Hispanorama travel blog

Luxury trains in Spain: travel in the ‘Belle Époque’

Sep 26, 2018

Imagine travelling across Spain on one of the finest luxury sightseeing trains in the world. Forget about rushing at airports or sitting for long hours on buses – and picture your group relaxing in ‘Belle Époque’ décor enjoying the views of Green Spain’s mountains, valleys, cliffs and beaches of Green Spain, or the rolling hills and ancient villages of Andalusia. These are two options available to you, with the Transcantabrico and Al Andalus touristic trains.

Journey through Green Spain

The Transcantabrico offers travelers the comfort of a luxurious hotel – each suite has a double bed, luggage space, private bathrooms with a hydro-sauna bath and shower, air conditioning, and charming décor. Sumptuous saloon and dining cars are straight out of the 1920s and 30s, and are a truly relaxing way to travel.

Best of all, the beautiful landscapes of northern Spain, from Galicia to the shores of the Bay of Biscay, are just outside the window. The route goes from Santiago de Compostela (Galicia) to Leon (Castile-Leon); or from Santiago to San Sebastian (in the Basque Country), for eight days and seven nights. Besides seeing some of Spain’s most beautiful natural areas while moving, the train makes stops at all the key destinations: Leon and its cathedral, the ‘Peine de los Vientos’ sculpture in San Sebastián, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the coastal city of Santander, the Altamira Caves in Santillana del Mar, Picos de Europa National Park in Asturias, pre-Romanesque monuments in Oviedo and the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Along with the wonderful sights, the trips include lunch and dinner at some of the finest restaurants along the route.

Al-Andalus: stunning southern Spain

The Al-Andalus train is similar to the Transcantabrico in its luxuriousness and décor, but the journey provides a whole different view on Spain. With three different itineraries through the south of Spain, you can choose the perfect route for your group.

The Andalusia itinerary visits destinations like Seville, Cordoba, Granada, Ronda and Cadiz, taking in a wide sweep of southern Spain as the train moves from the mountains of the Sierra Nevada to the Atlantic Ocean. Charm, local color, high spirits, culture and art are all guaranteed on this route, with highlights like sampling local sherry, flamenco and equestrian shows, and cultural treasures like the magnificent Alhambra. The Extremaduran itinerary travels from Seville to Madrid, through a less known region of Spain. Stops include the historic city of Zafra; Mérida, with its Roman amphitheater; Cáceres, with its perfectly preserved historic quarter, the Monfragüe National Park; and Toledo, where Christian, Muslim and Jewish cultures coexisted for centuries. Finally, the unforgettable South to North (or North to South) itinerary is a journey of almost 800 miles from Seville to Santiago de Compostela, or vice versa. It covers a full spectrum of Spanish landscapes, architecture, history and cuisine.

Traveling with your group by luxury train

With advanced planning, journeys on these luxury train lines can be specially arranged for your group. Get in touch with us today to start planning a once in a lifetime experience!