Get a different travel experience when traveling by train around northern Spain. You travel to Spain’s two largest cities, Madrid and Barcelona, the famous wine and tapas city of Logrono, the surf and cultural city of San Sebastian in the Basque Country, and then end the trip with relaxation, sightseeing and adventure in sunny Mallorca.
In Spain, it is a matter of course to take the train and the country is known for Europe’s largest network of high-speed trains. By train, you travel quickly between all major cities and can then travel on with slightly slower regional trains to the countryside.
The journey begins in the Spanish capital Madrid with art, football, magnificent parks and beautiful squares. From here you continue by train to Logrono, a gastronomic mecca that offers good tapas and good wine that you can enjoy at one of the many vineyards in the area. Before reaching Barcelona, the train also stops in San Sebastian where you can surf and enjoy beautiful views of the city with the iconic Jesus statue behind you. Take the chance to sample the local specialties followed by a walk on the promenade by the city’s beaches. Barcelona is a lively city with a unique atmosphere where you can get lost in the local markets and take a walk past the magnificent Sagrada Familglai Cathedral. The last stop on the trip is Mallorca which you reach by night ferry. Here you can enjoy the sun, sand and beach and explore the old town of Palma.
Day 1: Departure from Scandinavia to Madrid
You fly to Madrid where you arrive later the same day. Upon arrival in the Spanish capital, you have one from the airport and to your centrally located accommodation where you stay for three nights while exploring Madrid on your own.
Day 2-3: On your own in MadridMadrid is sunshine, tapas bars with Andalusian tiles on the walls, vespa mopeds,
nice wine bars, narrow medieval streets and full of life everywhere. Over the next two days, you will have time to experience all that Madrid has to offer on your own. A visit to the Prado Museum, one of the world’s largest and most important museums, is almost a must. The museum houses a huge collection of Spanish painters such as El Greco, Goya and Velázquez as well as works by, for example, the Italian painter Botticelli. You can also go on a shopping trip in Chueca, a flamenco show at a tablao, a boat trip in Retiro Park or how about a visit to the bathing room Hammam al Andalus which offers a Turkish bath with steam and water pools in beautiful surroundings.
Day 4: Train from Madrid to Logrono
Today you say goodbye to Madrid and take the train approx. 4 hours north to the medieval town of Logrono. You take yourself to the train station. It is a good idea to bring some snacks for the train journey, as it is a direct train to Logrono.
Day 5: Experiences in and around the wine and tapas city Logrono
Logrono is a charming little medieval town in northern Spain where much is done to restore and maintain the old buildings. Apart from being a stop on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, the city is not particularly well visited by tourists. In Logrono you can pamper yourself with good food and good wine as this is the capital of the well-known wine region La Rioja and here are some of the best tapas bars in Spain. Spend the day taking you out of town to one of the nearby vineyards to sample the well-known wines from the area. You can also spend the day moving between several vineyards to get a better insight into the region’s Rioja DOCa wines (DOCa is Spain’s highest quality wine class). There are also good opportunities to taste the local wines at one of the over 50 tapas bars located in the center of Logrono. A popular activity in Logrono is to do a so-called tapas crawl when you do between several different tapas bars. Since each tapas bar has its own specialty, take the opportunity to try, for example, grilled mushrooms with garlic sauce on small baguette bread or grilled asparagus wrapped in locally produced goat cheese.
Day 6: Train from Logrono to San Sebastian
After a day of gastronomy, it’s time to get to the train station to travel to the coastal city of San Sebastian. The train stops in a small station town along the road where you can eat some food and walk around to stretch your legs before the train continues towards San Sebastian. In exactly which city the train stops and how far the stop will be depends on the train schedule on the day you travel.
Day 7-8: On your own in San Sebastian
Just 20 km from the French border is the Basque beach town of San Sebastian. Even if you are still in Spain, you will find that the area is different from the rest of Spain and that the character of the city testifies that it is part of the Basque Country. At the popular San Telmo Museum, you can learn more about Basque history and culture. You have two days on your own to learn more about the Basque country, the Basque culture and experience all the beautiful things that San Sebastian has to offer. San Sebastian is located in the bay of Bahia de la Concha which provides good conditions for surfing. At Zurriola Beach you can get lessons from an experienced surf instructor and learn the basics of this fantastic water sport. Take a walk along the city’s beaches and into the center for some shopping in the many local small shops. Visit the old quarters of Parte Vieja where you will find tapas bar after tapas bar, Santa Maria Church and the city’s fascinating town hall. Walk up to the top of Monte Urgull where you are met by a large Jesus statue and the best view of the city. Finish with dinner at one of San Sebastien’s nine Michelin-starred restaurants. You can also spend a day or two in the nearby areas. Santa Clara Island in Bahia de la Concha Bay with its white lighthouse can be easily visited by boat. Getaria is a small, cozy fishing village with fantastic seafood restaurants and the old medieval town of Bilbao has exciting architecture and the well-known Guggenheim Museum. Walk up to the top of Monte Urgull where you are met by a large Jesus statue and the best view of the city. Finish with dinner at one of San Sebastien’s nine Michelin-starred restaurants. You can also spend a day or two in the nearby areas. Santa Clara Island in Bahia de la Concha Bay with its white lighthouse can be easily visited by boat. Getaria is a small, cozy fishing village with fantastic seafood restaurants and the old medieval town of Bilbao has exciting architecture and the well-known Guggenheim Museum. Walk up to the top of Monte Urgull where you are met by a large Jesus statue and the best view of the city. Finish with dinner at one of San Sebastien’s nine Michelin-starred restaurants. You can also spend a day or two in the nearby areas. Santa Clara Island in Bahia de la Concha Bay with its white lighthouse can be easily visited by boat. Getaria is a small, cozy fishing village with fantastic seafood restaurants and the old medieval town of Bilbao has exciting architecture and the well-known Guggenheim Museum.
Day 9: Train from San Sebastian to Barcelona
You travel from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean in one day when today you take the train from the coastal city of San Sebastian to the slightly larger and different coastal city of Barcelona. After a 7-8 hour train journey, you will arrive in Spain’s second largest city, Barcelona. As it is a longer train journey, we recommend that you buy food and snacks with you for the journey.
Day 10: On your own in Barcelona
Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia and the historic city offers a variety of experiences. The medieval district “Barri Gòtic” is the heart of the city and there you will find cozy little alleys, tapas bars, shops, the cathedral, the city museum, the underground Roman city and the old royal palace. Placa del Pi and Placa de Saint J. Oriol are among the most cozy oases in the old town, with street performances and live music. Take a walk on La Rambla, a festive street with a motley crowd, old cafés, one of Europe’s best food markets and the prestigious Liceu Opera House. Take a walk past the architect Antoni Gaudí’s many well – known buildings, such as La Sagrada Familia or Casa Mila. You can also get closer to the world-famous football stars at Barcelona’s football stadium and FCB Museum, Hold a Siesta on Barcelona’s white sandy beaches, enjoy traditional and modern Spanish cuisine at one of the city’s many restaurants and perhaps end the evening by dancing salsa with the locals. If you want to try adventure experiences such as mountaineering, parachuting, mountain biking, kite-surfing, windsurfing, rafting or much more, it can be easily arranged in and around Barcelona. The possibilities are many and since nothing has been pre-booked, you can do what comes to mind, depending on which parts of Barcelona you would like to experience more of. rafting or much more, it can be easily arranged in and around Barcelona. The possibilities are many and since nothing has been pre-booked, you can do what comes to mind, depending on which parts of Barcelona you would like to experience more of. rafting or much more, it can be easily arranged in and around Barcelona. The possibilities are many and since nothing has been pre-booked, you can do what comes to mind, depending on which parts of Barcelona you would like to experience more of.
Day 11: On your own in Barcelona and night ferry to Mallorca
Another day on your own in and around Barcelona. In the evening it is time to leave the city and take a night ferry to the largest island of the Balearic Islands; Majorca. It takes approx. 7.5 hours by ferry so you can sleep well until the boat arrives the following morning to Mallorca’s largest city Palma de Mallorca.
Day 12-14: Relaxation, sightseeing and adventure in Mallorca
In Mallorca you live near the water in the largest city Palma de Mallorca. From here you can spend the days relaxing on the beach and really getting down to business. If you need a break from beach life, you can explore Palma which is a modern city with restaurants, cafes, shopping and nightlife, but which also has a lot of culture and history to offer. Explore the old town by the sea with the large Gothic cathedral La Seu, narrow alleys, historic buildings and exciting architecture. Rent a bike or walk the 4 kilometers from the old town along the promenade to the marina Puerto Palma with its cruise ships, nice boats, palm trees, beaches, marina and lovely views out to sea. Spend a day at sea and discover the island from the water with a boat trip around Palma Bay or sail further afield to other bays and beaches in Mallorca. Walk through the pine forest up to the round castle Bellver which was formerly a royal castle and later a prison but which has now been transformed into a museum of Mallorca’s history. If you want to see a little more of Mallorca, you can easily get around to the rest of the island. You can, for example, play paintball, try rock climbing, rent a mountain bike, dive or hike in the mountains. The Serra de Tramuntana mountain range, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located along the west coast and holds the highest point in Mallorca. Here you will find many good hiking and biking trails with fantastic views and beautiful nature. In the Tramuntana Mountains is the small town of Soller with its lemon and orange groves. From here you can take the vintage train back to Palma on a scenic journey through mountains and valleys. Mallorca has about 200 cave systems and to see some of the impressive stalagmites and stalactite formations you go to the east coast and to the caves Cuevas del Drach and Cuevas de Arta. You can also head to the center of the island where you will find many vineyards that produce local wines.
Day 15: Departure from Mallorca and return home
Today it’s time to say goodbye to Spain for this time and head to the airport in Palma de Mallorca, from where your flight departs. Time of return depends on which airline you have chosen to fly with.
Overnight stays
Three nights in a hostel in Madrid with shared bathroom
Two nights in a hostel in Logrono with private bathroom
Three nights in a hostel in San Sebastian with private bathroom
Two nights in a hostel in Barcelona with private bathroom
One night on the ferry over to Mallorca – cabin booked for separate
Three nights in a mid-range hotel in Palma de Mallorca with private bathroom
