Adventure Train Trip from Barcelona to Rome (2026/2027)
starting at 4.650 €

From Barcelona to Rome – A Mediterranean Journey by Trains Big and Small

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10-Day Train Adventure from Barcelona to Rome

Europe

France

Italy

Spain

15–25 people

10 days

Experience three Mediterranean countries—Spain, France, and Italy—on a carefully curated train journey. From Catalonia’s proud metropolis, Barcelona, to the Eternal City of Rome: some of the most beautiful regions of the Levant await you, nestled between the azure Mediterranean Sea and lush green pine forests. Discover the Pyrenees, Provence, and the Côte d’Azur, the Maritime Alps, and the picturesque Cinque Terre aboard small special trains whose nostalgic atmosphere will transport you back in time. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the Mediterranean lifestyle!

Stephanie Gräf

A specialist in personalized and exciting trips around the globe.

I am your contact person for questions and bookings regarding your trip.

You can reach me by phone or email:
+49 (0)201 858 90 960
welcome@inventia.de

Select consultation appointment

HIGHLIGHTS

Mediterranean Train Journey Through Three Countries: Spain, France, Italy
On the cogwheel train through the mountains of Catalonia to the Black Madonna
Exploring the Pyrenees on the Train Jaune
Ride the TER Côte Bleue across spectacular viaducts
From Nice to the Maritime Alps on the Pinecone Train
Cinque Terre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
By express train from Barcelona via Marseille, Nice, and Genoa to Rome
Park Güell, Casa Battló, and the Sagrada Familia – Gaudí’s Wonders in Barcelona
A day off in the Eternal City of Rome

route

itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Barcelona!

Your flight to the Iberian Peninsula will take you directly to the Catalan metropolis of Barcelona, where you’ll be greeted at the airport and escorted to your comfortable hotel in the city center. You’ll be staying here for the next two nights. You’ll get to know your fellow travelers during the welcome dinner. (A)

Day 2: By Train to the Black Madonna

Today you’ll leave this bustling metropolis behind and take a train about 50 km north into the magnificent mountain landscape of the Montaña de Montserrat Natural Park. You’ll be able to see the massive rock formation with its jagged peaks and pinnacles from a distance. Perched on the rugged slopes is Catalonia’s most important monastery, Montserrat, dating from the 11th century. The steep ascent on the historic cogwheel train is an unforgettable experience, and the views are spectacular. Even today, around 80 monks live in the imposing Benedictine abbey. The basilica right next door opens its doors to welcome you and introduce you to the patron saint of Catalonia: La Moreneta, the Black Madonna. In the afternoon, you’ll be back in secular Barcelona. (FM)

Day 3: The Wonderful World of Antoni Gaudí

The morning is dedicated to the surreal architecture of Antoni Gaudí, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tour begins with the magical fusion of art and nature at Park Güell. Afterward, you’ll discover Gaudí’s imaginative creations throughout Barcelona: on a sightseeing tour, let yourself be enchanted by Casa Battló, Casa Vicens, Casa de Les Punxes, and Casa Milá. The icing on the cake is Gaudí’s unfinished masterpiece, La Sagrada Família. In the afternoon, you’ll head to Barcelona’s main train station. You’ll take the express train across the border into France, traveling between the Mediterranean Sea and the foothills of the Pyrenees. You’ll spend the next two nights in Perpignan’s picturesque old town. (FM)

Day 4: Through the Pyrenees on the Yellow Train

Today’s journey takes you from Perpignan up into the mountains to Villefranche, which boasts a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the masterpieces of the military engineer Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban. Here, you’ll board the famous yellow Pyrenees train, which the French affectionately call the “Petit Train Jaune” because of its color. Others simply refer to the train as the “Pyrenees Metro” because of its design, which features a side-mounted conductor rail. On the Train Jaune, you’ll enjoy a breathtaking ride through the impressive mountain landscape and take in wonderful panoramic views. Filled with excitement from this train experience, you’ll return to Perpignan. (FMA)

Day 5: By Train Along the Côte Bleue

Today, you’ll speed through the Languedoc-Roussillon region on the express train, passing through Narbonne and Montpellier. In the small town of Miramas, you’ll board the TER Côte Bleue train, which will take you to Marseille. This train route reveals the full wild beauty of the Provençal coast, nestled between the azure-blue Mediterranean Sea and the lush green pine forests on the southern slopes of the Massif de la Nerthe. For the railway line along the Côte Bleue, 18 viaducts, two bridges, and 23 tunnels were built, all between 1907 and 1915. You’ll also travel the final leg from Marseille to Nice by train. You’ll spend the next two nights at a hotel in Nice. (B)

Day 6: On the Train des Pignes

Your day begins with a highlight: you’ll take the Train des Pignes from the Côte d’Azur up about 1,000 m into the Maritime Alps—passing through 80 tunnels, bridges, and viaducts along the way. The first trains traveled this 151-km route in 1911. Does the name “Pine Cone Train” come from the fact that the train was heated with pine cones back then? Or did the residents of Nice take this train into the mountains to collect pine cones? Malicious tongues even claim that the train crept along so slowly that passengers could pick up pine cones during the ride. Your journey ends in the mountain town of Digne-les-Bains, the “lavender capital.” In the afternoon, you’ll have some free time to stroll along Nice’s beach promenade. (F)

Day 7: Along the Ligurian Coast

In the morning, you’ll head to the Nice train station. Here, your journey begins on the express train along the Mediterranean coast to the Italian border and on to Genoa. There, you’ll change trains, as your destination for the day is the small, picturesque seaside resort of Levanto on the bay of the same name, surrounded by green mountain slopes dotted with olive and pine trees. Would you like to take a dip in the azure-blue Mediterranean? You’ll have the chance to do so this afternoon. You’ll spend the night at a hotel in Levanto. (B)

Day 8: Cinque Terre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

What better way to explore the world-famous Cinque Terre National Park on Italy’s Riviera than by train? Along a 12-kilometer stretch of coastline, a mountain range drops steeply into the sea, with five small valleys opening up toward the water. Nestled in these valleys are the five villages of Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. The ride itself is an attraction, as the train traverses the region along a spectacular tunnel route by the sea—with frequent views of the water—and stops in all five villages. The railway line has been in operation since 1874 and remains an important link between the villages and their surrounding areas to this day. After visiting the pastel-colored villages, you’ll travel to Rome in the afternoon on the Trenitalia Express train, where you’ll spend the next two nights in a comfortable hotel. (B)

Day 9: Roma Eterna

Enjoy a free day in the Eternal City, exploring the Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Spanish Steps. There are no limits to your sense of adventure—your tour guide will give you tips for exciting explorations on your own. In the evening, everyone will reunite for a farewell dinner featuring Italian specialties. Salute! Here’s to an extraordinary journey through three countries by train, both short and long! (FA)

Day 10: Ciao, Bella Italia!

Today you'll say goodbye to the country shaped like a boot. After breakfast, you'll head to the Rome airport and fly back home. (B)

Information

Included services:

Flights from Frankfurt to Barcelona and from Rome to Frankfurt in Economy Class
Train trips on modern high-speed trains in Spain, France, and Italy
Train ride on the cog railway to Montserrat Monastery
Train ride on the Petit Train Jaune from Villefranche through the Pyrenees
Take the TER Côte Bleue train from Miramas to Marseille
Train ride on the Train des Pignes from Nice to Digne-les-Bains
Train Ride Through the Cinque Terre National Park
Tours in modern, air-conditioned tour buses
Luggage transport in the support vehicle during scheduled train trips within a country
9 nights in comfortable hotels
Meals as per itinerary (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner)
German-speaking tour guide throughout the trip, from Barcelona to Rome
In addition, there are local German-speaking tour guides in some places
Admission fees as listed in the itinerary