PTG Tours · Escorted tour

Scenic Railways of Asturias and the Basque Country

Scenic Railways of Asturias and the Basque Country, a rail journey with PTG Tours

An eight-night tour based first in Bilbao then Oviedo, exploring some of the most scenic railway lines in the Basque Country and Asturias plus two excellent railway museums.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Bilbao

    Fly to Bilbao

    Flights from Gatwick or Manchester to Bilbao, transfer to the city-centre hotel. Overland option available departing London St Pancras; it may also be possible to sail from Portsmouth or Plymouth to Bilbao or Santander. Evening free to settle in.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Bilbao

    Basque Railway Museum

    Coach to the Basque Railway Museum at Azpeitia, with narrow-gauge locomotives, carriages, trams and an ex-London Transport trolleybus, plus a working steam crane and a tram ride. A steam-hauled train runs the 5km line to Lasao station and back, with views of the River Urola. Lunch included, then back to Bilbao via the La Reineta Cable Car (400m above sea level) for spectacular city views.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Bilbao

    Free day in Bilbao or Santander

    Choice of exploring Bilbao's museums and transport system, or joining Tour Manager David on an out-and-back train ride to Santander.

  4. Day 4overnight: Cistierna

    Bilbao to Cistierna

    The scenic Bilbao to León line passes through beautiful, at times unusual, mountain scenery. Afternoon departure from Bilbao, travelling as far as Cistierna, with an evening arrival in time for dinner at the small hotel next to the station.

  5. Day 5overnight: León

    On to León

    Finish the journey to León this morning. Walk to Plaza San Marcelo with David, then a guided walking tour of the historic centre, including the cathedral (with some of the best stained glass in the world) and the modernist Casa Botines, designed by Antoni Gaudí, finishing in the Barrio Húmedo.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Oviedo

    León to Oviedo over the mountains

    Morning train over the old mountain route from León to Oviedo, with breath-taking scenery, arriving in time for lunch. Afternoon guided walk of the Asturian capital, including the Cathedral of San Salvador (erected 1388) and the 9th-century La Foncalada fountain.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Oviedo

    Oviedo's suburban rail networks

    A day experiencing both of Oviedo's suburban rail networks: the broad-gauge Cercanías lines and the metre-gauge former FEVE lines. Travel out to El Entrego on the FEVE lines to visit the MUMI mining and industrial museum, with its own railway used daily by miners. Return to Oviedo on the Cercanías line.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Oviedo

    Gijón railway museum

    FEVE line trip to the coastal town of Gijón and its railway museum, with more than 1,000 objects including 140 items of rolling stock. Option to wander Gijón's Old Town or relax at Playa de Poniente beach. Return direct to Oviedo, or on a scenic circuitous route via Pravia. Farewell dinner in a local restaurant.

  9. Day 9rail

    Oviedo to Madrid; fly home

    High-speed train from Oviedo south to Madrid, this time through the new tunnel. Suburban train from Chamartín station to the airport for flights home.

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