Barcelona to Nice South France Panorama

Cross the French Mediterranean coast, connecting cities by train and renting a car for the Provence segment.

Take the high-speed train from Gaudí's city into France, passing through Collioure, Carcassonne, Montpellier, and Nîmes to Avignon, then rent a car to drive through the Luberon and Verdon Gorge to Nice. The first half by train is hassle-free, while the second half by car allows you to explore the countryside and avoids cross-border car rental drop-off fees. This two-week trip covers the main highlights but involves frequent hotel changes, making it ideal for first-time visitors with plenty of time. Marseille and Cassis are omitted.

Cross-border high-speed trains sell tickets separately for French and Spanish operators; schedules change during the mid-December timetable update.

Day by day

Day 1 · Arrive in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter

Barcelona（Gothic Quarter & La Rambla、La Boqueria Market、Barcelona Cathedral）

Travel from the airport to the city center (approx. 40 minutes), and spend the afternoon walking around the Gothic Quarter and La Rambla.

Stay: Gothic Quarter

Day 2 · A Day of Gaudí Architecture

Barcelona（Sagrada Família、Park Güell、Casa Batlló、Casa Milà (La Pedrera)）

Take the metro to and from the Sagrada Família and Eixample; take a bus or metro to Park Güell, followed by a walk.

You must book time slots online in advance for the Sagrada Família and Park Güell.

Stay: Gothic Quarter

Day 3 · High-Speed Train into France to Collioure

Perpignan & Collioure（Le Castillet、Collioure）

Take the TGV or AVE from Sants Station to Perpignan (approx. 1.5 hours), then take the TER to Collioure (approx. 30 minutes).

SNCF and Renfe sell tickets separately; check both websites.

Stay: Collioure

Day 4 · Collioure to Carcassonne

Perpignan & Collioure（Château Royal de Collioure、Notre-Dame-des-Anges, Collioure） → Carcassonne（Canal du Midi (Port of Carcassonne)）

Explore the small port in the morning, and take the TER in the afternoon via Narbonne to Carcassonne (approx. 2.5 hours).

Stay: Bastide Saint-Louis

Day 5 · Carcassonne Medieval Citadel

Carcassonne（Pont Vieux、Cité de Carcassonne、Château Comtal、Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus）

Walk from the lower town up to the old town (approx. 25 minutes), or take a shuttle bus; explore on foot all day.

The citadel is less crowded in the afternoon; returning to the lower town for dinner offers more options.

Stay: Bastide Saint-Louis

Day 6 · To the University City of Montpellier

Montpellier（Place de la Comédie、L'Écusson (Old Town)、Musée Fabre、Promenade du Peyrou）

Take the train from Carcassonne to Montpellier (approx. 1.5–2 hours), and walk to the old town upon arrival.

Stay: L'Écusson

Day 7 · Roman Nîmes to Avignon

Avignon & Luberon（Arena of Nîmes、Maison Carrée）

Take the TER to Nîmes (approx. 30 minutes), store your luggage to explore the ruins, and take another TER to Avignon (approx. 30 minutes).

Stay: Avignon Intra-Muros

Day 8 · A Day in Ancient Avignon

Avignon & Luberon（Palais des Papes, Avignon、Pont Saint-Bénézet (Pont d'Avignon)、Rocher des Doms、Les Halles d'Avignon）

Explore the city entirely on foot; you can take a free ferry to the opposite bank in the evening for a panoramic view of the city walls.

Stay: Avignon Intra-Muros

Day 9 · Pick Up Car to See Pont du Gard and Les Baux

Avignon & Luberon（Pont du Gard、Les Baux-de-Provence、Saint-Rémy-de-Provence）

Pick up the car and drive to Pont du Gard (approx. 40 minutes), then to Les Baux-de-Provence (approx. 1 hour), and continue to Saint-Rémy (approx. 20 minutes).

Stay: Saint-Rémy-de-Provence

Day 10 · Luberon Villages and Abbey

Avignon & Luberon（Gordes、Sénanque Abbey、Roussillon）

Drive from Saint-Rémy to Gordes (approx. 50 minutes), then to Sénanque Abbey and Roussillon (approx. 20–30 minutes each).

Booking in advance on the official website is recommended for interior visits to Sénanque.

Stay: Gordes and the Luberon Hill Villages

Day 11 · Valensole to Moustiers-Sainte-Marie

Valensole Plateau & Gorges du Verdon（Valensole Lavender Fields、Moustiers-Sainte-Marie、Lac de Sainte-Croix）

Drive from Gordes via Manosque to Valensole (approx. 1.5 hours), then continue to Moustiers-Sainte-Marie and Lake of Sainte-Croix (approx. 1 hour).

Stay: Moustiers-Sainte-Marie

Day 12 · Verdon Gorge Down to Nice

Valensole Plateau & Gorges du Verdon（Point Sublime、Castellane & Notre-Dame du Roc） → Nice & Côte d'Azur（Grasse）

Drive from Moustiers-Sainte-Marie via Point Sublime, Castellane, and Grasse to Nice Airport (approx. 4 hours), return the car, and head into the city.

Stay: Vieux Nice

Day 13 · Eze Hilltop Village and Monaco

Nice & Côte d'Azur（Èze、Monaco / Monte Carlo）

Take Bus 82 or 602 from Vauban Station to Eze (approx. 30 minutes); Bus 602 continues to Monaco. Return to Nice by train in the evening.

Bus 602 does not run on Sundays. Eze is most crowded between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM.