Northern Spain Road Trip Planning Guide
- Maria DiCicco
- 6 hours ago
- 8 min read
From things to do to where to stay, this overview includes the best options for fun on a family road trip through Northern Spain. Whether you are heading out on your campervan or RV, or renting a car for the week, from the Basque Country to Asturias, you'll find charming landscapes, delicious food and tons of history.
Learn more about what to encounter on your Northern Spain road trip below including:
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Regions and Towns You'll Visit on a Northern Spain Road Trip
In this article I cover the following regions:
Basque Country
Cantabria
Asturias
Further west is Galicia, the seafood haven not to be missed! I haven't made it there myself yet though, so we'll focus on the above.
The top places you'll want to see will include history, adorable alcove marinas akin to the Amalfi coast, and jutting coast lines with awe-inspiring mountain backdrops.
These picturesque Spanish villages along the Northern Spain coast include (but are definitely not limited to):
Santillana del Mar
Getxo/Puerto Viejo
San Vicente de La Barquera
Comillas
Llanes
Cudillero
Cangas de Onis
Learn a little bit more about the attractions you may encounter below! But first, how to get started...
Getting to Northern Spain
The easiest routes to Northern Spain start in either the UK or from mainland Spain. All road trips in Spain obviously will require a car, so start below.
Your best options below:
Rent a car for the week by browsing cars below.Be sure to brush up on Do's and Don'ts: First Hand Tips for Renting a Car Abroad. |
Flights from the UKPlan to fly into either Bilbao or Santander airports (easy flights on Vueling start around 15 euros from London Gatwick). Oviedo is another option to get straight to the heart of Asturias, and allows for more time in the west of Northern Spain's coast. |
Driving from Mainland Spain or FranceDriving from France is easy - access Basque Country from Biarritz in under an hour or Bordeaux in under 3 hours. Bilbao is just 3 hours from Zaragoza, or Madrid connects to much of Northern Spain in around 4 hours of driving time. |
Taking the Train to Northern SpainUse Omio to browse available trains operated by Renfe, Avlo, Ave and Ouigo. There are daily trains from Zaragoza and Madrid to various places in Northern Spain like Bilbao and Oviedo. |
Things to Do on a Northern Spain Road Trip
There are definitely some classic experiences to have on a road trip through "Green Spain".
Called green for it's emerald shores, the stunning landscapes and scenery alone are worth the drive.
But, beyond oohing and ahhing out your window all day, you'll want to fill your time with fun.
The classic experiences include:
Visit a cider house
Asturias is responsible for 80% of Spain's cider production, and the Basque Region is also quite infamous for it.
If you haven't had Spanish cider, it's quite the experience. Served one gulp at a time, you can drink it straight from the massive oak casks it is distilled in, or from special devices tableside.
You may also have it poured from a meter high into your class in a typical fashion from your waiter or bartender.
It's a tart effervescent drink similar to a sour beer.
At a cider house enjoy the cider of course, but also the gargantuan meals served with it, which generally include cod dishes (bacalao), longaniza (sausage), fabada (bean stew), cachopo (breaded pork like a schnitzel), or other asador favorites like chuleton (giant dry aged slabs of ribeye, seared quickly and topped with flake salt). Yum.
Learn more about cider houses in Asturias at my sister post here.
Go underground
This area is full of caves, especially the pre-historic caves in Cantabria and the famous mine tours in Asturias.
All offer something different, so know in advance what you are looking for. Whether that be cave paintings, traditional stalagmites and stalagmites, or something different with a mine train and tour with the family.
Popular examples of some caves and mines to visit include:
El Soplao
Caves of Altamira
Cueva El Castillo
Ecomuseo Minero Valle de Samuno
Museo de la Mina de Arnao
Learn more about caves and mines in Northern Spain at my sister post here.
Explore nature
Dotted along the north shore of Spain find numerous blowholes called bufones, where the sea sprays up to meet the sky. Bufones de Pria is one such place to see this outstanding natural geyser.
Aside from coastal adventures, there's lots of hiking opportunities, too. I'm not much of a hiker so I unfortunately can't provide added intel there.
I can tell you, however, that this is a prominent route along the Camino de Santiago, so many people come on foot through the rural villages on their pilgrimage trek.
Visit a cheese cave
Cheese rules the land, next to cider, in Northern Spain. Common cheeses you will see are cabrales (like a stinky blue) and gamoneu (a hard nutty cheese).
Idiazabal is famous in the Basque Country and the funny named 'tetilla' (cause let's be honest, it's shaped like a boob) comes from Galicia.
But the most infamous of cheese making comes from Asturias, where cheese is aged in caves.
Only a few queserias (cheese makers) provide tours of their caves (namely because of the interruption to the cheese aging process), but you can visit replicas.
The best place to get a great feeling for the process is at the Cueva del Queso de Cabrales museum, which is part museum, part cheese tasting and cave tour.
Learn more about cheese caves in Northern Spain at my sister post here.
Spend time on the coast
The sea will be cold, but it's nice to sunbathe on the beach or visit one of the many Chiringuitos, or beach bars, while you are there. Many offer drinks only, or full-fledged seaside meals.
Some great options that I stumbled upon in my research include:
Chiringuito El Topu (Playa de Antilles)
Chiringuito Torimbia
Asador Argentino Rocamar
Chiringuito La Mar de Fondo
Note that depending on the time of year, the Chiringuitos will be closed. Northern Spain is a very seasonal destination, with cool and wet climates in the majority of the months. Summer is most popular and crowded, but the off season is excellent too!
Another really unique thing that you can do on the Northern Spanish coast, specifically at Conservas Emilia in Santoña, is to visit an anchovy cannery.
Now I realize that touring a fish factory probably doesn't sound like a great time, but I figure, when in (not) Rome, do something local. Here's one tour that bravely takes you to the smelly fish factory, along with a great little boat ride too!
You'll find quirky maritime museums like this up and down the coast, like the Giant Squid Museum in Luarca. More freak show than cutesy place to take kids, it's certainly unique.
Lastly, you will want to plan on being in one of the coastal town for a seafood lunch at least once. Nothing beats fresh mariscos like the below feast of arroz con bogavante, zamburinas, and delicious local wine.
I recommend seeking this out in Cudillero, especially!
Soak in some history
Believe it or not, Northern Spain was along the path of two formidable herds - the dinosaurs, and the Romans!
Many Romans came in and out of the port of Zaragoza along the Rio Ebro, where they founded a whole city after Caesar Augustus. You'll find many Roman Ruins there today, and dotted along the coast here and there in Northern Spain, too.
As for dinos, they had their day in much of Aragon and Northern Spain, where you can see fossilized footprints on the shores at Huellas fósiles de Dinosaurios near Lastres. Be sure to check out the Jurassic Museum while you are there!
The history doesn't stop there, with the prehistoric cave paintings in the earlier mentioned cuevas dotting the land.
In Asturias you'll also find living history museums, mills (and countless horreos, which are granaries), mines, churches and monasteries and so much more.
A visit to historic and scenic Covadonga is a must, along with shopping in the town of Cangas de Onis.
Learn more about Northern Spain's historical attractions at my sister post (coming soon!).
Where to Stay in Northern Spain
My top Basque Country hotel pick: Hotel Palacio Obispo |
Where to Stay in Asturias
The key seaside towns to narrow in on in Asturias include:
Llanes
Cudillero
Lastres
Luarca
Avila
Inland towns like Oviedo and Cangas de Onis are wonderful options as well.
My overnight picks include:
A rural oasis with set price dinners prepared by the owners every night. Included amenities are numerous, from a game room with pool table and board games, a farm where you can feed the goats, and even a pottery studio where you can fashion and create your own souvenir to take home.
The magical property opens up to scenic vistas of the Picos de Europa mountain range, where you can enjoy cool mountain air and fireside chats in the lounge spaces.
Truly, unbeatable.
A charming retreat near Luarca for seaside exploring, this family run property has all the amenities you need at an affordable price close to town.
Opt into the morning breakfast inside (or under!) one of their antique horreos (granaries).
Where to Stay in Cantabria
The key towns to narrow in on in Cantabria include:
Santander
Santillana del Mar
San Vicente de la Barquera
Comillas
My overnight picks include:
This hotel is pure medieval magic. Charming and affordable, it's a great base for the "Pueblo Bonito", Santillana del Mar.
Find here a central location, a nice breakfast spread in the morning, and a great shower.
The best part is the interior that feels like a castle!
Medieval and perfect, they offer meals and a courtyard for summertime cocktails.
Where to Stay in Basque Country
Bilbao/Getxo
For overnight stays in Basque Country, consider Getxo for its fabulous oceanfront location near both the Bilbao cruise port and the Bilbao airport.
My pick: Petit Palace Tamarises
It includes parking and breakfast, and rooms facing the sea. Less than 20 minutes from Bilbao airport, this hotel offers a great first stop for your road trip.
Walk to nearby Puerto Viejo for tapas or dinner in the old fisherman's village where kalimotxo is said to have been created!
Central Bilbao is great for longer stays (2-3 nights max) to explore the city offerings like the Guggenheim museum and the popular Ribera Market.
Runner up pick: Hotel Artaza
With parking and an onsite restaurant, this palace style hotel is close to Bilbao airport and allows easy in/out access to start your road trip.
Want to Stay in the Countryside?
For an out of town option, consider Hotel Convento San Roque in the small town of Balmaseda for a charming stay.
San Sebastian
San Sebastian is undoubtedly the most popular town to visit, but prices can get quite high at peak times so book early.
My pick: Pension Garibai
Affordable and cute, this is a solid win.
Runner up pick: Cristina Enea Rooms
Steps to the beach and totally affordable.
Hondaribbia
Hondaribbia is a superb option for quaint streets and charming buildings. You'll get all the right vibes here, and get to enjoy some yummy seafood too, like at the Kupela restaurant.
My pick: Hotel Palacio Obispo
Charming like a castle of your very own, this is an excellent choice for medieval vibes in the seaside town.
Runner up pick: Hotel Palacete
It's central and cute. You can't beat that!
Final Thoughts on a Road Trip in Northern Spain
Spend one or two nights in each place. Being mostly rural as you head west, take the time to engage with local culture, slow down and relax.
Have a great trip!
