8 days on the luxury Transcantábrico train hotel
The Grand Luxury Transcantábrico Train Hotel is an authentic 5-star hotel on rails. Let yourself be carried away by the incredible scenery of Northern Spain through a unique and fully personalised experience. You won't have to pack and unpack your suitcase or plan your route on the Transcantábrico: we have it all planned out to make travelling enjoyable. Every day, you will discover famous cities, picturesque locations and fishing villages on the tours included in the package. Relax and enjoy the Grand Luxury suite, which will take you from the mountains of Biscay to the coasts of Galicia in comfort and style, which according to legend is where the world once ended. Savour the best gastronomic delights of northern Spain on board and let yourself be pampered with the exclusive services offered by this luxury train-hotel. Don't miss out on a single detail of the cities you will visit along the journey, thanks to the multilingual guide. The route starts wherever you decide: you can start your journey in San Sebastian and travel to Santiago de Compostela or vice versa.
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Travel Itinerary
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Day 1: San Sebastián - Carranza
The trip begins with a luxurious reception in San Sebastian, where you will have lunch and enjoy a tour of this beautiful coastal city. The Concha beach, considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Spain, is a must-see. You can also visit the Miramar Palace, the San Telmo Museum, the Victoria Eugenia Theatre and the popular Peine del Viento sculpture. You can also walk along Avenida de la Libertad and Calle San Martín, where you can find shops of both international and national brands. A bus will pick you up in San Sebastian and take you to Bilbao, where the Grand Luxury Transcantábrico train hotel will be waiting for you. The crew will welcome you and the train will set off for Carranza. You will enjoy the first dinner en route and the first night on board.
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Day 2: Carranza – Bilbao - Santander
Start the day with a delicious breakfast. The Transcantábrico will take you to the vibrant and cosmopolitan city of Bilbao. You will take a cultural tour of the old part of the city, including the famous Guggenheim Museum. If you are passionate about football, you can also visit the San Mamés stadium, known as the "cathedral of football", the home to Athletic Bilbao. After your visit, we will return to the train to continue the journey to the coastal city of Santander while you have lunch on board. Once at the destination, you will enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city and those who wish can visit the Gran Casino after dinner (entrance included). Night on board in Santander.
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Day 3: Santander – Potes – Cabezón de la Sal
On the third day, the train leaves for Unquera station, from where you will be transferred to the town of Potes. After visiting this picturesque village, you can enjoy a thermal spa circuit at La Hermida Spa. You will have free time in the afternoon to visit the modernist mansion El Capricho (19th century villa), designed by Antonio Gaudí in the village of Comillas. Return to the train for dinner and night on board. Next destination: Cabezón de la Sal.
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Day 4: Cabezón de la Sal – Santillana del Mar - Llanes
The day begins with a visit to the Neocave of Altamira, the museum and a faithful reproduction of this masterpiece of Upper Palaeolithic cave art. After that, you will visit Santillana del Mar, where you will find the imposing Palacio de los Velarde. In the afternoon, the train will take you to Llanes, a coastal town in Asturias. You can visit its three charming beaches and its colourful houses. Llanes is a film town, and over the last 50 years productions such as “El Orfanato” [The Orphanage] and “Historia de un beso” [The Story of a Kiss] have been filmed there. Dinner and night in Llanes.
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Day 5: Llanes - Picos de Europa - Oviedo
Now past the halfway point of the trip, you will enjoy a spectacular tour of the famous Picos de Europa National Park. You will be able to take in the spectacular views of Lake Enol and the Sanctuary of Covadonga, the 'Santina' for the Asturians. Return on board for lunch and travel to the regional capital, Oviedo, for a city tour followed by free time. You can visit the city's cathedral, where an artefact bearing an epigraph in Arabic script is preserved. This is an Islamic piece: the silver chest of Santa Eulalia. Or, if you stroll along Calle Asturias, you will find the most glamorous shops in the principality. You can return to the Transcantábrico for dinner. Night in Oviedo.
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Day 6: Oviedo - Gijón - Luarca
Start the day discovering the wonderful coastal town of Gijón. You will be able to visit the sights of this city, where different peoples have left their mark: the Celts, the Romans and the Muslims, to name but a few. Afterwards, the train will take you to Luarca, where you will enjoy a guided tour of this seaside town. This is the home of the Muslim Cemetery of Barcia. Dinner and night in Luarca.
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Day 7: Luarca – Ribadeo - Viveiro
On this day, the Transcantábrico travels to the historic town of Ribadeo, in Galicia, where you will be transferred to the Playa de Las Catedrales (Cathedral Beach), one of the most spectacular beaches in the world. If you approach the beach, you will see that it is surrounded by cliffs, crevices, caves and large arches, which can be walked through at low tide. You can also take a leisurely stroll through Ribadeo before lunch. Once back on the train, you will head to Viveiro, which includes a visit to the town and its shops. Dinner and overnight stay in Viveiro.
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Day 8: Viveiro - Santiago de Compostela
Get your strength back with your last breakfast on board because you will be on your way to Ferrol, to continue on to Santiago de Compostela. It is the place where pilgrims from all over the world gather in front of its majestic Cathedral. Before bidding farewell to the crew, you can stroll through its cobbled streets and admire its extraordinary World Heritage-listed old quarter. It is also advisable to stroll through the streets of the El Ensanche shopping area, home to the Santiago Centro Open Shopping Centre. You will find international brands, major Spanish franchises, Galician fashion, jewellery, boutiques, furs... The best way to end this trip on the luxury train hotel! For a more detailed route, click here
