Sure, you could fly. You could spend four hours jammed into a metal tube, eating a sad little bag of pretzels. But where’s the romance in that?
Taking the train is glorious. It’s like a mini-holiday before your actual holiday. You get to watch the countryside change from the grey drizzle of England to the sun-baked hills of Spain, all while sipping something fizzy.
The Game Plan: Eurostar first
Your journey begins at London St Pancras. That station is so pretty it should have its own Instagram account. You’ll hop on the Eurostar, which shoots you under the English Channel faster than you can say "bonjour."
Two and a half hours later, you pop out in Paris. Paris! You didn't even need to pack a scarf to look sophisticated. You'll have a short stopover—perfect for a quick espresso or to practice your French by accidentally ordering the wrong pastry.
Paris to the border: The real fun starts
Next up: a high-speed TGV train from Paris to the French-Spanish border at Hendaye. This is where the magic kicks in. The train flies through the French countryside, past vineyards and sleepy villages you’ll never remember the names of.
Pack a good book or just press your face to the window. I’m not judging. Eventually, the landscape gets all dramatic with the Pyrenees mountains looming in the distance. It’s a showstopper.
The famous "border hop"
You’ll arrive at a small French station called Hendaye. It’s charming, but you're not done yet. You literally walk across the platform to a connecting train that takes you, in a breezy 20 minutes, to the Spanish side.
Boom. You’re in Spain. ¡Olé! The whole transfer is so smooth you’ll feel like a secret agent on a very leisurely mission.
