8-Day Barcelona to Paris Tour: Spain | France | Switzerland

Transfer to the hotel and free time. You will be provided with the information required for the beginning of the trip in the afternoon; otherwise, the information will appear on the information panels at the hotel reception area.

Important: Remember that hotels check-in time is usually at 14:00 hrs. If you require more hours of room availability, consider booking an additional night at the beginning of your trip.

- If you requested additional nights upon arrival at the hotel, you would have your room booked, but your trip guide would normally contact you at the beginning of the included activities. At the reception you can also find an informative sign, indicating the telephone number and hours of assistance of our staff. Your time therefore before this moment is free. The hotel staff can help you with all the information you need.

Note: The schedules that you will find in this itinerary are indicative. The guide, depending on the situation and in order to improve the development of the trip, may adjust the schedules.

Total distance covered: 115 km

09.00 hrs. - after the breakfast with our guide or a local guide we will enjoy the city tour of Barcelona, open to the Mediterranean Sea, famous for Gaudí and its modernist architecture, for its promenades and memories of the Universal Exhibitions and Olympics that took place there. Barcelona is considered one of the most beautiful and interesting European cities. We will see the Columbus Monument, Plaza de Cataluña, Paseo de Gracia, Diagonal, Sagrada Familia, Montjuic with its Olympic facilities, Plaza de España. For a few minutes we will make a stop near the Sagrada Familia to have the opportunity to contemplate this monument. The visit will finish in the Ramblas area for participants to walk around the historic center and Gothic quarter. After city tour our guide will offer you an optional activity to visit Gaudí´s masterpiece and emblem of the city, the Sagrada Familia. Free time for lunch and to continue strolling.

18.00hrs -Barcelona –Departure-. We travel towards the north of Catalonia.

19.30 hrs - GIRONA – Arrival in this small Catalan capital with its very beautiful historic centre where the cathedral stands out with its great staircase. The city is also magnificently lit up and has many small restaurants.

Note: if the hotel is not located next to the city center, you will have free time to walk around Girona until 21:15 hrs. before going to the hotel.

Total distance: 650 km

Scenery: Pleasant green and Mediterranean landscapes.

08.00 hrs - Girona –Departure-; we going to France and cross the region of Provence.

12.00 hrs -ARLES - Arrival in this small World Heritage city, where we can see its Roman amphitheater, the best preserved in France, and its small Provençal Romanesque churches. We will also remember Van Gogh, the Dutch painter who, during his most productive period, knew how to best reflect the luminosity of the south of France. Time for a walk and lunch.

14:30 hrs - Arles –Departure to continue to enjoy Provence-.

15.15 hrs- Carrières de Lumière. Admission included to an impressive show of art, image and sound underground, in these more than 20 millions year former quarries.

16.30 hrs.- Carrières de Lumières - Departure.

20.30 hrs- Chambery- arrival and accommodation.

Note: If, due to crowds or a change of programme, it is not possible to obtain tickets for the Carrieres de Lumière show, a transfer to the Roman aqueduct at the Pont du Gard will be provided as an alternative.

Total distance covered: 290 km

Scenery: Very beautiful scenery on Lake Leman. Great lakes, tall snow-covered summits in the distance. In the afternoon, we have a trip through the mountains passing through beautiful villages with wooden houses.

NB: Please have your passport in hand, as we are going into Switzerland and sometimes there are border controls asking for documentation.

08.00 hrs.- Chambery- A stroll through this charming capital of Savoy, medieval style city with beautiful historic center and great castle.

09.00 hrs.- Chambery- Departure to Switzerland.

10.30 hrs.- Geneva –Arrival. - The capital of the French-speaking region of Switzerland. A city on Lake Leman which houses the European United Nations headquarters, the offices of the International Labour Organisation, of the Red Cross and numerous other headquarters of international entities. With our guide, we will go to the Palace of Nations (the United Nations headquarters in Europe) and the pretty English Garden with its flower clock, and can admire the “Jet d´Eau”, the tallest fountain in Europe.

12:00 hrs - Geneva-. Our road follows Lake Leman amidst magnificent vineyard scenery (an area declared UNESCO world Heritage).

13.30 hrs- Gruyeres. – The area where the famous cheese is produced, Gruyeres is a very picturesque walled touristic village. Time for lunch. Near Gruyeres there are some of the main Swiss chocolate manufacturers (NESTLÉ among others), and we visit the Cailler factory, with a tasting included!

16.00 hrs - Gruyeres. Departure amidst mountains and very picturesque Swiss villages.

16.45 hrs - Chillon Castle, arrival at this fantastic medieval castle built on the waters of the lake. Tickets included.

17.45 hrs - Chillon Castle –Departure-. Magnificent mountain scenery, we cross areas with scenic villages with wooden architecture.

18.30 hrs - Leysin, arrival in this beautiful holiday village with spectacular views of the Rhône plain and Mont Blanc, known for its winter sports resort or its hiking possibilities. Dinner included.

Note: on some occasions accommodation may be given in the Swiss town of Martigny.

Total distance covered: 230 km

Scenery: Probably the most spectacular part of our route in the Alps; High summits where snow remains all year round; Lakes.

Note: Wear warm clothing and comfortable shoes. It is also recommended some waterproof clothing (especially for the waterfalls´ visit). Please also be advised to use sun protection during the sunny days while visiting the high mountains.

Notes: Due to weather conditions (strong wind) or maintenance the cable car may not operate on certain dates. The ascent is not authorized for children under 2 years old

08.30 hrs.- Leysin -Departure-. High mountain landscapes of great beauty surround us and you will be able to see ice and snow during most of the year.

09.00 hrs.- We will take the cable car up to the Glacier 3000 mountain station, one of the most spectacular points in Switzerland where, from its terraces, you will be able to see different panoramic views of the alpine landscapes. You can walk on the suspension bridge over the gap between two mountain peaks, enter the Ice Cathedral or "play" in the Fun Park.

11.30 hrs- Departure to Interlaken through beautiful mountain and lake scenery.

13.30 hrs - Interlaken, a small town situated between two lakes and dominated by an impressive mountain scenery. Time for lunch.

15.00 hrs - Interlaken - departure.

16.15 hrs- Lucerne –Arrival-. This is one of the most beautiful cities of Switzerland. Time to stroll over its wooden bridges crossing the lake.

18.00 hrs.- Lucerne -departure-.

19.00 hrs.- - Zurich –Arrival-. We will take a stroll in the largest city in Switzerland and its economic centre, before going to a hotel.

Total distance: 705 km

Scenery: green landscapes and extensive crops. Rhine Valley.

07.30 h. - Zurich – Departure towards the French region of Alsace.

10:30 h. – Strasbourg – Arrival in the capital of Alsace. Time to get to know this charming city on the banks of the Rhine, whose medieval half-timbered streets between canals combine French and German influences. Today as home to several EU institutions, it symbolizes the understanding of its people.

14.15 h. - Strasbourg - Departure. We cross the region, where Champagne is produced.

20.45 h. - Paris - Arrival.

Total distance covered: 80 km

07:45 hrs. - Paris – departure.

08:30 hrs. - Versailles – Arrival to the Palace of Versailles (admission not included, long waits for tickets due to influx on some occasions). Immense Palace that belonged to the French kings; a good way to get acquainted with the culture and history of France.

11:30 hrs. - Versailles – departure - (the departure might be later in case of a long wait to enter the palace). Upon returning to Paris we head to Montmartre and taking a small cable car (included) we go up to this bohemian artists´ neighborhood to see the Basilica of the Sacred Heart and take a walk through its square and alleys.

15:00 hrs. - With a local guide we will begin the city tour of Paris lasting 2 and a half hours. During the visit you will be able to see the Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysées, Madelaine, Place de la Concorde, Opera, Louvre Museum, Tower St. Jacques, town hall, Ile de la Cite with the Notre Dame cathedral, Latin quarter, Pantheon, Sorbonne, Luxembourg gardens, Invalides, Military School, Champ de Mars-Eiffel Tower, banks of the Seine. We will make brief stops near the Invalides and the Champ de Mars. At the end of the city tour, we will return to the hotel, making a stop in the city center, so that people who still want to take advantage of their free time in Paris can get off the bus.

In the end of this very complete day, optionally, the guide will suggest you attend a cabaret or variety show in the evening, the Moulin Rouge or the Paradis Latin.

Note: due to the tourist complexity of Paris, the order of the services offered in the city may vary.

Note: if your trip coincides in Paris with the first Sunday of the month, in Versailles, only the gardens will be visited.

08.30 hrs.- Departure from the hotel. We go to the EIFFEL TOWER, we include the ticket to go up to the second floor of this impressive metal monument (in some cases there are long waits to gain access due to massive influx). The second floor is considered to be the one with the best view, due to the optimal altitude in relation to the buildings below (on the third floor, they are less visible) and the general perspective (obviously more limited on the first floor). When the weather permits, it is estimated that it is possible to see up to 70 km away.

After descending the tower we include a boat trip along the Seine River. Magnificent views of the main monuments and bridges of Paris on the majestic river. Journey of approximately an hour and a quarter.

Free time later.

Note: in some cases the waits to go up the Eiffel Tower are long. Thus the climb may take place at a different time (or on Sunday), if it is considered convenient for organizational reasons.

End of our services.

Please, check the time of your flight in case you might need an additional night. Our guide will advise you on the best public transportation for your transfers.

Note: In case you have to book an external service (plane/train...) on the day of the end of your tour with activities included, please remember that the schedules of the detailed itineraries are the "planned" ones but may be affected by different circumstances (traffic density, customer delays, breakdowns...). Do not book a flight/train with a tight schedule without taking this into account. Always leave a margin in the schedule for unforeseen events.