The Costa Verde Express is a boutique hotel train that links Bilbao and Santiago de Compostela along Spain's lush northern coast. With 23 Gran Clase suites, four restored lounge cars and a menu built on the cooking and wines of the north, it pairs classic rail travel with daily visits to the region's towns, mountains and beaches.
Six days from Bilbao along Spain's green northern coast through Cantabria and Asturias to the pilgrim city of Santiago de Compostela.
Six days from Santiago de Compostela east along the Galician, Asturian and Cantabrian coast to Bilbao and its Guggenheim Museum.
A three-day short trip from Oviedo through the Picos de Europa and Cantabria to Bilbao and the Guggenheim Museum.
A three-day short trip from Santiago de Compostela along the Galician coast and the Cathedrals Beach to Luarca and Oviedo.
A relaxed summer weekend on board from Oviedo to the seaside town of Llanes and back, with no excursions and plenty of time at leisure.
All suites are the same Gran Clase category, converting from a daytime sitting room to a bedroom at night.
Four beautifully restored saloon cars are the heart of the train, and every car is connected inside so you can move freely between your suite and the lounges. One lounge has a bar and a dance floor for lively evenings, while a second bar offers a calmer spot for a drink.
The other two lounges are made for conversation, board games or simply watching the countryside pass. Digital newspapers, magazines, a library and internet access are on hand, along with an attentive crew.
Food is at the centre of the journey. In the lounge cars and in restaurants along the route, creative cooking and the best wines of northern Spain turn each meal into part of the cultural experience.
Breakfast is usually served on board as the train travels, with lunches and dinners shared between the train and the towns you visit.
The train has 23 Gran Clase suites and carries a maximum of 46 guests, which keeps the atmosphere relaxed and personal.
Each Gran Clase suite is around six square metres, panelled in warm wood, and converts from a sitting room with a sofa by day to a bedroom with a double bed by night. Every suite has a full private bathroom, its own air-conditioning control, a desk, minibar and safe.
You sleep in your suite on board, with the train stopping overnight in towns along the route such as Santander, Llanes, Oviedo, Luarca and Viveiro.
The main journey is the six-day, five-night Green Spain Route between Bilbao and Santiago de Compostela, in both directions. There are also two-night short trips from Oviedo to Bilbao and from Santiago de Compostela to Oviedo, and a summer weekend getaway from Oviedo without excursions.
Choose the Green Spain Route to see the whole northern coast from the Basque Country to Galicia with daily guided visits. The short trips cover either the eastern or western half in three days, and the weekend getaway is a relaxed taste of the train based around Llanes.
Dining focuses on creative cooking and the best wines of northern Spain, served both in the lounge cars and in restaurants along the route. Breakfast is generally on board, with lunches and dinners shared between the train and the towns you visit.
The four lounge cars include one with a bar and dance floor, a second, quieter bar and two lounges for reading, games and watching the scenery. Digital newspapers, magazines, a library and internet access are available.
Yes. Wi-Fi is available on board through a mobile connection, so it can be patchy or drop out for a while as the train passes through the mountains and valleys of northern Spain. It is fine for messages and email, but do not count on it for video calls or streaming.
Live dates and fares are shown on this page, and our reservations team can help on (866) 484-7882. A deposit of 15% secures your suite at the time of booking.
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