El Transcantabrico (luxury train in northern Spain)

This luxury train journey in Spain is available in both directions. See departure dates.

DAY 1 - SAN SEBASTIAN - CARRANZA (El Transcantábrico train)

Flight or train to San Sebastian on request

Individual arrival in San Sebastian, in the Spanish Basque Country.
Passengers are met at around 1 p.m. in a central hotel by the staff of the special train El Transcantabrico.
Guided tour of the city of San Sebastian, followed by lunch.
A luxury tourist bus then takes you to Bilbao, where you discover your luxury train over a welcome drink.

Your train journey in Spain begins: the El Transcantabrico train sets off for Carranza in the late afternoon.
Dinner on board.
Overnight in Carranza, aboard your luxury Spanish train (L, DI).

DAY 2 - CARRANZA - VILLASANA DE MENA - BILBAO - SANTANDER (El Transcantábrico train)

While breakfast is served on board, the train returns to Bilbao in the morning.

Bilbao is the de facto capital of the Spanish Basque Country. You will discover the old town, the Portugalete swing bridge and the Guggenheim Museum, whose building was designed by Frank Gehry.
Back on board the train, you will have lunch on the way to Santander, a beautiful and quiet coastal town, which has attracted aristocrats and wealthy tourists from Spain and abroad for over 100 years.

After dinner, free time to explore the city on your own.
Overnight in Santander on board your luxury Spanish train (B, L, D).

DAY 3 - SANTANDER - POTES - CABÉZON DE LA SAL (El Transcantábrico train)

This day's train journey continues westwards. You leave the Basque country to enter Cantabria, the region that gives its name to your luxury train, for a day rich in visits.
From Unquera you'll take a luxury tourist bus to the Hermida Gorge, where you'll enjoy a thermal circuit.
Continue on to the Santo Toribio de Liebana sanctuary in Potes, a charming little town where lunch is provided.

In the afternoon, visit the "Caprice" in Comillas, a splendid and colourful 19th-century mansion designed by Antonio Gaudí, one of his few works outside Catalonia.

In the evening, the train remains at Cabézon de la Sal station.
Overnight in Cabézon de la Sal (B, L, D).

DAY 4 - CABÉZON DE LA SAL - SANTILLANA DEL MAR - LLANES (El Transcantábrico train)

On this fourth day, El Transcantabrico train continues westwards. Enjoy a guided tour of the Altamira Museum and its neo-grotto, where you can see reproductions of cave paintings dating back 14,000 years.
The tour continues on to Santillana de Mar, a small medieval town listed as one of the "most beautiful villages in Spain", where you can admire the collegiate church of Santa Juliana and the towers of Merino and Don Boria.

After lunch, we'll take the train back into the Asturias region to Llanes.
Dinner and overnight in Llanes on board your luxury Spanish train (B, L, D)

DAY 5 - LLANES - OVIEDO (El Transcantábrico train)

After breakfast on board, you will set off on an excursion to the Picos de Europa National Park. You will discover Lake Enol and the Covadonga sanctuary (site of an important battle in the Reconquista in 722).

Lunch on board while the train heads for Oviedo, capital of the Principality of Asturias.
In the afternoon, guided tour of this stately city dominated by its Gothic cathedral.
Overnight in Oviedo on board your luxury Spanish train (B, L, D)

DAY 6 - OVIEDO - GIJÓN - LUARCA (El Transcantábrico train, luxury coach)

Departure by luxury coach for Gijón, an open city on the Cantabrian coast, famous for its maritime heritage and magnificent seafront promenade.

After lunch in Gijón, El Transcantábrico train sets off along the "Green Coast" to Luarca, the "White City". After a guided tour of this charming town, return on board the train for dinner.
Overnight in Luarca on board your luxury Spanish train  (B, L, D)

DAY 7 - LUARCA - RIBADEO - VIVEIRO (El Transcantábrico train)

El Transcantabrico runs along the north coast of Asturias and enters Galicia; the first visit to Galicia is the coastal town of Ribadeo where the river Eo meets the sea. After a tour of the town and lunch, the train continues on to Viveiro, a fortified town on the estuary of the River Landro.

Free time, dinner.
Overnight in Viveiro on board your luxury Spanish train  (B, L, D)

DAY 8 - VIVEIRO - SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA (El Transcantábrico train)

On this last day, the train begins its final journey to Ferrol. Here the coach takes over for the short journey to your final destination, Santiago de Compostela.
After discovering this major Christian pilgrimage site, with its cathedral, Plaça Obraidoro, Platerias and many other points of interest, the programme comes to an end at around 2pm. 
(B)

Additional night, flight or return train from Santiago de Compostela on request.

spanish luxury train transcantabrico fare | spanish luxury train (ref.)

EL TRANSCANTÁBRICO GRAN LUJO TRAIN

Spain's most famous luxury train. The "El Transcantábrico Gran Lujo" train offers the atmosphere of a five-star hotel on rails. Travelling on board the train takes you back to the beginning of the 20th century, as each carriage has retained its original style, adorned with hardwood marquetry.

• THE GRAND LUJO SUITES 
  Each suite has a lounge with sofa and television, a bedroom with double bed, air conditioning, wardrobe and private shower and WC.
  The double cabin has a 150 x 200 bed, while the twin cabin has 2 separate 80 x 200 beds. The lounge has a sofa bed for triple occupancy.

• THE CARS - LOUNGES
  El Transcantábrico's saloons are original Pullman coaches dating from 1923, a real piece of railway history. Each coach has been specially decorated and fitted out in the El Transcantábrico style, including the panoramic coach. All meals are served in these carriages. Concerts and shows are held in the bar carriage, where passengers can enjoy a drink and a pleasant evening.
  Many meals are taken outside the train to showcase the region's excellent cuisine. But breakfast is always served on board.

El Transcantábrico does not run on a conventional railway line, but on one of Spain's last metric tracks. It doesn't run at night, but settles into a quiet siding. It's a great place to sleep and enjoy another day of discoveries the next day. At each stopover, a luxury coach awaits the group to visit the hinterland and the surrounding historic towns and villages. These visits are also an opportunity to sample the refined, gourmet local cuisine.

PRICE 2025 - SPAIN TRANSCANTABRICO LUXURY TRAIN

• Grand Lujo Suite : from €9,250 / person
• Grand Lujo Suite single supplement : from €6,750 / person
• Triple supplement : from €4,350 / person

EL TRANSCANTABRICO - THE PRICE INCLUDES

• Accommodation: 8 days and 7 nights on board the "El Transcantábrico" train
• Full board on the train or in the restaurants in the towns according to the programme (wine, water, refreshments and coffee included) - (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch and D= Dinner)
• Guide for visits and excursions
• Coach transfers for excursions
• Access to bar and lounges
• Security service
• Multilingual staff on board the train
• Assistance from Discovery Trains teams during the journey

THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE

• The outward journey to the point of departure and the return journey* (on request)
• Any travel insurance (which we can provide on request)
  
  

CONDITIONS OF SALE AND CANCELLATION

• 40% deposit on order.
• Balance due 30 days before departure.

• Cancellation more than 30 days before departure = 15% withheld
• Between 30 and 15 days before departure = 25% withheld
• Between 14 and 5 days = 50% deduction
• Between 4 and 2 days = 80% deduction
• Less than 48 hours = 100% cancellation fee