Transcantábrico Gran Lujo: San Sebastián · Bilbao · Santander · Oviedo · Santiago de Compostela

Eight days along Spain's north coast, San Sebastián to Santiago

Renfe · Sleeper

The Transcantábrico Gran Lujo covers Spain's north coast over eight days and seven nights between San Sebastián and Santiago de Compostela, calling at Bilbao, Carranza, Santander, Cabezón de la Sal, Llanes, Oviedo, Luarca and Viveiro. It runs in both directions over the same stations, so you can start at either end.

Renfe owns and operates the train. There is one category on board, the Gran Lujo suite, fourteen of them: ten with a double bed and four twin, each published at 138 to 139 sq ft, about 12.8 m². The train was built in 1983.

The 2027 season has 31 departures between 23 March and 30 October, most of them full eight-day journeys leaving on Saturdays. The first and last of the season are shorter runs, Oviedo to San Sebastián in March and Santiago to Gijón in October.

We book the Transcantábrico for you and confirm the suite, the direction and the conditions in writing before you pay.

Departure-date guidance before the best dates sell through
Every benefit confirmed in writing before you commit
Hotels joined either side of the journey, as one trip

The route

Drawn to show the order of the stations, not the exact track.

The journeys

San Sebastián to Santiago de Compostela
7 nights
Eight days along the coast via Bilbao, Carranza, Santander, Cabezón de la Sal, Llanes, Oviedo, Luarca and Viveiro, leaving on Saturdays.
Santiago de Compostela to San Sebastián
7 nights
The same stations in reverse, also eight days with Saturday departures.
Season-opening and closing runs
Two shorter journeys at the edges of the 2027 season: Oviedo to San Sebastián on 23 March and Santiago to Gijón on 30 October.

On board: the cabins

Gran Lujo Suite
About 12.8 m² (138–139 sq ft)
Fourteen on the train and the only category: ten with a double bed, four twin.

Booking this train

Pick the direction by which end of the coast you want to arrive at and leave from; the stations are the same both ways. With a single suite category, the choice is between a double and a twin, and only four of the fourteen suites are twin, so say early if you need one. We book the hotel nights at San Sebastián and Santiago into the same trip. Renfe's authorised seller asks for a 15% deposit at booking and the balance 35 days before departure; cancelling costs 15% more than 30 days out, 25% from 30 to 15 days, 50% from 14 to 5 days, 80% from 4 days to 1 day and 100% inside 24 hours. Renfe also runs Al Andalus, between Seville and Madrid.

Questions, answered

What is the Transcantábrico's route?

San Sebastián to Santiago de Compostela, or the reverse, over eight days and seven nights, calling at Bilbao, Carranza, Santander, Cabezón de la Sal, Llanes, Oviedo, Luarca and Viveiro.

What are the suites like?

There are fourteen, all Gran Lujo suites: ten with a double bed and four twin, published at 138 to 139 sq ft, about 12.8 m². With one category on board, the only choice to make is double or twin.

When does the Transcantábrico run?

The 2027 season has 31 departures from 23 March to 30 October, most of them leaving on Saturdays. The first and last are shorter runs, Oviedo to San Sebastián and Santiago to Gijón.

What are the booking conditions?

Renfe's authorised seller asks for 15% at booking and the remaining 85% by 35 days before departure. Cancelling costs 15% more than 30 days out, 25% from 30 to 15 days, 50% from 14 to 5 days, 80% from 4 days to 1 day and 100% inside 24 hours.

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