Rail Holidays in Spain

W ith diverse landscapes from snow-capped peaks to sun-drenched beaches, Spain offers holidays to suit every taste. You can visit historic monuments from Roman to Catalan Modernist with every era in-between. You can enjoy fantastic wine and food from tapas bars to Michelin-starred. You can see some of the greatest galleries in the world and then enjoy flamenco in the evening. And you can get around on some of the best high-speed trains on the Continent.  

Recommended Holiday Ideas

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Destination Spain

The combination of reliably warm weather and fantastic food has established Spain as one of the world’s favourite holiday destinations. Add in the country’s rich history and remarkable cultural contributions, together with great beaches and awe-inspiring national parks, and there is something to appeal to every taste and budget.

From the Picasso-laden Prado in Madrid, via the as yet unfinished Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, to the serene Alhambra in Granada, Spain’s towns and cities offer a wealth of historic and architectural gems which reflect the country’s many different religious and political influences. And after a long day of sightseeing, you’ll be pleased to find these influences also expressed in a delicious and varied cuisine with the opportunity to try lots of different dishes and flavours thanks to the Spanish tradition of tapas.

Spain’s natural history is equally impressive, and equally rewarding to explore. The golden beaches on the southern coast slip into the Mediterranean and at some points are just a few nautical miles from Africa meaning sunshine is (almost!) guaranteed. The Camino de Santiago is a wonderful way to explore northern Spain and the mountainous Picos de Europa and Sierra Nevada are just two of the country’s beautiful national parks where you can walk off that last round of paella or tortilla!

It’s possible to reach Barcelona in a day by train, with the Eurostar and direct TGV service from Paris. For those who are then pushing on deeper into the heart of Spain, we recommend staying in the excellent hotel located in the station, allowing you to continue your journey fresh the next morning. Almost all of Spain’s top destinations are accessible by rail, with high-speed lines connecting Madrid and Barcelona.

Spain Highlights

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Madrid Spain's historic capital boasts elegant boulevards, lush landscaped gardens and some of Europe's greatest art galleries, along with a vibrant beating heart. View More
Andalucia Enjoy glorious sunshine, fantastic scenery, Roman and Islamic architecture and late-night tapas on a rail holiday to Andalucia in southern Spain. View More
Barcelona Barcelona is the perfect city break destination. There are great museums, colourful markets, fine dining, great shopping, some lush green spaces and a beach. What more could you want? View More

Itineraries in Spain

Tailor Made Rail
Offer
  • Amsterdam
  • Berlin
  • Prague
  • Vienna
  • Venice
  • St Moritz
  • Zermatt
  • Lyon
  • Barcelona
  • Paris
In honour of our 10th anniversary, we've rounded up 10 of our favourite destinations, mixed in some of our all-time favourite rail journeys and created the BEST 25-night holiday around Europe ever! Rail highlights include the Glacier Express, the Bernina Express, the Elbe River valley and the Semmering Pass.
From £3,999
Offer
11 Days
  • Lille
  • Montpellier
  • Barcelona
  • Madrid
  • Girona
  • Paris
Take the train to Barcelona and Madrid on this laid back holiday, with plenty of stops to break your journey and only one journey per day of travel. Enjoy breaks in Lille, Montpellier and Girona along the way.
From £1,599
11 Days
  • Barcelona
  • Seville
  • Madrid
  • Biarritz
Take in three of Spain's most popular city destinations on this luxury rail holiday, which includes first class rail travel and 5* hotels. Sail down to Barcelona in a day and then dip down to beautiful Andalusian capital Seville before heading up to buzzing Madrid and then back to the UK via Biarritz on the Atlantic Coast.
From £2,449
12 Days
  • San Sebastian
  • Santiago de Compostela
  • Vigo
  • Porto
  • Pinhao
  • Salamanca
  • Girona
Enjoy a stunning holiday taking in the beautiful Spanish region of Galicia and the verdant landscapes of the Douro Valley in Portugal. This suggested itinerary includes stops in San Sebastian, the pilgrim city of Santiago de Compostela, Vigo, lovely Porto, Pinhão in the Douro Valley and historic Salamanca.
From £1,599
10 Days
  • Montpellier
  • Valencia
  • Palma
Take the train through France and Spain, breaking your journey in Montpellier en route to sunny Valencia. Enjoy a 3-night stay in this port city with its beaches and futuristic architecture before taking an overnight ferry across the Mediterranean to Palma on the island of Mallorca. Here you'll have two full days to explore, including a full day tour of the island by coach, boat and vintage train.
From £1,499
Offer
7 Days
  • Toulouse
  • Barcelona
  • Avignon
Take the train to vibrant Catalan capital Barcelona via Toulouse and Pyrenees. With 4 nights in Barcelona, there's time for a day trip to the Roman city of Tarragona too before you return to the UK with a stop in Avignon to break your journey home.
From £1,049
10 Days
  • Bordeaux
  • San Sebastian
  • Burgos
  • Leon
  • Santiago de Compostela
  • Barcelona
Travel by rail via Bordeaux and the Pyrenees to San Sebastian and then follow the famous route of pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, with fascinating stops en route in Burgos and Leon.
From £1,399
7 Days
  • Barcelona
  • Madrid
  • Perpignan
Zoom down to the coast and across France to Barcelona and Madrid on this high-speed rail adventure to Spain. Your return journey takes you via Perpignan with an overnight stop before you head for home.
From £1,199
11 Days
  • Girona
  • Cordoba
  • Granada
  • Ronda
  • Seville
  • Barcelona
With its Moorish feel and Spanish zest for life, Andalucia is an enchanting region that seduces visitors through every sense. The Alhambra Palace, the Mezquita of Cordoba and Seville Cathedral are just some of the highlights of this holiday.
From £1,649
7 Days
  • Barcelona
  • Tangier
  • Rabat
  • Marrakech
Take an unforgettable trip to another continent by train and sea. Let the sights and sounds of Morocco seduce you on this incredible adventure, with stops in France and Spain enroute along with a ferry across the Straits of Gibraltar. From Marrakech, you can book a flight home or add return travel all the way back to the UK without flying.
From £1,099
10 Days
  • San Sebastian
  • Vigo
  • Lisbon
  • Merida
  • Barcelona
Travel to Portugal by train from the UK, stopping off at the city of San Sebastian with its sweeping urban beaches and Michelin-starred restaurants before continuing across Northern Spain to Portugal and enjoying three days in historic Lisbon. Return via historic Merida and Barcelona.
From £1,249

Blogs About Spain

3 Apr, 2019
Take a train from London to Madrid and experience the Spanish capital’s lively street life and insatiable appetite for art and music without the need to step foot on a plane.
2 Apr, 2019
Looking for some sightseeing inspiration? Have a look at our top tips for must-see museums in Continental Europe.
8 Jun, 2020
We have put together our top ideas for bucket list golf courses that you can include on a tailor made holiday by rail. We hope you enjoy!