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Tailor Made Rail · Tailor-made rail holiday

San Sebastian and Lisbon

Twelve-day rail loop from London through Spain and Portugal, ending Barcelona

Illustration of San Sebastian and Lisbon

Tailor Made Rail's 12-day San Sebastian and Lisbon journey strings together London, Paris, San Sebastian, Madrid, Vigo, Lisbon, Merida, and Barcelona on a circuit of trains across France, Spain, and Portugal. The route uses Eurostar and high-speed TGV and AVE services alongside regional trains through the Iberian countryside. Travellers spend three nights each in San Sebastian, a Basque resort town on the Bay of Biscay with Michelin-starred dining and urban beaches, and in Lisbon, where they can ride historic trams up steep hills to Castelo de Sao Jorge and visit the UNESCO World Heritage Jeronimos Monastery. Single nights anchor stops in Paris, Madrid, the Galician coast at Vigo, the Roman city of Merida, and Barcelona. Most days are unguided, giving independent explorers freedom to wander city streets, sample pintxo bars, and set their own pace. The package includes rail travel with seat reservations, nine nights' hotel accommodation with breakfast, and detailed travel documentation.

What to know before you look closer

  • Hotels are listed as 'or similar', meaning the final accommodation depends on availability and the tier chosen
  • The package includes 9 nights' accommodation but the itinerary spans 12 days and 11 nights; one night (Day 12) involves the overnight train journey or early morning departure
  • Most city days are unguided; travellers navigate independently using provided documentation
  • A locally-purchased ticket is required from Hendaye to San Sebastian; this is not covered in the rail package

Day by day

  1. 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.

  2. 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).

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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).

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. 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.

  12. 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.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Morning Eurostar crosses to Paris and Gare Montparnasse
  • Day 2High-speed TGV traverses Bordeaux and Biarritz before reaching San Sebastian in Basque countryside
  • Day 3San Sebastian offers La Concha and Ondarreta Beaches on the Bay of Biscay, with an optional funicular up Monte Igueldo
  • Day 8Lisbon leisure day includes historic tram rides up seven hills, views from Castelo de Sao Jorge, and the UNESCO World Heritage Jeronimos Monastery and Belem Tower
  • Day 11High-speed AVE service from Madrid connects to Barcelona; Day 12 returns by direct TGV through France to Paris for the 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

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations on Eurostar, TGV, AVE high-speed, and regional trains across the entire route. A locally-purchased ticket is needed only for the short journey from Hendaye to San Sebastian.
Is this tour guided or independent?
This is an independent rail holiday. Tailor Made Rail provides comprehensive travel documentation and directions to hotels, but most days are free to explore cities on your own.
Which trains are used?
The itinerary uses Eurostar (London to Paris and return), TGV high-speed (Paris to Hendaye and Barcelona to Paris), AVE high-speed (Madrid to Barcelona), and regional or InterCity trains across Spain and Portugal.
What accommodation is included?
Nine nights in handpicked hotels with breakfast: one night in Paris, three nights in San Sebastian, one night in Madrid, one night in Vigo, three nights in Lisbon, one night in Merida, and one night in Barcelona. Hotels are listed as 'or similar'.
When does the trip run?
Tailor Made Rail operates this itinerary year-round. Low season (November to March) starts at GBP 1,599 per person; high season (April to October) starts at GBP 1,799 per person, based on two sharing a twin or double room.
Can I add optional stops?
Yes. Tailor Made Rail offers optional extensions including an extra night in Madrid, a couple of nights in Porto, or an extra night in Merida to explore Roman remains. The operator can arrange further extensions on request.

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