The south of France begins just over the Pyrenees, and a private chauffeur turns the border into an easy part of the journey. Guests ask me for Barcelona to Carcassonne, to Perpignan, to Collioure and for a road trip that mixes them. The exact route is yours to choose; the trip is quoted on request.
Barcelona to the south of France: where you can go
Two destinations anchor most requests. From Plaça de Catalunya to Perpignan it is 192 km, about 2 h 15 min without traffic (route on Google Maps). To Carcassonne it is 303 km, about 3 h 20 min (route on Google Maps).
Those are straight drives with no stops. A day with lunch, a walk through a walled town and a stop on the way back needs more time, and I plan it with you.
Barcelona to Carcassonne
Carcassonne has a medieval walled city that guests visit for the ramparts and the old streets. It is a long drive each way, so I usually suggest one of two plans: an early start with a late return, or an overnight stay with the car and driver booked for the days you need. Neither has a fixed price, because there is no day-trip rate for destinations this far from Barcelona; it is a one-way or return transfer, quoted on request.
Barcelona to Perpignan and the coast
Perpignan is the closer option, and it can be combined with a stop in Girona on the way. Smaller coastal villages near the border are an alternative for a shorter day. If you want an organised day rather than a destination, my day trip to France page describes how I plan it, and the private Girona tour fits well on the way.
Prices and how I quote the trip
Trips to France are not in my fixed price table. The quote is per vehicle, not per person, VAT included, and it covers the route you agree with me. What shapes the figure is the destination, the date, whether the car returns the same day, and the vehicle.
If you plan several days, tell me the number and where you stay, and I quote the whole programme in one reply. Time on the road is hours of hire at the hourly rate in the prices page, and the 6 h minimum per day applies to hourly hire.
Vehicles for the French run
| Vehicle | Passengers |
|---|---|
| Mercedes E-Class | up to 3 |
| Mercedes S-Class | up to 3 |
| Mercedes V-Class | up to 7 |
| Mercedes Sprinter | up to 16 |
| Minibus | up to 33 |
| Coach | up to 60 |
For a couple on a road trip the E-Class or the S-Class is comfortable on a long day, and the S-Class is booked by the hour. For four to seven travellers the V-Class has space for bags. Larger parties travel by Sprinter, minibus or coach.
Train, flight or car?
- Train. High-speed trains link Barcelona and France; check the options and timetables on the Renfe website.
- Flight. Flights to Nice and other French cities leave from Barcelona airport. I can take you to the terminal; see Barcelona airport transfer.
- Private car. The best way to see several small places on one trip, to carry luggage, or to travel on your own schedule.
Crossing the border
You are crossing between two Schengen countries, but I cannot advise on documents. Carry the identity papers required for your nationality, and check the rules with the official sources of both countries. For the Catalan side, the Catalonia tourism site lists what to see before you cross.
Sample plans for a drive into France
These are ideas, not fixed itineraries, and each is quoted on request.
- Girona and Collioure. Head north with a stop in Girona, cross the border and spend the afternoon on the French coast before returning.
- Perpignan for a day. The shortest of the main French destinations, with time for a walk and a long lunch.
- Carcassonne overnight. Drive up in the morning, see the walled city, stay the night and return the next day.
- A longer road trip. Several days with the same driver and vehicle, stopping where you like.
For road-trip planning from Barcelona, my day trips from Barcelona page lists the options on the Spanish side. The Dalí Museum in Figueres, for example, is a natural stop on the way north, and the museum’s own website at salvador-dali.org has its practical details.
Luggage and the right vehicle for a long trip
On a multi-day trip the luggage is the first thing that fills a car. Two couples with a week of clothes need more than an E-Class, and I would book the V-Class. Tell me the party size and the number of bags, and I choose the vehicle. The driver stays with the car, so you never need to find parking in a walled town.
Hourly hire or a fixed destination?
Because these trips are long, the quote is built from the route and the time on the road rather than from a fixed table. If you would rather think in hours, the chauffeur by the hour page explains the hourly rate and the 6 h minimum. I tell you which approach is better for your plan, and the destinations index shows the shorter runs for comparison.
What to know before booking
Send me the places you have in mind, not just the final stop. A walled city, a beach village and a long lunch in between make a good day, but they need hours, and I quote on the hours the plan actually needs. If your plan changes on the road, I adjust with you, and the quote tells you how a change to the route is handled. I would rather agree the plan clearly than surprise you on the day.
How to book
- Send the quote form with the destination, date, and number of travellers.
- Say whether you return the same day, stay overnight or want several days.
- I reply by e-mail or WhatsApp with the vehicle, route and price, VAT included.
- Confirm, and the driver arrives at the agreed time.
Use the form below, or go to the contact page.
Last updated 1 November 2026.
