Skip to content
NEXT STOP Network
Login
People walking along a Mediterranean beach at sunset

Route

Spain East Coast

Barcelona → Valencia → Alicante
Suggested length
9 days
Stops
3
Countries covered
Spain
Partner hostels
7

The route in short

The simplest first trip in Spain: three Mediterranean cities on one train line, each one cheaper and slower than the last.

Fly into Barcelona, work your way south, and fly home from Alicante — no backtracking, no internal flights, and never more than three and a half hours on a train.

Stop by stop

3 cities over roughly 9 days, in the order they work best.

  1. Barcelona at dusk seen from Park Güell, with the city lights coming on

    Barcelona

    Spain3 nights

    The easiest arrival point in Spain, and the one city on this route you should not rush.

    Don't miss: Sunset from Bunkers del Carmel, a morning in the Gothic Quarter, and one Gaudí building booked in advance.

    Partner hostels in Barcelona

    Barcelona city guide

    Train to Valencia · 2h 40m

    Frequent high-speed trains from Barcelona Sants to Valencia Joaquín Sorolla.

  2. Train to Alicante · 1h 40m

    Direct trains run several times a day to Alicante Terminal.

  3. Alicante's harbour at night, full of boats under the lit waterfront

    Alicante

    Spain2 nights

    A relaxed finish with a castle, a beach and a cheap airport to fly home from.

    Don't miss: The lift up to Santa Bárbara castle, then the walk back down through the old town.

    Partner hostels in Alicante

    Alicante city guide

Journey times on this route are indicative. Operators change timetables by season, so check the current schedule before you commit to a travel day.

Where to stay on this route

Partner hostels in the cities above, bookable at the NEXT STOP rate with a NEXT PASS.

View all hostels

Other routes

All routes
NEXT PASS

Travel Spain East Coast through the network

Check into a partner hostel in Barcelona and scan the NEXT STOP QR code at reception. A digital pass appears on your phone, and the code unlocks the NEXT STOP rate at the next hostel on this route.

How NEXT PASS worksBrowse destinations