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Spain Route advice please!

  • January 25, 2025
  • 2 replies
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hellyplop
Full steam ahead

Hi everyone, 

We have a week in Portugal (Carvoeiro) booked in August and I’ve got a global pass to get down there and back again - there are 3 of us; me, my husband and my 11 year old son. I was thinking Paris - Barcelona - Seville and then bus along the south coast to Carvoeiro. But starting to think that Seville in August might be a bad idea heat-wise, and actually I’d really like to visit some of the northern cities like Bilbao and Santander.

I was just wondering if someone had any experience and advice of a route we could take - I’d quite like to spend 2 or 3 nights in each city if possible, and then take a different, possibly more direct, route home. 

Any advice about good routes would be really welcome; we’re very open to sleeper trains and happy to pay seat reservations for high speed trains. 

Many thanks everyone!

Best answer by thibcabe

Sure, I'll start by mentioning the incredible Seat61 website: https://www.seat61.com/Portugal.htm

Since you seem torn between the Basque country and Sevilla/Barcelona, why not do one each way. :)

I guess I'd start with Northern Spain since the return is faster with more high-speed trains.

Timetables for August won't be published for a loooong time but you can check the current times and there shouldn't be much change. Actually I'm also planning a Portugal trip in July.

Bordeaux, Hendaye or probably even San Sebastian should be reachable in a day from your hometown (unless you live in the North perhaps). The Euskotren from Hendaye isn't included in Interrail but only costs 3-4€ per person.

Alternatively get to Paris during the day, have dinner there and board a night train to Tarbes or Hendaye. I'm not sure it runs daily. You'll have to share the couchette compartment.

(No night trains in Spain and Portugal sadly.)

There's a metric gauge railway along the coast between Bilbao and Santander, even further to Ferrol. It is extremely slow but I've heard views are nice. Still debating whether I include it or not on my trip.

Fastest is usually via Madrid and to spend the night in Vigo. Following day Vigo - Porto - Faro/destination.

For the return something like:

- Day 1: bus Portugal - Sevilla

- Day 2: Sevilla - Barcelona direct AVE (6h)

- Day 3: Barcelona - Paris direct TGV (6h30-7h)

- Day 4: Paris - home

I mean Sevilla will be really hot guaranteed so stay calm during the day and visit after sunset. ;)

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  • thibcabe
  • Full steam ahead
  • 4912 replies
  • Answer
  • January 25, 2025

Sure, I'll start by mentioning the incredible Seat61 website: https://www.seat61.com/Portugal.htm

Since you seem torn between the Basque country and Sevilla/Barcelona, why not do one each way. :)

I guess I'd start with Northern Spain since the return is faster with more high-speed trains.

Timetables for August won't be published for a loooong time but you can check the current times and there shouldn't be much change. Actually I'm also planning a Portugal trip in July.

Bordeaux, Hendaye or probably even San Sebastian should be reachable in a day from your hometown (unless you live in the North perhaps). The Euskotren from Hendaye isn't included in Interrail but only costs 3-4€ per person.

Alternatively get to Paris during the day, have dinner there and board a night train to Tarbes or Hendaye. I'm not sure it runs daily. You'll have to share the couchette compartment.

(No night trains in Spain and Portugal sadly.)

There's a metric gauge railway along the coast between Bilbao and Santander, even further to Ferrol. It is extremely slow but I've heard views are nice. Still debating whether I include it or not on my trip.

Fastest is usually via Madrid and to spend the night in Vigo. Following day Vigo - Porto - Faro/destination.

For the return something like:

- Day 1: bus Portugal - Sevilla

- Day 2: Sevilla - Barcelona direct AVE (6h)

- Day 3: Barcelona - Paris direct TGV (6h30-7h)

- Day 4: Paris - home

I mean Sevilla will be really hot guaranteed so stay calm during the day and visit after sunset. ;)

hellyplop
Full steam ahead
  • hellyplop
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  • Full steam ahead
  • 8 replies
  • January 26, 2025

Thanks so much for your reply! Really helpful :-) 

We’re north of Leeds so will probably stay in Paris, or go for a night train. But thanks - lots of useful tips. 

hellyplop
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  • hellyplop
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