Mediterranean itinerary

Spain's third-largest city is a great place to start your Mediterranean adventure. Get there easily from Madrid or Barcelona, then get acquainted with the Med by taking a walk along the city's 2-mile-long beachfront promenade.

• Eat paella. As the birthplace of the iconic Spanish dish, you kind of have to. The traditional (rabbit) version can be found throughout the city, alongside seafood and vegan versions.
• Explore the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències, a futuristic complex of museums and cultural venues, often used as a filmset for sci-fi and dystopian films.
• Head to Turia Garden, to run, walk, cycle or relax within a 9km repurposed riverbed.

Sample a slice of Catalonia in Girona, one of its major historic centres. Lose yourself in the winding streets, museums and boutiques nestled within its Força Vella city walls. Then take a day trip down to the Costa Brava coastline or up to the Pyrenees mountains.

• You don't have to be a Game of Thrones fan to be impressed by the Catedral de Santa Maria and its grand baroque staircase.
• Stroll along the Onyar river and cross the Pont de les Peixateries Velles red bridge, designed by a certain Gustave Eiffel.
• Take a 15-min train (reservation required) to Figueres, artist Salvador Dalí's birthplace, and visit the Dalí Theatre-Museum.

Pass by the Pyrenees mountains to reach Montpellier in southern France. Stroll along its grand streets, passing Haussmann-style buildings and even its own Arc de Triomphe. Montpellier is a bit like being in Paris, but with crowds swapped for sun.

• People-watch from the Place de la Comédie, a terrace-filled square at the entrance of the old town. 
• View contemporary art at the MO.CO gallery, then further your travels in its eclectic garden shaped like a world map.
• Cycle 12km (7 miles) to Palavas, Montpellier's seaside suburb, looking out for wild flamingos on your way!

With its busy Old Port, urban beaches and seafood cuisine, Marseille is an essential Mediterranean stop. It's also a rail hub for the Provence region, with connections to Aix, Avignon and the Camargue natural park.

• Learn about the past, present and future of the Mediterranean region at Le Mucem, a museum housed in a building as iconic as the sea itself.
• Swim at Plage des Catalans urban beach, before grabbing a bowl of bouillabaisse, Marseille's famous fish soup.
• Hire a bike to explore the Calanques National Park, a collection of scenic coves between Marseille and Cassis.

Feel like a movie star in this glitzy French Riviera town known for its film festival, held every May. But Cannes' appeal stretches far beyond the festival month, with beaches, promenades and historical districts to enjoy all year long.

• Climb up the Suquet hill to explore Cannes' old town and admire the luxurious port and Croisette promenade below.
• Catch a film outdoors at one of the Ciné Quartier summer screenings or indoors at the modern Cinéum de Cannes cinema all year long.
• Smell, taste and buy the flavours of Provence at Forville Market, from aniseed biscuits to fresh fish.

You should be able to find a spot to enjoy the Mediterranean along Nice's impressive 7 kilometres of pebble beach. If you somehow can't (maybe in peak summer!), then come back later, after walking the Promenade des Anglais, exploring the old town or enjoying Nice's nightlife.

• Take in a performance at the Opéra Nice Côte d’Azur, located at the entrance of the old town.
• Hike the coastal path around the Cap de Nice to neighbouring Villefranche-sur-Mer for stunning views and local life.
• Visit the Matisse Museum to see nearly 600 of the artist's works, set within a Genoese villa.

Monaco's only train station may be (just) in France, excluding it from Interrail's 33 countries, but walk 100 metres south and you'll be in country 34. This small city-state is famed for its luxury casinos, hotels and superyachts, but there's still a wealth of budget activities to enjoy.

• Watch people (and their supercars) in the glamorous district of Monte Carlo.
• Go swimming or ice-skating within the Monaco Grand Prix circuit at the Stade Nautique Rainier III public pool.
• Visit the Prince's Palace at 11:55 for the free, daily Changing of the Guard ceremony. Go inside for a charge to see the State Apartments and Prince's car collection.

Experience the Italian Riviera in Genoa, a modern port city with one of the largest medieval city centres in the world. Its winding caruggi streets, filled with historical boutiques, confectioners and trattorias, beg to be explored.

• Try some of Genoa's specialities at a local trattoria: pesto sauce and focaccia bread. Perhaps you've heard of them?
• Visit one of the Palazzi dei Rolli on Strada Nuova, where fancy Renaissance palaces now house even fancier collections of art and furniture. 
• Spend some time by the Mediterranean at the redesigned Waterfront or the historical Boccadasse fishing village. Same sea, different vibes.

Pisa is much more than its Leaning Tower. Walk along the River Arno, visiting palazzos and museums, or enjoy a relaxed night out in the historic centre. Got spare travel days? Use Pisa as a hub to explore Tuscany's rolling hills and smaller cities, like Lucca and Viareggio, by rail.

• Explore the world's oldest university botanical garden (est. 1543), three hectares of plants nestled within the historic centre. 
• Stay longer in the Piazza dei Miracoli, where you can visit the Duomo, Baptistery and two museums, alongside the Leaning Tower.
• Try Tuscan comfort food, like pappa al pomodoro, a creamy tomato and bread soup.

This port city on the Tuscan coast is known for its seafood and its old and new fortresses. Livorno’s waterside promenade also provides beautiful views of the Mediterranean Sea.

• Explore the Venezia Nuova district, with canals, bridges and palazzos like Venice, but without the crowds.
• Walk along the elegant seaside Terrazza Mascagni in the evening and watch the sunset over the Mediterranean.
• Taste typical Tuscan seafood, choosing from cacciucco, seafood stew, or triglie alla livornese, red mullet with tomato.

Italy's capital is a great transport hub with which to start or end your Mediterranean rail trip. Its eternal appeal comes from the Roman and Renaissance landmarks at its heart, but its beating heart are the locals living across every district of this sprawling city.

• Stroll along the lower banks of the Tiber River, which cuts through the vast metropolis, for a moment of peace in the bustling city centre.
• Cross the Tiber to experience local Roman life in Trastevere, a neighbourhood famed for its bohemian bars, restaurants and shops.
• Head south of the centre to some alternative Roman remains: the Circus Maximus chariot arena, the huge Baths of Caracalla complex and one of the world's first roads, the Appian Way.