A luxury train that is part of Spain’s rail heritage is marking its 40th anniversary by adding the Spanish capital and new destinations in Castilla-La Mancha and Extremadura to its route offering for 2026.
The Al Ándalus deploys early 20th-century French-built carriages that once served British royals as they travelled towards the Mediterranean’s Côte d’Azur. Their wood panelling, silk and velvet upholstery, and gentle lighting have been refurbished to align with modern standards of rail accommodation.
Whether passengers choose Deluxe Suites or Grand Class Rooms, they benefit from private bathrooms over a seven-day, six-night adventure accompanied by a multilingual guide and a coach to take them on excursions that are all part of the package.
Trips run rom Madrid to Seville or vice versa and stops include Campo de Criptana and its windmills made famous by Cervantes’ Don Quixote, as well as opportunities to see UNESCO-recognised treasures such as the Royal Palace of Aranjuez, Córdoba’s Mosque-Cathedral and its unique blend of Islamic and Christian architecture, the ballet dancing horses of Jerez, and Mérida’s Roman ruins.
Gastronomy is also part of the all-inclusive experience, with breakfasts, lunches, and dinners either on board or in local establishments. Menus and tastings promise sought-after produce such as artisanal cheese, Jabugo Iberian ham, high-end olive oil, and sherry.
Promoted by state-owned rail company Renfe as a sustainable way to make the most of what is currently one of the world’s most popular destinations, the trip is scheduled to take place between April to October, with prices for a Grand Class room starting at around €6,600 per person based on two people sharing. The entry price for Deluxe Suites is higher at €7,900.
The Al Ándalus joins a number of other notable train trips that are now competing for travellers’ attention. One example is the so-called “Espresso Riviera” operated by Italy’s FS Treni Turistici until the end of August 2025, only on weekends, with Friday evening departures from the Italian capital, arriving on Saturday morning in France’s second city, Marseille. Going in the other direction, services leave Marseille on Saturday evening, reaching Rome by the small hours of Sunday. It takes in Genoa, Savona, Alassia, Imperia, Sanremo, and Ventimiglia in Italy, and, on the Gallic side of the border, visits “Pearl of France” and lemon mecca Menton, as well as touching the glamour of Monaco, Nice, Cannes, Saint-Raphaël–Valescure, Toulon and Marseille.
And across the Atlantic from Europe, Canada is adding Passage to the Peaks to its fêted Canadian and Rocky Mountaineer rail journeys for the summer of 2026. Taking travellers into the mountains and away from busy Vancouver, it focuses on the country’s prized national park landscapes.
