My husband and I are traveling in Portugal and Spain with some friends. We want to leave them in Santiago de Compostela and take the train to Ferrol, and then travel by train across northern spain to Bilbao, probably stopping in Santander for a night or two (unless there is a better idea) and then continue on and fly out of Bilbao. Its hard to get train information we can trust that we understand. Any advice, information, regarding training across northern spain? Thank you
Posted by
481 posts
You need to research the FEVE system. It is a narrow-gage train running from across N. Spain mostly near the coast. Google is your friend, just gotta dig a little.
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2017/aug/15/slow-train-spain-feve-railway-santander-asturias-galicia
https://paliparan.com/2021/03/27/feve-train-santander-bilbao/
https://www.roughguides.com/spain/cantabria-and-asturias/the-feve-railway/
There's lots more Buen viaje Brad
Posted by
Paris
7304 posts
It is a very long ride, reportedly very pretty though (have only been on some short sections). If you just have 1 night it is a lot of time spent on trains; better with 2 nights. Rather than Santander, I would suggest Oviedo for a stopover, an attractive city with plenty of sights for a day.
Or if you are travelling in summer, you could relax at a coastal location - such as Ribadesella.
Posted by
Washington DC
28102 posts
I agree that there are better options than Santander. There are lovely beaches, but much of the historic architecture was destroyed in a huge mid-20th-century fire, so the city doesn't have the charm many other places do--at least to me.