Frankfurt - Bern - Milan - Barcelona - Madrid - Malaga

Peter
Traveller
9337 comments

Hi.

Skip Frankfurt. Better to stay in Heidelberg for example or Cologne.
Then from there to Zurich (if you want to stay in Switzerland - very expensive!). The connection Germany to Switzerland is free of extra fees.

From Zurich you can continue to Milan (also by free train ride crossing the Alps, amazing!):
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/zurich-to-milan[/u]

Milan to Barcelona is possible by direct night train, but very expensive:
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/milan-to-barcelona[/u]

Also possible is a route along the French coast via Nice, Perpignan, including the Little Yellow Train crossing the Pyrenees.

For schedules have a look here: [u]https://rail.cc/en/search-interrail-route[/u]

Peter :)

naomii86
Traveller
9 comments

thank you so much! I really want to get the little yellow train now! But I'm so confused! Where do I need to get the train to/from to get it? And will I need to get the ticket for the little yellow train directly from their website and figure out the connections at either side myself?

Peter
Traveller
9337 comments

Hi.
The Little Yellow Train is free - as you travel with Interrail, no need to pay extra.
Example

Frankfurt to Heidelberg (maybe by normal point to point ticket: EUR 20 - saving one of your travel days)

Heidelberg - Zurich: day ONE - frequent free trains, no need to reserve.

Zurich - Milan: day TWO - again a free and amazing scenic route, don't use the expensive direct trains: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/zurich-to-milan[/u]

Milan - Nice: day THREE - only an IC train is required for EUR 3 - [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/milan-to-nice[/u]

Nice - Perpignan: day FOUR - also by free trains - [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/nice-to-barcelona[/u]

Perpignan - Barcelona: day FIVE - by free Little Yellow Train - [u]https://rail.cc/blog/little-yellow-train-video/[/u]

Now the question... do you want to use the 10/22 (and add some more stops) Interrail Pass instead the 5/10 ?
Or add a point to point ticket for Barcelona to Malaga (skipping Madrid) for ~ EUR 72 ?

As I think (if you have the time) the 10 in 22 would be the better / cheaper solution then: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-global-pass[/u]
If if you wont travel the full 22 days.

Then you could for example include Munich and Madrid as well.

Just think about, it calculate it for yourself if you have the time or if you want to rush trough.

Peter :)

naomii86
Traveller
9 comments

Thanks, I'll look into all your ideas! If i book a seat on the train from PERPIGNAN to Barcelona does that include the yellow train? Or is that just straight there? Which station do I need to book a seat from so that it includes the little yellow train? Sorry if these are stupid questions!

Peter
Traveller
9337 comments

No problem to ask, that's why we run the forum . :)
The Little Yellow Train is FREE like mentioned above. Simply click the link and have a look on the connections and train types - everything is free with Interrail. No need to book anything extra. :)
There are a lot of free and nice routes within Europe!
Peter :)

naomii86
Traveller
9 comments

Thank you! I understand it now. I'm looking to book my train from Milan to Nice and the booking fee is £30, is this necessary? They seem to go very frequently so if it was full could I not just choose to go on the next one? Also there seems to be three different stations in Nice, which would you recommend if I'm trying to stay centrally?

naomii86
Traveller
9 comments

Sorry, I have another question!
I am trying to look at train times to get from La tour de Carol and Barcelona but [removed] keeps telling me that either it is too early for me to book these in advance or they've sold out, do you think it is relatively easy to get to Barcelona from there without any reservations?

Peter
Traveller
9337 comments

Hi.
Forget this website you are talking about! I also had to remove the link to them!



[b]Milan - Nice[/b]: you can even travel for [b]FREE[/b]!!!!! No need to pay GBP 30! Amazing what wrong information this website gives you mentioned!
Only for the IC from Milan to Ventigmila, a reservation of EUR 3 is recommended but not required. You get it easily via the Trenitalia website like mentioned here: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation/intercity/trenitalia-ic/47[/u]

Connections like already mentioned here: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/milan-to-nice[/u]
Just have a look on these connections and check the train details - there you will see, which trains are free, which not! Otherwise websites like the mentioned one by you will rip you off!

Exit at station Nice Ville.



[b]Latour de Carol to Barcelona[/b]: again, watch the link I gave you: [u]https://rail.cc/blog/little-yellow-train-video/[/u]

There you will see: every train on this journey is as well [b]FREE[/b] !!!

[b]Perpignan - Villefranche[/b]: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/perpignan-to-villefranche-de-conflent[/u]

[b]Villefranche to Latour de Carol[/b] (=Little Yellow Train): [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/villefranche-de-conflent-to-latour-de-carol[/u]

[b]Latour de Carol - Barcelona[/b]: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/latour-de-carol-to-barcelona[/u]

These are all regional trains. Never sold out (as a reservation is even not possible for such trains!) and the schedules are available and online.
Please stay away from your mentioned website and use the information of real travellers here at railcc and not the ones of a rail ticket outlet.

I am really shocked by the information you wrote here you got from them! :o

And if you like railcc, support us and buy your official Interrail pass here in our partner (see blue bar at the bottom of this site). Shipping is free to the UK.

Peter :)

naomii86
Traveller
9 comments

Thank you so much! So glad I found railcc today, i was just away to buy everything from that website! I will be buying my interrail ticket from here now!

Peter
Traveller
9337 comments

It is a pleasure to help you.
Because myself I am often frustrated to see how Interrail travellers are riped off and don't get the information they need to have an inexpensive travel. Interrail is really a nice product, you only have to know how to use it! :)
And if you have more questions, just let me know.
Peter :)

naomii86
Traveller
9 comments

Hiya,
hope it's not too much to ask, is there any chance you could look over my plans for inter-railing? I've never travelled alone before and I don't know anyone who knows anything about it to give me a second opinion. Any advice or opinions would be appreciated or if you could point out any stupid mistakes I've made!
I hope you can understand the way its been set out, it's just so I have a concrete plan to look at. By the way I am definitely using the 5 days in 10 global pass and I need to finish in Malaga.
Current Plan
24th July Bus from Dundee to Cologne 20.25
25th July Bus arrives in Cologne 23.10
Hostel £17X2
27th July Train to Bern
Details: Number 503 £6 reservation
Leave Koln HBF 08:55
Arrive Basel SBB 12:47
Number 973 £6
Leave Basel SBB 12:59
Arrives Bern 13:56
27th July Train from Bern to Milan
Details: Number 59 £13
Leave Bern at 18:34
Arrives Milan Centrale 21:35
27th July Milan Hostel £15
28th July Sightseeing bus €20
Hostel £15
29th July Sightseeing bus
Train from Milan to Nice
Details: Number 675 £5
Leaves Milano Centrale 17:05
Arrives Ventimiglia 21:07
Number? £5
Leaves Ventimiglia 21:17
Arrives Nice Ville 22:04
29th July Nice Hostel £20
30th July Roman Orthodox Cathedral, Parc du Chateau, a museum
30th July Train from Nice to Capvern
Details: number? £17 Bed
Leaves Nice Ville 19:07
Arrives Toulouse Matabiau 05:14
Number & price?
Depart Toulouse Matabiau 06:00
31st July Arrives Capvern 07:45
31st July Train from Capvern to Latour de Carol
Details: £0  little yellow train!
Leaves Capvern 08:37
Arrives St Agne 10:14
Leaves St Agne 10:55
Arrives Latour de Carol 13:52
31st July Train from Latour de Carol-Enveitig to Barcelona
Details: No reservations
Leaves Latour De Carol-Enveitig 17:00
Arrives Barcelona 20:12
31st July Barcelona Hostel £25
1st August Sightseeing bus £25
1st August Barcelona Hostel £25
2nd August Sightseeing bus
2nd August Barcelona Hostel £25
3rd August Train from Barcelona to Madrid to Malaga
Train from Barcelona to Madrid
Details: Number 03082 £13
Leaves Barcelona Sants 08:00
Arrives Madrid Puerta de Atocha 11:10
3rd August Plaza Mayor, Parque del Buen Retiro
Train from Madrid to Malaga
Details: Number 02172 £13
Leaves Madrid Puerta de Atocha 17:35
Arrives Malaga 20:25
Malaga Hostel £16
4th August Beach
Malaga Hostel £16

Peter
Traveller
9337 comments

Finalizing your trip. :)

Cologne - Bern:
reservation is NOT required, travel for FREE!

Bern - Milan:
the train you selected is with an extra reservation fee of EUR 10 (available at the railway station in Bern or already in Cologne if you like):
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation/eurocity-it/sbb-ec/65[/u]
If you want a more scenic route crossing the Alps, you can do it for free - but it will takes much longer (but is worth). Let me know.

Milan - Nice: pay EUR 3 for the IC to Ventigmilia. Available at the Trenitalia website.
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/milan-to-nice[/u]
Booking IC: [u]https://rail.cc/en-type-country/intercity/trenitalia-ic/47[/u]

Nice - Capvern: I have no information if this train is running this date. As currently the French railway publishes the night train schedules very late.
If it is running on this date, have a look here for the reservation fees and booking:
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-night-train/nice-irun-icn-4730/141[/u]
You also have day trains on this route via Toulouse (IC trains, ex-TEOZ: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation/intercit%C3%A9s-ex-t%C3%A9oz/sncf-ic/46[/u] )

Now the problem. Capvern is a bit fare away from the starting point of the Little Yellow Train. As you start from Perpignan/Villefranche to Latour de Carol, then to Barcelona. Or from Latour de Carol to Perpignan, then to Barcelona (more complicate).
I recommend to either stay in Perpignan instead of Capvern or somewhere close by to Perpignan, except you like long travel journeys. I am not sure if you can do Capvern to Perpignan, Latour de Carol and Barcelona in one day.
Again: the Little Yellow Train is NOT running on St Agne to Latour de Carol to Barcelona!

Barcelona to Madrid: AVE train - reservation fee EUR 10 (available at the railcc shop)
Madrid to Malaga: AVE train - reservation fee EUR 10 (available at the railcc shop)

Better option (if you do not want to stop in Madrid) is the direct train Barcelona to Malaga (either EUR 6,50 or EUR 10): [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/barcelona-to-malaga[/u]

So the only thing you have to think about is the Little Yellow Train. I recommend to travel from Nice to Perpignan, you can do it for free, along the French coast. It is this route: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/nice-to-barcelona[/u]

Peter :)

naomii86
Traveller
9 comments

Thank you so much, this was really helpful.
Could you give me some information about the scenic route crossing the alps? It sounds great but I'm not sure if I can fit it in.
I shall change my train from Milan to Nice so I can reserve it for 3 euros from railcc, it won't let me do that just now though, is that because I'm not planning to do it until the 29th of July or do I need to phone?
So I am now planning on taking the 05:55 train from Nice to Perpignan at 14:36. I will then get the yellow train from Perpignan at 14:44 to 19:35 at La tour De Carol. Do you think it would be possible to get into Barcelona before midnight then? I know its a long time on a train but I'm trying to only use one of my train days because I only have enough if it takes just one day.
Naomi :)

Peter
Traveller
9337 comments

Hi.
I will reply tomorrow. Tiered now. :)
For Milan to Nice IC train in Italy, buy it directly at the Trenitalia website or at a ticket machine in Italy.
Peter :)

naomii86
Traveller
9 comments

Okay, thank you :)
I'm going to get the train from Nice - Perpignan - Latour de Carol on the same day, then stay in Latour de Carol and get the train to Barcelona the next morning. Does this sound like a better plan?

Peter
Traveller
9337 comments

Hi.
Crossing the Alps.

First from Bern to Zurich in the morning:

Bern dep: 0932 - IC train, free of reservation
Zürich HB arr: 1028

Then continue with this connection: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/zurich-to-milan[/u]

Note: everything is FREE on this route, no need to buy reservations, Just enter the trains and sit down. Have a look at the amazing photos! :)

Nice - Perpignan - Latour de Carol - Barcelona is not possible in one day. You need a stop in between. I do not recommend to stay in Latour de Carol overnight, as there is nothing close to the station to an acceptable price.

Peter :)

naomii86
Traveller
9 comments

Okay, thank you. I wasn't planning on staying the night in Bern though, so I don't think I'd manage to get there on time from Cologne, it looks really good though :(
Okay, where would you recommend I stay? I'm thinking Perpignan? Can I do Nice to Perpignan, stay there and then do Perpignan to Latour de Carol to Barcelona the next day?

Peter
Traveller
9337 comments

Yes. Nice - Perpignan on one day. Perpignan - Little Yellow Train - Barcelona one day. :)