Michael Portillo
Self - Presenter
No poster
Series SeasonSeason 9 episodes2026
Great Continental Railway Journeys
Series 9
No season overview available.
Episodes
Each episode has its own detail page.
Episode 129 min2026-05-18
Cagliari to Porto Flavia
Michael Portillo embarks on a stunning railway adventure through the western Mediterranean islands of Sardinia and Corsica, beginning in Sardinia’s capital, Cagliari.
Episode 229 min2026-05-19
Mandas to Laconi
Michael Portillo’s railway tour of Sardinia heads inland towards the island's dramatic mountain landscapes, which he discovers were frequented by DH Lawrence.
Episode 329 min2026-05-20
Nuoro to Macomer
Michael Portillo continues his Sardinian railway adventure, arriving into Mamoiada to investigate the town’s extraordinary pagan traditions.
Episode 428 min2026-05-21
Ajaccio to Vizzavona
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.
Episode 528 min2026-05-22
Vivario to Corte
Michael boards one of Europe’s most dramatic railways, which winds through Corsica’s breathtaking mountainous landscapes.
Episode 629 min2026-05-25
St Pancras to Brussels
Michael boards the Eurostar at London’s St Pancras International, bound for the Belgian capital, Brussels.
Episode 729 min2026-05-26
Brussels to Ghent
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.
Episode 829 min2026-05-27
Knokke-Heist to Bruges
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.
Episode 929 min2026-05-28
Brussels to La Louvière
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.
Episode 1028 min2026-05-29
Namur to Florenville
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.
Episode 1128 min2026-06-01
Sopron to Keleti
No episode overview available.
Episode 1228 min2026-06-02
Budapest
No episode overview available.
Episode 1329 min2026-06-03
Huvösvölgy to Kobanya
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.
Episode 1428 min2026-06-04
Szeged
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.
Episode 1529 min2026-06-05
Eger to Hortobágy
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.