Spain, Switzerland and Rome — Self-Launched (9 Days)

Land, take the Aerobús (€7.25, ~35 min) or Rodalies R2 train (~€4.60) from El Prat into the city — much cheaper than the operator's private transfer. Check into a hostel in the Eixample or El Born area, then do a free self-guided wander: La Rambla, the Boqueria market, the Gothic Quarter and Barcelona Cathedral. If you want guiding, a 'free' walking tour (tip €10-15) leaves from Plaça Catalunya daily at 10:00, 13:00 and 16:00. Evening: vermut and tapas at a bar in Gràcia or El Born (£12-15).

🚌Aerobús or R2 train from the airport; everything else on foot or metro (T-casual 10-ride card €12.55)

🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Eixample/El Born (e.g. Hostel One Paral·lel, Casa Gracia)

• →Self-guided Gothic Quarter and La Rambla walk
• →Boqueria market
• →Optional tip-based walking tour
• →Tapas and vermut evening

Morning: hit the Gaudí highlights you care about — Sagrada Família (book online direct at sagradafamilia.org, ~£24, timed entry essential) or Casa Batlló / Park Güell (Park Güell monumental zone ~£10). Midday Avant or AVE train from Barcelona Sants to Girona (~38 min, from £10-14 booked ahead on Renfe). Girona is small and walkable: the cathedral, the Jewish Quarter (Call), the Onyar river houses, the Arab Baths and the Game of Thrones filming spots. Eat xuixo pastry and a menú del dia (£10-12).

🚌Renfe Avant/AVE Barcelona Sants → Girona, ~£12

🛏Hostel or budget pensión in Girona old town (e.g. Bed & Breakfast Bells Oficis, Hotel Historic)

• →Sagrada Família or Park Güell (pre-booked)
• →Girona Cathedral and Call (Jewish Quarter)
• →City walls walk
• →Arab Baths

Long travel day but doable independently. Take a Renfe/SWR regional bus or train from Girona to Figueres or Portbou, cross into France, then TER to Narbonne and Montpellier (or take the direct Girona–Montpellier Flixbus, ~4.5h, from £15 — easiest option). From Montpellier, TER to Arles (~1h, £8). In Arles, see the Roman amphitheatre and theatre (combined ticket ~£10), then book Carrières des Lumières directly online (~£13-15, timed slots; the evening slot is quieter) — a stunning immersive projection show in a former quarry. Finish with dinner in Place du Forum. Then take the evening TER to Chambéry or, more practically, sleep in Arles/Orange and take the train tomorrow morning.

🚌Flixbus Girona → Montpellier (~£15), TER Montpellier → Arles (~£8)

🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Arles old town, or in Orange if cheaper (e.g. Hôtel Voltaire, Auberge de Jeunesse Arles)

• →Roman amphitheatre and theatre of Arles
• →Carrières des Lumières immersive art show (pre-book)
• →Van Gogh trail / Place du Forum
• →Optional Pont du Gard by bus from Avignon

Take the train north: TER Arles → Avignon, then TGV/TER via Lyon to Chambéry (~4-5h total, £30-45 booked ahead) or continue to Geneva (add £15-25). The operator's version squeezes this into a night in Chambéry; if your budget allows, head straight to Geneva or Lausanne for a cheaper Swiss base and extra time there. Evening in Chambéry's old town (Fontaine des Éléphants, Château) with a Savoyard dinner — tartiflette or fondue £14-18.

🚌TER Arles → Avignon, TGV/TER → Chambéry (~£35 booked ahead)

🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Chambéry (e.g. Hôtel des Princes, Auberge de Jeunesse Chambéry) or Geneva hostel (City Hostel Geneva)

• →Chambéry old town and Fontaine des Éléphants
• →Savoyard dinner
• →Optional stop in Lyon en route

Morning train to Geneva (~1h from Chambéry). The Palais des Nations has guided tours you can book direct (~CHF 15, passport required, book online) — far cheaper than the included group visit. Walk the Jardin Anglais and see the Jet d'Eau (free). Then take the train to Bulle/Gruyères via Fribourg (~2h, SBB day ticket or Supersaver ~£25) to explore the medieval village and visit Maison Cailler in Broc (book direct ~CHF 15, includes tasting). Late afternoon train to Montreux, then local train or bus to Chillon Castle (entry ~CHF 15). Note: Switzerland is the expensive leg — a Swiss Travel Pass Flex (one-day from ~£70) or a Supersaver day ticket saves money, and supermarket lunches (Coop/Migros) keep food down.

🚌SBB trains Chambéry → Geneva → Gruyères → Montreux, ~£45 with Supersaver fares

🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse near Montreux/Aigle/Leysin (e.g. Vevey Guesthouse or Alpine Classic style budget hotel)

• →Palais des Nations tour (book direct)
• →Jet d'Eau and Jardin Anglais
• →Gruyères village
• →Maison Cailler chocolate tasting
• →Chillon Castle

Early train from Montreux/Aigle to Les Diablerets (~1h), then the postbus up to Col du Pillon and the Glacier 3000 cable car (book direct online ~CHF 79-99, roughly £70-88 — the single biggest activity cost of the trip; check half-fare card savings). At the top: Peak Walk suspension bridge, Ice Cathedral and Glacier Walk. Return early afternoon, then train via Montreux/Lausanne → Bern → Zurich (~2.5h, Supersaver ~£35). Evening stroll in Zurich's old town and along the lake, with a cheap dinner at Markthalle im Viadukt or a Migros/Coop picnic.

🚌SBB regional trains and postbus + Glacier 3000 cable car (~£1.10), Zurich train ~£35

🛏Budget hostel in Zurich (e.g. Zurich Youth Hostel, City Backpacker Biber)

• →Glacier 3000 cable car
• →Peak Walk suspension bridge
• →Ice Cathedral
• →Zurich old town and lakefront walk

Train Zurich → Bellinzona (~1h40, Supersaver from ~£20). Drop bags at the station and walk up to Castelgrande and Montebello castles — the UNESCO castle ensemble ticket is ~CHF 15 and views over the Ticino valley are superb. Continue by regional train to Como (~40 min, ~£5); see the Duomo (free) and the lakeside gardens, and take the public Como–Brunate funicular (~£6) for views. Then train Como → Milano Centrale (~40 min, ~£5). Evening: self-guided walk around Piazza del Duomo and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, with aperitivo (drink + buffet ~£10-12) in Navigli.

🚌Swiss/Italian trains Zurich → Bellinzona → Como → Milan (~£32)

🛏Hostel or budget hotel near Milano Centrale/Porta Venezia (e.g. Ostello Bello Grande, Combo Milano)

• →Bellinzona castles
• →Como Duomo and lakeside
• →Brunate funicular
• →Milan Duomo and Galleria
• →Navigli aperitivo

Book a morning Frecciarossa/Italo Milan → Florence (1h45) and connect by regional train to Pisa (~1h, total ~£35-45 if booked early). Walk 20 minutes from Pisa Centrale to Piazza dei Miracoli — the tourist 'train' in the original itinerary is optional (~€5), and walking is free. The square, Baptistery and Duomo exteriors are free; leaning tower climb is ~£20 (skip if budget-conscious). Afternoon train Pisa → Rome (Frecciarossa ~2h30-3h, £30-45 booked ahead). Check into accommodation near Termini or Trastevere this time — not the far-flung suburbs the coach tour uses.

🚌Italo/Frecciarossa Milan → Pisa → Rome, ~£70 combined booked in advance

🛏Hostel or budget hotel near Termini/Monti/Trastevere (e.g. The RomeHello, Generator Rome)

• →Piazza dei Miracoli and Leaning Tower
• →Pisa Duomo and Baptistery
• →Evening walk in Monti or Trastevere

Book the Colosseum + Roman Forum + Palatine Hill combined ticket direct on the official CoopCulture site (~£18 + €2 booking fee) or via GetYourGuide with a guide (~£35-45) — do it at opening time to beat crowds. Midday: walk the Imperial Rome route yourself — Piazza Venezia, Capitoline Hill, Largo di Torre Argentina. Afternoon options: Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel pre-booked direct (€20 + €5 booking = ~£22, timed entry; the operator charges €70 for the guided version) or a tip-based Baroque Rome free walking tour (Piazza di Spagna, Trevi, Pantheon, Piazza Navona — tip ~£10). Finish with dinner in Trastevere (£12-16) and gelato. Add a night here if you want a full Vatican day.

🚌Rome metro/buses (48h ticket €12.50) plus walking

🛏Same Rome hostel/budget hotel (add a night if flying out the next day)

• →Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill (pre-booked)
• →Capitoline Hill and Piazza Venezia
• →Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel (pre-booked)
• →Baroque Rome walk or free walking tour
• →Trastevere dinner