This Rail Tour is a real 'slow travel' experience, using small Spanish trains to go from one small picturesque village to the next. The North of Spain offers charm, hospitality, beautiful landscapes and tons of culture. Every town has its own historical attractions, from Bilbao's Guggenheim museum to Santillana's Altamira Caves rock paintings to Santiago's famous Christian monuments. High-speed trains take you to/from Spain from the airport/station of your choice. Together with the tickets and daily guides available via the Happyrail app and our live support, this promises to be a relaxing and unique trip by train.
 

Day 1 - To San Sebastian

From Paris/London/Amsterdam/Brussels: You travel by comfortable high-speed trains to Hendaye on the Spanish border, where you transfer to the local Euskotren train to San Sebastián. Arrival in the evening, accommodation in a modern hotel close to the main train station.

From Madrid: Arrive in Madrid the day before, where you stay one night in a modern hotel close to Chamartín train station. On Day 1, travel by direct gauge-changing high-speed train to San Sebastián, over high-speed lines and classic mountain railroads. Accomodation in San Sebastián in a modern hotel close to the main train station.

Day 2 - San Sebastián

Day off in San Sebastián, also known as Donostia in the Basque language. Discover this seaside city with its picturesque old town and lively modern districts. Visit the beach, climb Mount Urgull, and in this culinary city enjoy your first Pinxtos, a range of small dishes typical to Northern Spain, similar to the Spanish Tapas.

Day 3 - Bilbao

In the morning you have more time to visit San Sebastián/Donostia. In the afternoon, take a local Euskotren train to Bilbao, where you stay in a hotel close to the train station and city center. You're free to travel during any time of day you like, taking any train. Bilbao is home to the famous Guggenheim art museum, but also a lovely city in itself with a well-preserved and colorful old town. Like San Sebastián, the city is lively, due to its architecture, modern allure and excellent cuisine.

Day 4 - Bilbao & train to Santillana del Mar

In the afternoon you travel by narrow-gauge train to Santillana del Mar in Cantabria, leaving the Basque country. In Torrelavega you transfer to either bus or taxi for the last part of the journey to Santillana del Mar, one of Spain’s most beautiful towns, staying in a traditional Spanish hotel in the town’s center.

Day 5 - Santillana del Mar

Time to visit the famous Altamira Caves museum, where prehistoric objects and paintings were found. Access to the caves themselves is very restricted, but the local museum offers an exact replica of the caves and the cave paintings. Some beautiful beaches are only a 15-minute taxi ride from Santillana; hotel staff will be more than happy to arrange this for you.

Day 6 - Llanes

Departure via bus or taxi to Torrelavega, and from there by local train to Llanes. This is a charming town on the coast and offers beautiful scenery all around. After bringing your luggage to your hotel, visit the town’s old town with its bold mixture of architectural styles. The town has an interesting museum dedicated to its naval history. Accommodation in a traditional hotel close to the beach.

Day 7 - Oviedo

Spend the morning and afternoon in Llanes or on the beach. In the afternoon, take the local train further west to Oviedo. The capital of the Asturias region has a beautiful medieval old town. Asturias has a cuisine all of its own, waiting to be explored in the city’s many restaurants.

Day 8 - to Santiago

Departure from Oviedo in the direction of Santiago de Compostela. The narrow-gauge train takes you to Ferrol, where you transfer to the regular Spanish express train to Santiago de Compostela. Here you'll stay in a modern hotel near the city center.

Day 9 - Santiago de Compostela

Day off to discover the famous pilgrimage city of Santiago de Compostela. According to legend, the Apostle James lies buried in the city’s cathedral. Nowadays the old town is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city also offers a rich cultural scene, with multiple modern and classical art museums.

Day 10 - Burgos or Madrid

Ending the rail tour in Paris/London/Amsterdam/Brussels: In the morning you board the express train to Burgos, sometimes with one transfer, sometimes by direct train. You arrive in Burgos in the afternoon, the city is a 15-minute bus ride away from the main train station. Burgos is a stop on the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela and also has a UNESCO World Heritage old town with a beautiful gothic cathedral. Accommodation in a hotel in the city center.

Ending the rail tour in Madrid: Board the direct high-speed train from Santiago de Compostela to Madrid. Accomodation in a modern hotel close to Atocha train station.

Day 11

Ending the rail tour in Paris/London/Amsterdam/Brussels:  In the late morning you board the intercity train taking you from Burgos to Irún, on the French border. For the last 10 minutes of the journey you once again take a local Euskotren train to Hendaye, in France. Accommodation in traditional hotel Le Santiago, close to the train station and hosting an excellent French-style restaurant.

Ending the rail tour in Madrid: Transfer from Madrid Atocha station to Barajas airport by local train. 

Day 12

Ending in Paris/London/Amsterdam/Brussels: Departure early in the morning by high-speed TGV train from Hendaye to Paris, where you transfer to the Eurostar train taking you to your destination of choice. A café/bistro car is available in both trains.