Tailor Made Rail
Galicia and the Douro Valley
13 daysfrom $2,269
Tailor Made Rail · Tailor-made rail holiday
San Sebastian and Lisbon
Travel to Portugal by train from the UK, stopping off at the city of San Sebastian with its sweeping urban beaches and Michelin-starred restaurants before continuing across Northern Spain to Portugal and enjoying three days in historic Lisbon.
Day by day
- Day 1railovernight: Paris
London to Paris
A morning Eurostar from London to Paris, crossing to Gare Montparnasse. Check in at the Novotel Paris Montparnasse (or similar) for an overnight stay, with the rest of the day free to explore the French capital.
- Day 2railovernight: San Sebastian
Paris to San Sebastian
A high-speed TGV down through Bordeaux and Biarritz to Hendaye, near the Spanish border, then a locally-purchased ticket through Basque countryside to San Sebastian (Donostia). Check in at the Zinema7 Hotel (or similar).
- Day 3overnight: San Sebastian
San Sebastian
San Sebastian is a resort town on the Bay of Biscay with the second highest number of Michelin stars in the world after Kyoto. Relax on La Concha or Ondarreta Beaches, walk or take the funicular up Monte Igueldo, and try a pintxo bar in the evening.
- Day 4overnight: San Sebastian
San Sebastian
San Sebastian is a resort town on the Bay of Biscay with the second highest number of Michelin stars in the world after Kyoto. Relax on La Concha or Ondarreta Beaches, walk or take the funicular up Monte Igueldo, and try a pintxo bar in the evening.
- Day 5overnight: Madrid
San Sebastian to Madrid
An early check-out and onward journey to Madrid. Check in at the Tryp Atocha Hotel (or similar), close to Atocha station, with time for a late lunch and exploring the vibrant city.
- Day 6railovernight: Vigo
Madrid to Vigo
A leisurely start with time for a wander along the Gran Via, before an onward rail journey to the west coast city of Vigo. Check in at the NH Collection Vigo (or similar).
- Day 7railovernight: Lisbon
Vigo to Lisbon
A free morning in Vigo, the largest city in Galicia, with a stroll around the Casco Vello or time on the beach. In the afternoon, a train south across the Portuguese border to Porto (an optional stopover of a couple of nights is possible), then on to Lisbon. Check in at the Lisboa Prata Hotel (or similar) for a 3-night stay.
- Day 8overnight: Lisbon
Lisbon
Two full days at leisure in the Portuguese capital, one of the oldest cities in the world. Get around on foot or by historic tram up one of the seven hills; don't miss views from Castelo de Sao Jorge or the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Jeronimos Monastery and Belem Tower.
- Day 9overnight: Lisbon
Lisbon
Two full days at leisure in the Portuguese capital, one of the oldest cities in the world. Get around on foot or by historic tram up one of the seven hills; don't miss views from Castelo de Sao Jorge or the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Jeronimos Monastery and Belem Tower.
- Day 10overnight: Merida
Lisbon to Merida
An early InterCity service to Entroncamento, then a Portuguese regional service back into Spain via Badajoz to the Roman city of Merida, founded as a Roman colony in 25BC. Check in at the Parador de Merida (or similar), arriving mid-afternoon.
- Day 11railovernight: Barcelona
Merida to Barcelona
A train to Madrid, then a high-speed AVE service to Barcelona. Check in at the Abba Sants Hotel (or similar), conveniently located for the station.
- Day 12rail
Barcelona to London
A direct TGV service from Barcelona Sants through Catalonia and France to Paris, connecting to Gare du Nord for the return Eurostar to London.
Included
- Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations
- 9 nights' handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast
- Comprehensive directions to your hotel
- Easy-to-follow travel documentation
- Despatch of tickets by email, post or collection from our London office
