When I received the invitation to join other travel journalists from around the world on board the Transcantabrico train – I almost turned it down. Even though the words “Spanish Luxury Train” came through loud and clear, my travel schedule was pretty tight and would require some crazy flight time that I’d never put myself through. Thankfully, I remembered my travel motto, one I preach to many others: “sleep when you’re dead”.
I was the only American citizen on board El Transcantabrico Gran Lujo during this mid-summer excursion across northern Spain. I was met by travel writers from mostly European countries: Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden and Norway. There were also writers from Mexico, Brazil, China, and Argentina. Many of them spoke at least a bit of English which made for interesting conversations about the similarities of our careers and how they differ from country to country. I’d never had that opportunity in the past and it was fascinating.
After three flights (St. Louis to Chicago; Chicago to Madrid; and Madrid to Santiago De Compostela) and nearly 24 hours of travel, layovers, and zero sleep — I finally made it. With my ticket in hand, and all alone in a foreign country, I was ready to board. Though I had no idea what a life changing experience I’d enjoy over the next 8 days.
All Aboard El Transcantabrico – The Ride Begins
Saturday at noon, all passengers gather at the local Parador in Santiago de Compostela. Several of the guides you’ll get to know during your trip are there to greet and check you in. Once everyone is checked-in, the entire group gathers for a quick tour of the city. After that, it’s the first of many meals you’ll share together in the week ahead.
After lunch, you’ll hop on a luxury coach bus that delivers you to the first train station. Awaiting the guests is the crew of El Transcantabrico, all stylishly decked out in matching uniforms and white gloves.
After being welcomed onto what’s called “the most luxurious train in Spain”, a quick celebratory champagne toast takes place in the dining car. Before you know it – you’re on-the-move! You’re encouraged to settle in to your suite while El Transcantabrico travels to its first stop – the town of Viveiro.
This particular Spanish luxury train has 14 guest suites that are spacious enough for two guests. Mine included two single beds; ample room for storing clothes and luggage; a couch that faced the windows; a small table; and a private bathroom. The shower was surprisingly nice. Never an issue with hot water and the pressure was perfect. If you sleep in a bit too long, you may have to shower while the train is moving. (Kind of like bathing during an earthquake.) You’re given an actual key to lock and unlock the door to your room.
The bed was far more comfortable than I thought it would be. It also helps that the train stays put at night while you sleep. You actually spend minimal time in your room as your schedule is full exploring towns, eating meals, or enjoying evening entertainment.
There are several public areas of El Transcantabrico that are available to enjoy some down time. There is an observation car with large windows and a lounge car. Contrary to what I was expecting, the train is more of a hotel/transportation hybrid that takes you across northern Spain. The time on board is used mostly for eating meals and sleeping.
Exploring Spain On A Luxury Train
If there was one major takeaway from my experience on El Transcantabrico, it’s that we visited more places than I initially imagined. You’re inclined to think that each day you’ll stop at a different train station and head out to explore. Instead, the train may stop at several stations in a single day while a luxury coach will take you into nearby towns. Not to mention most days included what I referred to as an additional “mini field trip” in the late afternoon before returning for dinner.
Among the places you’ll get to experience are Ribadeo; Oviedo; Gijon; Llanes; Santillana del Mar; Bilbao; and San Sebastián. You’ll see beautiful beaches, medieval architecture; unique museums; historic cathedrals; and have the chance to meet locals along the way. Each stop has a guided tour where you’ll learn about the destination through wireless headphones. The guides are able to speak at least two languages – English and Spanish. (One of our guides spoke four different languages!)
Having free time is important to me whenever I participate in group travel. During a couple of stops, there wasn’t as much time to explore on my own as I would have enjoyed. However, I discovered later in the trip that you can break away on your own (in most cases) and meet up later with the group, so long as you let them know and don’t miss the bus!
What’s The Food Like On El Transcantabrico?
Each day, you’re served three meals in a combination of on-board dining and upscale restaurants throughout northern Spain. A typical day will include a breakfast buffet with pastries and fruit. (You can also order cooked items like eggs and bacon.) Lunch is usually out and out in one of the towns you’ll be exploring and then dinner is served on the train that evening.
If you’re not familiar with dining in Spain, it’s good to start training your body before the trip. Lunch is served around 2pm and lasts for serveral courses and ending around 4pm. Dinner begins at 8:30 or 9:00pm. I enjoyed that during lunch and dinner, you were given a menu that was typed in multiple languages so you knew what you were going to be served and in what order.
Full disclosure – I’m somewhat of a picky eater and have never really loved Spanish food. However, I’ll admit that on this particular trip I found myself enjoying the food more than I did the last time I visited the country. Many of the dishes included fresh fish or cuts of meat that I found enjoyable. The desserts were always spot on. I’ll also note that I was generally in the minority and most passengers seemed to really enjoy the food. In both the restaurants and on the train, it was obvious that these were well planned, intricate meals – something you’d expect on a luxury train.
Magic, Music, & Dancing: Nightly Entertainment
There’s a lounge car near the back of the train, equipped with a bar that serves as a place for passengers to gather after dinner for nightly entertainment. If you’re not completely wiped out from a full day of exploring, you’re likely to enjoy the various performances. One night, a talented woman played violin. Another night, a pianist took requests from the crowd for sing-a-longs.
My favorite performance was a humorous local magician who had some incredible card tricks. Normally, I’m not a fan of magic – either because I try too hard to figure out the tricks, or the performers annoy me. This guy was engaging, relatable, and likable. Hopefully he’ll be featured on your Transcantabrico journey.
The final night on the train offers dancing and drinks! I’m not much of a dancer but participated for at least a little while. It was great fun with surprisingly good sound for a train car.
The Crew Is First Class All The Way
Obviously, you expect first class service on a Spanish luxury train but the crew of El Transcantabrico absolutely delivers. The servers were quick and courteous and remembered what you liked to order for breakfast. On rainy days, they were quick to hand out umbrellas the moment you stepped out of the train. They even stood outside and waved (while wearing their white gloves) to the group each time we drove away for the day on our luxury coach bus.
I had the chance to visit with and get to know a few of the employees during our journey and they were genuinely hospitable. A few I’ve even kept in touch with even after the trip ended. On our last night aboard the train, several of them let loose and danced for the passengers in a farewell ceremony.
El Transcantabrico: The Price & Final Conclusion
As I mentioned earlier, I was among 11 travel journalists invited to experience the train ride. However, there were several couples on board that were paid customers. As best I could tell, they too seemed to enjoy the luxury train ride across northern Spain.
This is not an inexpensive experience and probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for most. Here are the current prices for 2025. You’ll also note that there are shorter versions of this experience that are more affordable if you’re only looking for a few days on the train. Keep in mind, everything is all-inclusive except for a few minor extras like laundry service. You have transportation, a place to sleep each night, fine dining in upscale restaurants, admission to museums and attractions, local guides, and more.
I found it to be an incredible experience – in terms of time on the train; all of the places we were able to see in such an organized fashion; and the new friendships I was able to make along the way.