France and Spain Travel Itinerary
 

We plan to visit Spain during the Christmas period. It is about 7-10 day journey. We plan to drive from UK and as it will be about 10 hours from Calais to our main destination Barcelona, we plan to stop at one city in France and spend one day there. We have visited Paris so don't plan to stop at Paris this time.

We plan to stay at Barcelona for two or three days depending on activities.

Then from Barcelona to Madrid and stay at Mandrid for about one or two days.

Drive from Mandrid back to UK and stop one or two locations at Spain or France.

What are the surrounding cities around Madrid and Barcelona worthy visiting?

What are the cities in France on the way to Spain worthy stopping for a visit?

One of the highlights of our trip to Barcelona was going to Figueres to see the Dali museum. The town itself is not worth spending any time in, but the museum is incredible, whether you know anything about Dali or not. One of the most memorable stops on that trip.

Stop in Toulouse on the way down.

From Barcelona make a slight detour to Cuenca on the way to Madrid.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/4175225644

That's a long drive for only 7-10 days.

What do you plan to do with the car while in Barcelona and Madrid???

If this was my trip, I would fly to Barcelona, train to Madrid, and do a day-trip by train from Madrid to Toledo and/or Segovia (stay overnight if you like). Fly home from Madrid.

5 nights & 4 1/2 days in Barcelona and Madrid is perfect. It took us 3 days just to get through all the Gaudi stuff in Barcelona.

Stu Dudley

>>it will be about 10 hours from Calais to our main destination Barcelona,<<

Viamichelin.com says the fastest route takes 13 hours. Budget 14 to 15 to account for road deviations, waiting at toll booths, pottie breaks, lunch/dinner, etc. That sounds like 2 stops in France - unless you want to spend 7-8 hrs in the car each of 2 days. That doesn't leave much time for Barcelona. Are you staying overnight in Calais??? If not - that makes the driving even longer - and much if it would be at night - on the wrong side of the road (if you are British).

Is there a good airport near where you live??

Stu Dudley

Thanks for all your comments.

There are 6 people in total. It just seems more economic for us to drive instead of taking flights.

We only went to Paris in France, so we will stop at one or two cities for a break and also visit the cities. We would like to know if any locations between Calais and Barcelona are worthy visiting.

The car can be parked at our hotel at Barcelona or we can drive to the attactions and park nearby.

6 adults in one car? With a change of clothes? Sounds more like a large van.

Is your hotel in the city our someplace outside? Parking can cost you up to €30/day, and if you've never driven in Barcelona, it can be a pain.

Parking on the street? A real challenge.

"We would like to know if any locations between Calais and Barcelona are worthy visiting." There are a few that come to mind, but we have no idea what you and your friends are interested in. Have you read any guide books lately?

You will have some mountain driving, possibly snow/fog/sleet or rain. You won't have to worry about being cold with 6 people in a car however..You really should rethink driving.

It is seven-seat car and there are three adults and three children.

We can manage the luggages. We had a similar visit in the summer to Swiss via car departing from UK. So I am not too worried about driving or luggages.

We haven't booked the hotels yet as we haven't confirmed the route.

Re-think your plans a little, and then get back here for some more questions.

1. Calais to Barcelona.
- Where will you be the morning you wake up to start this drive? Your home in the UK, elsewhere in the UK, Calais???
- From Calais to Barcelona, it is a 14 to 15 hour drive if you do not deviate to visit any cities.
- I would probably stop in Bourges and Toulouse, IMO Bourges is a B- city and Toulouse is an A-
- Calais to Bourges - 6 hr drive 9AM to 15:00
- Visit Bourges & stay overnight. You'll only have about 1 1/2 hrs of daylight to visit Bourges.
- Bourges to Toulouse - another 6 hr drive. 9am to 15:00
- Visit Toulouse & stay overnight. Toulouse is a 3/4 day visit, IMO - so you won't be able to see much of it.
- Toulouse to Barcelona - only 5 hrs in the car today. 9am to 14:00. But you will consume a lot of time navigating into Barcelona.

If you plan to arrive in Bourges or Toulouse on a Sunday - forget it. Many places of interest will be closed - except museums & I would not want to visit a museum after 6 hrs of driving with 5 other people in the car.

2. Barcelona
You are down to 1/4 to 1 1/4 days in Barcelona. It took us 3 days just to visit the Gaudi stuff this past Sept. You'll need at least 3 1/2 days there to see anything, and to make the hours of sitting in a car worthwhile (the drive is not scenic - if it is sunny, the driver will be staring into the sun for almost the entire 3 days of driving).

2. Barcelona to Madrid
Wow - 8 hours of driving today. You will start when it is dark & end in the darkness. You won't see much of Madrid today - if any.

2 Madrid
You have 0 to 1 day to visit Madrid. We were there for 5 nights last year - and that was perfect.

3. Madrid to Calais.
Without any deviations, it is a 17-18 hour drive.
- I would stop in San Sebastion, somewhere on the Loire (Angers), and then Rouen
- Madrid to San Sebastion - 5 1/2 hrs. stay overnight. Not much time to visit San Sebastian
- San Sebastian to Angers - 7 1/4 hrs. No time for a visit. Have dinner & rest from the long drive.
- Angers to Rouen - 3 1/2 hrs. See a little of Angers in the AM & Rouen in the PM.
- Rouen to Calais- 2 1/2 hrs. Rouen in am & Calais in the PM. Do you have to catch a boat today?

Now, add up the time you have spent in a car "getting there" and the time "being there". You'll probably find out that around 70% of your day-time hours are spent sitting in a car - with 6 people. Not my idea of a vacation.

Stu Dudley

I was stuttering.

2. Barcelona

3. Barcelona to Madrid

4. Madrid

5. Madrid to Calais

Stu Dudley

Thank you for your comments, StuDudley.

It is very detailed. I really appreciate.

Overall, a terrible plan! A summer's drive to Switzerland can't compare to a winter's drive to Barcelona. And if you haven't booked your accommodations, well...