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Tailor Made Rail · Tailor-made rail holiday

Grand Rail Tour of Spain & Portugal

29-day tailor-made rail tour from London through Spain and Portugal

Illustration of Grand Rail Tour of Spain & Portugal

Tailor Made Rail operates this 29-day, 28-night independent rail holiday connecting France, Spain, and Portugal, starting and ending in London via Eurostar. After a first night in Montpellier, the route runs south into Spain for stays in Barcelona, Valencia, Madrid, Cordoba, and Seville, each with several nights and free time to explore sights such as the Sagrada Família, the Prado Museum, and the Mezquita in Cordoba. A bus crosses into Portugal at Faro, and the route continues by train to Lisbon and Porto, including a scenic ride along the River Douro to Pinhão before a transfer to Salamanca. From there the journey heads north to San Sebastian and crosses back into France at Bordeaux before returning to London. This is a self-guided trip: Tailor Made Rail provides tickets, hotel bookings, and travel documentation, but travelers plan their own days in each city. Fully tailor-made, the route, hotels, and length can all be adapted, suiting independent travelers comfortable managing a long, multi-country itinerary.

What to know before you look closer

  • Every hotel on the route is listed as 'or similar,' meaning the exact property booked in each city can vary from the one named.
  • The Seville to Faro leg is travelled by bus, not train, the one non-rail segment on an otherwise all-rail itinerary.
  • The single supplement for solo travelers and any First Class rail upgrade are priced separately and not included in the from-price.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Montpellier

    London to Montpellier

    Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris, Gare de Lyon TGV to Montpellier. Overnight at the Grand Hotel du Midi (or similar).

  2. Day 2railovernight: Barcelona

    Montpellier to Barcelona

    Direct train to Barcelona, check in for a 3-night stay at the Catalonia Born (or similar). Sagrada Família, Park Güell, Las Ramblas, Gothic Quarter.

  3. Day 3overnight: Barcelona

    Barcelona

    Time at leisure in Barcelona.

  4. Day 4overnight: Barcelona

    Barcelona

    Time at leisure in Barcelona.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Valencia

    Barcelona to Valencia

    Train south to Valencia, check in at the Vincci Mercat Hotel (or similar) for a 2-night stay. Old Town, City of Arts and Sciences, Turia Gardens.

  6. Day 6overnight: Valencia

    Valencia

    Time at leisure in Valencia; birthplace of paella.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Madrid

    Valencia to Madrid

    Train across Spain to Madrid, check in at the H10 Villa de la Reina (or similar) for a 3-night stay. Prado Museum, Plaza Mayor, Retiro Park, Puerta del Sol.

  8. Day 8overnight: Madrid

    Madrid

    Time at leisure in Madrid.

  9. Day 9overnight: Madrid

    Madrid

    Time at leisure in Madrid.

  10. Day 10railovernight: Cordoba

    Madrid to Cordoba

    2-hour rail journey to Cordoba, 2 nights at the Soho Boutique Hotel Capuchinos (or similar). Mezquita, Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, Jewish Quarter.

  11. Day 11overnight: Cordoba

    Cordoba

    Time at leisure in Cordoba.

  12. Day 12railovernight: Seville

    Cordoba to Seville

    Quick rail journey to Seville, 3-night stay at the Dona Maria Hotel (or similar). Alcázar Palace, Seville Cathedral, Giralda Tower, Santa Cruz district.

  13. Day 13overnight: Seville

    Seville

    Time at leisure in Seville.

  14. Day 14overnight: Seville

    Seville

    Time at leisure in Seville.

  15. Day 15overnight: Faro

    Seville to Faro

    Journey into Portugal by bus from Seville to Faro, capital of the Algarve. Old Town, cathedral, Ria Formosa Natural Park.

  16. Day 16overnight: Faro

    Faro

    Time at leisure in Faro.

  17. Day 17railovernight: Lisbon

    Faro to Lisbon

    First Portuguese domestic train north to Lisbon, 3-night stay at the Heritage Avenida Liberdade (or similar). Alfama district, Belém Tower, Jerónimos Monastery.

  18. Day 18overnight: Lisbon

    Lisbon

    Time at leisure in Lisbon.

  19. Day 19overnight: Lisbon

    Lisbon

    Time at leisure in Lisbon.

  20. Day 20railovernight: Porto

    Lisbon to Porto

    Rail journey north to Porto, 3 nights at the Eurostar das Artes (or similar). Ribeira district, Dom Luís I Bridge, port wine cellars.

  21. Day 21overnight: Porto

    Porto

    Time at leisure in Porto.

  22. Day 22overnight: Porto

    Porto

    Time at leisure in Porto.

  23. Day 23railovernight: Salamanca

    Porto to Salamanca

    Scenic rail journey along the River Douro to Pinhão, leisurely lunch, then private transfer to Salamanca. 2-night stay at the Catalonia Plaza Mayor (or similar).

  24. Day 24overnight: Salamanca

    Salamanca

    Full day in Salamanca: Plaza Mayor, two cathedrals, university streets.

  25. Day 25railovernight: San Sebastian

    Salamanca to San Sebastian

    Regional train north to San Sebastian, 3-night stay at the Zinema7 Hotel (or similar). La Concha beach, Old Town, Monte Igueldo funicular.

  26. Day 26overnight: San Sebastian

    San Sebastian

    Time at leisure in San Sebastian.

  27. Day 27overnight: San Sebastian

    San Sebastian

    Time at leisure in San Sebastian.

  28. Day 28overnight: Bordeaux

    San Sebastian to Bordeaux

    Eusko Tren (payable locally) across the border at Hendaye, transfer onto a French service to Bordeaux. Overnight at the Mercure Bordeaux Gare Atlantique (or similar).

  29. Day 29rail

    Bordeaux to London

    TGV service back to Paris then Gare du Nord for the journey back to London.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Arrival in Barcelona for a 3-night stay, with the Sagrada Família, Park Güell, Las Ramblas, and the Gothic Quarter to explore.
  • Day 17Arrival in Lisbon for a 3-night stay, taking in the Alfama district, Belém Tower, and Jerónimos Monastery.
  • Day 23A scenic rail journey along the River Douro to Pinhão with a leisurely lunch, followed by a private transfer to Salamanca.
  • Day 28The Eusko Tren crosses the Spain-France border at Hendaye, connecting onto a French service into Bordeaux.

Included

  • All rail journeys, in standard class
  • Seat reservations where required
  • 28 nights' handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • Easy-to-follow travel documentation
  • Despatch of tickets by email
  • Proactive rerouting in case of strikes or disruptions

Not included

  • Single supplement (for sole occupancy)
  • First Class rail upgrade (optional extra)
  • Seville to Faro bus leg is not included in the rail journeys line (travelled by bus)

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes, all rail journeys are included in standard class with seat reservations where required, apart from the Seville to Faro leg, which is travelled by bus and not included in the rail journeys line.
Is this trip guided or independent?
It is self-guided and independent. Tailor Made Rail provides tailor-made itinerary support, easy-to-follow travel documentation, and tickets despatched by email.
Which cities does the route visit?
Montpellier, Barcelona, Valencia, Madrid, Cordoba, Seville, Faro, Lisbon, Porto, Pinhão, Salamanca, San Sebastian, and Bordeaux, starting and ending in London via Eurostar.
What is included in the price?
All rail journeys in standard class, seat reservations, 28 nights of handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast, travel documentation, ticket despatch by email, and proactive rerouting in case of strikes or disruptions.
Can the itinerary be changed?
Yes. Tailor Made Rail describes the trip as fully tailor-made: dates, route, hotel upgrades, and extra nights or destinations can all be adapted.
What does it cost?
From £3,499 per person in low season (November to March) or £3,899 in high season (April to October), per person twin or double share in standard class.

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