great coastal railway journeys 2023

Great Coastal Railway Journeys season 2: release date, locations and all we know

Great Coastal Railway Journeys season 2 guide — Michael Portillo gives us the inside track on his new adventures and tells us about his upcoming milestone birthday.

All aboard for Great Coastal Railway Journeys season 2!

One of the most well travelled and colourfully clothed men on television, politician-turned-presenter Michael Portillo not only returns to our screens with a new series of BBC Two’s Great Coastal Railway Journeys this week, but he also celebrates a special birthday.

Here in a lovely, laidback interview, Michael, 69 [at the time of our chat], guides us through his latest jaunts around the British Isles and reveals why he has no plans to retire…

Great Coastal Railway Journeys season 2 — release date

Great Coastal Railway Journeys season 2 debuts on BBC2 on Monday 22 May 2023 at 6.30pm. 

It’s a 20-part series airing Mondays to Fridays over four weeks. Michael’s first leg kicks off in the Isle of Man and finishes in Solway Firth, taking in Liverpool, Morecambe Bay, and Whitehaven along the way. In the second leg of the whirlwind series Michael travels from Middlesbrough to Grimsby, for his third outing he visits Northern Ireland and Ireland, and in the fourth and final week he explores the Jurassic coast finishing his travels in Brighton. See the guide below for more. 

Episodes will be available on BBC iPlayer after transmission. 

Is there a trailer for Great Coastal Railway Journeys season 2?

Not yet, but check back for updates. 

Great Coastal Railway Journeys — the premise

On his latest adventures around the British Isles Michael Portillo delves into the history of the places he visits, enjoys heritage railway journeys, meets colourful locals, samples both cuisine and culture. And sometimes he pushes himself out of his comfort zone… this often involves dressing up or getting into cold water!

Great Coastal Railway Journeys season 2 — interview with presenter Michael Portillo

Michael, a little birdie tells us you have a special birthday coming up….

Michael celebrates his 70th birthday on Friday, May 26 2023

[Chuckling] “No, I’ve just got a birthday coming up and it has a zero in it — I don’t regard it as a landmark! I’m in a curious position that at the age of 69 I recently started presenting a programme on GB News, and [in 2020] I began hosting a radio programme on Times Radio. I’m also delighted that we’re now in our 15th year of Railway Journeys, it’s something I’d like to continue doing. I still feel as though I’m having all these different experiences so that I can find out what I want to do in life!”

Is filming on Railways Journeys a well-oiled machine now?

“We’ve travelled the world and after 15 years we’ve learned how to do it. We’re very disciplined but maybe because we nearly always have a train to catch! When we first made the programmes we were using Bradshaw's Guide [19th-century cartographer George Bradshaw’s tourist handbook] and talking about Victorian Britain. Then we changed the epoch, one time to the 1930s another to the Interwar period. Now the series is about coastal journeys so while it doesn’t have a historic guidebook we’re very much talking about history and the coast, with the terrific advantage of the sheer beauty of it.” 

What can you reveal about your new adventures?

“There are four journeys this time and each of those journeys consists of five episodes, which will be shown Monday through Friday. Our first one begins in the Isle of Man and takes us across to Liverpool, Morecambe Bay and ends at Solway Firth. The second journey begins in Yorkshire taking us down through Scarborough, along the Yorkshire coast and into Lincolnshire. Our third journey takes us around the coast of the island of Ireland from Derry/Londonderry to Rosslare. And in our last journey we bumble along the south coast of England, from Dorset to Brighton.” 

Is your comfort zone tested?

“I throw myself into things willy-nilly and you see the results when I attempt folk dancing in the Isle of Man! The producers know that I hate to dance and so, year after year, they plan dancing for me. Not for me are the months of rehearsal given to the likes of Ed Balls and Ann Widdecombe on Strictly ! 

“I have enormous fun making the programs. One moment I’m talking about the Battle of the Boyne and another I’m doing something absolutely crazy, like dressing up as a Mod or hugging a swan. [See Michael’s guide below for more on this!] 

Do you think people find you more approachable as a result?

“Yes, I think they do. I remember filming my first Railway Journey near Swindon railway station where they built carriages and all sorts. While there I stopped a man in the street to talk about the lovely buildings and he said, ‘Oh, yes, all closed down by Margaret Thatcher.’ I just completely froze and thought ‘How do I get away from this fellow?’ Whereas now I would just roar with laughter and engage in the conversation, so I’ve definitely become less stiff and more approachable. No one ever calls me Mr. Portillo, they always say Michael.” 

Are you amused when people comment on your trademark, colourful clothing?

“Well, let’s face it, it is part of the brand! I do it entirely deliberately — it’s part of the show as well. I’m slightly surprised that more people don't do it, I certainly enjoy putting together outrageous and colourful combinations. And sometimes there’s a point to it as I might be wearing the colours of the flag of the country I’m in.”

Finally, are you planning a birthday party or have your eye on any railway-related gifts?

“Planning parties is something I like to do and I hold a party every May, but it’s not exactly on my birthday. People send me railway books and so on, but my house is now completely filled. The greatest present will be to not receive any more railway memorabilia, but many thanks to everyone for the gifts over the years!”

Michael’s guide to Great Coastal Railway Journeys season 2

Week 1 — ISLE OF MAN TO SOLWAY FIRTH 

“I’ve a great affection for the Isle of Man’s history, heritage railways and coastline. While there I visit Tynwald Parliament, which is older than the UK Parliament. But the highlight for me is in Solway Firth where I try my hand at traditional fishing with a haaf net. It looks like a football goal with a post in the middle, you stand in the tidal waters and hope the fish rush into your net. I can’t say I had much luck, but it was an extraordinary experience.”

Week 2 — MIDDLESBROUGH TO GRIMSBY

“In Scarborough I went to the lovely Rotunda Museum, which contains a map made in 1815 showing the geology of Britain and where the coal and iron reserves were. When you think about it, this was the foundation of Britain's wealth - the coal powered the steam engines and the factories; the iron ore made the steel that built the ships that supplied the world. Discoveries around our history like this I find deeply exciting. There’s a standout moment in Yorkshire where I met a man in his 80s, who’s swum the Humber 70 times. Inevitably it leads to me getting into a wet suit and floundering around the beautiful waters there!”

Week 3 — GIANT’S CAUSEWAY TO ROSSLARE

“There's a lot of history and a fantastic range of subjects here. In Derry we talk about Bloody Sunday, in Belfast we touch on the movie industry in the docklands and visit Stormont to discuss the Good Friday Agreement. In Sandycove in Dublin there’s a marvellous moment at the Martello Tower, used in James Joyce’s Ulysses, where re-enactors play out the opening moments from the 1922 novel. I’m always thrilled to film in Ireland, we get such a warm welcome and the coastline is stunning."

Week 4 — DORSET TO FISHBOURNE

“Here we cover history, geology and all sorts. Dorset’s Jurassic Coast is marvellous, and has a wonderful richness of fossils. Memorably, in a swannery in Swanage a swanherd wraps a swan around me; I've never had such an experience! In Brighton we cover the history of the Mods and the Rockers - when I was a kid they used to descend on the beach and knock the living daylights out of each other, so naturally we commemorate this. I got dressed as a Mod, but thankfully didn’t battle anyone, it was all very peaceful!”

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Great Coastal Railway Journeys

Michael Portillo embarks on a new series of railway adventures around the coasts of the British Isles. Michael Portillo embarks on a new series of railway adventures around the coasts of the British Isles. Michael Portillo embarks on a new series of railway adventures around the coasts of the British Isles.

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Great Coastal Railway Journeys

From the sea lochs of Scotland to the Jurassic Coast of Dorset, seasoned train traveller Michael Portillo immerses himself in the magnificent scenery of the nation's coastal regions.

Great Coastal Railways Journeys

Michael Portillo embarks on a new railway adventure beyond the United Kingdom beginning on the self-governing Isle of Man - a paradise for rail lovers.

From the Isle of Man, Michael Portillo crosses the Irish Sea bound for the mighty port of Liverpool and its historic waterfront.

Michael Portillo continues his rail journey taking in the Isle of Man and the northwest coast of England.

Michael Portillo is in Cumbria, enjoying one of the most spectacular coastal railway journeys in Britain, crossing the broad estuary of the River Leven by rail on a viaduct practically a third of a mile long.

Michael Portillo is on the last leg of his railway journey around the northwest coast of England. As his train passes Sellafield, he notes the covert nuclear reprocessing plant before making a beeline for Wainwright Country.

Michael Portillo's coastal railway adventure propels him in search of the unknown universe in Boulby, North Yorkshire.

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Season 2 (2023)

← back to season list, episodes 20, douglas to port erin.

Michael Portillo begins another railway adventure across and beyond the United Kingdom.

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Liverpool to Blackpool

From the Isle of Man, Michael Portillo crosses the Irish Sea, bound for the mighty port of Liverpool and its historic waterfront.

Morecambe to Grange-over-Sands

Michael Portillo continues his rail journey, learning to make potted shrimp at Morecambe Bay, helping clip the topiaries at Levens Hall and visiting Cartmel's 12th-century priory.

Ulverston to Ravenglass

Michael Portillo is in Cumbria, enjoying one of the most spectacular coastal railway journeys in Britain. He takes to the lake in Ulverston and hikes up Black Combe.

St Bees to Maryport

On the last leg of his railway journey around the north west coast of England, Michael meets a lifelong fan of Alfred Wainwright’s famous guidebooks.

Middlesbrough to Boulby

Michael's journey propels him in search of the unknown universe in Boulby, North Yorkshire, as he joins the hunt for dark matter in the deepest mine in Britain.

Whitby to Robin Hood's Bay

Michael Portillo travels from Whitby, where he explores the port’s shipbuilding and seafaring heritage, to Robin Hood's Bay, a former smuggling haven.

Scarborough to Bridlington

Michael Portillo is in the seaside resort of Scarborough to explore one of the greatest royal fortresses in England.

Hornsea to Spurn Point

Michael Portillo travels from the pretty seaside resort of Hornsea, famous for its distinctive pottery, to Spurn Point, where Michael learns about a life-saving 19th-century invention.

Grimsby to Humberston Fitties

Michael Portillo has reached Lincolnshire, where his coastal railway journey from Middlesbrough ends. In Grimsby, he investigates an important new stage in the town’s history.

Ballarena to Giant's Causeway

Michael Portillo is on Northern Ireland’s spectacular Causeway Coast to begin a railway journey that takes him along the north and east coasts of Ireland through the provinces of Ulster and Leinster.

Ballymena to Carrickfergus

Michael Portillo is in the glens of Antrim, where Ireland’s folklore and magical myths flourish and he is transfixed by tales of fairies and legends of the sea.

Bangor to Belfast

Michael Portillo is in Bangor, County Down, en route to the Northern Irish capital, Belfast.

Carlingford to Dublin

Michael Portillo continues his railway journey along the Atlantic and Irish Sea coasts of Ireland, travelling from Newry into the Republic. He helps shake bags of oysters and visits an ancient cairn.

Dun Laoghaire to Rosslare

Michael Portillo begins the final leg of his railway journey, beginning in the harbour town of Dun Laoghaire

Weymouth to Lulworth

Michael is on a rail journey across the southern coast of England, beginning in Dorset. He takes to the water in Portland Harbour and hears the story of the Tolpuddle Martyrs.

Kimmeridge to Brownsea Island

Michael alights at Wareham to visit Dorset’s internationally renowned Jurassic Coast. He heads through Swanage, Poole and Sandbanks before ending his journey on Brownsea Island.

Southampton to Isle of Wight

Michael heads from a bustling Southampton to the Isle of Wight, where he rides the island’s railway, made up of recycled London Underground trains.

Lee-on-the-Solent to Bosham

Michael helps out at a coastguard training centre, visits the harbour master at the great maritime city of Portsmouth and learns about conservation projects in Chichester.

Fishbourne to Seaford

The final leg of Michael's journey begins in Fishbourne, the location of one of the most significant Roman sites in Britain.

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• Seasons & Episodes
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Great Coastal Railway Journeys Season 3 Episodes

• Documentary
• Watchlist Where to Watch

From the sea lochs of Scotland to the Jurassic Coast of Dorset, seasoned train traveller Michael Portillo immerses himself in the magnificent scenery of the nation's coastal regions.

Season 3 Episode Guide

20 Episodes 2024 - 0

Axminster to Budleigh Salterton

Mon, Apr 8, 2024 30 mins

Michael Portillo embarks on another journey exploring the shores of Britain, travelling from the Jurassic Coast to the rugged tip of the Lizard Peninsula and beyond to the spectacular Isles of Scilly.

Exeter to Plymouth

Tue, Apr 9, 2024 30 mins

Michael Portillo reaches Devon's county town, Exeter, dominated since the Middle Ages by its magnificent gothic cathedral. He joins stonemasons charged with conserving its intricate Beer stonework.

Tintagel to St Austell

Wed, Apr 10, 2024 30 mins

Michael leaves Devon for Cornwall and the rugged Atlantic coast of its northern shore, where the ruins of Tintagel Castle emerge from the mist and spray of the sea.

St Mawes to Porthcurno

Thu, Apr 11, 2024 30 mins

Michael reaches the pretty Cornish fishing village of St Mawes, today an exclusive holiday destination for connoisseurs of yachts, fine food and luxury hotels.

Isles of Scilly

Fri, Apr 12, 2024 30 mins

Michael Portillo nears the end of his railway adventure tracking the rugged coast of south west England. He finishes in the westernmost reaches of England, in the Scillonian archipelago.

Cardigan Bay to Abergynolwyn

Mon, Apr 15, 2024 30 mins

Harlech to Abedaron

Tue, Apr 16, 2024 30 mins

Porthmadog to Anglesey

Wed, Apr 17, 2024 30 mins

The Isle of Anglesey

Thu, Apr 18, 2024 30 mins

Conwy to Colwyn Bay

Fri, Apr 19, 2024 30 mins

Eastbourne to Rye

Mon, Apr 22, 2024 30 mins

Folkestone to Le Touquet

Tue, Apr 23, 2024 30 mins

Dover to Margate

Wed, Apr 24, 2024 30 mins

Birchington-on-Sea to Whitstable

Thu, Apr 25, 2024 30 mins

Faversham to Chatham

Fri, Apr 26, 2024 30 mins

Canvey Island to Wrabness

Mon, Apr 29, 2024 30 mins

Woodbridge to Southwold

Tue, Apr 30, 2024 30 mins

Lowestoft to Great Yarmouth

Wed, May 1, 2024 30 mins

West Runton to Burnham Market

Thu, May 2, 2024 30 mins

Wells-next-the-Sea to the Wash

Fri, May 3, 2024 30 mins

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Vladivostok – Moscow

Trans-Siberian Express Westbound

• Golden Eagle

VLADIVOSTOK – KHABAROVSK – ULAAN BAATAR – ULAN UDE – LAKE BAIKAL – IRKUTSK – NOVOSIBIRSK – YEKATERINBURG – KAZAN – MOSCOW

Please note all Trans-Siberian and Trans-Mongolian departures have been suspended indefinitely due to the ongoing war in Ukraine and the international sanctions that have been subsequently placed on Russia.

Undoubtedly the world’s greatest railway journey, the Trans-Siberian Railway runs like a steel ribbon across mysterious Russia connecting east and west from Moscow over the Urals, across the magnificent and endless steppe and alongside the shore of the world’s largest freshwater lake.

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Day 1  vladivostok.

Arrive at Vladivostok Airport, where you are met and transferred to the five-star Lotte Hotel Vladivostok.

This evening you are invited to our Welcome Dinner. Specially selected international wines are included with dinner, as with all meals during the tour.

DAY 2  Vladivostok

Vladivostok is a military port located on the western shores of the Sea of Japan and is home to the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet. Due to its military importance, the city was closed to foreigners between 1930 and 1992. Vladivostok (literally translated as ‘Ruler of the East’) offers visitors an interesting opportunity to explore its principal military attractions including a visit to a preserved World War Two submarine. Our city tour will also take us to the iconic suspension bridge over Golden Horn Bay, one of the largest of its kind worldwide, which opened in 2012 for the APEC conference.

Following a champagne reception at Vladivostok Railway Station, and with a military band playing on the platform, we will board the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express. After settling into our modern, stylish cabins we enjoy dinner in the restaurant car as our rail adventure westwards begins.

DAY 3  Khabarovsk

Situated 15 miles (25 kilometres) from the border with China, Khabarovsk stretches along the banks of the Amur River. Khabarovsk was founded as a military post in 1858, but the region had been populated by several indigenous peoples of the Far East for many centuries. It is now a busy city with tree-lined streets.

Located next to the station we will pass the monument to Yerofey Pavlovich Khabarov, the Far East explorer the city is named after, and see the impressive World War Two memorial to the fallen soldiers. We will also have time at the Regional Museum where the local history has been well-preserved with a rich collection of artefacts describing the cultural and natural history of the region

DAY 4  On Board

Our journey today follows the Shilka and Amur rivers, close to the Chinese border.

Enjoy Russia at its most beautiful and remote, as the landscape unfolds outside your window. Or you may like to attend one of the absorbing lectures or Russian language lessons.

DAY 5  On Board

Today offers the perfect opportunity to practice your improving Russian or watch a DVD as you watch the world pass by.

For those who like to socialise, the Bar Lounge Car is the perfect place to enjoy a chat with your fellow passengers as you listen to our resident musician.

DAY 6 Ulaan Baatar

Our Trans-Siberian adventure takes us into Mongolia and a visit to its capital, Ulaan Baatar. Mongolia, once the very centre of an enormous empire led by Genghis Khan, is a country rich in culture and history with beautiful landscapes and nomadic people. Mongolia is famous for its endless green Steppes, grazing livestock and white, nomadic Gers (Yurts) dotted all across the countryside.

We start the tour at Gandan Monastery, one of Mongolia’s most important Buddhist Monasteries housing a community of over 500 monks. The full name, Gandantegchinlen, translates as ‘the great place of complete joy’. At Chinggis Square (formerly Sukhbaatar Square) we can see the central monument to Genghis Khan, undoubtedly the most feared and revered Mongol. We then drive out of the city to Gorkhi-Terelj National Park and enjoy the beautiful scenery of wild Mongolia, having the opportunity to visit a traditional Ger and meet a nomadic family or try our hand at horse-riding, an intrinsic part of Mongolian life.

Alternatively, there is an option to stay in the city as part of our Freedom of Choice touring. After Gandan Monastery and Chinggis Square we visit the National Museum where we learn about the country’s intriguing history. We will also see Bogd Khan Winter Palace Museum, the winter residences of Bogd Khan, the last Mongolian emperor, built between 1893 and 1903.

We can also explore the city and have some free time for shopping for Mongolian souvenirs and their specialty cashmere. We will also enjoy a performance of traditional Mongolian throat singing and contortionists.

Please note, depending on final timings provided by the railway authorities we may substitute the railway journey from Russia into Ulaan Baatar with a private jet charter from Irkutsk or Ulan Ude so that we can maintain the advertised programme for Mongolia. This will be advised in your final documentation.

DAY 7 Ulan Ude

The ethnic and cultural diversity of Ulan Ude, the capital of the Buryat Republic, offers a unique insight into its heritage. As we tour the area you will notice the different faces of these welcoming Buryat people.

During our exploration of the Old Believers’ Village we have the opportunity to learn about the culture and history of these religious people as we are treated to a concert featuring local traditions and folk singing.

DAY 8 Lake Baikal

Few natural sights can surpass the beauty and grandeur of Lake Baikal, a major highlight on our Trans-Siberian journey. Lake Baikal is the deepest lake in the world and holds 20 per cent of the world’s freshwater. Also known as the ‘Pearl of Siberia’, it is home to a unique breed of freshwater seal and over 50 species of fish including omul. For five hours we wind our way through tunnels along cliff hugging tracks above the lake. With a vista of snow-capped peaks along the far shore forming a picture-perfect backdrop, we gain a full appreciation of the engineering achievement which produced this part of the railway in the early twentieth century. To add to the grandeur of the day our Golden Eagle train will be hauled by a Soviet Era steam locomotive on this beautiful section of line. There will be plenty of opportunities to take photographs as the train winds its way along the lake.

Weather permitting, we stop in an extremely picturesque location by the lake for photographic opportunities. For the brave hearted, there is time for a refreshing swim in the crystal clear and ice-cold waters of Baikal. Travelling onwards to the end of the Baikal branch line, we leave the train and travel by boat on the lake to Listvyanka, a small Baikal settlement nestling at the base of the surrounding hills and visit the Lake Baikal Museum and Aquarium where you can learn about the flora and fauna of the lake.

We will enjoy a delicious barbecue prepared by our own chefs, including freshly smoked omul fish, in the delightful covered dining area on the shore of Lake Baikal to complete a memorable day.

As part of our Freedom of Choice excursion programme you can choose a hiking opportunity up Chersky Mount or you can choose to take the chair lift, which offers some spectacular and panoramic hillside views of the grandeur of the lake below.

DAY 9 Irkutsk

Our visit to Irkutsk, the ‘Paris of Siberia’, takes in the most significant sites and museums in this fascinating city, including an exploration of the classic wooden architecture with its intricately carved lace-like decorations that has given many of this region’s buildings such a distinctive and unique appearance. We also visit the Volkonsky House Museum, which is dedicated to the memory of the aristocrats who were exiled to this remote outpost after the failed Decembrists uprising of 1825. We recreate the atmosphere of that time with a champagne reception and private concert.

You could learn to cook some traditional Russian dishes with a local chef and prepare your own lunch with our Freedom of Choice option. Or you might also wish to visit a traditional Russian Dacha (summer house) to get an insight into the everyday life of an average Russian family.

Please note: Freedom of Choice touring options may be subject to variations dependent on finalised train timings and local weather conditions.

DAY 10  On Board

A day to unwind and reflect on the many sights and sounds we have experienced on the journey so far. Chat to your fellow passengers, perhaps learn a few more words of Russian or simply enjoy the ever changing landscape outside your window.

DAY 11 Novosibirsk

A modern ‘Soviet’ city, we experience the life and character of Novosibirsk’s rich culture where the arts and science predominate. The city is located in the heart of Russia and is situated on both banks of the River Ob. Our city tour takes us to Lenin Square where the imposing Opera House is located. An architectural marvel, it houses two permanent ballet and opera companies and is one of the largest opera houses in the world. In front of the Opera House, we visit an impressive statue of Lenin – a marvellous opportunity to have your photograph taken with this iconic political leader.

Time permitting, south of the city we will visit Novosibirsk’s excellent Railway Museum. The museum displays locomotives and rolling stock from the late 1800s, including carriages of the Tsars, through to the Soviet era. Alternatively, as part of our Freedom of Choice programme, you may choose to visit the Mineralogical Centre with its fine display of Siberian minerals.

DAY 12 Yekaterinburg

Founded in 1723 by Peter the Great, Yekaterinburg is the capital of the Urals. Known as the Great Divide, the Ural Mountains create the natural border between Europe and Asia so that the cultural and architectural influences of European and Asian civilisations come together in this fascinating and cosmopolitan landscape. Our city tour takes us to the poignant site where the Romanov, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, was executed with his family by the Bolsheviks in 1918 following 78 days of imprisonment. Now a church dedicated to their memory, this site provides us with a powerful insight into the turmoil of the Russian Revolution. We will also drive to the obelisk marking the geographical border and we can drink a glass of champagne with one foot in Europe and the other in Asia.

Time permitting, our Freedom of Choice programme features either a visit to the recently opened Museum of Military Machinery. The museum houses an amazing collection of different types of military hardware including tanks, aircraft, boats and even armoured trains. The museum is a real treat for anyone with an interest in the Soviet past, unparalleled by anything else along the route.  Alternatively, we will make a short stop at the Boris Yeltsin Presidential Centre, recently opened in Yekaterinburg, which is dedicated to the contemporary political history of Russia and its first president.

DAY 13 Kazan

Situated on the River Volga, the picturesque and historic city of Kazan is the capital of Tatarstan. Here we see for ourselves its rich tapestry of history and culture. One of the highlights of this city tour is our exploration of the Kremlin Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Within the walls of this ancient citadel we will explore the stunning mosque and picture-perfect onion-domed cathedral.

As Kazan is the birthplace of one of Russia’s most famous opera singers, Feodor Chaliapin (1873-1938), we honour his memory with a private concert of his music. You will also have time to wander through the main pedestrian area of Kazan and immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the city.

DAY 14 Moscow

Our touring programme of Russia’s capital takes us to the grandeur of the Kremlin – the spiritual, historical and political heart of Moscow – and to see the treasures of the Tsars in the Armoury Chamber where we will enjoy an exclusive private viewing.

Our exploration of the city continues with a visit to Red Square, the iconic symbol of Russia’s former military and political might with its eclectic mix of fascinating architecture. Here we visit the ornate St Basil’s Cathedral’s magnificent onion-domed spires and marvel at the beautiful façade of the world-famous GUM department store which was constructed in Tsarist times.

Lunch is served in Café Pushkin, a legendary Moscow restaurant serving traditional Russian cuisine with a décor that revives the atmosphere of an early 19th century mansion. An essential part of any visit to Moscow is a tour of the opulent and unique stations of the Moscow metro – showpieces of Socialist art furnished with statues, frescoes and mosaics, unsurpassed anywhere in the world.

If you have been to Moscow before we offer an included Freedom of Choice touring programme where we show you other sights of Moscow such as the famous State Tretyakov Gallery (National Museum of Fine Art) or the Space Museum.

Included in our time spent in Moscow is one night at the stylish five-star Four Seasons Hotel Moscow. Located in the historic building of Moskva Hotel and occupying one of the most enviable addresses in the very heart of Moscow, the hotel is a short walk from the Kremlin, Red Square and the Bolshoi Theatre

DAY 15  Moscow

Following breakfast, spend the remaining time in Moscow at your leisure, followed by your transfer which will take you to the airport to begin the return flight home.

Why not extend your stay in Moscow with additional nights to explore more of the city at your leisure or have time to take in a performance at the world-renowned Bolshoi Theatre? Tickets need to be pre-booked and are subject to schedule and availability.

Tour Inclusions

Accommodation.

• Five-star pre and post tour accommodation
• Private en-suite accommodation on the Golden Eagle train
• 24-hour cabin attendant service
• Experienced Tour Management team
• Services of a UK-registered Doctor and medical facilities on board
• Arrival and departure transfers
• All gratuities – on and off the train
• Luggage porterage throughout the journey
• Freshly prepared meals on board, using the finest local ingredients
• Authentic dining experiences in local restaurants
• Generous drinks allowance, including international wines with lunch and dinner
• Golden Eagle Gala Caviar dinner
• 14 Breakfasts, 13 Lunches, 14 Dinners
• Expertly guided off-train excursions as detailed in the itinerary
• Freedom of Choice touring options

Tour Highlights

• Champagne reception on departure with a military brass band performance
• Private viewing of the Kremlin armoury in Moscow
• Soviet-era steam locomotive haulage at Lake Baikal
• Barbecue on the shores of Lake Baikal, plus the opportunity to swim in its ice-cold waters
• See Mongolia’s three national sports in action in a mini-Naadam showcase
• Authentic performances showcasing traditional Russian and Mongolian culture

GOLDEN EAGLE

The Golden Eagle, comprising three categories of cabins, featuring state-of-the-art amenities and en-suite facilities, is the only private train of its kind operating in these regions of the world.

All prices are per person

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10 main stops on the Trans-Siberian Railway

The Trans-Siberian Railway is more than 9,200 km long. Running from Moscow to Vladivostok, it connects the large cities of the Urals, Siberia and the Far East. By taking this train, you can see almost all of Russia. There is an added bonus in that a ticket for the Trans-Siberian allows you to get off at any station and then continue the journey on any other train on the route, provided it has free seats. Here are the cities we recommend exploring on the way.

1. Yaroslavl 

The Assumption Cathedral at the arrow of the Volga and Kotorosl rivers in Yaroslavl

The train departs from Moscow’s Yaroslavsky railway station, and one of the first stops is the wonderful city of Yaroslavl. This ancient city was founded by Prince Yaroslav the Wise in 1010.

Yaroslavl is the unofficial capital of the famous tourist route, the Golden Ring, and boasts hundreds of churches and monasteries. Be sure to visit the Yaroslavl Museum hidden behind the massive walls of the former Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Savior. Explore its main cathedral and visit Masha the bear, the living embodiment of the Yaroslavl coat of arms.

Click here to find out more about the history of Yaroslavl, places to visit and things to do there.

2. Perm 

The Perm Regional Museum

Perm is both a large industrial city and a cultural center of the Urals. It has a renowned opera and ballet company and a large drama theater with the unexpected name, Theater. It also has its own (a rarity in Russia) museum of contemporary art, PERMM, which opened in 2009 in a former river terminal building.

A must for any visitor to the city is to take a boat trip on the Kama River and to take a picture on the embankment with the city's calling card - a large land-art object by Boris Matrosov called “Happiness is not far off” - in the background.

Click here to find out more about things to do in Perm and its environs.

3. Yekaterinburg 

The Chekist Town in Yekaterinburg

Yekaterinburg is an industrial city with a million-plus population, the capital of the Urals and the birthplace of the first president of Russia, Boris Yeltsin.

Make sure to visit the architectural monument known as the Chekist Town, a neighbourhood of constructivist residential buildings and dormitories built in the 1920s and 1930s. It was intended for the leadership of the NKVD secret police (hence its unofficial name).

Find out more about things to do in the city in summer and in winter .

4. Tyumen 

The Tyumen embankment

Tyumen is considered the center of the Russian oil industry. At the same time, it has more than once come at the top of the list of the country's most liveable cities. Things to check out here include: a walk along the embankment of the Tura River, amusement rides in the Park of Culture and Leisure, as well as a visit to the Holy Trinity Monastery and the Znamensky Cathedral, built in the unusual Siberian Baroque style. By the way, Tyumen has a very progressive university, with many foreigners among both students and the teaching staff.

In two hours' drive from Tyumen (unfortunately, not on the Trans-Siberian route), is the old town of Tobolsk, which in the 17th-18th centuries served as a stronghold in Russia's exploration of Siberia. There is even a stone Kremlin here!

5. Omsk 

The Dormition Cathedral and Omsk city view

Omsk is known all over the world as the place where Fyodor Dostoevsky spent four years in exile. The city's literary museum, which studies the heritage of Siberian writers, is named after him. Omsk is also home to a unique metro, the shortest in the world as it has only one station. Click here to find out more about how it is used.

Make sure to visit a Continental Hockey League game: the local Avangard team is one of the strongest clubs in the country.

6. Novosibirsk 

The Nobosibirsk metro bridge over the Ob River

Novosibirsk is considered the capital of... guess what! That's right - Siberia. The city was founded in the 19th century as a stop on the route of the Trans-Siberian Railway, which was being built at the time. And even before the city appeared, a bridge across the Ob River was erected here. It is now part of the Novosibirsk coat of arms.

These days, Novosibirsk is a city with a million-plus population and a variety of leisure activities, from museums and theaters to a large zoo and a circus. You should definitely visit the red-brick Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky, the city’s first stone building.

Check out our guide for things to do in Novosibirsk in winter.

7. Krasnoyarsk 

The Krasnoyarsk Pillars

With its long avenues, vast spaces and the great Yenisei River, Krasnoyarsk is a place where you can feel the full might of Siberia. Some of the city's most famous sights are featured on the 10-ruble bill.

Places to visit here include the local history museum as well as the Ploshchad Mira museum center, in which contemporary art is juxtaposed with Soviet art. The two museum buildings are separated by a walk along the Yenisei Embankment, which offers nice views of the bridges across the river.

Not far from the city is a unique natural reserve called Krasnoyarsk Pillars. Click here to read the story of a guide working at the nature reserve and other stories of people overheard onboard the Trans-Siberian.

8. Irkutsk 

Lake Baikal

Here we are, half-way through the journey, and we reach the city where the famous Decembrists, who staged an uprising against the Tsar in 1825 on Senate Square St. Petersburg, spent their time in exile. The city has a museum dedicated to their legacy.

Of course, the city's main attraction is Lake Baikal, whose nearest coastal point is an hour's drive from Irkutsk. Click here to read a first-hand account of how to go to the world’s largest lake in winter and fall in love.

9. Ulan-Ude 

The Ivolginsky Datsan

If you don't have time to stop in Lake Baikal, don't worry: you’ll see it from the train window since between Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude, the railway runs along the lake shore, with two-minute stops on the way.

Getting off the train in the capital of Buryatia may be your most unusual adventure in Russia. This area on the border with Mongolia is known for its ancient Buddhist traditions. Not far from the city is an important Buddhist center, Ivolginsky Datsan. Even the main Russian Orthodox church in Ulan-Ude, the Odigitrievsky Cathedral, looks more like a Buddhist stupa.

Lenin's head in Ulan-Ude

There is also an unusual monument to Vladimir Lenin in the form of the man's giant head.

Click here to read about an Englishman's adventures in Ulan-Ude.

10. Khabarovsk 

A bridge over the Amur River in Khabarovsk

Some 14 more hours and you’ll be in Vladivostok! In the meantime, welcome to the capital of Khabarovsk Territory and to the Russian Far East. The city is located on the Amur River near the border with China. There is a 3-km bridge across the river, which is popularly known as the “Amur miracle”.

Interestingly, 75 km from Khabarovsk, in a village of the local indigenous Nanai people, a stone carving dating to 12,000 BC was found. Click here to read more about this ancient artefact. 

If using any of Russia Beyond's content, partly or in full, always provide an active hyperlink to the original material.

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Trans Siberian Railway Trains, Map and Tickets Cost

Trans siberian railway facts.

Trans Siberian Railway Map

Buying Trans Siberian Tickets

Trans-mongolian trains: moscow - ulan-bataar - beijing, trans-manchurian trains: moscow - kharbin - beijing,   trans-siberian trains: route moscow - vladivostok.

Other trains to Vladivostok: you might be interested in these other trains  as well, however, they don't go as far as Vladivostok, stopping in Khabarovsk, which is 13 hours away from Vladivostok (you can change a train there). These trains are cheaper than the direct Moscow - Vladivostok train, however. If you're lucky, you could get from Moscow to Vladivostok for about €170 one way.     Train: #044. Moscow - Khabarovsk Departs: Moscow, Yaroslavsky station [on even dates at 0.35] Passes: Khabarovsk [6 d 2 h 30 mins later, at 4.54] Route: ( goes thru Yaroslavl , joining the "classic" Trans-Siberian just before Kirov) Moscow [0h, at 0.35] - Yaroslavl [4 h 5 mins, at 4.48, stops for 5 mins] - Kostroma [6 h 17 mins, at 7.00, stops for 25 mins] - Kirov [18 h 6 mins, at 18.49, stops for 20 mins] - Perm - Ekaterinburg [1 d 8 h 46 mins, at 9.29, stops for 24 mins] - Tyumen - Omsk - Novosibirsk [2 d 6 h 3 mins, at 6.46, stops for 37 mins] - Krasnoyarsk [2 d 19 h 17 mins, at 20.00, stops for 20 mins] - Taishet - Angarsk - Irkutsk [3 d 14 h 11 mins, at 14.54, stops for 23 mins - change here for trains to Mongolia and China ] - Ulan-Ude [3 d 21h 55 mins, at 22.38, stops for 23 mins] - Chita [4 d 7 h 39 mins, at 8.22, stops for 21 mins] - Skovorodino - Birobidzhan - Khabarovsk [5 d 15 h 36 mins later, at 8.52]. (see the route description ) Price:  2nd class - €150-€300, 3rd class (platzcart) - €120  

Trans-Siberian trains: Moscow - Ulan-Ude

Trains-siberian trains: moscow - irkutsk, trans-siberian trains: moscow - novosibirsk, how to buy a russian train ticket.

• Trans-Siberian Railway: Best Cities to Visit
• Trans-Siberian Railway History and Facts

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