馃實 Help me LP! What is the one train trip that can include the best of Spain?
Feb 20, 2023 鈥 4 min read
From beautiful beaches to exciting cities to charming country villages, the delights of Spain are just a train ride away 漏 Getty Images
In this series, 香港六合彩即时开奖鈥檚 team of writers and editors answers your travel problems and provides tips and hacks to help you plan a hassle-free trip. The train in Spain? That鈥檚 one for Barcelona-based, 础苍诲补濒耻肠铆补-raised travel expert Isabella Noble.
Question: I want to visit a city, an off-the-beaten-track destination and a beach in Spain by train, all in one trip. How can I do it?
Isabella Noble: With a raft of new routes launching, it鈥檚 a bumper year for train travel in Spain 鈥 and there鈥檚 never been a better time to explore the country by rail. Here are two itineraries, in two regions, that will let you see the best of this magical country by train.
A slow-paced northern journey
A lesser-known pocket of Spain with divine beaches? Head to the wonderfully green north coast. There鈥檚 a go-slow beauty to trundling through this region on the narrow-gauge , hopping off and on as you make your way east from Oviedo. Buy tickets at stations or on board; at the smallest stops you might have to flag trains down, bus-style.
Start with a couple of days in elegant Oviedo, capital of Asturias, whose charms include spectacular pre-Romanesque churches, lively markets, graceful plazas and the memorable , along with a thriving food scene (think blue cheeses and crisp ciders). Tierra Astur on the famous Bulevar de la Sidra and Nacho Manzano鈥檚 Gloria are favorite local restaurants; consider a stay at the smart . Adding to the appeal is a brand-new high-speed AVE train line, expected to (finally) link Oviedo with Madrid later this year.
Next, hop on the FEVE to Arriondas (90 minutes), a peaceful little town in the foothills of the Asturian Picos de Europa mountains. It鈥檚 a great base for hiking, with serene rural bases such as , a restored 19th-century home with its own organic farm.
Next, it鈥檚 beach time, via a 50-minute train to Ribadesella on Asturias鈥 cliff-edged coast. Set on an estuary, Ribadesella is known for its golden beach and wonderful seafood restaurants (try La Huertona). Come evening, sleep in a thoughtfully converted 20th-century palacete (mansion) at . There鈥檚 a similar feel in nearby Llanes, a buzzing beach town 40 minutes further east. Plenty of gorgeous, remote beaches lie along this stretch of coast (I love Torimbia, Toranda and Gulpiyuri), and the Camino del Norte route of the Camino de Santiago passes through here, too.
From Ribadesella (90 minutes) or Llanes (40 minutes), take the FEVE east to San Vicente de la Barquera, Cantabria鈥檚 prettiest fishing town. The route stays close to the coast between Ribadesella and San Vicente, before turning inland to reach Cantabria鈥檚 capital Santander, home to sweeping beaches, the Renzo Piano鈥揹esigned Centro Bot铆n gallery and lovely boutique B&B .
South from Seville
For a taste of magical 础苍诲补濒耻肠铆补, combine the soulful regional capital Seville with 颁谩诲颈锄 Province鈥檚 wildly beautiful Costa de la Luz, with most of your travel on 鈥檚 media distancia trains or 肠别谤肠补苍铆补蝉 (local commuter trains). You can prebook media distancia tickets; 肠别谤肠补苍铆补蝉 tickets are easily bought at the station on the day of your travel.
Three days is enough time to soak up Seville鈥檚 urban delights 鈥 the Moorish-origin Real Alc谩zar, flamenco-filled Triana, the magnificent cathedral 鈥 and the thrilling Andalucian tapas scene (La Brunilda, , Las Teresas). provides an evocative, central base in a reimagined 19th-century mansion. Time permitting, little-visited Carmona makes a wonderful side trip from Seville, with Roman, Moorish and Mud茅jar relics; it鈥檚 easily reached by bus (75 minutes).
Heading south to 颁谩诲颈锄 from Seville, don鈥檛 miss a night or two in lively Jerez de la Frontera, center of sherry and flamenco. It鈥檚 a one-hour train from Seville鈥檚 Santa Justa station to Jerez, where you can stay at stylish , tour ancient bodegas like Lustau or 罢谤补诲颈肠颈贸苍 and dive into the buzzy tabancos (sherry bars).
From Jerez, 肠别谤肠补苍铆补蝉 (45 minutes) and media distancia and Alvia trains (both 35 minutes) zip onwards to 颁谩诲颈锄, one of Europe鈥檚 oldest cities, with its buzzy historic center perched on a wind-lashed headland. 颁谩诲颈锄 has a clutch of fabulous golden-white beaches, including Playa de la Caleta (bordering the old town鈥檚 Carnival-loving Barrio de La Vi帽a) and surfy Playa de la Victoria, south of the centre. Savor the city鈥檚 famous tapas scene at Taberna La Sorpresa, Casa Manteca and the Mercado Central, and stay at , an 18th-century mansion turned boutique hotel.
But the 颁谩诲颈锄 region鈥檚 dreamiest beaches lie southeast of the city, along the blissfully undeveloped Costa de la Luz, which stretches all the way to Tarifa on the southern tip of mainland Europe. No trains run here, but it鈥檚 a scenic one-to-two-hour bus trip from 颁谩诲颈锄 to the pretty Costa de la Luz hubs of Vejer, Conil and Tarifa 鈥 and the powdery white sands, wonderful gastronomy and kitesurfing vibe are the irresistible reward.
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