Flights from Barcelona to France from 22GBP*

Flights to France from Barcelona

From Barcelona, France opens up through 7 different gateways, from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. Almost all of them are just over 1 hour away by air, and Paris is under 2. At those distances, a weekend in France is an easy short break rather than a big trip. What really changes is where you come in.

What documents you need to travel to France

France is part of the European Union and the Schengen Area, so Spanish and other EU citizens only need a valid national ID card or passport. No visa is required for tourist stays.

One detail that catches people out at the check-in desk: on flights within Schengen, the physical Spanish ID card (DNI) is required, and the digital version is only valid on flights within Spain. If you are travelling with children, each one needs their own document, and if only one parent is travelling, it is worth carrying the other parent’s authorisation. If you hold another nationality, check your situation on the travel documents page before you book.

What to know when you land in France

From the airport into town. Paris is the only city that needs some planning. Its airports are a long way out, and the train or coach into the city takes around 1 hour, so check the journey before you book somewhere to stay. Nice is the opposite: the airport sits right by the Promenade and the tram reaches the centre in a few minutes. Lyon, Bordeaux, Marseille and Nantes all have a shuttle or a direct tram from the terminal.

The TGV. This is what turns 7 gateways into a whole country. Paris and Lyon are 2 hours apart, and from any of the 7 cities you can reach the others without a car. Flying into one and home from another usually works better than a return to the same place.

A car for the countryside. In Provence, the Dordogne or along the Atlantic coast, public transport thins out. If your plans take you beyond the cities, hiring a car stops being optional.

Weather by region. Paris is grey and wet for much of autumn and winter. The Mediterranean south gets sun almost all year, with the mistral a constant companion. The Alps change completely from one season to the next.

France uses the euro. Plug sockets are types C and E, at 230V.

What to do in France

Paris

The densest concentration of culture in Europe, all within walking distance. World-class museums, architecture you can enjoy without stepping inside anywhere, and a food scene that runs from the neighbourhood bistro to haute cuisine. 2 nights cover the historic centre. With 4, the real city starts to show itself.

Nice and the Côte d’Azur

You land practically on the seafront. From Nice, the coastal train reaches Cannes, Antibes and Monaco in a matter of minutes, so you can do it all without a car. Life moves more slowly than in Paris, and the cooking has Italian and Provençal influences you will not find anywhere else in the country.

Lyon

France’s recognised capital of gastronomy, and a city for people who travel to eat well. Its bouchons, a historic centre listed as a World Heritage Site and a manageable size make it ideal for 2 or 3 days. It is also 2 hours from Paris by train, if you want to combine the two.

Bordeaux and the south-west

Wine, 18th-century architecture and an urban makeover that has transformed the city over the last decade. It pairs well with Saint-Émilion, half an hour away, and with the Atlantic coast of the Landes, where surfing and dunes take over in summer.

Marseille, Nantes and Strasbourg

Marseille is the gateway to the French Mediterranean and the Calanques, with a character unlike any other city in the country. Nantes opens up Brittany and the Loire Valley. Strasbourg sits where France meets Germany, with an old town listed as a World Heritage Site and the best-known Christmas market in Europe.

Luggage for your flight to France

What you can take depends on the fare you choose when booking. The simplest fare includes a personal item that fits under the seat in front, and from there you can add cabin or checked luggage.

For a weekend in any of the 7 cities, cabin luggage is usually enough. If you are linking several cities by train, sorting out your luggage while you book saves you hauling too much between stations. Check the current conditions in Vueling’s luggage policy.