Duration
Reviews
Transport
Spend 3 amazing weeks crossing Italy and Spain, ticking off 8 sun-drenched cities on our longest Sicily to Spain interrailing route! This route is 22 days long, involving 20 nights in your accommodation and one spent on a night ferry. Journeys vary in length from a few hours to a full day or night’s travel.
Route
- Catania
- Sorrento
- Rome
- La Spezia
- Nice
- Montpellier
- Barcelona
- Palma
Sustainability
This trip only creates 126 kg of carbon emissions! To fly the same route would cost 741 ♻️
Share This
Trip Style
Fancy getting away from the dismal weather? Got a summer bucket list to tick off? Why not chase the sun with our Sicily to Spain trip? Whether you go for the 2 or 3 week option, you’ll have plenty of time to see the best of Italy, Southern France and Spain all in one go. With at least 2 nights in each destination, you’ll get a real feel for every city’s vibe, whilst also getting the time to squeeze in a few day trips wherever you like. Feel free to choose these trips as they are, or ask us about customising your route!
Trip Description
What’s a trip away without a little sun?
This package is the best way to catch some rays and some of the best of Europe’s beaches all in one sitting! Whether you fancy two or three weeks away, you’ll get to spend at least 2 nights in each city and really take in the sights without feeling rushed. As well as heading to Europe’s most popular cities, you’ll also get to discover some lesser-visited gems like Catania and Cinque Terre. Perfect for soaking up the sun!
Start your route off in the beautiful ancient Sicilian port city of Catania, nestled at the foot of the imposing Mount Etna. Explore its stunning religious sites and fascinating museums and galleries for a welcome escape from the heat, or, if you can handle the sun, round off your days here lounging on its beautiful golden beaches and sampling the delicious seafood specialties on offer by the coast.
Carry on to Sorrento for rugged coastlines peppered with sandy beaches and the occasional ethereal cove to explore. Here, you’ll find plenty of Insta-worthy views, tasty traditional dishes, and mind-blowingly good limoncello to sip on…and that’s without even mentioning the lively nightlife! With 3 nights here, you’ll easily have time to take a quick trip to Pompeii or Mount Vesuvius, too!
As you pull into Rome, prepare to be spoilt for choice when it comes to sight-seeing in one of the world’s most photogenic cities. The Colosseum, Trevi Fountain and Castel Sant’Angelo, are all must-sees, of course! Be sure to tick off the smallest country in the world, the Vatican City, and spend a few days of your European backpacking route exploring the historic streets, piazzas and palaces of Old Rome. When night falls, the city really comes alive! Head to any of the city’s many unique clubs and chilled bars, and you’ll be guaranteed a great night.
Next up, you’ll spend a couple of days in the picturesque port town of La Spezia. Not only is this a quaint town in its own right, but it’s also the perfect hub to take a day trip to Cinque Terre! If you do decide to head there, be sure to take advantage of the chance to take in the bright and colourful higgledy-piggledy houses climbing the craggy seaside cliffs of each town.
Next up, the glitz and glamour of the French Riviera. Nice is a gorgeous mixture of Italian and French culture, with no shortage of baguettes and gelato, it’s a foodie’s heaven. Chill on the beach, hire bikes to explore the coastline or hit up the many art galleries. Why not take a day trip to Monaco for some celeb spotting while you’re there?
A short train ride away, Montpellier will be next on your agenda! We reckon that this could be the French Riviera’s most cosmopolitan city, with lively and friendly locals and a cultural melting pot of French influence, with a feel for Spain, and a taste of North Africa.
Next up, you’ll work your way along the coast to Spain’s most buzzing city – Barcelona. Explore the golden beaches, picnic-perfect parks and incredible surreal architecture before stuffing yourself with tapas and generous lashings of red wine and sangria. This interrailing busines really is a hard life…
To round your trip off, you’ll take a night ferry to the balmy paradise of Palma! Enjoy laidback island life here and get a load of this little island’s abundant natural beauty; from ethereal caves to unspoiled sandy beaches, you’ll be spoilt for choice on what to see and do. If you think you might need more time to rest your weary and well-travelled bones at the end of your interrailing adventure, feel free to get in touch with us to add a few extra nights onto your route in advance!
What's included?
- All overland transport tickets from the first to the last city, as shown in the key.
- Any Interrail or Eurail passes if required, based on the best value for you.
- Compulsory seat reservations on high-speed rail, night trains or ferries.
- Accommodation in top-rated, centrally located hostels or hotels, tested by us.
- Walking directions between the stations and your booked accommodation.
- Optional walking tours, pub crawls and other activities at our partner hostels.
- A personalised travel booklet with maps, language guides, top tips, and more.
- Exclusive discounts on attractions across Europe.
- Peace of mind with alternative travel included if there is a strike or similar disruption.
- Access to our 24hr emergency phone number while you’re away.
The Route
Itinerary
The 3 week Sicily to Spain trip allows a more relaxed pace, taking in 8 cities in 22 days. Most of your journeys will have some flexibility, and you’ll travel during the day except for one night ferry. You’ll have a mix of shorter and longer trains, but don’t worry – we’ll always book times that allow you to make the most of each city.
Catania (2 Nights)
This ancient and quaint port city perched on the eastern coast of Sicily, lies beneath the imposing and breath-taking Mount Etna. With old-world architechture and charm, incredible locally sourced seafood, and breezy open-air bars by the sea, what more could you ask for?
Highlights
- Visit and even hike up Mount Etna if you’re brave!
- Head to Castello Ursino to get your fill of the city’s history
- Take a tour around any of the many art galleries dotted around the city
Sorrento (3 Nights)
Famous for its golden sandy beaches and mouthwateringly good limoncello, Sorrento is the perfect place to unwind and get a taste of that dolce vita. With a couple of nights here, be sure to take a tour of the beautiful cloisters and cathedrals before popping to a liqueur tasting to cool off!
Highlights
- Go beach-hopping around the beautifully rugged coastline
- Get a taste of the city’s famously good limoncello
- Take a load off by getting lost in the city’s cloisters and gardens
Rome (3 Nights)
Home to endless culture, stunning architecture and buzzing nightlife, Rome is one of the classic quintessentially European hubs to tick off your travel checklist. Take in the unreal food, fascinating culture, laidback lifestyle and experience it all!
Highlights
- Marvel at the ruins of the Roman Forum
- See the world-famous Colosseum
- Try real Italian coffee, ice-cream and pizza
La Spezia (2 Nights)
This little port city focuses most of its culture around the sea, with plenty of interesting museums by the sea, specialty seafood restaurants serving up fresh dishes, and of course, quaint neighbouring seaside villages to explore. A short train ride away from Cinque Terre, it’s also the perfect place to visit it for a day trip!
Highlights
- Explore the colourful cliffside towns of Cinque Terre with ease from here
- Take in the city’s imposing Castello di San Giorgio
- Lounge by the sea in any of the laidback open-air bars!
Nice (2 Nights)
Nice is effortlessly charming, with French Riviera sophistication and some of the best food and wine in Europe. Check out the quirky art museums, laze on the star-studded beaches, or take a trip to Monaco or Cannes from here!
Highlights
- Explore the old-world town of Nice
- See the sunset from the Promenade des Anglais
- Take a sightseeing cruise of the Cote d’Azur
Montpellier (2 Nights)
Popular with students and shopaholics alike, highly cosmopolitan Montpellier is a massively underrated city. Full to the brim with cultural wonders, have a browse of its modern galleries and boutiques, wander around the gorgeous botanical garden and get a flavour of the great nightlife!
Highlights
- Admire the ornate architecture of the Antigone district
- Shop until you drop!
- Get to know the rich foodie and bar scene
Barcelona (3 Nights)
It may not be the capital city, but Barcelona sure is one of Spain’s main cultural hubs and is definitely not one to miss! Home to amazing art, surreal architecture and vibrant Catalan culture, you won’t be disappointed to know that the nightlife scene and food are just as incredible.
Highlights
- See the Picasso Museum in the Gothic Quarter
- Spot Gaudi’s distinctive architecture in Parc Guell
- Crawl the bars around Las Ramblas
Palma (3 Nights)
Despite the development of its resorts, Palma remains beautifully unspoilt in many coastal areas, with golden sandy beaches and clear blue seas to dip into. The stunning collection of coves and inlets that surrounding this sleepy island are the perfect place to unwind, unless you’d prefer to get a taster of Mallorca’s world-famous island parties, of course!
Highlights
- Explore the whitewashed hill towns
- Pick from the range of waterside chill-out spots
- Party at Ibiza’s sister club Mallorca Rocks
How to get there
No stress! You can arrange a flight to Catania Fontanarossa Airport and a flight home from Palma Airport, whilst we take care of the transport in between your cities! Alternatively, if you’d like to start or end your trip elsewhere, just let us know and we’ll work a doable route out for you.
Optional Extras
Reviews
4.89 Average
578 Reviews
Overall Rating
2 weeks ago
I had the most amazing time on the Iron Curtain Tour! We managed to fit so much into the week, with so many great recommendations by our awesome tour leader. Any difficulties as a cause of current travel situations were resolved without issue, and I always felt safe. Euroventure tours are to the best places, with the best people, and I cannot recommend them enough. Please do yourself a favour and book with them!
Overall Rating
2 weeks ago
I had an amazing time on the iron curtain tour which was well organised so I could see a lot in a short space of time. Our tour leader was great; very knowledgeable and made good recommendations in each city. I was also pleased with the quality and location of the hostels. I will definitely consider booking with euroventure again.
Overall Rating
2 weeks ago
The Iron Curtain Tour I went on was a great adventure! Euroventure was responsive with communication and on the tour the hostels were wonderful! My group was affected by the pandemic closures, but we made the most of it and Euroventure kept us updated throughout the week. No issues during travel!
Overall Rating
2 weeks ago
Can't Fault Euroventure team for everything and creating the trip of a lifetime! Even with the current coronavirus issues, they are flexible, understanding and dealt with any concerns of the virus to reroute the trip. Will definitely be using them again!
Overall Rating
3 weeks ago
Had a wonderful trip organised with Euroventure. All hotels fab and instructions on how to get to places spot on. No issues at all and I definitely recommend. Hil
Questions & Answers
Don't see the answer you're looking for?
Find out how we protect your trip during Coronavirus.
For just £50 you can have a flexible departure date
Need to find flights? Find the best deals on Skyscanner.
Meet The Team Behind Your Trip
