We live in an environment where having skyrocketing cortisol levels and rushing everywhere is part of the daily routine. For this reason, traveling by train is once again a symbol of distinction. Not by arriving earlier, but by how you get there.
In the midst of the so-called slow luxury, where time becomes the true luxury, the La Robla Express emerges as one of the most exclusive railway experiences in Spain. Their proposal: recover the pleasure of traveling without haste, enjoying each section of the journey as if it were part of the destination.
A Journey Where Time Stops
The La Robla Express tours the north of the peninsula on two routes: The Robla route and the Pilgrim route. The first connects Bilbao and León over three days and two nights, while the second route is circular and reflects the spirit of the Camino de Santiago, beginning and ending in Oviedo, extending its duration to six days and five nights. Both routes are designed for those seeking more than just a simple trip.
Although the journey takes place aboard the train, the itinerary is built around its stops. Days alternate between being lulled by the gentle rattle of the tracks and engaging in guided tours to northern cultural enclaves. Guests explore museums, monuments, and historic towns, all accompanied by a guide and a support coach for convenient visits.
Culinary Delights on the Train
Gastronomy enhances the experience, with lunches and dinners served in the train’s luxurious dining rooms, evoking bygone eras. At night, the train remains parked, ensuring total relaxation and maintaining the calm that defines the journey.
Traveling on La Robla Express is not a cheap experience; it carries an average price of between 1,300 and 1,700 euros per person. This cost reinforces its status as a premium offering in the Spanish tourism market.
Traveling Like a Century Ago
Carefully restored to embody the spirit of classic trains, La Robla Express combines lounge cars with large windows and warm compartments featuring bunk beds and private bathrooms, all while replicating the golden age of rail travel from the early 20th century.
This luxurious experience contributes to the global movement of luxury trains resurfacing throughout Europe. The rise of slow luxury is marked by the revival of iconic routes and new proposals emphasizing slow travel as their core essence.
A New Luxury Experience
In recent years, luxury train travel has regained attention, as seen with Belmond’s Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, which offers suites priced comparably to exclusive hotels. This indicates that the economic elite increasingly views rail travel as a lifestyle symbol.
Renfe has also embraced this trend with the rejuvenation of the Al-Andalus train, solidifying its place as a national alternative to the Orient Express model, offering a unique way to explore southern Spain at a leisurely pace.
In this context, the La Robla Express occupies a unique niche, combining the aesthetics of classic luxury with a more intimate approach while journeying through some of the greenest and most serene landscapes in northern Spain.
The new luxury lies in experiencing travel slowly, savoring each moment away from the rush of modern transportation. This train exemplifies a way of traveling that transforms each kilometer into a cherished memory—luxury measured not in speed, but in the ability to enjoy the journey.