How much does it cost?

From £5,910 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $7,983 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is train travel included?

Yes. The price includes five nights aboard the Costa Verde Express and all meals listed in the itinerary (breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the train where indicated), plus flights from London Gatwick to Bilbao and back from Santiago de Compostela.

Is this an escorted tour?

Yes. Great Rail Journeys operates this as an escorted tour with organized transfers, guided excursions to Santillana del Mar, the Picos de Europa, Covadonga, and other stops, plus included meals and accommodation.

The Costa Verde Express, described as a luxury train that runs from Bilbao to Santiago de Compostela via Santander, Llanes, Oviedo, Gijón, Luarca, Ribadeo, Viveiro, and Ferrol.

What hotels are included?

One night in a choice of 3-star or 4-star hotels in Bilbao on arrival (Silken Indautxu or Barceló Bilbao Nervión or equivalent), five nights aboard the train, and one night at the Parador Reyes Católicos in Santiago de Compostela.

What is not included?

Cancellation and travel insurance are not included and must be purchased separately. Optional excursions such as a Private Tapas Tour, the Rioja Experience, and a Galicia Coast and Mussel Tasting Cruise are available at extra cost.

Great Rail Journeys · Luxury Train

La Costa Verde Express, Bilbao to Santiago de Compostela

Great Rail Journeys operates this 8-day escorted journey aboard the Costa Verde Express, a luxury train that departs from Bilbao and ends in Santiago de Compostela on Spain's northern coast. You will spend five nights on the train, traveling through the green landscapes and coastal towns of Asturias and Galicia, with two additional nights in hotels: one in Bilbao at the start and one at the historic Parador Reyes Católicos in Santiago de Compostela at the end. The itinerary balances time on the train with coach excursions and free time in towns. You will visit the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the medieval village of Santillana del Mar and the Altamira caves, cross the Picos de Europa mountains to Covadonga and Lake Enol, explore the Asturian capital of Oviedo, walk through coastal towns such as Gijón and Ribadeo, and spend time in Santiago de Compostela. Meals are provided throughout: breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the train, plus restaurant dinners in Santander and Santiago. This tour suits travelers who value comfort and guided experiences over independent exploration, and those with an interest in Spanish history and culture.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen £515 since 4 Jul, to £5,910.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

The final price excludes cancellation and travel insurance, which must be purchased separately
Hotels in Bilbao on Day 1 are described as 'handpicked' with a choice between 3-star and 4-star options; the actual property depends on which tier you select
No departure dates or months are listed; confirm availability and timing directly with Great Rail Journeys before booking

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Bilbao
Bilbao
Fly from London Gatwick to Bilbao and transfer to your hotel. Choose between handpicked 3* and 4* hotels on a B&B basis; optional excursions are available if extending your stay in Bilbao.
Day 2railovernight: Costa Verde Express (Santander)
La Costa Verde Express
Transfer to Bilbao Concordia Station to board the Costa Verde Express, with a panoramic tour of Bilbao and the Guggenheim Museum, a meal onboard en route to Santander, free time in the city, and dinner at a Santander restaurant before the first night onboard.
Day 3railovernight: Costa Verde Express (Llanes)
Santillana del Mar
Breakfast onboard en route to Cabezón de la Sal, then a coach to the medieval village of Santillana del Mar to visit the Altamira cave replica and enjoy lunch, before continuing by train into Asturias with a stop in Llanes and dinner onboard.
Day 4railovernight: Costa Verde Express (Oviedo)
The Picos de Europa and Oviedo
A coach trip to Cangas de Onís and across the Picos de Europa to the Sanctuary of Covadonga and Lake Enol, then lunch onboard before visiting Oviedo, the capital of Asturias, with dinner and an optional nightlife show in the train's entertainment car.
Day 5railovernight: Costa Verde Express (Luarca)
Gijón
Breakfast onboard, then free time to explore the coastal city of Gijón and enjoy lunch, before boarding the train to Luarca near the Galician border for dinner onboard.
Day 6overnight: Costa Verde Express (Viveiro)
Galicia
Breakfast onboard en route to the coastal town of Ribadeo for a stroll and lunch, then continue to Viveiro in A Mariña Lucense for dinner onboard.
Day 7overnight: Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela
Breakfast onboard to Ferrol, then transfer by coach to Santiago de Compostela to see the famous cathedral, with dinner at Parador Reyes Católicos and an overnight stay at the hotel. Guests can choose to extend their stay here with optional excursions.
Day 8
Santiago de Compostela to the UK
Free time in Santiago de Compostela before transferring to the airport for the flight back to London.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 1Panoramic tour of Bilbao including the Guggenheim Museum before boarding the train
Day 2Meal served onboard the Costa Verde Express while heading toward Santander
Day 3Coach visit to the medieval village of Santillana del Mar to see the neo-cave of Altamira
Day 4Coach trip through the Picos de Europa to the Sanctuary of Covadonga and Lake Enol
Day 7Arrival in Santiago de Compostela for a visit to the Cathedral and dinner at the Parador Reyes Católicos

Included

5 nights on the Costa Verde Express
1 night in the Silken Indautxu Bilbao
1 night in the Parador in Santiago de Compostela
Flight from London to Bilbao

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour

Also sold by

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Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £5,910 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $7,983 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is train travel included?: Yes. The price includes five nights aboard the Costa Verde Express and all meals listed in the itinerary (breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the train where indicated), plus flights from London Gatwick to Bilbao and back from Santiago de Compostela.
Is this an escorted tour?: Yes. Great Rail Journeys operates this as an escorted tour with organized transfers, guided excursions to Santillana del Mar, the Picos de Europa, Covadonga, and other stops, plus included meals and accommodation.
Which train is used?: The Costa Verde Express, described as a luxury train that runs from Bilbao to Santiago de Compostela via Santander, Llanes, Oviedo, Gijón, Luarca, Ribadeo, Viveiro, and Ferrol.
What hotels are included?: One night in a choice of 3-star or 4-star hotels in Bilbao on arrival (Silken Indautxu or Barceló Bilbao Nervión or equivalent), five nights aboard the train, and one night at the Parador Reyes Católicos in Santiago de Compostela.
What is not included?: Cancellation and travel insurance are not included and must be purchased separately. Optional excursions such as a Private Tapas Tour, the Rioja Experience, and a Galicia Coast and Mussel Tasting Cruise are available at extra cost.