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Vacations By Rail · Independent luxury rail vacation

El Transcantábrico: San Sebastián to Santiago de Compostela

Luxury train across northern Spain from San Sebastián to Santiago de Compostela

Illustration of El Transcantábrico: San Sebastián to Santiago de Compostela

El Transcantábrico with Vacations By Rail is a 10-day luxury journey across northern Spain, starting in San Sebastián and ending in Santiago de Compostela. Travelers spend seven nights aboard El Transcantábrico, the country's oldest luxury train, which travels the Cantabrian coast and into Galicia, with guided city tours at eight stops along the way. The itinerary moves through Bilbao, where guests visit the Guggenheim Museum; medieval Santillana del Mar and the 36,000-year-old Altamira caves; Picos de Europa National Park and its Lake Enol; and the fishing villages and beaches of Galicia. Guests stay in the 4-star Barcelo Costa Vasca in San Sebastián and conclude at the 5-star Parador de Santiago, one of the world's oldest hotels. Meals, entertainment aboard the train, and private transfers are included. The trip suits those seeking luxury rail travel combined with Spanish culture, history, and coastal scenery.

What to know before you look closer

  • The package includes train travel and hotels, but flights are booked separately
  • Cancellation and travel insurance are not included but can be arranged through Vacations By Rail
  • Several days feature a mix of coach and rail travel rather than rail-only segments

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: San Sebastián

    Arrival in San Sebastián

    Transfer to San Sebastián and check in to the hotel. Optional excursions available at a supplement (Private Tapas Tour; Rioja Day-Trip). Option to extend to a two-night stay.

  2. Day 2railovernight: El Transcantábrico (Carranza)

    Boarding El Transcantábrico

    Guided tour of San Sebastián and lunch at a local restaurant, then coach along the coast to Bilbao to board El Transcantábrico. Welcome drink, cabin settle-in, first onboard dinner in a retro dining car, and entertainment. Train rests overnight in Carranza.

  3. Day 3railovernight: El Transcantábrico (Santander)

    Bilbao, the Guggenheim and Santander

    Breakfast onboard, then to Bilbao to visit the Guggenheim Museum. Lunch onboard as the train continues to Santander for a city tour, including the Magdalena Palace. Optional visit to the Gran Casino de Santander after dinner.

  4. Day 4overnight: El Transcantábrico (Cabezón de la Sal)

    Cantabria and the Hermida Gorge

    Travel to Unquera, then coach to Potes via the Hermida Gorge in the Picos de Europa. Visit the Hotel Balneario de la Hermida's thermal spa, then Comillas to see El Capricho (a Gaudí-designed villa). Dinner and overnight in Cabezón de la Sal.

  5. Day 5railovernight: El Transcantábrico (Llanes)

    Medieval Spain & the Altamira Caves

    Visit Santillana del Mar, a preserved medieval town, then the Altamira cave complex to view prehistoric cave art over 36,000 years old. Train continues to coastal Llanes for dinner and overnight.

  6. Day 6railovernight: El Transcantábrico (Oviedo)

    Picos de Europa National Park & Oviedo

    Coach to Picos de Europa National Park to visit Lake Enol and the sanctuary of Covadonga. Return to the train for lunch, continuing to Oviedo for a guided city tour, including the Cathedral of San Salvador. Train rests overnight in Oviedo.

  7. Day 7overnight: El Transcantábrico (Luarca)

    Along the Asturian Coast

    Visit coastal Gijón for lunch, then continue along the coast to the fishing village of Luarca for a guided tour. Dinner and overnight in Luarca.

  8. Day 8railovernight: El Transcantábrico (Viveiro)

    Galicia's beaches and historic towns

    Cross into Galicia at Ribadeo; coach along the coast to visit Playa de Las Catedrales, then a tour of Ribadeo. After lunch, board the train to Viveiro for a guided tour and free time. Dinner and overnight in Viveiro.

  9. Day 9overnight: Santiago de Compostela

    Santiago de Compostela

    Final breakfast aboard El Transcantábrico en route to Ferrol, then coach to Santiago de Compostela to visit the historic center and cathedral. Check in to the Parador de Santiago. Option to extend to a two-night stay with optional excursions (Wines & Landscapes Day Trip; Galicia Coast & Mussel Tasting Cruise).

  10. Day 10

    Homeward bound

    Free time in Santiago before a private transfer from the hotel to the airport.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Visit the Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, then continue by train to Santander for a guided tour of the Magdalena Palace
  • Day 5Explore Santillana del Mar, a preserved medieval town, then visit the Altamira cave complex to see prehistoric art spanning over 36,000 years
  • Day 6Coach into Picos de Europa National Park to visit Lake Enol and the sanctuary of Covadonga, surrounded by wild mountains
  • Day 8Cross into Galicia and tour Playa de Las Catedrales along the coast, then explore the fishing village of Ribadeo
  • Day 9Arrive in Santiago de Compostela to tour the historic center and cathedral, staying in the Parador de Santiago

Included

  • 1 night in the 4-Star Barcelo Costa Vasca, San Sebastián
  • 1 night in the 5-Star Parador de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela
  • 7 nights on the El Transcantábrico luxury train
  • Private transfers from & to the airport

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance (not included but can be arranged)
  • Flights

Also sold by

The same itinerary is listed by more than one company. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

Questions travellers ask

What is included in the price?
Seven nights aboard El Transcantábrico, one night in the 4-star Barcelo Costa Vasca in San Sebastián, one night in the 5-star Parador de Santiago, private airport transfers, guided city tours at each stop, meals onboard and at restaurants, and onboard entertainment
Is the trip guided or independent?
It is independent luxury travel with guided city tours at San Sebastián, Bilbao, Santander, Oviedo, Luarca, Ribadeo, Viveiro, and Santiago de Compostela
Which train operates this journey?
El Transcantábrico, Spain's oldest luxury train, which runs from Bilbao to Ferrol via Santander, Oviedo, Luarca, and Viveiro
Are flights included?
No. Flights are booked separately; the package covers the train, hotels, and transfers from and to the airport
How many nights are spent on the train?
Seven nights aboard El Transcantábrico, with the train resting at different stops each night
What optional experiences are available?
Optional extras include a private tapas tour and Rioja wine day-trip in San Sebastián, a Galicia coast and mussel tasting cruise in Santiago, and two-night extensions in either city

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