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Home
Journeys
Spain
Lesser-known corners of Spain
Flavours of Bilbao, San Sebastián & Bordeaux by Rail

spain

Flavours of Bilbao, San Sebastián & Bordeaux by Rail

A gastronomic journey along the Bay of Biscay

Basque heartlands | Journey by rail from Spain to France with great views along the way.
Mouthwatering Cuisine | From tasty pintxos to the wines and gastronomy of Bordeaux
Staggering architecture | Including Bilbao's iconic Guggenheim Museum.
Bilbao | Northern Spain's cultural and gastronomic hub.
San Sebastián | Beautiful beaches, world-renowned restaurants and charming old town to explore.

What is included

6 nights
6 breakfasts
detailed cultural information
notes for city walking tours
rail travel Bilbao-San Sebastián-Bordeaux

Flavours of Bilbao, San Sebastián & Bordeaux by Rail

A gastronomic journey along the Bay of Biscay

Place de la Bourse 'mirror'

The iconic Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao

Bilbao's atmospheric Old Town

Victor Montes bar and restaurant, Bilbao

Pintxos – Basque-style tapas

Take the train to Portugalete, a pretty suburb of Bilbao

Take your pick from the many delicious pintxos bars

San Sebastián

Playa de la Concha, San Sebastián

A typical pintxos bar

Wonderful street sculptures in San Sebastián

Beautiful Bordeaux

The delicious 'cannelés' of Bordeaux

Fountain of Three Graces, Bordeaux

Bordeaux, France's wine capital

Jump to...
Overview
Itinerary
Accommodation
Prices & travel
Reviews
FAQs

Jump to...
Overview
Itinerary
Accommodation
Prices & travel
Reviews
FAQs

Jump to...
Overview
Itinerary
Accommodation
Prices & travel
Reviews
FAQs

What is included

6 nights
6 breakfasts
detailed cultural information
notes for city walking tours
rail travel Bilbao-San Sebastián-Bordeaux

Holiday information

- Holiday type
  
  Journey
- Means of travel between hotels
  
  By train (tickets included)
- Average carbon footprint
  
  Let's be clear on carbon
  We want you to be able to make an informed choice when deciding on a holiday, and to see how holidays compare in terms of their average carbon footprint. Read our carbon scores page to find out how we calculate it.
  
  58kg CO₂e per person, excluding travel
- Nights
  
  6
- Accommodation
  
  Two 3-star hotels; one 4-star hotel
- Meals
  
  Breakfast every day
- Included extras
  
  Detailed notes for self-guided walking tours of all cities, including a pintxos (tapas) trail in San Sebastián
- Price (excluding flights)
  
  From £1220pp
- Travel options
  
  We can arrange flights – see ‘Prices & Travel’. Alternatively, please contact us about travelling by train from London.
- Start
  
  Any day
- When you can travel
  - J
  - F
  - M
  - A
  - M
  - J
  - J
  - A
  - S
  - O
  - N
  - D
  The season for this holiday is:
  01 March 2025 - 20 July 2025
  20 August 2025 - 31 October 2025
  01 March 2026 - 19 July 2026
  19 August 2026 - 31 October 2026

A rail holiday from Bilbao to Bordeaux

Journeying by rail from the Basque heartlands to Bordeaux, you explore three highly gastronomic cities, with self-guided walking tours provided. Visit Bilbao's staggering Guggenheim Museum; savour mouthwatering pintxos in San Sebastian; and drink in the fine architecture and even finer wine of Bordeaux.

Between the hidden coves, dramatic cliffs and authentic fishing villages that line the Bay of Biscay are three of the world’s most gastronomic cities, each with a distinct charm and character.

The quality of the cuisine, particularly on the Spanish side of the border, is striking – not just high-quality restaurants, though both Bilbao and San Sebastián have plenty of these, but a thrilling pintxos scene which provides a delicious way to immerse yourself in the local culture.

Once you have eaten your fill of these tasty Basque-style tapas, and discovered the cities’ main and lesser-known attractions on our self-guided walking tours, make your way across into France and to Bordeaux, where magnificent architecture, tree-lined boulevards, and the world’s very best wines await.

Place de la Bourse 'mirror'

The iconic Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao

Bilbao's atmospheric Old Town

Victor Montes bar and restaurant, Bilbao

Pintxos – Basque-style tapas

Take the train to Portugalete, a pretty suburb of Bilbao

Take your pick from the many delicious pintxos bars

San Sebastián

Playa de la Concha, San Sebastián

A typical pintxos bar

Wonderful street sculptures in San Sebastián

Beautiful Bordeaux

The delicious 'cannelés' of Bordeaux

Fountain of Three Graces, Bordeaux

Bordeaux, France's wine capital

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.

Arrival

Arrival in Bilbao

Arrival in Bilbao

Night 1: at Hotel Tayko (the first of two nights here).
As your first night’s accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of exploration.
Day 1

Explore Bilbao

Explore Bilbao

Bilbao is a city that has shrugged off its industrial past to become one of Spain’s key cultural and gastronomic hubs, thanks in no small part to the transformational effect of the Guggenheim. A visit to this iconic museum is a must, as much to admire the impressive exterior as the works of modern and contemporary art inside. From here, it’s a pleasant stroll alongside the River Nervión to Bilbao’s medieval Casco Viejo (‘Old Town’), where sinuous streets are lined with atmospheric pintxos bars.

We also recommend exploring the city’s much lesser-known outskirts: hop on a local train to the pretty medieval suburb of Portugalete, where you’ll find the Puente Colgante – the world’s oldest transporter bridge. Cross the 45-metre-high platform and enjoy the far-reaching river views before beginning a 4-kilometre sea-front stroll to tiny Getxo, a former fishing village characterised by its narrow, winding alleys and huddle of whitewashed fishermen’s cottages.

Those with extra time may also like to take the local train to visit Guernica, the Basque town whose tragic past was immortalised in Picasso’s famous painting.

Explore the old town

Head to the pretty suburb of Portugalete
Day 2

Bilbao to San Sebastián: 2.5hrs by train

Bilbao to San Sebastián: 2.5hrs by train

Leaving Bilbao, you journey by local train for two nights at the Hotel Niza in San Sebastián, a lovely seaside city with more Michelin stars per capita than just about anywhere else on the planet. You’ll need to book ahead for these outstanding eateries, or make like the locals and embark on a txikiteo (pintxo ‘crawl’). Each bar has its own speciality and style – ranging from the rustic to the experimental – and we include a self-guided trail to help you navigate between them.
Day 3

Explore San Sebastián

Explore San Sebastián

On your full day here, you’ll no doubt want to try more of the famous pintxos bars, though we also provide notes for a city walk that takes in the absorbing San Telmo museum (closed Mondays), where different aspects of Basque life are showcased via a number of dynamic temporary exhibitions. It’s also well worth riding the city’s century-old funicular to the top of Monte Igueldo for fabulous views over the handsome Belle Epoque architecture, manicured gardens and waterfront promenades. However, nothing beats relaxing on the sweeping golden sands of San Sebastián’s three beaches, the most famous of which – the expansive Playa de la Concha – lies just in front of your hotel.

The famous pintxos

Discover the Belle Epoque architecture
Day 4

San Sebastián to Bordeaux: 4hrs by train

San Sebastián to Bordeaux: 4hrs by train

Back on the Slow train, you cross to Hendaye in France, from where a second, faster train whisks you north to Bordeaux, capital of the wine trade and one of Europe’s most elegant cities. Here you spend your final two nights at the centrally located Quality Hotel Bordeaux Centre.
Day 5

Explore Bordeaux

Explore Bordeaux

Like Bilbao, Bordeaux has undergone a huge regeneration in recent years, and its graceful 18th-century mansions and boulevards are now complemented by a thriving riverside district and a new crop of restaurants and museums. Discover these on our self-guided city trail, which also leads you to the Musée des Beaux-Arts, home to works by Van Dyck, Matisse and Rubens, among many others. Further highlights include the spectacular Place de la Bourse and its ‘mirror’ water feature, and the highly acclaimed Cité du Vin, where you can learn all about world wines before relaxing with a glass of the city’s famous claret.

We strongly recommend adding an extra night in Bordeaux to visit nearby St Emilion and its world-class vineyards.

Stroll beside the Garonne (C) Rémy Martineau

Cafés near Port Cailhau (C) Bordeaux Tourism
Optional extra day

Visit St Emilion

Visit St Emilion

We thoroughly recommend adding an extra night in Bordeaux so that you have the chance to visit St Emilion, the beating heart of the French wine scene, which is just 40 minutes away by train (pay locally). This pretty medieval village boasts an incredible monolithic church which was hewn from the surrounding limestone in the early 12th century (part of it is underground). It is the largest church of its kind in Europe and is also famous for having served as a hiding place for the stained glass from Paris’ Notre-Dame Cathedral during the Second World War. For a fitting finale to your holiday, you might also like to join a small-group guided tour by tuk-tuk which includes a tasting at one of the area’s prestigious châteaux (you should arrange and pay for this yourself, but we provide full information on how to do so in the information pack that we send to you prior to your holiday).

St Emilion's monolithic church

Vineyards surrounding St Emilion

Accommodation

Your three hotels have been hand-picked for their excellent, city-centre locations, and as such make ideal bases from which to explore.

We particularly recommend extra nights in Bilbao – to see the world’s oldest transporter bridge in the pretty suburb of Portugalete or to take the train to Guernica – as well as in Bordeaux, from where you can visit the surrounding vineyards. There’s also plenty to discover in San Sebastián, not least the city’s three sweeping golden beaches.

To make your holiday all the more special, we offer an upgrade option in Bordeaux.

In Bilbao, we work with more than one hotel, as shown below. Both are hand-picked by us and, unless there is a price implication (in which case we will contact you to discuss your options), we will tell you which one we have booked for you on your booking confirmation.

- Alternative hotel
  
  Nights 1-2
  Hotel Tayko
  Bilbao
  This stylish hotel, located in historic central Bilbao, near the estuary, features a Michelin-starred restaurant managed by chef Martín Berasategui Olazábal, alongside a tapas bar and gym. Careful renovations have preserved original features, creating a modern, industrial-chic vibe. Despite its central location, the bedrooms are quiet, and the comprehensive breakfast is a superb start to the day.
  
  Meal arrangements: breakfast only
- Back
  
  Nights 1-2
  Hotel Carlton
  Bilbao
  Located on an oval-shaped plaza in the heart of the Ensanche district, the Carlton lies between the Guggenheim and the Casco Viejo, making it a great base from which to explore. As befits a hotel of this standing, the rooms are of a good size and are well equipped, with free wifi throughout. Facilities include a restaurant, a cocktail bar, a gym, and a terrace overlooking the plaza.
  
  Meal arrangements: breakfast only
Nights 3-4
Hotel Niza
San Sebastián
With the sweeping sands of Playa de la Concha just inches from its door, the Hotel Niza enjoys one of the very best locations in San Sebastián. Rooms are modest in style with many offering grandstand views of the beach. The hotel also has a sea-facing bar and restaurant offering traditional cuisine with modern twists.

Meal arrangements: breakfast only
Nights 5-6
Quality Hotel Bordeaux Centre
Bordeaux
This welcoming hotel is ideally located in central Bordeaux, just steps away from a variety of excellent restaurants, cafés, and boutiques, and near many major sites, with easy access to Saint André Cathedral and the elegant Place de la Bourse. It offers modern, comfortable rooms and a daily buffet breakfast.

Meal arrangements: breakfast only
Upgrade

Please tell us at the time of booking if you would like to stay at our upgrade hotel. Prices are shown in the 'Prices & Travel' section below.

Nights 5-6: upgrade
Hotel Bayonne Etche-ona
Bordeaux
Comprising two buildings with 18th-century façades, the Hotel Bayonne Etche-Ona offers contemporary bedrooms and enjoys an excellent central location on a pedestrianised street, just a couple of minutes’ walk from the principal shopping area. From the hotel, guests can easily stroll up the banks of the Garonne to explore the superb panorama of Port de la Lune.

Meal arrangements: breakfast only

Prices & travel options

All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.

Currency converter

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Prices (£ per person based on 2 sharing)

Journey price

6 nights: 01 March 2025 - 20 July 2025, 20 August 2025 - 31 October 2025, 01 March 2026 - 19 July 2026 & 19 August 2026 - 31 October 2026

Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

Starting	Price	Single room
1 Mar - 27 Apr 2025	£1155	£595
28 Apr - 28 Jun 2025	£1365	£730
29 Jun - 14 Jul 2025	£1420	£760
20 Aug - 30 Sep 2025	£1395	£735
1 - 25 Oct 2025	£1250	£630
1 Mar - 27 Apr 2026	£1220	£630
28 Apr - 28 Jun 2026	£1440	£770
29 Jun - 13 Jul 2026	£1500	£805
19 Aug - 30 Sep 2026	£1475	£775
1 - 25 Oct 2026	£1320	£665
3rd & 4th person discount	£0
Single traveller supplement	£0

Includes accommodation, meals, travel between hotels and any other services integral to the holiday as described, plus a detailed information pack, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

Included travel: Bilbao–San Sebastián–Bordeaux by rail
Pay locally for travel arrangements between city stations and hotels

Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

By rail

6 nights: 01 March 2025 - 20 July 2025, 20 August 2025 - 31 October 2025, 01 March 2026 - 19 July 2026 & 19 August 2026 - 31 October 2026

Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

Starting	Price	Single room
1 Mar - 27 Apr 2025	£1440	£595
28 Apr - 28 Jun 2025	£1650	£730
29 Jun - 14 Jul 2025	£1705	£760
20 Aug - 30 Sep 2025	£1680	£735
1 - 25 Oct 2025	£1535	£630
1 Mar - 27 Apr 2026	£1525	£630
28 Apr - 28 Jun 2026	£1750	£770
29 Jun - 13 Jul 2026	£1810	£805
19 Aug - 30 Sep 2026	£1780	£775
1 - 25 Oct 2026	£1630	£665
3rd & 4th person discount	£0
Single traveller supplement	£0

Includes all elements in the 'walk price', plus standard-class travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras to either Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, or Lille, with onward travel as described below.

If you book your holiday less than 6 months in advance of your travel date, seats may no longer be available at the tariffs on which our prices are based, but we may be able to offer you seats on the same services at a supplement.

Prices for upgrade option (£ per person based on 2 sharing)

Journey price

6 nights, staying at Hotel Bayonne Etche-Ona: 01 March 2025 - 20 July 2025, 20 August 2025 - 31 October 2025, 01 March 2026 - 19 July 2026 & 19 August 2026 - 31 October 2026

Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

Starting	Price	Single room
1 Mar - 27 Apr 2025	£1300	£705
28 Apr - 28 Jun 2025	£1510	£805
29 Jun - 14 Jul 2025	£1555	£760
20 Aug - 30 Sep 2025	£1530	£730
1 - 11 Oct 2025	£1410	£755
12 - 25 Oct 2025	£1360	£745
1 Mar - 27 Apr 2026	£1375	£745
28 Apr - 28 Jun 2026	£1595	£850
29 Jun - 13 Jul 2026	£1640	£805
19 Aug - 30 Sep 2026	£1615	£770
1 - 11 Oct 2026	£1490	£795
12 - 25 Oct 2026	£1435	£785
3rd & 4th person discount	£0
Single traveller supplement	£0

Includes accommodation, meals, travel between hotels and any other services integral to the holiday as described, plus a detailed information pack, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

Included travel: Bilbao–San Sebastián–Bordeaux by rail
Pay locally for travel arrangements between city stations and hotels

Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

By rail

6 nights, staying at Hotel Bayonne Etche-Ona: 01 March 2025 - 20 July 2025, 20 August 2025 - 31 October 2025, 01 March 2026 - 19 July 2026 & 19 August 2026 - 31 October 2026

Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

Starting	Price	Single room
1 Mar - 27 Apr 2025	£1585	£705
28 Apr - 28 Jun 2025	£1795	£805
29 Jun - 14 Jul 2025	£1840	£760
20 Aug - 30 Sep 2025	£1820	£730
1 - 11 Oct 2025	£1695	£755
12 - 25 Oct 2025	£1645	£745
1 Mar - 27 Apr 2026	£1680	£745
28 Apr - 28 Jun 2026	£1895	£850
29 Jun - 13 Jul 2026	£1945	£805
19 Aug - 30 Sep 2026	£1930	£770
1 - 11 Oct 2026	£1800	£795
12 - 25 Oct 2026	£1745	£785
3rd & 4th person discount	£0
Single traveller supplement	£0

Includes all elements in the 'walk price', plus standard-class travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras to either Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, or Lille, with onward travel as described below.

If you book your holiday less than 6 months in advance of your travel date, seats may no longer be available at the tariffs on which our prices are based, but we may be able to offer you seats on the same services at a supplement.

Room upgrades & extra nights

Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

Hotel Tayko, Bilbao
Junior suite: 01 Mar - 20 Jul 2025	£25
Junior suite: 20 Aug - 31 Oct 2025	£25
Superior double with river view (no twins): 01 Mar - 20 Jul 2025	£19
Superior double with river view (no twins): 20 Aug - 31 Oct 2025	£19

Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

Hotel Tayko, Bilbao (B&B)	Double room	Single room
01 Mar - 30 Apr 2025	£130	£233
01 May - 31 May 2025	£160	£290
01 Jun - 20 Jul 2025	£175	£325
20 Aug - 31 Aug 2025	£175	£325
01 Sep - 30 Sep 2025	£150	£272
01 Oct - 31 Oct 2025	£135	£245
01 Mar - 30 Apr 2026	£137	£137
01 May - 31 May 2026	£169	£169
01 Jun - 19 Jul 2026	£185	£185
19 Aug - 31 Aug 2026	£185	£185
01 Sep - 30 Sep 2026	£158	£158
01 Oct - 31 Oct 2026	£143	£143

Hotel Niza, San Sebastián (B&B)	Double room	Single room
01 Mar - 30 Apr 2025	£122	£191
01 May - 30 Jun 2025	£160	£240
01 Jul - 20 Jul 2025	£200	£294
20 Aug - 30 Sep 2025	£200	£294
01 Oct - 31 Oct 2025	£160	£240
01 Mar - 30 Apr 2026	£129	£129
01 May - 30 Jun 2026	£169	£169
01 Jul - 19 Jul 2026	£211	£211
19 Aug - 30 Sep 2026	£211	£211
01 Oct - 31 Oct 2026	£169	£169

Add £84pp/n (£113p/n in a single room) if staying 12-16 April 2024

Quality Hotel Bordeaux Centre, Bordeaux (B&B)	Double room	Single room
01 Mar - 20 Jul 2025	£114	£178
20 Aug - 31 Oct 2025	£114	£178
01 Mar - 19 Jul 2026	£120	£120
19 Aug - 31 Oct 2026	£120	£120

Room upgrades & extra nights for upgrade option

Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

Hotel Tayko, Bilbao
Junior suite: 01 Mar - 20 Jul 2025	£25
Junior suite: 20 Aug - 31 Oct 2025	£25
Superior double with river view (no twins): 01 Mar - 20 Jul 2025	£19
Superior double with river view (no twins): 20 Aug - 31 Oct 2025	£19

Hotel Bayonne Etche-ona, Bordeaux
Deluxe: 01 Mar - 20 Jul 2025	£23
Deluxe: 20 Aug - 31 Oct 2025	£23

Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

Hotel Tayko, Bilbao (B&B)	Double room	Single room
01 Mar - 30 Apr 2025	£130	£233
01 May - 31 May 2025	£160	£290
01 Jun - 20 Jul 2025	£175	£325
20 Aug - 31 Aug 2025	£175	£325
01 Sep - 30 Sep 2025	£150	£272
01 Oct - 31 Oct 2025	£135	£245
01 Mar - 30 Apr 2026	£137	£137
01 May - 31 May 2026	£169	£169
01 Jun - 19 Jul 2026	£185	£185
19 Aug - 31 Aug 2026	£185	£185
01 Sep - 30 Sep 2026	£158	£158
01 Oct - 31 Oct 2026	£143	£143

Hotel Niza, San Sebastián (B&B)	Double room	Single room
01 Mar - 30 Apr 2025	£122	£191
01 May - 30 Jun 2025	£160	£240
01 Jul - 20 Jul 2025	£200	£294
20 Aug - 30 Sep 2025	£200	£294
01 Oct - 31 Oct 2025	£160	£240
01 Mar - 30 Apr 2026	£129	£129
01 May - 30 Jun 2026	£169	£169
01 Jul - 19 Jul 2026	£211	£211
19 Aug - 30 Sep 2026	£211	£211
01 Oct - 31 Oct 2026	£169	£169

Add £84pp/n (£113p/n in a single room) if staying 12-16 April 2024

Hotel Bayonne Etche-ona, Bordeaux (B&B)	Double room	Single room
01 Mar - 10 Jul 2025	£180	£287
11 Jul - 20 Jul 2025	£155	£260
20 Aug - 31 Aug 2025	£155	£260
01 Sep - 17 Oct 2025	£180	£287
18 Oct - 31 Oct 2025	£155	£260
01 Mar - 10 Jul 2026	£190	£190
11 Jul - 19 Jul 2026	£164	£164
19 Aug - 31 Aug 2026	£164	£164
01 Sep - 17 Oct 2026	£190	£190
18 Oct - 31 Oct 2026	£164	£164

Flight options

RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
Bilbao or Santander for the outward flight; Bordeaux or Bergerac for the homeward flight
As an alternative to flying, we can arrange rail travel from London

Travelling from the UK

Travelling from outside the UK

If you are flying from outside Europe, you may need to fly via an airport not listed here. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

Outward route	Airline
Bristol - Bilbao	easyJet

Return route	Airline
Bordeaux - Bristol	easyJet
Bergerac - Bristol	Ryanair

Outward route	Airline
Edinburgh - Bilbao (via Amsterdam Schiphol)	KLM
Edinburgh - Bilbao (via Barcelona)	Vueling
Edinburgh - Santander	Ryanair

Return route	Airline
Bordeaux - Edinburgh	Ryanair
Bordeaux - Edinburgh (via Amsterdam Schiphol)	KLM
Bordeaux - Edinburgh (via Paris)	Air France

Outward route	Airline
Glasgow - Bilbao (via Amsterdam Schiphol)	KLM

Return route	Airline
Bordeaux - Glasgow	easyJet

Outward route	Airline
Gatwick - Bilbao	British Airways, easyJet, Vueling

Return route	Airline
Bordeaux - Gatwick	British Airways, easyJet

Outward route	Airline
Heathrow - Bilbao	British Airways, Iberia, Vueling
Heathrow - Bilbao (via Madrid)	Iberia

Return route	Airline
Bordeaux - Heathrow (via Brussels)	Brussels Airlines
Bordeaux - Heathrow (via Paris)	Air France

Outward route	Airline
Stansted - Santander	Ryanair

Return route	Airline
Bordeaux - Stansted	Ryanair
Bergerac - Stansted	jet2, Ryanair

Outward route	Airline
Manchester - Bilbao	easyJet
Manchester - Bilbao (via Barcelona)	Iberia
Manchester - Bilbao (via Heathrow)	Iberia

Return route	Airline
Bordeaux - Manchester	easyJet, Ryanair
Bordeaux - Manchester (via Amsterdam)	Air France
Bordeaux - Manchester (via Paris)	Air France
Bergerac - Manchester	jet2

Outward route	Airline
Newcastle - Bilbao (via Amsterdam Schiphol)	KLM

Return route	Airline
Bordeaux - Newcastle (via Amsterdam Schiphol)	KLM
Bordeaux - Newcastle (via Paris)	Air France

Travelling from outside the UK

If you are flying from outside Europe, you may need to fly via an airport not listed here. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you for any of the options listed above. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service. Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

Connecting travel

Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

Unless otherwise stated, connecting travel by rail or bus tends to be from the city centre station, rather than from its airport, and connections between the two should be paid for locally.

Where a price range is given, the price you pay depends on your date of travel.

Connecting travel options - flying via Bilbao

Outward route	Price per person	Latest flight arrival time
own travel arrangements Bilbao airport to hotel	pay locally	flexible

Homeward route
not recommended in this direction

Connecting travel options - flying via Bordeaux

Outward route
not recommended in this direction

Homeward route	Price per person	Earliest flight departure time
own travel arrangements hotel to Bordeaux airport	pay locally	flexible

Connecting travel options - flying via Bergerac

Outward route
not recommended in this direction

Homeward route	Price per person	Earliest flight departure time
taxi hotel to Bordeaux St Jean (0h10, pay locally), rail Bordeaux St Jean to Bergerac (1h30)	£30-£32	1300

Connecting travel options - flying via Santander

Outward route	Price per person	Latest flight arrival time
coach Santander to Bilbao (1h30)	£21-£22	1700

Homeward route
not recommended in this direction

Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

Mr M Morgan

Canada

09 March 2024

Overall this was just the holiday we were looking for! Plenty was set up for us beforehand, but it also left plenty of leeway for us to enjoy it at our own pace or make adjustments to the routes. The walking tours featured the essential parts of each city to see. The hotels were fantastic, and the breakfasts perfect. A wonderful holiday!
Mrs S Dilley

Worthing

30 September 2023

Highlights:
Guggenheim in Bilbao - amazing setting and building by the river - Segovia - magnificent buildings and playa major + Balloons! - Amazing old town of Salamanca, even larger square and Roman bridge - vibrant seaside setting of San Sebastián - Cite du Vin and style of Bordeaux.

INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers combined our 'Classical Cities of Old Castile' and 'Flavours of Bilbao, San Sebastián & Bordeux' journeys.
Happy InnTravellers

27 September 2023

We loved this trip. We've taken several walking holidays with Inntravel, some with city add-ons, but this was our first city-only tour and it was so well put together. Although it is promoted as a gastronomic tour, we chose it for the cities, particularly Bilbao and San Sebastian, as I am very keen on modern architecture and art. The food scene turned out to be a welcome bonus. We added an extra day to both Bilbao and San Sebastian but definitely should have spent longer in Bordeaux and in fact could easily have spent even longer in all three.

In Bilbao, the hotel Tayko was very comfortable and in an ideal location with the pincho bars of the old town just behind. We ate at their restaurant Ola one night and the food was superb. We followed the tour on our first day and went back to the Guggenheim the next - best to go early and book first online.

San Sebastian was packed - avoid the weekend if you can. Our train from Bilbao was full of families going to the beach. A lot of the bars and restaurants were full but we found a good tapas set menu at Bar Basque and excellent fish at Sebastian Jatetxea by the fishermen's houses. We also ate in the bar at the hotel Niza but still had to book. We really liked the Hotel Niza and loved the sea view from our room. Although the facilities are quite basic with no aircon or tea-making facilities, you can request a fan which we did upon arriving. You can also order tea, coffee and other drinks from the bar and they will bring it to you in the hotel lounge.

In San Sebastian, if staying an extra day, we would recommend visiting Chillida Leku, the home and sculpture park dedicated to Eduardo Chillida. We took bus BU05 from the stop outside the Niza hotel. It takes 20 mins & runs every half-hour. The museum is open every day except Tue & Wed so unusually it is open on a Monday. It also has a very pleasant cafe and restaurant.

We had no expectations of Bordeaux and regretted not having extra time there. The Quality hotel was fine, if impersonal, but in a very good position. We had lunch at Books and Coffee - beware the sandwiches are massive - had seafood at L'Embacadere (definitely need to book) as well as a very pleasant dinner and lunch at Parlement de Graves, very close to the hotel.

In general, the Inntravel notes were very good but omitted to state that you can now take a tram from Bordeaux all the way to the airport. It's worth using Google Maps for public transport routes and schedules.

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.

What’s in the information pack?

The information that we send to you 2-3 weeks before your holiday includes practical information about each stage of your journey so that you can travel confidently from one hotel to another, recommendations for places to visit and eat out in each place, plus cultural information about the area. Where applicable, we also provide notes for a self-guided walking tour of most cities, and some large towns. Sample travel pack >
Can I book my flights through Inntravel, and what’s the advantage of doing this?

We can book a wide range of routes from the UK with a variety of airlines. As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. The fee for this service is £35 per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). More information on flights >
I’d like to travel all the way from the UK by rail. Can you arrange this?

Absolutely! We are experts in tailored rail travel. Making use of sleeper trains or stopovers in cities along the route, we can get you from London to virtually anywhere in mainland Europe. We can even make arrangements to Mallorca, Sicily and Norway with a combination of ferries and rail. Please contact us to discuss your plans.
Can you book travel arrangements for customers from outside the UK?

We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
How do I make a booking?

Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

More information about the booking process >
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Do I need travel insurance?

Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can incur a five or six-figure bill.

Many insurers offer travel insurance (you can find details on our insurance page of a policy that you may like to consider if you are a UK resident), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

When you purchase a policy, be sure to check that it covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs.
What else do I need to know about travelling to Spain?

(Castilian) Spanish is one of several official languages; Catalan, Basque and Gallego have equal status in Catalonia, the Basque Country and Galicia, respectively. The currency is the Euro. Spanish time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
Do I need a visa or anything health-related for Spain?

It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Spain, but not a visa (please note, however, that a new travel authorisation system is being introduced). If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). You should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your EHIC has expired (if you have a still-valid EHIC, you can use this until it expires).
What else do I need to know about travelling to France?

The official language is French. The currency is the Euro. French time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
Do I need a visa or anything health-related for France?

It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to France, but not a visa (please note, however, that a new travel authorisation system is being introduced). If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). You should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your EHIC has expired (if you have a still-valid EHIC, you can use this until it expires).
How does Brexit affect travel to Europe?

For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.
Where can I find general travel advice?

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.

If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.

Price from

£1220pp | 6 nights

Flavours of Bilbao, San Sebastián & Bordeaux by Rail. 6 nights

Price from

£1220pp