Barcelona to Florence: Provence & the Italian Riviera (Self-Launched)
12 days · Spain, France & Italy (Barcelona to Florence)
Explore! charges £2,250
No-markup version: ~£1,435 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched rail-and-hostel version of Explore!'s 12-day Barcelona–Provence–Italian Riviera group tour. You'll hit every stop on the original route — Barcelona, Carcassonne, Avignon, Nice, La Spezia, Cinque Terre, Pisa and Florence — using regional TER/SNCF trains, Spanish Renfe and Italian Trenitalia services instead of a private coach, staying in well-rated hostels and budget guesthouses instead of 3-star tour hotels, and booking walking tours, wine tastings and museum entries yourself via GetYourGuide, Klook or direct. Same experiences, no group markup — and the freedom to linger in the places you love. Costs are rough backpacker/budget-traveller estimates for one person sharing a dorm or budget double, excluding flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Barcelona
Barcelona, Spain
Fly into Barcelona El Prat (BCN) and take the Aerobús or R2 Nord Rodalies train into the city centre (~£5). Check into a hostel in the Eixample or El Born area, then spend the evening getting your bearings: a wander down La Rambla, a first look at the Gothic Quarter's lanes, and an early-ish dinner of tapas and vermouth. Pick up a T-casual 10-ride metro ticket (~£10) for the next two days.
🚌Aerobús or Rodalies R2 from BCN to city centre (~£5); T-casual metro card (~£10)
🛏Hostel dorm or private room in Eixample/El Born (e.g. Hostel One, Generator Barcelona or similar) — ~£22-28/night
- →Evening stroll down La Rambla
- →Tapas and vermouth in the Gothic Quarter
Barcelona old city & Gaudí
Barcelona, Spain
DIY the orientation walk the tour leader would have done: start at Barcelona Cathedral and the Roman walls, wander through the Gothic Quarter to Plaça del Rei, then cross to La Boqueria market for a cheap fruit-and-jambón lunch. In the afternoon head up Montjuïc (funicular + cable car, ~£10) for Plaça d'Espanya views, or book a GetYourGuide Sagrada Família + Park Güell combo ticket in advance (~£40-45) if Gaudí is your thing. Book timed entries online — they sell out.
🚌Metro/funicular on your T-casual card
🛏Same Barcelona hostel
- →Self-guided Gothic Quarter & cathedral walk
- →La Boqueria market
- →Montjuïc Park and Plaça d'Espanya
- →Optional: Sagrada Família & Park Güell (pre-booked)
Train to Carcassonne
Carcassonne, France
Take a morning Renfe/SNCF train from Barcelona Sants to Carcassonne — usually a direct AVE or a change at Narbonne, roughly 3-3.5 hours, ~£35-45 if booked 1-2 months ahead. Drop your bag at a guesthouse inside or just below the medieval cité, then spend the afternoon exploring the fortress on foot for free (the streets are open; you only pay to enter Château Comtal, ~£10). Walk the Porte Narbonnaise, the ramparts and the Basilique St-Nazaire, and stay for dinner in the citadel — cassoulet is obligatory.
🚌Renfe/SNCF train Barcelona Sants → Carcassonne (~3.5h, ~£35-45)
🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel near the Cité (e.g. a chambre d'hôtes on Rue Trivalle) — ~£30-35/night
- →Explore Carcassonne Cité on foot (free)
- →Porte Narbonnaise and ramparts walk
- →Château Comtal & Basilique St-Nazaire (optional, ~£10)
- →Cassoulet dinner in the citadel
Languedoc vineyards & the Camargue to Avignon
Avignon, France
Do the wine-and-Camargue day independently: catch an early TER train to Narbonne or Béziers and book a small-group Languedoc vineyard tasting through GetYourGuide or a local domaine direct (~£35-45 including tastings). Alternatively rent a bike and ride the Canal du Midi vineyards. In the afternoon, take a TER train toward Nîmes/Montpellier and hop off at Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer by local bus (~£3) for a walk on the salt marshes and a look at the Camargue's white horses — or simply continue to Avignon, drop bags, and do the Camargue as a half-day bus tour from Avignon (~£40). Evening train into Avignon TGV station, then shuttle into the walled centre.
🚌TER trains Narbonne → Nîmes → Avignon (~2.5h total, ~£25-30) plus local bus to Saintes-Maries (~£3)
🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse inside the Avignon ramparts — ~£35/night
- →Languedoc vineyard tasting (self-booked)
- →Camargue Natural Park and Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer
- →Evening walk inside Avignon's walls
Avignon: Palais des Papes & Pont d'Avignon
Avignon, France
A full day on foot in Avignon. Book the combined Palais des Papes + Pont Saint-Bénézet ticket online (~£15), then wander the medieval lanes, the Rocher des Doms gardens and Avignon Cathedral. In the afternoon, take the short TER train to Arles (~£8, 20 mins) and follow the Van Gogh trail — the Espace Van Gogh, the Roman amphitheatre and the yellow café on Place du Forum. Trains back to Avignon run late.
🚌TER Avignon ↔ Arles (~20 mins each way, ~£8 return)
🛏Same Avignon guesthouse
- →Palais des Papes & Pont d'Avignon combo ticket (~£15)
- →Avignon Cathedral and Rocher des Doms
- →Optional: Van Gogh trail in Arles
Train to Nice & Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Nice, France
Take a morning TGV or Intercités from Avignon to Nice (via Marseille, ~3.5-4h, ~£30-45 if booked early). Check into a hostel near the Promenade or the old town, then take local bus 15 or 81 out to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat (~£2) and walk the 2km coastal path around the peninsula — the tour's signature walk, entirely free. Swim off the rocks at Paloma Beach on the way back, and eat socca and pissaladière in Vieux Nice for dinner.
🚌TGV/Intercités Avignon → Nice (~4h, ~£30-45); local bus to Cap-Ferrat (~£2)
🛏Hostel dorm in Nice old town or near Gare Thiers — ~£28-35/night
- →Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat coastal walk
- →Swim at Paloma Beach
- →Socca and street food in Vieux Nice
Nice & Monaco day trip
Nice / Monaco
Ride the coastal TER train to Monaco (~£4, 25 mins) and DIY the principality: the Prince's Palace changing of the guard (free, 11:55), a walk round part of the Grand Prix circuit, and the Musée océanographique (~£16, or skip and just enjoy the harbour). Back in Nice in the afternoon, visit the Musée Matisse (~£8) or the Chagall museum (~£8), then climb to the Colline du Château for sunset. Lunch on a proper Niçoise salad somewhere in the old town (~£12).
🚌TER Nice ↔ Monaco (~25 mins, ~£4 each way); Nice tram/bus day pass (~£5)
🛏Same Nice hostel
- →Monaco: Prince's Palace, Grand Prix circuit, harbour
- →Musée Matisse or Musée Chagall (~£8)
- →Colline du Château sunset viewpoint
- →Niçoise salad lunch
Cross into Italy: Nice to La Spezia
La Spezia, Italy
Today is a travel day — the Italian Riviera run. Take a Trenitalia Intercity or regionale via Ventimiglia and Genoa to La Spezia (roughly 4.5-5.5h, ~£25-35; book on Trenitalia's app). Check into a guesthouse or hostel near La Spezia Centrale, then take local bus P to Portovenere (~£3) for an evening wander round the colourful harbour and a seafood dinner overlooking the water. Buy a Cinque Terre Card Treno MS (2-day, ~£25) tonight so tomorrow's trains and trail access are sorted.
🚌Trenitalia Intercity/Regionale Nice → Ventimiglia → Genoa → La Spezia (~5h, ~£25-35); local bus to Portovenere (~£3)
🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel near La Spezia Centrale — ~£30/night
- →Portovenere harbour walk
- →Seafood dinner by the marina
- →Buy Cinque Terre Card for tomorrow
Cinque Terre: Vernazza to Monterosso coastal walk
Cinque Terre, Italy
The big day. Take the early regional train to Vernazza (included on the Cinque Terre Card) before the crowds — the tour guide's trick, and it works. Walk the 4km Sentiero Azzurro from Vernazza to Monterosso (~2h, moderate with steps and sea views), then swim at Monterosso's beach and explore its medieval lanes and castle ruins. In the afternoon take the boat between villages (or the train if the sea's rough) down to Riomaggiore for another swim and a sunset aperitivo, then train back to La Spezia. Check trail status before you set off — sections close after heavy rain.
🚌Cinque Terre Card Treno MS 2-day (~£25) covers village trains + trail access; optional boat hop ~£8
🛏Same La Spezia guesthouse
- →Vernazza village and marina
- →Sentiero Azzurro walk Vernazza → Monterosso
- →Swim at Monterosso and Riomaggiore
- →Boat hop between villages (optional)
Pisa and on to Florence
Pisa / Florence, Italy
Train from La Spezia to Pisa Centrale (~1h, ~£8), leave your bag in station lockers (~£5), and walk the 2km to the Campo dei Miracoli for the Leaning Tower and cathedral (climbing the tower needs a timed ticket, ~£20, booked ahead at opapisa.it). Then a regional train on to Florence Santa Maria Novella (~1h, ~£9). Check into a hostel in Santa Croce or San Lorenzo, and in the evening join a GetYourGuide Florence food tour through the Oltrarno/Santo Spirito area (~£45) — salami, cheese, wine and schiacciata tastings.
🚌Regionale La Spezia → Pisa (~1h, ~£8); lockers ~£5; Regionale Pisa → Florence (~1h, ~£9)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget B&B in Santa Croce/San Lorenzo — ~£30-35/night
- →Campo dei Miracoli and Leaning Tower (optional climb ~£20)
- →Evening food tour of the Oltrarno (~£45)
Florence: Duomo, Ponte Vecchio & the Uffizi
Florence, Italy
Walk the classic centre on your own: Piazza del Duomo, the baptistery doors, Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria and a coffee standing at the bar in a traditional café (~£1.50). Book the Uffizi Gallery timed entry in advance at uffizi.it (~£22 including booking fee — walk-ups barely exist in season). Late afternoon, climb to Piazzale Michelangelo for the best view in Florence, then dinner in the Santo Spirito square. Optional: a half-day train to Lucca (~£8, 1h20) if you want renaissance walls and cobblestones.
🚌On foot — everything central is walkable; optional train to Lucca (~£8)
🛏Same Florence hostel
- →Duomo, Giotto's bell tower and Ponte Vecchio
- →Uffizi Gallery (pre-booked ~£22)
- →Piazzale Michelangelo viewpoint
- →Santo Spirito dinner
Depart from Florence
Florence, Italy
Last morning for a market breakfast at Mercato Centrale, then out. Florence Peretola (FLR) is a 20-minute tram ride from Santa Maria Novella (~£1.50); for Pisa Galileo Galilei (PSA) take the people-mover monorail from Pisa Centrale (~£5) after a ~1h regional train from Florence (~£9). If you have time, a final slow morning in the Boboli Gardens or a last gelato before you go.
🚌Florence tram to FLR (~£1.50) or train to Pisa + Pisa Mover to PSA (~£14)
🛏None — departure day
- →Mercato Centrale breakfast
- →Optional Boboli Gardens
Self-launched vs. Explore!
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Explore! | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,435 | £2,250 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £815 per person (36%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Explore!-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,435
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 Barcelona to Florence: Provence & the Italian Riviera (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,435 per person for 12 days in Spain, France & Italy (Barcelona to Florence). 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 Explore!?+
Yes — Explore! charges around £2,250 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,435 — a saving of roughly £815 (36%) per person.
How long is the Spain, France & Italy (Barcelona to Florence) trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 day-by-day stops through Spain, France & Italy (Barcelona to Florence).
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 culture, foodie, budget trip through Spain, France & Italy (Barcelona to Florence), 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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