Costa Verde Express · Renfe Luxury Tourist Trains
Costa Verde Express — luxury train through Green Spain.
A restored 1920s luxury train from Bilbao to Santiago de Compostela — six days through Basque Country, Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia. Twenty-four Gran Clase Suites. Forty-six guests. Five nights aboard.
Quick Facts
The Costa Verde Express at a glance.
Duration
6 days, 5 nights aboard
Route
Bilbao ↔ Santiago de Compostela
Operator
Renfe — Luxury Tourist Trains
Suites
24 Gran Clase Suites · 46 guests max
Season
May – October (17 departures in 2026)
From
€5,000 pp twin · €9,000 single
Included
All meals, beverages, excursions, transfers
Languages
English & Spanish on board
Cabin size
6 m² with private ensuite bathroom
An Introduction
A luxury train that takes its time.
The Costa Verde Express runs the length of Spain’s northern shore — Cantabria, Asturias, Galicia — at a pace closer to a country house than a railway.
Operated by Renfe as part of its Trenes Turísticos de Lujo (Luxury Tourist Trains) fleet, the train is a small, slow alternative to a Eurostar or a cruise. Restored carriages from the 1920s, twenty-four Gran Clase Suites, forty-six guests. Mornings on the rails along headlands and estuaries; afternoons ashore at Santander, Llanes, Oviedo, Ferrol and the green inland country. Evenings, dinner on the train.
The route ends — or begins — at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, terminus of the Camino. The train runs in both directions: Bilbao → Santiago and Santiago → Bilbao.
Why Costa Verde Express
Why guests choose this train over a cruise or a tour.
Smaller than a cruise
46 guests across 24 suites. Crew that learns your names. The opposite of a 3,000-passenger ship; intimate enough to feel like a country house on rails.
Restored 1920s carriages
Original El Transcantábrico Clásico rolling stock returned to drawings: marquetry, etched glass, brass refinished. Each suite is a small room rather than a sleeping compartment.
Gastronomy by region
Cider house in Asturias, the Parador at Santiago, a coastal kitchen in Luarca. Seafood from the Bay of Biscay, Cabrales from the Picos, regional wines throughout.
Green Spain scenery
Headlands above the Cantabrian Sea, the Picos de Europa, oak forests of Galicia. Spain at its greenest and least visited — rarely the Spain on a postcard.
Guided excursions ashore
Most days include 4-6 hours ashore: cathedrals, museums, country houses, harbours, food markets. Coaches and private guides included in the fare.
Stops at night
The train parks at a station each evening so sleep is undisturbed by movement. WiFi in the lounge cars and berth carriages throughout.
The route
From the Basque hills to the end of the road in Galicia.
The Carriages
Twenty-four Gran Clase Suites.
Every cabin aboard the Costa Verde Express is a Gran Clase Suite: six square metres including a private bathroom with hydro-massage shower, a day-mode sofa that converts to a 1.35 × 1.80 m double bed at night, individually controlled climate and lighting, minibar, safe, and complimentary WiFi.
Four lounge cars: a principal bar with dance floor, a second bar, and two reading lounges with the library. Buffet breakfast and dinner aboard most nights; lunches at vetted regional restaurants — a cider house in Asturias, the Parador at Santiago, a coastal kitchen in Luarca.
Upcoming departures · 2026
Reserve a cabin for the season.
The train runs May through October 2026 — seventeen departures, alternating Bilbao → Santiago and Santiago → Bilbao. Most departures sell out six to eight months ahead; the high-summer dates sell first. Only 46 guests per journey.
| Departure | Direction | From / person | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, 16 May 2026 | Santiago → Bilbao | €5,000 | Available |
| Sat, 23 May 2026 | Bilbao → Santiago | €5,000 | Sold Out |
| Sat, 30 May 2026 | Santiago → Bilbao | €5,000 | Available |
| Sat, 6 Jun 2026 | Bilbao → Santiago | €5,000 | Sold Out |
| Sat, 13 Jun 2026 | Santiago → Bilbao | €5,000 | Available |
Common questions
What guests ask first.
Who operates the Costa Verde Express?
The Costa Verde Express is owned and operated by Renfe, Spain’s national railway, as part of its Trenes Turísticos de Lujo (Luxury Tourist Trains) fleet, alongside the Transcantábrico Gran Lujo and Al Andalus. Luxury Train Vacations Inc. is an authorized English-language reservations partner.
How long is the journey?
Six days and five nights aboard, between Bilbao and Santiago de Compostela. The train runs in both directions; the route is identical, in reverse. Shorter three-day Santiago–Oviedo segments are also offered on selected dates.
When does the Costa Verde Express run?
The season runs from May through October. In 2026 there are seventeen scheduled departures, generally on Saturdays, alternating direction week by week.
How much does it cost — and what’s included?
From €5,000 per person twin and €9,000 single. Fares include the cabin, all meals aboard and at selected restaurants ashore, beverages (regional wines, coffee, after-dinner liqueurs), all guided excursions and entrance fees, transfers, and onboard services. Travel insurance, gratuities, and ground travel to Bilbao/Santiago are extra.
Is the Costa Verde Express worth it?
For guests who want an unhurried, intimate luxury rail experience through one of Europe’s least-visited regions — yes. The combination of 46 guests, restored 1920s carriages, multi-course dining at vetted regional restaurants, and curated excursions makes it a deliberately small alternative to a cruise. Northern Spain is also rare ground for English-speaking travellers.
How large are the cabins?
Each Gran Clase Suite is 6 m² (~65 sq ft) including the private ensuite bathroom. By day, the suite is configured as a sitting room with a sofa; at night the staff converts it to a 1.35 × 1.80 m double bed. Suites are identical in dimension and finish; the experience differs only by which side of the train wakes you in the morning.
What is the dress code?
Smart-casual throughout. Dinners aboard the dining car are slightly more formal — jacket recommended for gentlemen; comfortable elegant attire for ladies. Excursions ashore call for layered comfortable clothing and walking shoes; Northern Spain is cooler and wetter than the Mediterranean coast.
Is WiFi available on board?
Yes — complimentary WiFi is available in the lounge cars and in the berth carriages throughout the journey. Signal varies in remote stretches of the route.
Which direction is better — Bilbao to Santiago, or Santiago to Bilbao?
Both directions cover the same route, in reverse. Bilbao→Santiago builds toward the cathedral and is the traditional pilgrimage direction; Santiago→Bilbao ends in the more cosmopolitan Basque country with the Guggenheim and Bilbao’s gastronomy. Most guests choose by which of the two anchor cities they’d prefer to fly home from.
When should I book?
Six to twelve months ahead. Most 2026 departures will sell out by Q1 2026; the high-summer departures sell first. With only 46 guests per journey, capacity is the constraint.
Is the train wheelchair accessible?
The carriages are restored 1920s rolling stock and, regrettably, are not wheelchair accessible. Guests should be comfortable with stairs and uneven station platforms. See the Plan page for full practical information.
Begin a conversation
Request a personalized quote.
Tell us when you would like to travel and which direction you prefer — our reservations team will write back, often the same day, with availability and a tailored itinerary.