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Journey along the Camino de Santiago by Rail

A rail odyssey through northern Spain
Rail delights | Travel across northern Spain in 10 days from the Basque Country to Galicia.
Personal pilgrimage | Converge alongside other pilgrims in Santiago’s medieval cathedral square.
Iconic cathedrals | In Burgos, León and Santiago de Compostela.
Galicia | Beautiful landscapes, rich history, delicious food, and a vibrant culture.
Changing landscapes | From the hills of Biscay to rivers and steep slopes in Ribeira Sacra.
What is included
  • 9 nights
  • 1 dinner
    9 breakfasts
  • rail travel Bilbao–Santiago
  • notes for a walking tour of each city
  • return transfer between station and hotel in Monforte
  • Journey along the Camino de Santiago by Rail
    A rail odyssey through northern Spain
  • Santiago de Compostela Cathedral
  • Pilgrim statue in St Marcos Square
  • Symbol of the Camino de Santiago as it passes through Burgos
  • Old architecture in Bilbao
  • Pintxos - Basque-style tapas
  • Galician piper in Santiago de Compostela
  • Vineyards, Galicia
What is included
  • 9 nights
  • 1 dinner
    9 breakfasts
  • rail travel Bilbao–Santiago
  • notes for a walking tour of each city
  • return transfer between station and hotel in Monforte

Holiday information

The Camino de Santiago by rail

Travelling by train in the wake of pilgrims and staying in five culturally, architecturally, and gastronomically rich cities along the way, you cross some of Spain’s most dazzling landscapes imbued with the spirit of the Camino and steeped in its cultural icons.
For more than a thousand years, individuals have set out on foot from across Europe to visit the tomb of James the Apostle in the Galician capital of Santiago de Compostela. In their droves they have walked for days, weeks or months to fulfil a penance, find salvation, pay homage to their God or worship the Apostle known as St James the Greater, their footsteps treading the same path countless pilgrims have walked before them.

Today, thousands annually still make that journey, on foot, horseback or by bicycle, for spiritual, cultural or personal reasons. On this spectacular odyssey by rail, you follow in their tracks; mingle with them as they pause at the ancient cities and ornate cathedrals that trace the origins and evolution of modern-day Spain; and arrive alongside them into the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Santiago de Compostela.
 
From the verdant hills of Biscay, through the vast plains of the central region, to the ravishing rivers and steep slopes of Ribeira Sacra, and onwards to green Galicia, this rail journey across some of Spain’s most dazzling landscapes, takes you on a fascinating discovery of geographical, cultural and culinary revelations. 


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 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.
  • Explore Bilbao
    Using our notes, spend your first full day exploring the bustling old quarter of this vivacious city with its independent shops and restaurants; visit the striking Guggenheim Museum, and stroll the cosmopolitan Ensanche district before diving into the city’s lively bars and famous pintxo scene.
  • Bilbao to Burgos: 3hrs by train
    After boarding the train for your onward journey to Burgos, the green hills of Biscay soon give way to the stark beauty of the plains. This is a land of extremes – scorched heat in summer and bone-chilling cold in winter – where sheep graze, and the feet of pilgrims brought the founding of great cities in the Kingdom of Castile and León. Arriving in Burgos, you spend two nights at the Hotel Mesón del Cid.
  • Explore Burgos
    We provide notes for a city trail that takes in the highlights of this walled medieval city, once the largest Spanish city on the Camino. Join pilgrims as they marvel at the Gothic splendour of the 13th-century cathedral, home to the tomb of El Cid, the venerated and celebrated knight. Visit the medieval gateway of Arco de Santa Maria, and take in the castle, ancient churches, and waterfront museums.
  • Burgos to León: 2hrs by train
    Travelling among pilgrims, the train from Burgos to León bestows a lulling calm as it crosses the meseta. Scattered, earth-coloured villages blend into the dust of this treeless and wind-blown landscape that spreads to the horizon beneath a luminous sky. Reaching the meseta’s north-western edge, you arrive in the ancient city of León where you stay two nights at the Hotel Posada Regia.
  • Explore León
    With tomorrow morning free to explore as well, there’s plenty of time to visit the city’s magnificent Gothic cathedral with its medieval stained-glass windows; Casa Botines, designed by Gaudí, which contains more than 5,000 works of art along with a Gaudí museum; and the Barrio Húmedo district, considered the beating heart of Léon with its medieval labyrinth of streets, its market and bustling tapas scene.
  • León to Monforte de Lemos: 3hrs by train
    Your onwards train only runs once a day, in the afternoon, making for an evening arrival in Monforte de Lemos, where a taxi awaits to take you to either the Parador de Monforte de Lemos or the Hotel Ribeira Sacra, where you spend one night.
  • Monforte de Lemos to Santiago de Compostela: 1hr45mins by train
    Start the day by meandering the cobbled streets of this authentic Galician town, epicentre of the highly regarded Ribeira Sacra wine region, before catching your onward train to witness the most spectacular scenery of the holiday. Considered one of the great train journeys of Spain, the railway travels through the spectacular Ribeira Sacra wine region above the canyons and steep, vine-coated slopes of the rivers Cabe, Sil and Miño before reaching Santiago de Compostela. You spend your final two nights at the Hotel Virxe da Cerca or, for a very special end to your rail pilgrimage, upgrade to the ostentatious splendour of the Parador de Santiago.
  • Explore Santiago de Compostela
    Now wholly immersed in the emotional atmosphere of pilgrims arriving from all over the globe, spend your final day exploring this UNESCO World Heritage city using our notes to take in its plethora of iconic buildings and pausing to enjoy gardens, shops, and cafes along the way.

Accommodation

Your hotels are ideally located for exploration of each city.

To make your holiday all the more special, we offer upgrade hotels in León and Santiago.

In Bilbao and Monforte de Lemos we work with more than one hotel, as shown below. They are all 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.
 
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.
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  • 9 nights: 01 April 2026 - 30 November 2026 & 01 April 2027 - 30 November 2027

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

    Starting Price *
    1 - 30 Sep 2026 From £1338
    1 - 21 Oct 2026 From £1283
    1 - 21 Nov 2026 From £1203
    1 - 30 Apr 2027 From £1353
    1 - 31 May 2027 From £1443
    1 - 30 Jun 2027 From £1543
    1 - 31 Jul 2027 From £1433
    1 - 31 Aug 2027 From £1453
    1 - 30 Sep 2027 From £1413
    1 - 31 Oct 2027 From £1333
    1 - 21 Nov 2027 From £1293

    * Final price is subject to change due to the customisable nature of our holidays and is dependent on accommodation availability for the dates selected. We will contact you to confirm the final price. Single supplements are applicable on many of our holidays. Please contact us for full details.

    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-Burgos-Leon-Monforte de Lemos-Santiago de Compostela by rail (standard class for standard holiday, first class (except Lemos-Santiago) for upgrade version of holiday)
    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.

  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Bilbao, Madrid or Santander for the outward flight; Madrid, Porto or Santiago de Compostela 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,  we recommend flying via Madrid. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book flights and onward connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Madrid British Airways,  Iberia,  Ryanair 
    Birmingham - Madrid (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Return route Airline
    Porto - Birmingham Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Bristol - Bilbao easyJet 
    Bristol - Madrid easyJet 
    Return route Airline
    Porto - Bristol easyJet,  Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Bilbao (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Edinburgh - Bilbao (via Barcelona) Vueling 
    Edinburgh - Madrid easyJet,  Iberia 
    Edinburgh - Santander Ryanair 
    Return route Airline
    Porto - Edinburgh Ryanair 
    Porto - Edinburgh (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Porto - Edinburgh (via Barcelona) Vueling 
    Porto - Edinburgh (via Geneva) easyJet 
    Santiago de Compostela - Edinburgh (via Barcelona) Vueling 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow - Bilbao (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Return route Airline
    Porto - Glasgow easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Liverpool - Madrid easyJet 
    Return route Airline
    Porto - Liverpool Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    London City - Madrid British Airways 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Bilbao British Airways,  easyJet,  Vueling 
    Gatwick - Madrid Air Europa,  easyJet,  Iberia,  Vueling 
    Return route Airline
    Porto - Gatwick British Airways,  easyJet,  TAP Air Portugal 
    Porto - Gatwick (via Geneva) easyJet 
    Santiago de Compostela - Gatwick easyJet,  Vueling 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Bilbao British Airways,  Iberia,  Vueling 
    Heathrow - Bilbao (via Madrid) Iberia 
    Heathrow - Madrid British Airways,  Iberia 
    Return route Airline
    Porto - Heathrow British Airways,  TAP Air Portugal 
    Porto - Heathrow (via Lisbon) TAP Air Portugal 
    Santiago de Compostela - Heathrow (via Madrid) British Airways,  Iberia 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Madrid easyJet 
    Return route Airline
    Porto - Luton easyJet,  Wizz Air 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Madrid Ryanair 
    Stansted - Santander Ryanair 
    Return route Airline
    Porto - Stansted Ryanair 
    Santiago de Compostela - Stansted Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Bilbao easyJet 
    Manchester - Bilbao (via Barcelona) Iberia 
    Manchester - Bilbao (via Heathrow) Iberia 
    Manchester - Madrid Iberia,  Ryanair 
    Return route Airline
    Porto - Manchester easyJet,  Ryanair 
    Porto - Manchester (via Brussels) Brussels Airlines 
    Porto - Manchester (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Porto - Manchester (via Lisbon) TAP Air Portugal 
    Santiago de Compostela - Manchester (via Barcelona) Ryanair,  Vueling 
    Outward route Airline
    Newcastle - Bilbao (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Newcastle - Madrid (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Return route Airline
    Porto - Newcastle (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Porto - Newcastle (via Brussels) Brussels Airlines 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Madrid. 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.

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 >

Please note: any reference to maps in customer reviews is now out of date – we no longer provide these. For information on this, please see our FAQs page.


 

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.
  • 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 >
  • 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 >
  • 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.
  • 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 >
  • 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 >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • 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.
  • 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).
  • (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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
Journey along the Camino de Santiago by Rail
9 nights
Journey along the Camino de Santiago by Rail
9 nights
Journey by train
Last fetch time is : 9/5/2026 9:43:07 AM

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