From Catalonia’s unspoilt shoreline and Aragon’s scenic structure to quaint cities within the Basque Nation, this northern Spain highway journey presents one thing for everybody.
Is there any higher solution to see a rustic than grabbing a set of automotive keys and having the liberty to discover at your individual tempo? If that is your favorite solution to journey, then how about exploring the north of Spain.
A highway journey right here presents a lot. Spend your time admiring the scenic coastlines in Catalonia and Asturias, earlier than marvelling on the structure of Castille and León. If you happen to’re a foodie, you’ll fall in love with the culinary scene within the Basque Nation. It’s absolute pintxos heaven! In the meantime, when you’re eager on the good outside, there are many attractive inexperienced areas and pure wonders to discover.
So, whether or not you’re on the lookout for inspiration otherwise you wish to begin planning your itinerary, this information will cowl the entire finest locations to go to in Northern Spain on a highway journey.
Climate in Northern Spain
This area of Europe has heat summers and funky winters. Nearly all of individuals go to throughout the summer time vacation season, when the climate is warmest. If you wish to take advantage of the good outside, time your journey between June and September. It’s the best time for seaside days or countryside hikes. Throughout this time, temperatures vary between lows of 16°C (61°F) and highs of 26°C (79°F).
It will get fairly chilly in Spain in winter, however there’s a little bit of magic to it! Between January and March the temperatures within the north of Spain vary from 4°C (39°F) to fifteen°C (59°F).
Northern Spain Street Journey Map
If you happen to’re completely satisfied to maneuver at a fairly average tempo, shifting on each single day, you can nearly match this itinerary into one week, Nevertheless, I’d advocate shifting a bit slower so you possibly can take in all of the little particulars in every vacation spot.
Right here’s a handy map to go together with this northern Spain highway journey itinerary, which it can save you to make your planning stress-free.
Northern Spain Street Journey Itinerary Locations to Go to in Northern Spain
Northern Spain Street Journey: Cease 1 Barcelona
Barcelona is a superb metropolis to begin your highway journey from. Not solely is it an unimaginable vacation spot in its personal proper, however it’s additionally straightforward to succeed in by airplane. There are many automotive rental choices too, each from the airport or town centre.
Marking the beginning of your Catalonia highway journey, you’ll shortly fall in love with Barcelona’s scenic shoreline with sweeping views of the Balearic Sea. Benefit from the metropolis’s distinctive atmosphere courtesy of avenue musicians and tapas bars dotted within the atmospheric Gothic Quarter’s slim streets. I problem you to not get misplaced on this mini maze – it’s very simply carried out, particularly after just a few glasses of Cava!
On the centre of Barcelona’s bustling social scene is tree-lined La Rambla, which boasts eating places, cafés, and avant-garde structure. It’s at all times busy with vacationers, however I’d keep away from many of the eating places round right here! Many are basic vacationer traps, serving vats of low-quality paella at inflated costs. You’ll discover extra genuine eating experiences within the small bars within the Gothic Quarter.
La Boqueria meals market is positioned simply off this predominant avenue and is a wonderful place to soak up the wonderful components of Catalonia. For a really particular meal, e book in for a tasting menu expertise at Michelin-starred Disfrutar. I’ve been fortunate sufficient to go to twice and I might regard these meals as the perfect meals I’ve ever eaten! Genuinely!
If you happen to’re focused on artwork there are many nice points of interest in Barcelona. You may go to the Picasso Museum, the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya or the Fundacio Joan Miro. Oh, and don’t miss a go to to considered one of Gaudi’s many masterpieces. His distinctive type is seen all through town at areas resembling La Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell. I used to be enchanted by these spots – I’m positive you’ll be too!
If you happen to fancy a seaside day, there’s additionally a big seaside within the metropolis centre, lined with seaside bars. It’s wonderful how a lot there’s to do on this Spanish metropolis. There actually is one thing for everybody!
Northern Spain Street Journey: Cease 2 Costa Brava or Catalonia
If time permits, you would possibly wish to head north of Barcelona to Costa Brava, earlier than heading to Montserrat. One in every of Spain’s most mesmerising coastlines, the realm oozes attraction with its whitewashed cities and fishing villages. Alternatively, I liked the realm south together with Tarragona and Siurana. You possibly can learn my detailed information on how one can tour this area by automotive in my Catalonia highway journey put up.
Northern Spain Street Journey: Cease 3 Montserrat
Montserrat is one other must-visit in your highway journey by Northern Spain. The world’s prime attraction is the Benedictine Montserrat Monastery, perched on a rocky crag surrounded by magnificent cliffs.
Simply getting there’s a little bit of an journey, as you attain the monastery by way of cable automotive! As soon as there, get pleasure from panoramic views of the Catalonian countryside whereas soaking within the sights and historical past of the monastery.
Montserrat to Zaragoza: 266 km / 2h 46min approx.
Northern Spain Street Journey: Cease 4 Zaragoza
Subsequent cease in your journey from Montserrat is Zaragoza, the capital of the Aragon area. It is a good spot for museums, structure, and historic monuments, together with the Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar.
In between sightseeing, I’d advocate a little bit of restaurant-hopping at Plaza del Pilar so you possibly can style some authentically Spanish delights. For an actual flavour of the area, sit all the way down to dinner at Restaurante La Borde de Chema. This rustic restaurant presents Aragonese dishes together with roast goat, together with loads of regional wines.
Northern Spain Street Journey: Cease 5 Ordesa y Monte Perdido Nationwide Park
Step away from the glitz and glamour of metropolis life with a go to to the Ordesa y Monte Perdido Nationwide Park. This hiker’s paradise has a number of trails to select from, every resulting in sweeping views of the mountains.
Be sure you pack your digital camera for this cease in your highway journey! It’s one of the crucial photogenic locations on this itinerary, so little doubt you’ll wish to snap quite a lot of pictures!
Ordesa y Monte Perdido Nationwide Park to San Sebastian: 252 km / 3h 10 min approx.
Northern Spain Street Journey: Cease 6 San Sebastian
The Basque Nation is famend for its meals scene. Yearly, many individuals go to Northern Spain (myself included!) purely for a wining and eating expertise like no different. It’s hardly stunning, in any case San Sebastian within the Basque Nation has probably the most Michelin-starred eateries per capita in Europe! In reality, there are extra on this one metropolis per capita than in London, and that’s actually saying one thing!
There are two sides to consuming out in San Sebastian. You possibly can both go excessive finish with Michelin starred tasting menus, or eat the native approach with dish after dish of pintxos (small dishes).
The outdated city of San Sebastian is stuffed with tiny eating places specialising in particular person dishes resembling Spanish tortillas, prawns on skewers and sluggish cooked pork. One of the simplest ways to get pleasure from a visit like this, is by stopping for meals and drinks at a number of bars throughout a night – like your very personal pintxos crawl.
It may be tough realizing what to eat at every place, so I’d completely advocate a pintxos tour like this one. The information will provide you with recommendations on what to order, how one can eat it and all of the insider information to take advantage of your time in San Sebastian.
When you can’t go mistaken with most eating places right here, I’d advocate the unimaginable steak, tomatoes and fried padron peppers at Bar Nestor in addition to the well-known San Sebastian cheesecake at La Viña! Additionally, when you’re on the lookout for an additional particular meal, how about going for a Michelin Starred meal with a view at Mirador de Ulia? We had a really memorable meal there!
San Sebastian can also be an important seaside vacation spot, with turquoise waters, white sand and a few nice surf spots too!
Northern Spain Street Journey: Cease 7 Bilbao
Bilbao, the capital of the Basque Nation, is house to centuries-old alleyways and modern-day structure. The bustling metropolis is sufficiently small that you may discover it on foot, however sufficiently big to maintain you entertained for a lot of hours.
One place you easy have to go to is the world-famous Guggenheim Museum, set by the Nervión River. This artwork gallery has an unimaginable assortment, in addition to being housed inside a curved steel masterpiece by considered one of my favorite architects, Frank Gehry.
That is one other nice metropolis for pintxos, so you should definitely spend a while within the Outdated City refuelling. You may additionally dine at one of many many Michelin-starred eating places in Bilbao.
For the most effective viewpoints within the Basque Nation, make your solution to Gaztelugatxeko Doniene, made well-known by Sport of Thrones. The scenic hike is round 3km and options a number of fortified viewpoints. The views are definitely worth the drained legs, I promise you!
Northern Spain Street Journey: Cease 8 Santander
Afterwards, cease by Santander, the place you possibly can get pleasure from some seaside enjoyable on the small city’s myriad of seashores. Dive into the water or get pleasure from a trek to the Cabo Mayor Lighthouse.
Away from the shoreline, seize a chunk at Plaza de Canadio earlier than exploring Santander’s Cathedral. It options two church buildings constructed on prime of each other.
Santander to Llanes: 89 km / 56 min approx.
Northern Spain Street Journey: Cease 9 Llanes and Piloña
As you drive from Bilbao to Llanes and Piloña, the highway journey surroundings actually steps up a notch! Take within the views of the mountains and rolling hills which function the final word driving backdrop!
Llanes is a small-town area boasting medieval magic at each nook, in addition to lovely seaside views. After among the extra touristy stops on this journey, this space is extra chilled out and genuine.
As soon as in Piloña, you can hike as much as the Space Recreativa del Monte Cayon, the place sweeping views over Asturias’ Picos de Europa await. Alternatively, go for a extra strenuous hike at Picos de Europa, a inexperienced paradise surrounded by mountains.
Northern Spain Street Journey: Cease 10 Gijon and Oviedo
Gijon has a complete load of attraction! The town’s outdated city, nestled on prime of a cliff, is stuffed with a mixture of fine-dining and informal eateries and boasts iconic Roman baths and a scenic promenade.
Oviedo, the area’s capital, is a compact metropolis with a energetic environment owing to its pupil inhabitants. Take pleasure in a culinary extravaganza on the metropolis’s many tapas bars (Gloria Oviedo isn’t to be missed) and effective eating spots. There’s a lot extra to do in Oviedo too, together with buying, museum-hopping, and marvelling on the metropolis’s structure.
Oviedo to León: 125 km / 1h 28 min approx.
Northern Spain Street Journey: Cease 11 León
León, the northernmost metropolis within the area, is able to welcome you with open arms. High of the record of points of interest right here is the Catedral de León, which boasts spectacular towers and vibrant home windows.
For a quintessential Leon expertise, stroll by Plaza Mayor and revel in a bit of individuals watching. That is additionally an important space for fashionable eating places, tapas bars, and spectacular structure.
Northern Spain Street Journey: Cease 12 Valladolid and Salamanca
South of León is Valladolid, a small metropolis famed for its structure. The Cathedral of Valladolid is a sight to behold, as is the Museo Nacional de Escultura and the reveals inside.
The ultimate cease within the area is Salamanca, which has a burgeoning foodie scene that basically delivers the center and soul of Northern Spanish delicacies. In between the culinary experiences, get pleasure from visits to the Outdated and New Cathedral, Clerecía Church, and the Convento de San Esteban’s plateresque. For unimaginable viewpoints over among the metropolis’s points of interest, you should definitely go to the Roman Bridge.
The place to Keep on a Northern Spain Street Journey
If you happen to’re questioning the place to remain in northern Spain, listed here are just a few of my prime selections alongside this route.
Hotel Palafox, Zaragoza
It is a nice luxurious lodge, providing sweeping metropolis views from the rooftop pool.
Hotel Carlton, Bilbao
This grand lodge in Bilbao presents spacious rooms with stylish decor and an important restaurant serving regional delicacies.
Hotel Villa Soro, San Sebastian
Take pleasure in a tranquil and stylish lodge keep, only a brief stroll from the outdated city. This sensible villa presents a country-house really feel in your foodie metropolis journey. Questioning how one can get round? This lodge presents free bikes, making it straightforward to get round and see the sights.
Parador de Turismo de León, León
This luxurious lodge’s rooms function vintage furnishings and a balcony. There’s additionally a restaurant serving the area’s prime wines.
I hope you’ve loved studying my Northern Spain highway journey itinerary. There are such a lot of nice locations you can go to, it’s been onerous to slim it all the way down to only a handful.
My finest recommendation is to make use of this information as a place to begin, however don’t be afraid so as to add some additional spots alongside the way in which too. If you happen to’re questioning the place else to go to in Spain, my southern Spain highway journey itinerary is coming quickly!
For extra nice highway journey itineraries, take a look at my detailed guides to driving Northern Italy and Southern Italy.
