Paris and Barcelona are some of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, and yet most people would immediately think about getting a flight to travel between them. However, not many people know you can travel from Barcelona to Paris by high-speed train in just a matter of hours.
Thanks to a cooperation agreement between the formerly state-owned rail companies in France and Spain, SNCF and Renfe, you can now travel between Spain and France using their high-speed trains and from as little as 39 euros for a Barcelona to Paris ticket, which helps cover the 831 km between both cities.
Depending on the level of flexibility you need, you can opt for an “Essential” fare, which is mainly used by travellers who do not think they will need to modify their trip, as they can cancel their ticket and still get 50 % of their fare back. You could also go for a “Flexi” fare, which is slightly more expensive, but offers full flexibility until 24 hours before the departure of the train service you booked. Even if you needed to cancel your trip within the 24 hours prior to the departure of your train, you could do so by only paying 10 % in booking management fees.
Train times
The train journey between Barcelona and Paris takes around 6 hours and 36 minutes and there is usually a direct train per day, with some others which require a change or more along the way. The first train departs at 08:15 from Barcelona Sants station and arrives at Paris Gare de Lyon at 15:13, however that train requires a change. The direct train of the day leaves Barcelona at 09:10 and arrives in Paris at 15:46, so you could almost have breakfast in Barcelona and a late lunch in Paris! The last service departing from Barcelona is at 16:36, as it takes over 7 hours with a change of trains.
What can you do in Paris?
Once in Paris, you can explore the city and its many tourist highlights, for instance, the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs-Élysées, the Opera Garnier, Montmartre and the Sacre Coeur. Apart from that, there are many gardens and parks you can visit in the city, such as the Jardin de Luxembourg or the Jardin des Tuileries. If you fancy taking a short trip outside of Paris, you can also jump on the RER train and visit Versailles, with its unique palace and its magnificent gardens.
In terms of food, not much needs to be said, as Paris is one of the capitals of gastronomy in the world. Do not leave the city without trying its amazing bakeries, its croissants, pains au chocolat, its onion soup or many other delicacies.
As you can see, travelling from Barcelona to Paris can be very easy, cheap and quick using the trains offered by the Renfe and SNCF cooperation brand. The price is around 39 euros, so do your research and enjoy your trip soon!
