Barcelona to Mallorca

Soller RailwayMultiple dates

Series 4, Episode 6, Great Continental Rail Journeys. In this final episode in this series Michael Portillo continues to be steered by his 1913 Bradshaw's Guide and returns to Spain to trace the early 20th Century roots of the Spanish Civil War, which divided his own Spanish family and sent his father into exile. A special dispensation to fly to the Balearic island of Mallorca allows Michael to experience spectacular scenic rides aboard a sublime 1912 vintage railway and a 1913 tram.

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The Black Forest to Hannover

Black Forest Lake, Titisee, Germany - © PixabayMultiple dates

Series 4, Episode 5, Great Continental Rail Journeys. Michael Portillo discovers how the story of Hansel and Gretel helped unify the nation and how the nation’s manufacturing reputation was shaped in the early 18th Century.

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Athens to Thessaloniki

Corinth Canal - © PixabayMultiple dates

Series 4, Episode 4, Great Continental Rail Journeys. We again follow in the footsteps of Michael Portillo as he embarks on a Greek odyssey from the Athens's port of Piraeus travelling north to the city of Thessaloniki. Visit the Corinth Canal where Michael found out about the surprisingly ancient origins of the modern railway. This journey also includes one of the narrowest gauge railways in the world, the Little Train of Pelion.

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Pisa to Lake Garda

Pisa - © PixabayMultiple dates

Series 4, Episode 3, Great Continental Rail Journeys. Here Michael Portillo travels through Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna to Lake Garda. Garda is the largest of the Italian lakes and lies on the edge of the province of Lombardy and has the Alps on its northern shore.

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Vienna to Trieste

Ljubljana, Slovenia - © Alan HeywoodMultiple dates

Series 4, Episode 2, Great Continental Rail Journeys. In this episode Michael Portillo travels the route of the Trans Alpine railway which was constructed for the Austro Hungarian Empire to link the capital Vienna with a sea port at Trieste.

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Sofia to Istanbul

Blue mosque, Istanbul - © Vera HopkinsonMultiple dates

Series 4, Episode 1, Great Continental Rail Journeys. The ever popular BBC2 programme Great Continental Rail Journeys begins its fourth series with a railway journey from Sofia to Istanbul. We have created a tailor made tour that allows you to explore these two beautiful cities and surrounding areas by regional train, but we include a flight between Sofia and Istanbul as this rail route is suspended due to engineering work. Alternatively why not consider taking the train for the entire journey to Istanbul. Take the Eurostar to Paris and board the Orient Express for a 5-night journey to the Turkish city via Budapest and Bucharest.

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Copenhagen to Oslo

Opera House, Oslo - © Christopher Hagelund/Visitnorway.comMultiple dates

Series 2, Episode 4 Great Continental Railway Journeys. This series provides a wonderful window to the many different places in Europe that you can reach and explore by train. On this train journey Michael Portillo goes north to Norway, a route that forms the basis of this interesting 9-day rail holiday which is a scenic route that provides a snapshot of life in Denmark, Sweden and Norway.

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Venice Simplon Orient Express

On board the Venice Simplon Orient ExpressMultiple dates

Indulge yourself by travelling in style from London to Venice on the iconic Venice Simplon Orient Express. Spend two days enjoying the epitome of rail travel elegance before arriving in Venice for a leisurely 2-night stay - plenty of time to make the most of your 48 hour Vaporetto waterbus ticket to see the wonderful sights. Your return to London is via Lausanne where you overnight in the 5 star Lausanne Palace and Spa. Your train journey to Lausanne via Milan and onwards to Paris will be in First Class.

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Lyon to Marseille

Horses & flamingoes at the Camargue Delta - © www.shutterstock.comMultiple dates

Series 3, Episode 6, Great Continental Railway Journeys. In this final episode Michael Portillo travels to France and begins his rail journey in Lyon, the capital of cuisine, and travels south to the vast Mediterranean port at Marseille.

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Bilbao to Lisbon

Santiago de Compostela - © Bob CableMultiple dates

Series 3, Episode 4 Great Continental Railway Journeys. Another rail journey mirroring Michael Portillo's travels as he heads to the west coast of the Iberian Peninsula from Galicia in the north to the Portuguese capital Lisbon in the south.

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Why Choose Ffestiniog Travel?

  • UK's first rail tour operator to run an overseas escorted rail holiday in 1974
  • Created for people who love rail holidays and exploring the world’s heritage railways
  • Dedicated rail holiday specialist - great destinations, sightseeing and unparalled railway content
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