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Firebird Tours · Group tour

Costa Verde Express Train: Bilbao - Santiago de Compostela

Six-day train journey along Spain's northern coast from Bilbao to Santiago

Illustration of Costa Verde Express Train: Bilbao - Santiago de Compostela

Firebird Tours operates the Costa Verde Express, a six-day guided rail journey along Spain's northern Atlantic coast from Bilbao to Santiago de Compostela. All five nights are spent aboard the train itself, which stops at seven destinations: Santander, Llanes, Oviedo, Luarca, Viveiro, Ribadeo, and finally Santiago. Expert English-speaking guides lead you through each city, from Bilbao's Guggenheim Museum and the medieval stone village of Santillana del Mar on day two, to the Sanctuary of Covadonga set in the Picos de Europa mountains on day three, and the distinctive rock-arch formations of Playa de las Catedrales on day five. The journey concludes with a guided tour of Santiago de Compostela's cathedral and a farewell lunch at the Parador Reyes Catolicos. This trip suits travelers seeking guided rail comfort, cultural exploration of Basque and Galician regions, and the romance of waking each morning in a new coastal town.

What to know before you look closer

  • All five nights are spent aboard the train rather than in traditional hotels; confirm sleeping cabin amenities with Firebird Tours before booking
  • The operator publishes no pricing in this evidence; request current fares and any single supplement directly from Firebird Tours

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Aboard the Costa Verde Express, Santander

    Bilbao Train Boarding with Bilbao Tour

    Reception at Concordia-Bilbao station, then a panoramic Bilbao city tour including the Guggenheim Museum, before the train departs for Santander.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Aboard the Costa Verde Express, Llanes

    Santander City Tour & Departure to Llanes

    Guided city tour of Santander, then breakfast on board as the train heads to Cabezon de la Sal; visit medieval Santillana del Mar and the Neo-cave of Altamira before continuing through Asturias to Llanes.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Aboard the Costa Verde Express, Oviedo

    Llanes City Tour & Sanctuary of Covadonga

    Guided city tour of Llanes; coach excursion into the Picos de Europa to the Sanctuary of Covadonga, then the train continues to Oviedo.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Aboard the Costa Verde Express, Luarca

    Oviedo City Tour, Gijon & Departure to Luarca

    Guided tour of Oviedo's Asturian pre-Romanesque architecture; visit Gijon, then the train continues to Luarca, the 'White Village of the Costa Verde'.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Aboard the Costa Verde Express, Viveiro

    Playa de las Catedrales & Departure to Viveiro

    Arrival in Ribadeo (first Galician stop); visit the rock formations of Playa de las Catedrales, free time and lunch, then the train continues to Viveiro for a guided city tour.

  6. Day 6rail

    Departure to Santiago de Compostela

    Breakfast on board as the train arrives in Ferrol; bus transfer to Santiago de Compostela for a guided city tour of the Cathedral of Santiago and a farewell lunch at the Parador Reyes Catolicos.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Panoramic Bilbao city tour includes the Guggenheim Museum before boarding the Costa Verde Express for Santander
  • Day 2Coach visit to medieval Santillana del Mar and the Neo-cave of Altamira replica in Cantabria
  • Day 3Coach excursion into the Picos de Europa to the Sanctuary of Covadonga, a spiritual site set in limestone mountains
  • Day 5Visit to Playa de las Catedrales in Ribadeo, a rock-arch beach formation at the border between Asturias and Galicia
  • Day 6Guided tour of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela followed by a farewell lunch at the Parador Reyes Catolicos

Included

  • Exceptional downtown hotel accommodations
  • Guided sightseeing tours with expert English-speaking guides
  • Delicious breakfasts at your hotels
  • In-depth exploration of best landmarks
  • Tickets and intercity transportation as per itinerary
  • Professional meeting services at the airport
  • Dedicated support team before and during your trip

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. All travel aboard the Costa Verde Express from Bilbao to Santiago de Compostela, plus coach transfers to excursion sites, are included in the package price
Is this trip guided or independent?
It is fully guided. Firebird Tours provides expert English-speaking guides for all city tours and excursions, plus a dedicated crew aboard the train
Where do you sleep?
All five nights are aboard the Costa Verde Express train; the train stops overnight in Santander, Llanes, Oviedo, Luarca, and Viveiro
What is included in the price?
Accommodations aboard the train, guided sightseeing tours, breakfasts at hotels, tickets and intercity transportation as per itinerary, professional airport meeting services, and a dedicated support team
How much walking is involved?
The trip operates at a moderate pace with guided city walking tours in each destination and coach excursions to outlying sites such as the Sanctuary of Covadonga and Playa de las Catedrales
When does the trip run?
Firebird Tours has not published departure dates in this listing; contact the operator directly for the 2024 and 2025 schedule

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