-booking is essential. The city is very walkable and the Metro is cheap (~£1.60/ride).

🚌Barcelona Metro T-Casual 10-trip card (~£11); mostly walkable city centre

🛏Generator Barcelona or ibis Barcelona Centre (same as Day 6)

• →Self-launched walking tour: Passeig de Gràcia, Casa Batlló & La Pedrera exteriors (free)
• →Park Güell outer areas (free) or ticketed monumental zone (~£8) — book ahead
• →Gothic Quarter and Barcelona Cathedral (free)
• →Sagrada Família — book independently online (~£26–£36) at sagradafamilia.org
• →Barceloneta beach and Maremagnum waterfront (free)
• →Columbus Square and Monument a Colom viewpoint (~£7)

Another big travel day — just like the group tour covers on its coach. Take an early Renfe regional or Alsa bus from Barcelona to Peniscola (~3hrs, ~£15–£25). Wander the stunning walled old town and castle (entry ~£5) jutting out into the Mediterranean. Drive or bus onward to Valencia (~1hr by bus, ~£8) and sample authentic paella at a local restaurant near the Central Market (~£12–£15). Walk or take a city bike to the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences (exterior free; entry to one pavilion ~£12 on Klook). Take the late Renfe AVE or Alsa overnight bus from Valencia to Madrid (~£20–£40). Check in to your Madrid accommodation late evening.

🚌Alsa bus Barcelona–Peniscola (~£15–£25); local bus Peniscola–Valencia (~£8); Renfe AVE or Alsa bus Valencia–Madrid (~£20–£40)

🛏Room007 Ventura Madrid (dorm ~£25) or budget hotel such as ibis Madrid Alcalá (~£65–£80/night)

• →Alsa bus or Renfe train Barcelona → Peniscola (~3hrs, ~£15–£25)
• →Explore Peniscola walled town; Peñíscola Castle entry (~£5)
• →Alsa bus Peniscola → Valencia (~1hr, ~£8)
• →Lunch: authentic paella in Valencia near Mercado Central (~£12–£15)
• →City of Arts and Sciences — exterior free; optional pavilion entry via Klook (~£12)
• →Renfe AVE or Alsa bus Valencia → Madrid (~2–3hrs, ~£20–£40)

A full, glorious day in the Spanish capital. Start with a morning walk along the Paseo del Prado, passing the Fuente de Neptuno and Fuente de Cibeles, before visiting the Museo del Prado (~£15, or free Mon–Sat 6–8pm & Sun 5–7pm). Stroll through Retiro Park (free) and visit the Palacio de Cristal — free entry. Head to Plaza Mayor and the surrounding tapas bars for lunch (pinchos/tapas from ~£2 each). Book the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium tour independently via realmadrid.com (~£25). End the evening on Gran Vía or with a flamenco show — book via GetYourGuide (~£25–£35).

🚌Madrid Metro — 10-trip card (~£12); city is walkable between major sights

🛏Room007 Ventura Madrid or ibis Madrid Alcalá (same as Day 8)

• →Morning walk: Paseo del Prado, Cibeles, Neptuno, Puerta de Alcalá (all free)
• →Museo del Prado (~£15, or free evening entry)
• →Retiro Park and Palacio de Cristal (free)
• →Tapas lunch at Plaza Mayor (~£10–£15)
• →Santiago Bernabéu Stadium tour — book at realmadrid.com (~£25)
• →Plaza de Colón and Columbus Monument
• →Optional: flamenco show via GetYourGuide (~£25–£35)

A leisurely final morning in Madrid. If you haven't already, browse the El Rastro flea market (Sundays only), grab a churros con chocolate at a traditional chocolatería, and pick up any last souvenirs around the Sol and Gran Vía area. Head to Madrid Barajas Airport via Metro Line 8 (~£4.50) for your onward flight. Alternatively, use the extra time to visit the Palacio Real (Royal Palace) exterior and Plaza de Oriente — both free to admire from outside; palace entry ~£12.

🚌Metro Line 8 from Nuevos Ministerios to Madrid Barajas Airport (~£4.50, ~15 min)

🛏Check out — no accommodation needed

• →Churros con chocolate at a traditional Chocolatería (~£5)
• →Optional: El Rastro flea market (Sundays only — free to browse)
• →Optional: Palacio Real exterior and Plaza de Oriente (entry ~£12 if visiting inside)
• →Final souvenir shopping around Puerta del Sol
• →Metro Line 8 to Madrid Barajas Airport (~£4.50)