Our single most repeated piece of advice: arrive at least two days early. Jet lag is a poor companion for a gala welcome dinner, and both end-cities deserve real time. Here is how we typically build extensions for guests.
Before: San Sebastián (2–3 nights)
Settle into a hotel on La Concha bay, walk the belle-époque promenade, and dedicate one evening to a pintxos crawl through the Parte Vieja — a preview of the culinary journey ahead. Day trips: Getaria's txakoli vineyards or the wild Flysch cliffs of Zumaia. (Boarding westbound? Reverse all of this to Santiago.)
After: Santiago de Compostela (2 nights)
The train's arrival city rewards a slow goodbye — the cathedral's Pórtico de la Gloria with a proper guide, the granite lanes at night once the day-pilgrims disperse, and lunch in the Mercado de Abastos. Our Santiago guide has the full plan; the boldest guests add Fisterra — 'the end of the world'.
Getting there and away
Bilbao and Santiago airports carry the main international connections; San Sebastián is 100 minutes from Bilbao by road. We arrange transfers, hotels and guides at both ends as part of your booking — one more reason guests use the authorized source rather than assembling the trip from parts. Details on how booking works, or talk to a specialist.
