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Railbookers · Luxury train tour

El Transcantabrico - Gran Lujo from San Sebastian to Santiago De Compostela

Grand luxury private train tour across Northern Spain to Santiago

Illustration of El Transcantabrico - Gran Lujo from San Sebastian to Santiago De Compostela

Railbookers operates this 13-day, 12-night 'Gran Lujo' luxury train tour across Northern Spain, starting and ending in Madrid. After two nights in Madrid, including the Prado Museum and a Flamenco show, a train carries travelers to San Sebastian for a night and a guided pintxos bar tour. The centerpiece is seven nights aboard El Transcantabrico in a private Deluxe Suite, traveling day by day from San Sebastian through Santander, Potes, Cabezon de la Sal, Arriondas, Candás, Luarca and Viveiro, with excursions that include the Guggenheim Museum, Altamira's Stone Age cave art, the Picos de Europa National Park, and the beach at Las Catedrales. The journey ends at Ferrol, where a coach carries travelers on to Santiago de Compostela to visit the cathedral at the end of the Camino pilgrimage route, before a final train returns everyone to Madrid. This suits travelers who want an immersive, guided luxury rail journey through Northern Spain's coast and mountains rather than a fast point-to-point trip.

What to know before you look closer

  • Several days billed as 'Overnight Onboard El Transcantabrico' include real coach excursions away from the train, for example the coach into the Picos de Europa National Park on day 8 and the coach to the Las Catedrales beach on day 10.
  • The evidence lists no current departure dates for this trip; confirm availability and season with Railbookers before booking.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Madrid

    Your Journey Begins in Madrid

    Welcome to Madrid! You will be met on arrival at the airport and taken to your hotel for a 2-night stay; why not stretch your legs with a stroll around the beautiful Retiro park? Then in the evening, enjoy a drink and some tapas in the Puerta del Sol.

  2. Day 2overnight: Madrid

    Madrid

    Make use of your great sightseeing pass today, which gives you a choice of many great activities and attractions to visit. Discover masterpieces by Valazquez, Goya, and Bosch in the Prado perhaps, or maybe visit Las Ventras - the most important bullring in the world, or in the evening, enjoy a traditional Flamenco show in Torres Bermejas.

  3. Day 3railovernight: San Sebastian

    Madrid to San Sebastian

    Head up to Madrid Chamartín station for your train north today, and on arrival in San Sebastian check in at your hotel for a 1-night stay. In the evening meet your local guide who will take you on a tour of some of the city's best pintxos bars bustling with locals, in which you will be introduced to some of the best food and wine the city has to offer.

  4. Day 4railovernight: onboard El Transcantabrico, San Sebastian to Carranza

    Overnight Onboard El Transcantabrico Gran Lujo

    Meet your travelling companions for the next 7 days and enjoy lunch before taking a coach journey to Bilbao where you board the train and settle into your luxurious private suite - home for the next 7 nights. Dinner is served onboard as you travel to Carranza.

  5. Day 5railovernight: onboard El Transcantabrico, Carranza to Santander

    Overnight Onboard El Transcantabrico Gran Lujo

    Following breakfast onboard the train returns to Bilbao for a city tour and visit to the amazing Guggenheim Museum. Enjoy lunch onboard together with some beautiful scenery along the way before arriving in Santander where you have some free time to wander. Following dinner, a visit to the historic Grand Casino is included.

  6. Day 6railovernight: onboard El Transcantabrico, Santander to Cabezon de la Sal

    Overnight Onboard El Transcantabrico Gran Lujo

    Depart the train in Unquera and cross the impressive gorge of La Hermina en route to the charming Cantabrian village of Potes and beautiful views of the Liebana Valley. Then, perhaps take a dip at the Hermida Spa and re-join the train for lunch and continue to Cabezon de la Sal where you will have some free time to explore, before a visit Comillas' El Capricho - a fantastically colourful 19th Century house designed by a certain Antonio Gaudi.

  7. Day 7railovernight: onboard El Transcantabrico, Cabezon de la Sal to Arriondas

    Overnight Onboard El Transcantabrico Gran Lujo

    Your first stop today will be Santillana del Mar, a pretty village with a beautifully preserved medieval centre. Then it is on to Altamira and its breathtaking cave art, arguably the finest example of late Stone Age art known. Following lunch, you will travel by rail to the seaside resort of Ribadesella for some fresh Atlantic air before finally arriving in the riverside village of Arriondas.

  8. Day 8overnight: onboard El Transcantabrico, Arriondas to Candás

    Overnight Onboard El Transcantabrico Gran Lujo

    After breakfast, it's a coach ride deep into the Picos de Europa National Park, the heart of the Asturias region. Enjoy visiting mountain-framed lakes and spectacular Cantabrian views, then visit the spectacular Sanctuary of Covadonga, a sacred shrine tucked away in a cave high in the mountains. Once back onboard settled in for lunch before disembarking again in the region's capital - Oviedo, home of the magnificent Cathedral de San Salvador and the San Julian de los Prados basilica. Following a city tour and free time to explore enjoy dinner on board en-route to the seaside town of Candás.

  9. Day 9railovernight: onboard El Transcantabrico, Candás to Luarca

    Overnight Onboard El Transcantabrico Gran Lujo

    First, today is a tour of the ancient seafaring town of Aviles, then it's on to Gijon to explore Roman archaeological sites, Romanesque churches, and 19th-century shipyards. Once back onboard the train, enjoy the coastal views as you continue to the pretty fishing village of Luarca.

  10. Day 10railovernight: onboard El Transcantabrico, Luarca to Viveiro

    Overnight Onboard El Transcantabrico Gran Lujo

    The train crossed the border into the ancient region of Galicia this morning, as you arrive in the seaside town of Ribadeo, and from here travel by coach to Las Catedrales - one of the world's finest beaches. Back onboard, you will continue onto the gorgeous town of Viveiro. Explore its medieval city walls, and Romanesque churches, and enjoy dinner in one of its fantastic restaurants.

  11. Day 11railovernight: Santiago de Compostela

    Santiago De Compostela

    As the train pulls into Ferrol, you will wave goodbye to the impressive coastal fortress of Castello de San Felipe and take a coach ride to Santiago de Compostela. Follow in the footsteps of thousands of years of pilgrims to its famous cathedral and resting place of St James. Embark on a final city tour with your travelling companions over the past 7-days before checking in to your hotel.

  12. Day 12railovernight: Madrid

    Santiago De Compostela to Madrid

    Make your way to the station for your train to the Spanish capital for your final night in Spain. Once checked in why not take a stroll to the enormous Royal Palace, then toast your holiday with a dink on Plaza Mayor?

  13. Day 13

    Your Journey Ends in Madrid

    Enjoy breakfast at your hotel then meet your driver for the journey to the airport for your flight home.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 4Boarding El Transcantabrico in Bilbao and settling into a private Deluxe Suite, home for the next seven nights.
  • Day 7Visiting Altamira's cave art, 'arguably the finest example of late Stone Age art known.'
  • Day 8A coach ride into the Picos de Europa National Park to see mountain-framed lakes and the Sanctuary of Covadonga, 'a sacred shrine tucked away in a cave high in the mountains.'
  • Day 10A coach excursion to Las Catedrales, described as 'one of the world's finest beaches.'
  • Day 11Arriving in Santiago de Compostela to visit its cathedral, the resting place of St James, at the end of the Camino pilgrimage route.

Included

  • Rail travel as per the itinerary
  • 7 nights accommodation in a Deluxe Suite onboard the El Transcantabrico train
  • 3 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Madrid
  • 1 night hotel accommodation with breakfast in San Sebastian
  • 1 night hotel accommodation with breakfast in Santiago de Compostela
  • 1 Day Madrid Sightseeing Pass including the Prado Museum and Hop-on, Hop-off Tour
  • Private all-inclusive pintxos tour in San Sebastian
  • Return private airport transfers in Madrid

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes. Rail travel is included as per the itinerary: Renfe from Madrid to San Sebastian, seven nights in a Deluxe Suite aboard El Transcantabrico traveling across Northern Spain with several coach excursions along the way, and a train from Santiago de Compostela back to Madrid.
Is it escorted or independent?
The evidence describes it as 'Independent, with guided excursions included.' Onboard excursions, the San Sebastian pintxos tour and city tours are guided, while the Madrid days use a sightseeing pass at your own pace.
What is included in the price?
Rail travel, 7 nights in a Deluxe Suite onboard El Transcantabrico, 3 nights in Madrid, 1 night in San Sebastian and 1 night in Santiago de Compostela with breakfast, a Madrid Sightseeing Pass including the Prado Museum and Hop-on, Hop-off tour, a private all-inclusive pintxos tour in San Sebastian, and return private airport transfers in Madrid.
What hotels are included?
Named hotels in Madrid, including the Hospes Puerta de Alcala Madrid and the InterContinental Madrid, in San Sebastian, including the Hotel Maria Cristina, and in Santiago de Compostela, including the AC Hotel Palacio del Carmen.
How much walking is involved?
Extensive town and city touring across many stops, including Santillana del Mar, Aviles, Gijon and Viveiro, plus a coach excursion into the Picos de Europa National Park to reach the Sanctuary of Covadonga high in the mountains.
How much does it cost?
Prices start from 13,439 US dollars per person.

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