Barcelona is one of the most visited European cities, which combines cultural, historical and resort tourism. The sandy strip of the beaches of Barceloneta and San Sebastian, 5 km long, stretches along the city. From the capital of Catalonia, it is easy to travel around France. One of the most popular tourist destinations is Marseille. It is a resort town in southern France, home to the largest port in the Mediterranean. Let's figure out how to get from Barcelona to Marseille.
Travel options to Marseille
Marseille is replete with bustling fairs with exotic fruits and overseas trinkets. Here is the Château d'If, described in the novel by Alexandre Dumas "The Count of Monte Cristo". Not all tourists know that this castle actually exists. Arriving in Marseille, you should definitely go on a mysterious trip to the castle by boat.
In addition, Marseille is one of the best places to spend your summer vacation.
The distance between Barcelona and Marseille is about 506 km. It can be overcome by train, bus, plane or car.
| Travel option | Elapsed time | Trip value, EUR |
|---|---|---|
| Train | It will take 4 hours 35 minutes on the road | The minimum ticket price is 50 euros |
| Bus | Minimum time - 7 hours 15 minutes (maximum - 9 hours 45 minutes) | From 39 to 75 euros |
| Airplane | Travel time - 1 hour 5 minutes | Basic tariff - 100 euros Optima tariff - 123 euros Excellence rate - € 205 |
| Automobile | The road will take 5 hours 6 minutes | Fuel payment - 44.30 Euro Road toll - 46.07 euros |
| Hitchhiking | Travel time - 5 hours 30 minutes | The minimum cost is 2550 rubles (33.5 euros) |
Train connections between Barcelona and Marseille
Spain has a well-established transport network, in which rail links play an important role. Railways in Spain, as part of the transport system, are closely linked to road, air and sea transport.
In Spain, commuter trains run between provincial capitals and towns and cities, and mid-station trains that connect adjacent regions. High-speed and long-distance trains are the link between major cities in Spain and other European cities.
By train, you can reach Marseille in 4 hours and 35 minutes. Every day, a train leaves from Barcelona Sants station at 4.45 pm to Marseille station and arrives at 21.20. The flight is operated by the Spanish state railway network RENFE.
If you buy a ticket for a week, its approximate cost will be 90 euros. If you are from the category of people who plans to travel in advance (one month in advance), you can buy a ticket for 21 euros cheaper. All details about the cost of tickets and travel by train are posted on the RENFE website.
Bus service between Barcelona and Marseille
Bus service in Spain is developed at a high level and acts as an alternative to rail transport in many interregional directions.
Buses in Spain run in all cities and resort centers. The fare is always lower in comparison with rail, but the travel time will be longer. The price depends on the carrier, the level of service on the flight, time of day and day of the week.
There are many carriers operating in the country - from large national to regional companies.
ALSA offers a direct flight option from Barcelona to Marseille. Buses leave from Barcelona Nord station at 12.00 and 23.30 and arrive at Marseille St. Charles at 20.15 and at 07.05 the very next day.
The trip will cost the traveler 39 euros. More information can be found on the ALSA website.
Another option to purchase tickets is to go to the official website of Flixbus, which offers 5 direct transfer options, one of which is from Barcelona Airport from the second terminal.
Travel time will range from 7 hours 5 minutes to 8 hours 20 minutes. The first bus leaves Barcelona at 7.50 and the last at 21.40. Ticket prices range from € 34.99 to € 44.99.
The fastest option is to get there by plane
There are two airlines flying from Barcelona to Marseille - Vueling and Iberia.
Vueling offers both direct and connecting flights to passengers, while Iberia only offers connecting flights in Madrid.
Iberia flies with Air Nostrum. The flight duration will be 14 hours 15 minutes. In this case, the cost will be the lowest - 78 euros.
A direct flight with Vueling will cost 99.99 euros. Departure from Barcelona at 15.50, and the plane arrives in Marseille at 17.00. The time taken to travel in the sky is 1 hour 10 minutes.
Options with a stopover will cost more - 345.98 euros for a one-way ticket. Depending on the time of departure, the journey will take from 3 hours 15 minutes to 5 hours 40 minutes.
The airline's flight schedule is subject to change, so stay tuned to the official Vueling website for updates.
When choosing the Optima fare, the passenger is allowed to carry baggage weighing up to 23 kg, go through instant check-in and choose a seat in the cabin. Bonus points are also awarded for the next trip.
When choosing the Excellence fare, the passenger gets the opportunity to check-in instantly at a separate counter. The traveler is also entitled to priority boarding, front row seats and meals on board.
There are 5 options for getting to Barcelona Airport.
| Underground | The 9th southern metro line began operating in 2016. You can change to this line from L1 at Torrassa, L5 at Collblanc and L3 at Zona Universitaria. The fare is 4.5 euros. |
| Train | Barcelona Airport El Prat is connected to the R2 Nord line. Trains run every 30 minutes. You have to pay 4.10 euros for a ticket. |
| Bus Aerobus Barcelona | The fare is 5.65 euros. The bus leaves from Plaza Catalunya every 12 minutes, picking up tourists at the Placa Universitat, Gran Via-Urgell, Placa Espana stops. |
| Night buses | From 22.00 to 4.00 bus number 17 runs from Plaza Catalunya. The ticket price is 2.15 euros. |
| Taxi | The most comfortable and most expensive option. The fixed price from Plaza Catalunya is 29 euros. |
Arriving at the Marseille airport, a tourist can choose from three options how to get to the city:
- Shuttle bass. Buses run to the city more often than trains. The fare is 8.80 euros, travel time is 25 minutes. If, upon arrival at Marseille airport, you need to get to the central station, there is a direct bus from the airport every 15 minutes.
- Train. The trip will cost less than a bus - 4.90 euros and will take you to the city center faster than a bus - in 17-20 minutes.
- Taxi. The city center is 27 km away. Taxis in Marseille are very expensive: the minimum cost of a trip is 50 euros.
Travel by car
Spanish roads have smooth surfaces, fresh markings, bumpers, noise lanes, signs and road signs. Traveling by car will be comfortable and safe.
Particular attention should be paid to compliance with traffic rules. Video surveillance in Spain is designed in such a way that as soon as you exceed the speed in the field of view of the camera, information about you is transmitted to the nearest police post.
Your route will lead through the French cities of Perpignan, Narbonne, Montpellier and Nimes. The entire journey will take 5 hours 6 minutes, and the total cost is 90.37 euros.
Search for travel companions
The popular Blablacar website offers great deals on travel from Barcelona to Marseille. You can get to Marseille for 33.5 euros. On the site, you can view the offer of each driver and choose the most suitable option for yourself.
Conclusion
Tourists often combine travel to Spain with trips to cities in the neighboring country of France. Marseille is one of the most colorful and favorite cities to visit, especially in summer.
From Barcelona there are several options for how to get to Marseille: take a plane, take a train or bus, or take a car.The most affordable option for the price is to get by bus or by passing one.
As far as waterways are concerned, direct ferries do not connect Barcelona and Marseille. This applies to all cities on the French Riviera. Only special cruise ships provide the chance to see the famous landmark of Barcelona - the Sagrada Familia and the mysterious Chateau d'If in Marseille.
