Gastrainomy: a European Train Tour for Foodies
This eight-day 'gastrainomy' European train tour for foodies across France and Spain is jam-packed with culinary delights, but also culture and adventures galore. Stay in Bordeaux, Madrid, Seville, Barcelona and Lyon, sampling sublime food and wine in each, but also enjoying cultural immersion and adventures en route.
Itinerary at a Glance:
- Explore the historical city of Bordeaux by bike
- Private guided tour of Madrid's iconic Prado Museum
- Sample tasty tapas and immerse yourself in the history of flamenco in Seville
- Discover Donana National Park, in search of migrating flocks of birds
- Learn about Barcelona's famous architect Antoni Gaudi
- Sample and take home exquisite wines from France's underrated Beaujolais area
Why Book with Original Travel?
When To Travel
All of the holidays we create are completely tailor-made to you
Day 1: To Bordeaux
After you've taken your (carbon-offset) flight across to Europe, it's time to explore this vast and diverse continent by train. You'll be able to see and experience it from another perspective while minimising your environmental impact. You can start your foodie adventure in London and take the Eurostar over to Lille in northern France, or start on French soil straightaway in Bordeaux.
Either way, on arrival in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Bordeaux, (which has the second highest number of preserved historical buildings in France, after Paris), check in to your hotel, and borrow the hotel's bikes because the best way to explore this beautiful city is from the saddle. Cycling has been made extremely easy in Bordeaux with many areas open to pedestrians and bicycles only. On two wheels, whizz through the heart of the city and view the Place de la Bourse, the Bordeaux Cathedral, the Basilica of Saint Michael and other architectural wonders. Then travel along the Garonne River to the Cite du Vin, an impressive metallic building similar to Gehry's Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and a homage to the wines that put Bordeaux on the map. Learn about the world's wine regions, wine/food pairings and shop for over 800 local varieties.
After all that exploring, our Concierge will recommend and book one of the finest (of many) restaurants in the city for this evening.






Day 2: Bordeaux to Madrid
Setting off early, your next train will take just over nine-hours with a short change over in Narbonne en route to the Spanish capital.




Day 3: Madrid to Seville
Following the last two busy days (and a busy last night), enjoy a well-earned lie in before heading to your hotel's rooftop for a hearty breakfast. Bask in the Spanish sun and admire the blissful views over the city from this elegant rooftop paradise before slipping off to your next destination on this gastrainomic trip.
In the middle of the afternoon, you will take a quick two-and-a-half-hour train to Seville where you will be staying for three nights.
This evening you will be taken on an immersive tour of Seville's most popular neighbourhood, Triana, where you can try authentic, tasty tapas (a Sevillian invention) and learn about the origin of flamenco, away from the touristy shows.






Day 4: Seville City Tour
Today you will be taken on a private guided walking tour of fascinating Seville, winding through the back streets, visiting charming little shops, finally coming to the river crossing where you will visit a charming food market, just in time for a fresh bite to eat.
Then visit a wonderful cloistered convent founded in the 14th century. The convent is still inhabited by nuns who sell delicious, organic marmalade and jams as a way to make ends meet - you'll be guaranteed to leave with a few jars for yourself. The interior of the convent is adorned with Mudejar crafted wood ceilings and walls adorned with stunning paintings and remarkable tiles.
After the tour, you have the rest of the day to spend as you wish. Our clued-up local Concierge will recommend the best tapas bars to visit this evening.








Day 5: Donana National Park
Hiking boots on, binoculars in hand, today you're leaving the city behind to visit Donana National Park - Spain's largest and most famous national park.
Over the winter months an array of bird species flock to the park, and throughout the springtime many nest in the marshes. Your guide will take you to the secret spots - only accessible by authorised guides - to spy out geese, flamingos, herons, storks and more. As well as the birdlife, the park is also frequented by fallow, red deer and wild boar, and is the only place in Europe where the Iberian lynx and Egyptian mongoose are still found.
The tour will start early in the morning and you will arrive back at your hotel in the mid-afternoon; the ideal time for a siesta to freshen you up before the evening, free to spend as you wish. Tapas may feature, we suspect.






Additional Activities
- The guided tour is by 4x4, but if you'd prefer to visit Donana on four legs rather than four wheels, we can arrange for you to enjoy a riding safari instead.
Day 6: Seville to Barcelona
Today you will leave Seville and travel five-and-a-half hours by train to the Catalan city of Barcelona, the next stop on your European Train Tour for Foodies.
Arriving into Barcelona in the mid-afternoon, drop your bags at
your centrally located hotel, then step out into the city and
explore the city's iconic architecture on a private tour with an
architectural expert. This three-hour tour will introduce you to
the work of 'God's Architect', Antoni Gaudi, the master of Catalan
modernism. You will be taken to Casa Mila as well as inside and on
the roof of the Casa Batllo. As well as Gaudi's work, you will view
rival architects' pieces, including buildings by Puig i Cadafalch
and Domenech i Montaner. By the end of the tour you'll have a
wealth of knowledge regarding Barcelona's aesthetic evolution and
what led Gaudi to deliberately construct eccentric buildings that
contest the modern grid.
This evening, you'll be reminded that there's more to the Catalan
capital than Gaudi, as your attention turns to things gastronomic.
As the Basque Country has its pintxos and Andalucia has tapas,
Catalonia has pica-pica, and this evening you will enjoy a guided
pica-pica crawl around the atmospheric and buzzing Poble-sec area.
Learn about the subtle differences in the regional versions, and
enjoy several different delicious pica-pica, many using the superb
local tomatoes and seafood.








Day 7: Barcelona to Lyon
After a direct five-hour train journey, you'll be in the French city of Lyon. Given this is a European Train Tour for Foodies, you will conveniently arrive just in time for lunch.
The historic centre of Lyon is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with some of the oldest landmarks in France (including two impressive Roman amphitheatres), but the city's real claim to fame is as the undisputed foodie capital of France. That's some claim, but Parisians begrudgingly acknowledge the fact, as will you as you enjoy lunch in the authentic Old Town, around Quartier Saint-Jean and Quartier Saint-Georges.
After a suitably sensational lunch, meet your private driver who
will take you to the Rhone Valley to sample a selection of
magnificent wines from this region. Crozes-Hermitage is less than
an hour south, while the much-underrated Beaujolais region is an
hour south.
This evening if there's any room left we will book another
restaurant for you in Lyon, but we also recommend walking the
streets of the old quarter and exploring the traboules - secret
passageways linking the various city blocks.








Day 8: Travel Home
After a final foodie breakfast, make your way to the airport to fly home.
All of the holidays we create are completely tailor-made to you
A Rough Idea of Price
This Itinerary
If you would like to book the exact itinerary mentioned above, during mid-season and staying in our preferred room category at our preferred hotels. Ask us if you would also like us to arrange your international flights.
From
$4,295pp
Bare Necessities
If you would like to pare back the above itinerary by travelling at non-peak times, staying in a standard room and removing some or all of the guided activities.
From
$3,650pp
Bells & Whistles
If you are looking for something extra special and would like to stay in top room categories at some of the most luxurious hotels we work with, and add more activities and guiding.
From
$5,155pp
Related Itineraries
Harriet, Arran and Charlotte H are our experts for this itinerary and as seasoned travellers they have the inside track on the most memorable adventures.


