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The Historic La Robla Route: Bilbao - León aboard the El Expreso de la Robla
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The Historic La Robla Route: Bilbao - León
A charming three-day journey through northern Castile, exploring medieval towns, Romanesque heritage and mountain landscapes aboard a historic train with timeless character.
Day 1: Bilbao – Frías – Espinosa de los Monteros
The experience begins at Bilbao-Concordia station, where the crew welcomes you aboard the Expreso de La Robla. After settling into your private cabin, the train departs the city and gradually enters the verdant landscapes of northern Spain.
By coach, you travel to the medieval town of Frías, one of the smallest and most picturesque towns in Spain, dramatically perched above the valley and crowned by its castle. Nearby, the Tobera waterfalls provide a delicate and scenic natural setting that establishes the relaxed tone of the journey.
Back on board, the route continues towards Espinosa de los Monteros, in the heart of the Las Merindades region. Dinner is served in an intimate and carefully curated atmosphere, followed by a restful night with the train stationary in the station.
Day 2: Espinosa de los Monteros – Romanesque Palencia – Cistierna
Breakfast on board accompanies the arrival in Mataporquera, gateway to the Romanesque heritage of Palencia. By coach, you discover Carrión de los Condes, Frómista and Saldaña — historic towns linked to the Camino de Santiago where art and spirituality merge seamlessly with the Castilian landscape.
A visit to the Canal de Castilla and the Romanesque church of San Martín reinforces the cultural depth of the day. After lunch, the journey continues to the Roman Villa of La Olmeda, whose exceptionally preserved mosaics offer a remarkable glimpse into antiquity.
In the afternoon, the Expreso de La Robla resumes its journey towards Cistierna. The day concludes with dinner and an overnight stay on board, with the train stationary to ensure a peaceful night’s rest.
Day 3: Cistierna – San Feliz – León
As you enjoy your final breakfast on board, the train approaches San Feliz. From there, the journey continues by coach to León, a monumental city where history and refined urban life coexist naturally.
The guided visit reveals its historic quarter, the Royal Collegiate Church of San Isidoro and the magnificent Gothic Cathedral, whose luminous stained glass creates an atmosphere of striking beauty. After lunch at a local restaurant and free time, the journey comes to an end.
For you, however, León can simply be the beginning. Teovian can design a tailored extension featuring carefully selected hotels, private experiences and memorable gastronomy, accompanying you before, during and after your rail journey with the same level of excellence.
El Expreso de la Robla
Railway charm and a true spirit of travel through northern Spain
El Expreso de La Robla: travelling with authenticity and character
El Expreso de La Robla is an invitation to rediscover northern Spain from an intimate and authentic perspective. It is not an ostentatious luxury train, but a carefully designed experience for travellers who value landscape, local culture and the pleasure of unhurried travel.
As the train moves through mountains, valleys and historic towns, time seems to adjust to a different rhythm. Wide windows transform the journey into a moving panorama, where the landscapes of the north unfold naturally and without artifice. Here, true luxury lies in calm, shared conversations and the quiet satisfaction of being fully present.
El Expreso de La Robla does not seek to impress through excess, but to captivate through coherence and genuine travel spirit.
Classic inspiration, contemporary essence
Launched in 2009, El Expreso de La Robla takes its name from the historic railway line that once connected industrial regions across northern Spain. Today, that legacy is reimagined as a cultural and scenic journey that honours railway tradition while offering modern comfort.
Its classic-inspired décor evokes the elegance of earlier rail travel, yet its conception is fully contemporary. It is not a restored historical train, but a modern tourist train with an evocative soul, designed to explore the north through a cultural and landscape-driven lens.
Travelling aboard El Expreso de La Robla is about connecting railway heritage with present-day sensibility.
What is included: a balanced and thoughtfully curated experience
The itinerary is designed to provide a seamless journey, where each stage naturally flows into the next.
-Accommodation in a double cabin with private bathroom
-Welcome drink and aperitif
-Complimentary amenity kit with toiletries and slippers
-Mineral water during the journey
-Buffet breakfasts served on board
-Lunches and dinners in selected local restaurants, including beverages
-Scheduled excursions and guided visits
-Entrance fees to museums and monuments as per itinerary
-Support coach for transfers and excursions
-Onboard crew and accompanying guide throughout the journey
Each night, the train remains stationary in the station to ensure restful sleep without movement, allowing you to fully unwind.
Services may vary depending on the selected route. Your Teovian proposal will clearly outline everything included in your journey.
Local gastronomy: the flavours of the north, served where they belong
One of the defining features of El Expreso de La Robla is its commitment to authentic regional cuisine. Rather than concentrating dining exclusively on board, most lunches and dinners are enjoyed in carefully selected local restaurants along the route, allowing guests to experience each region in its own culinary context.
Asturias, Cantabria, Castile and León, and the Basque Country reveal their identities through seasonal ingredients, traditional recipes and regional wines. This approach turns every meal into a cultural extension of the landscape itself.
Buffet breakfasts are served in the lounge cars, offering a relaxed and light-filled start to the day, with the scenery unfolding just beyond the windows.
Here, gastronomy is not an add-on, it is an essential part of the journey.
Destinations and routes: a green and cultural journey
The itineraries of El Expreso de La Robla explore a lush, mountainous and deeply cultural northern Spain. Whether travelling from Bilbao to León or in reverse, the route connects regions of strong historical identity and ever-changing landscapes.
Seaside towns, monumental cities, natural enclaves and historic villages unfold in a carefully balanced rhythm between nature and heritage. This is not about covering distance, but about understanding each destination with the guidance of knowledgeable experts and at a pace that allows you to truly observe, listen and absorb.
Northern Spain reveals itself here at a human scale.
Cabins: practical comfort for life on the move
The cabins of El Expreso de La Robla are designed to provide comfortable rest after each day of exploration. Compact, well-organised and functional, they reflect the dynamic and cultural spirit of the journey.
Each cabin features:
-Two bunk beds
-Private bathroom with shower
-Adjustable air conditioning
-Wardrobe space
-Reading light
With approximately 3.42 square metres including the bathroom, the space is efficiently designed to ensure privacy and comfort. It is a practical accommodation, aligned with a journey where much of the experience unfolds beyond the cabin itself, in the landscapes and shared spaces.
How to book El Expreso de La Robla with Teovian
El Expreso de La Robla operates with limited capacity and specific departures each season. While it is positioned as a more accessible experience than higher-category luxury trains, popular dates tend to fill quickly.
At Teovian, we advise you on selecting the itinerary that best fits your schedule and travel style. Beyond managing the booking, we can design a complete experience, integrating additional nights, private transfers or tailored extensions before and after the train journey.
Booking through Teovian means benefiting from expert guidance and personalised planning from start to finish.
Frequently asked questions about El Expreso de La Robla
Is it a historic train?
No. It is a modern tourist train inspired by the aesthetic of classic railway travel.
Does the train travel at night?
No. The train remains stationary overnight to ensure restful sleep without movement.
Are meals included?
Yes. Buffet breakfasts are served on board, and lunches and dinners are included in selected restaurants with beverages according to the itinerary.
Is there Wi-Fi on board?
Yes, Wi-Fi is available in the common areas, subject to coverage.
Is it comparable to higher-end luxury trains?
El Expreso de La Robla offers a comfortable, culturally rich and carefully organised experience, with a more intimate and authentic focus than ultra-luxury train journeys.
Cabins & Suites
Discover the cabins of El Expreso de La Robla, functional, comfortable and thoughtfully designed spaces created for restful nights after each day of exploration.
Classic Room
Classic Room
Classic Bedroom aboard El Expreso de La Robla: functional comfort with railway charm
The Classic Bedroom aboard El Expreso de La Robla is designed as a compact, practical and welcoming space, offering genuine comfort after each day of discovery across northern Spain.
Featuring two fold-down bunk beds, the cabin makes intelligent use of every inch, combining functionality with a clean, modern aesthetic. Subtle references to traditional rail travel add character while maintaining a comfortable and well-balanced atmosphere for rest.
Each bedroom includes a fully private bathroom with shower, individually controlled air conditioning, wardrobe storage and a personal reading light, ensuring autonomy and ease throughout the journey.
At night, the train remains stationary in the station, allowing for uninterrupted rest and a comfortable, well-organised experience on board.
Classic Bedroom Features
-Two bunk beds (0.70 m x 1.80 m each)
-Fully private bathroom with shower
-Approximate size of 3.42 m² including bathroom
-Individually controlled air conditioning
-Wardrobe storage
-Reading light
-220V electrical connection
Choosing your cabin aboard El Expreso de La Robla with Teovian
At Teovian, we guide you in selecting the departure that best aligns with your schedule and travel expectations. While cabin configurations remain consistent, we can advise you based on availability, seasonality and how best to combine the journey with pre- or post-train stays.
Booking in advance allows you to secure your place on this authentic journey through northern Spain, with the reassurance of personalised and expert guidance throughout.
El Expreso de la Robla Gallery
Explore the atmosphere of El Expreso de La Robla through images that reveal its classic charm, welcoming lounge cars and the green landscapes that accompany every stretch of the journey.
