The BEST episodes of Great Continental Railway Journeys season 9
Every episode of Great Continental Railway Journeys season 9, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Great Continental Railway Journeys season 9!
All aboard! Armed with his trusty Bradshaw's guide, Michael Portillo explores Europe’s most beautiful, enchanting regions, uncovering how the railways have shaped the continent.
#1 - Mandas to Laconi
Season 9 - Episode 2 - Aired 5/19/2026
Michael Portillo’s railway tour of Sardinia heads inland towards the island's dramatic mountain landscapes, which he discovers were frequented by DH Lawrence.
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#2 - Budapest
Season 9 - Episode 12 - Aired 5/27/2026
Exploring Hungary's capital city of Budapest by tram, Michael Portillo travels to the extraordinary open-air museum of Memento Park in the suburbs.
#3 - Cagliari to Porto Flavia
Season 9 - Episode 1 - Aired 5/18/2026
Michael Portillo embarks on a stunning railway adventure through the western Mediterranean islands of Sardinia and Corsica, beginning in Sardinia’s capital, Cagliari.
#4 - St Pancras to Brussels
Season 9 - Episode 6 - Aired 5/25/2026
Michael boards the Eurostar at London’s St Pancras International, bound for the Belgian capital, Brussels.
#5 - Brussels to La Louvière
Season 9 - Episode 9 - Aired 6/4/2026
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.
#6 - Sopron to Keleti
Season 9 - Episode 11 - Aired 5/26/2026
Michael Portillo begins his Hungarian adventure in the far north west of the country in the town of Sopron.
#7 - Nuoro to Macomer
Season 9 - Episode 3 - Aired 5/20/2026
Michael Portillo continues his Sardinian railway adventure, arriving in Mamoiada to investigate the town’s extraordinary pagan traditions.
#8 - Ajaccio to Vizzavona
Season 9 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/21/2026
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.
#9 - Vivario to Corte
Season 9 - Episode 5 - Aired 5/22/2026
Michael boards one of Europe’s most dramatic railways, which winds through Corsica’s breathtaking mountainous landscapes.
#10 - Brussels to Ghent
Season 9 - Episode 7 - Aired 6/2/2026
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.
#11 - Knokke-Heist to Bruges
Season 9 - Episode 8 - Aired 6/3/2026
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.
#12 - Namur to Florenville
Season 9 - Episode 10 - Aired 6/5/2026
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.
#13 - Huvösvölgy to Kobanya
Season 9 - Episode 13 - Aired 5/28/2026
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 - Szeged
Season 9 - Episode 14 - Aired 5/29/2026
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 - Eger to Hortobágy
Season 9 - Episode 15 - Aired 6/1/2026
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.