Great Continental Railway Journeys

Series 9

2026 · 15 episodes · 7h 9m in all

Episodes

1. 

   1. Cagliari to Porto Flavia

   18 May 2026 · 29 min

   Michael Portillo embarks on a stunning railway adventure through the western Mediterranean islands of Sardinia and Corsica, beginning in Sardinia’s capital, Cagliari.

2. 

   2. Mandas to Laconi

   19 May 2026 · 29 min

   Michael Portillo’s railway tour of Sardinia heads inland towards the island's dramatic mountain landscapes, which he discovers were frequented by DH Lawrence.

3. 

   3. Nuoro to Macomer

   20 May 2026 · 29 min

   Michael Portillo continues his Sardinian railway adventure, arriving into Mamoiada to investigate the town’s extraordinary pagan traditions.

4. 

   4. Ajaccio to Vizzavona

   21 May 2026 · 28 min

   Michael Portillo’s railway journey through the islands of Sardinia and Corsica sees him leave Sardinia and arrive into Corsica, the most mountainous island in the Mediterranean.

5. 

   5. Vivario to Corte

   22 May 2026 · 28 min

   Michael boards one of Europe’s most dramatic railways, which winds through Corsica’s breathtaking mountainous landscapes.

6. 

   6. St Pancras to Brussels

   25 May 2026 · 29 min

   Michael boards the Eurostar at London’s St Pancras International, bound for the Belgian capital, Brussels.

7. 

   7. Brussels to Ghent

   26 May 2026 · 29 min

   Michael Portillo’s Belgian rail journey continues in the Dutch-speaking region of Flanders. He discovers Antwerp's historic diamond industry and visits a Van Eyck masterpiece in Ghent.

8. 

   8. Knokke-Heist to Bruges

   27 May 2026 · 29 min

   Continuing his Belgian tour, Michael Portillo heads to the beach resort of Knokke-Heist and the world’s longest coastal tram, which enjoys splendid views across the North Sea.

9. 

   9. Brussels to La Louvière

   28 May 2026 · 29 min

   Michael Portillo’s Belgian journey takes him back to Brussels to examine a dark chapter in the country’s past: the brutal seizure of the Congo under King Leopold II.

10. 

    10. Namur to Florenville

    29 May 2026 · 28 min

    On the final leg of his Belgian journey, Michael Portillo travels to Namur, capital of Wallonia, to discover a citadel dating back to the 10th century.

11. 

    11. Sopron to Keleti

    1 Jun 2026 · 28 min

    Michael Portillo begins his Hungarian adventure in the far north west of the country in the town of Sopron.

12. 

    12. Budapest

    2 Jun 2026 · 28 min

    Exploring Hungary's capital city of Budapest by tram, Michael Portillo travels to the extraordinary open-air museum of Memento Park in the suburbs.

13. 

    13. Huvösvölgy to Kobanya

    3 Jun 2026 · 29 min

    Continuing his travels in Budapest, Michael Portillo begins in the small town of Huvösvölgy, where he encounters a surprising railway run almost entirely by children.

14. 

    14. Szeged

    4 Jun 2026 · 28 min

    At Budapest’s historic Nyugati station, Michael Portillo explores its sumptuous royal waiting room, built specially for the Austro-Hungarian emperor Franz Joseph I and his empress, Elizabeth.

15. 

    15. Eger to Hortobágy

    5 Jun 2026 · 29 min

    On the last leg of his journey, Michael Portillo arrives in the historic city of Eger. At its famous castle, he discovers how Ottoman invaders were defeated by an outnumbered Hungarian force.