Thoughts on this loose itinerary (Marseille to Barcelona)
May 25th, 2014, 10:49 AM
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Thoughts on this loose itinerary (Marseille to Barcelona)
Good afternoon
I'm still not completely sure when I will do this itinerary, but it's likely to be during good weather (IE not winter or late fall, thus it will not be cold and it should stay light until a respectable hour).
I am probably going to fly into Marseille and while there would like to see the Calanques from Cassis (I have another thread on that so I already have ideas there).
I'm thinking that I could do one day trip to Cassis, another day trip to Aix en Provence, and in addition to jet lag day (always shorter, and tired) spend a full day in Marseille. That would be four nights, then.
The day I depart for parts Barcelona I would like to visit Carcassone and Narbonne - a friend who has a home in the Languedoc said that was also worth a visit. If I did visit both of those, I'd likely stay one extra night in France so that I am not driving 5 hours to Barcelona on top of the above stops.
So, that above is 5 nights in France.
The remainder of the trip will probably be 5 nights in Barcelona. Is that enough time to both get a flavor of Barcelona as well as a few local day trips (there are four UNESCO sites in striking distance of Barcelona)?
I might be able to extend my time a few days, but assuming it really is 10 nights total, is that a good mix of days or would you spend less time in Marseille and add that day somewhere else? Would you leave Aix for another trip entirely - one with a longer stay?
Thanks for any thoughts.
I'm still not completely sure when I will do this itinerary, but it's likely to be during good weather (IE not winter or late fall, thus it will not be cold and it should stay light until a respectable hour).
I am probably going to fly into Marseille and while there would like to see the Calanques from Cassis (I have another thread on that so I already have ideas there).
I'm thinking that I could do one day trip to Cassis, another day trip to Aix en Provence, and in addition to jet lag day (always shorter, and tired) spend a full day in Marseille. That would be four nights, then.
The day I depart for parts Barcelona I would like to visit Carcassone and Narbonne - a friend who has a home in the Languedoc said that was also worth a visit. If I did visit both of those, I'd likely stay one extra night in France so that I am not driving 5 hours to Barcelona on top of the above stops.
So, that above is 5 nights in France.
The remainder of the trip will probably be 5 nights in Barcelona. Is that enough time to both get a flavor of Barcelona as well as a few local day trips (there are four UNESCO sites in striking distance of Barcelona)?
I might be able to extend my time a few days, but assuming it really is 10 nights total, is that a good mix of days or would you spend less time in Marseille and add that day somewhere else? Would you leave Aix for another trip entirely - one with a longer stay?
Thanks for any thoughts.
May 25th, 2014, 11:35 AM
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Carcassonne is extremely touristy, especially in the summer. It's one of the Cathar castles, as I'm sure you know. It's well worth a visit if you don't mind the crowds.
Have you considered the other Cathar castles (Quéribus, Peyrepertuse)? They are much more authentic and the drives up there in the Pyrénées are wonderful. These two are not UNESCO sites, though.
Five nights in Barcelona will do for me (we were there for 4 full days earlier this month).
Have you considered the other Cathar castles (Quéribus, Peyrepertuse)? They are much more authentic and the drives up there in the Pyrénées are wonderful. These two are not UNESCO sites, though.
Five nights in Barcelona will do for me (we were there for 4 full days earlier this month).
May 25th, 2014, 12:56 PM
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In June of 2012 we took a day trip from Marseille to Aix en Provence and loved it. Be sure to go here. Probably a full day trip would give you enough time to explore.
We are also planning to stop in Carcassonne on our upcoming trip but will check into Queribus and Peyrepertuse instead. We are planning on travelling from Paris to Tours then on to Limoges, Carcassonne then Barcelona and Madrid.
We stayed 2 1/2 days in Barcelona previously and with the help of the hop on hop off bus and PLENTY of walking we didn't feel rushed. I agree that 4 days would give you lots of time. You might also take a side trip to Montserrat.
We are also planning to stop in Carcassonne on our upcoming trip but will check into Queribus and Peyrepertuse instead. We are planning on travelling from Paris to Tours then on to Limoges, Carcassonne then Barcelona and Madrid.
We stayed 2 1/2 days in Barcelona previously and with the help of the hop on hop off bus and PLENTY of walking we didn't feel rushed. I agree that 4 days would give you lots of time. You might also take a side trip to Montserrat.
May 25th, 2014, 01:45 PM
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Sure, of course five days is enough to get a flavor of any city, as far as I'm concerned. It's fine for Barcelona, that's how long I stayed there the first time, maybe only four days. Last time I was there I spent five days and did one day trip to Montserrat, you can do that. You could do two if you want.
I'm not clear on how you are getting from Marseille to Carcassonne and then to Barcelona. By train? YOu talk about driving but I'm not clear on where you are getting the car from and where you plan to return it. You can't usually do that across country boundaries if you are renting. If you can, it costs a fortune.
I did like both Narbonne and Carcassonne, and Carcassonne only takes a half day. I did Narbonne as a day trip from Montpellier, actually. It is ambitious to travel from Marseille in the morning, and then visit both Carcassonne and Narbonne in one day, though. Not sure how you'd do that if you are going by train.
I'm not clear on how you are getting from Marseille to Carcassonne and then to Barcelona. By train? YOu talk about driving but I'm not clear on where you are getting the car from and where you plan to return it. You can't usually do that across country boundaries if you are renting. If you can, it costs a fortune.
I did like both Narbonne and Carcassonne, and Carcassonne only takes a half day. I did Narbonne as a day trip from Montpellier, actually. It is ambitious to travel from Marseille in the morning, and then visit both Carcassonne and Narbonne in one day, though. Not sure how you'd do that if you are going by train.
May 25th, 2014, 03:47 PM
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Hi everyone
Thank you for the replies. I do plan on having a car but if it's utterly insane to cross borders I can drop at my last stop in France and take a train the rest of the way - if that makes a difference. If it's within a few hundred bucks to drop it and get a train ticket I may as well keep it for the convenience factor.
5 nights in Barcelona would not be strictly Barcelona, I would have day trips to different places nearby. There are four UNESCO sites in striking distance of Barcelona and that would be at least 2 if not three day trips. That's why I wasn't sure if 5 was enough, or not.
Thank you for the tips on Aix! It's so close to Marseille otherwise I'd do a night there, too. Which one is more appealing to spend more time in - Marseille seemed like a good base for Cassis and Aix, but maybe Aix is as good of a base.
Thank you for the replies. I do plan on having a car but if it's utterly insane to cross borders I can drop at my last stop in France and take a train the rest of the way - if that makes a difference. If it's within a few hundred bucks to drop it and get a train ticket I may as well keep it for the convenience factor.
5 nights in Barcelona would not be strictly Barcelona, I would have day trips to different places nearby. There are four UNESCO sites in striking distance of Barcelona and that would be at least 2 if not three day trips. That's why I wasn't sure if 5 was enough, or not.
Thank you for the tips on Aix! It's so close to Marseille otherwise I'd do a night there, too. Which one is more appealing to spend more time in - Marseille seemed like a good base for Cassis and Aix, but maybe Aix is as good of a base.
