Asturias, Cantabria & Basque Country road trip
Northern Spain Road Trip itinerary
A northern Spain road trip is one of Europe's great underrated drives — a 10-day, 850-mile run through 'Green Spain', the lush, surf-battered Atlantic coastline that most visitors to Iberia never see. Starting in San Sebastián, the route follows the Cantabrian coast westward through the pintxos bars of the Basque Country, past the cliff-framed beaches of Cantabria, into the limestone peaks of the Picos de Europa, along the coloured fishing harbours of Asturias and across the rain-soaked hills of Galicia to the pilgrim cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. This is the road less travelled in Spain: roads are excellent, distances between stops are short by European standards, and the food — pintxos, Asturian cider, Galician seafood — is reason enough to make the trip.
- Duration
- 10 days
- Distance
- 850 miles
- Start and finish
- San Sebastián to Santiago de Compostela (east to west)
- Best time
- June to September brings the warmest, driest weather and the liveliest coastal towns. July and August are peak season for Spanish holidaymakers so book accommodation ahead. Spring (April–May) and early autumn are quieter and greener but wetter — the north coast receives far more rain than southern Spain year-round, so pack a waterproof whatever the month.
See the ready-made plan
The full Northern Spain Road Trip itinerary is already plotted in the planner, day by day. Open it to see the route on the map, then drag stops, add your own and keep notes as you go.
Why drive the Northern Spain Road Trip?
A 10-day northern Spain road trip itinerary through 'Green Spain' — San Sebastián, the Basque coast, Bilbao, Cantabria, the Picos de Europa, the Asturian coast and Santiago de Compostela.
- Eat your way through San Sebastián's pintxos bars
- See Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao
- Ride the Fuente Dé cable car into the Picos de Europa
- Walk the cliff-backed sands of Playa de las Catedrales in Galicia
- Reach journey's end at the pilgrim cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
10 days Northern Spain Road Trip itinerary
Day 1
San Sebastián: pintxos, La Concha and the old town
Arrive in San Sebastián and spend the day on foot. Walk the curved bay of La Concha, explore the Parte Vieja and begin the classic evening pintxos crawl along Calle 31 de Agosto — one or two bites and a glass of txakoli at each bar. San Sebastián rewards slow walking and slow eating.
Day 2
Basque coast: Zarautz, Getaria and the Zumaia flysch cliffs
Drive the coastal road west through the surf town of Zarautz to fishing-village Getaria, birthplace of the navigator Juan Sebastián Elcano. Continue to Zumaia to see the dramatic flysch cliffs — horizontal rock strata sliced by the sea — before returning to San Sebastián or continuing west toward Bilbao.
Day 3
Bilbao: the Guggenheim and the Casco Viejo
Drive the 100 km to Bilbao. The titanium curves of Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Museum are as striking in person as in photographs; book tickets online to avoid the queue. Spend the afternoon in the Casco Viejo — the seven medieval streets of the original city — with more pintxos, the covered Mercado de la Ribera and the regenerated ría waterfront.
Day 4
Cantabrian coast: Laredo, Noja and Santander
Head west along the Cantabrian coast through the low-key resort of Laredo and the quieter beaches around Noja. The shoreline here is backed by green hills with none of the overdevelopment of the Mediterranean. Base yourself in Santander — a handsome port city with good food, a beach right in town and the Palacio de la Magdalena on its headland.
Day 5
Santillana del Mar and the Cantabrian interior
Drive to Santillana del Mar, one of Spain's best-preserved medieval towns, which Sartre reportedly called the most beautiful village in Spain. The nearby Altamira Cave complex holds some of Europe's finest prehistoric paintings; the museum replica is excellent. Use the afternoon for the green Cantabrian valleys inland or the first Picos foothills.
Day 6
Picos de Europa: Fuente Dé, Covadonga lakes and gorge roads
Spend the full day in the Picos de Europa, one of Spain's oldest national parks. Ride the Fuente Dé cable car to 1,800 metres for panoramic views of the limestone massif — queues build in summer, so arrive at opening time. Drive to the Covadonga lakes (Lago Enol and Lago Ercina) on one of north Spain's most scenic high roads, then descend through the Desfiladero de los Beyos gorge.
Day 7
Asturian coast: Llanes and Cudillero
Return to the coast at Llanes, known for its medieval walls and the painted bufones (blowholes) at Cobijeru. Continue west to the clifftop viewpoint above Cudillero — one of the most photographed spots in northern Spain, with brightly coloured houses rising steeply above a small Atlantic harbour.
Day 8
Gijón and Oviedo: cider houses and pre-Romanesque churches
Spend the morning in Gijón — Asturias's biggest city — with its Roman baths, Cimadevilla old quarter and the long beach at San Lorenzo. Drive the 30 km inland to Oviedo: the pre-Romanesque churches of Santa María del Naranco and San Miguel de Lillo are UNESCO-listed. End the evening in a traditional sidrería where cider is poured from height.
Day 9
Into Galicia: Playa de las Catedrales and the Galician coast
Cross into Galicia and drive to Playa de las Catedrales, where the sea has carved soaring arched rock formations into the cliff face. Access is timed and ticketed from June to September — book online in advance. Continue west through Viveiro and the deep Galician rías toward your overnight stop.
Day 10
Santiago de Compostela
Reach Santiago de Compostela, the end point of the Camino pilgrimage routes and one of the great cathedral cities of Europe. Walk the cobbled historic quarter, visit the cathedral and attend the Pilgrim Mass. The Mercado de Abastos holds some of Spain's finest produce — whole octopus, percebes, Arzúa cheese and Galician bread.
Planning tips
Choose the coast road over the motorway
The tolled AP-8 and AP-9 are fast but pass through little of interest. Use the free N-634 and smaller coastal roads wherever possible — they take longer but connect the fishing villages, cliff viewpoints and beaches that make the route worthwhile.
Pack for 'Green Spain' weather
The north coast is lush because it rains considerably more than the south, even in July and August. Bring a waterproof and layers, and keep your itinerary flexible so you save the big cliff viewpoints and the Picos cable car for the clearest days.
Book the Picos cable car and Playa de las Catedrales in advance
The Fuente Dé cable car runs to 1,800 m and queues form quickly in peak season — arrive at opening time or book ahead where possible. Playa de las Catedrales requires a free timed-entry permit from June to September; reserve it online before you travel or you may be turned away.
Budget time and appetite for pintxos, cider and seafood
The food is one of the strongest reasons to drive this route. Allow proper time for the San Sebastián pintxos crawl, an Asturian sidrería experience and at least one long Galician seafood lunch — pulpo a la gallega, percebes and freshly caught fish from the market.
Carry your driving documents and book city parking
You need a valid driving licence, vehicle registration and insurance documents in the car at all times in Spain. City centres like San Sebastián, Bilbao and Santander are best tackled with a pre-booked car park — street parking is limited and central areas can have restricted-traffic zones.
Northern Spain Road Trip FAQ
How many days do you need for a northern Spain road trip?
Allow about 10 days to drive from San Sebastián to Santiago de Compostela at a comfortable pace, taking in the Basque coast, Bilbao, Cantabria, the Picos de Europa, the Asturian coast and Galicia. With a week you can still cover a strong section — the Basque Country and Cantabria, or Asturias and Galicia — but 10 days gives the most satisfying trip.
What is the best route for a north Spain road trip?
The classic north Spain route follows the Atlantic coast east to west: San Sebastián, the Basque cliffs, Bilbao, the Cantabrian coast, Santillana del Mar, the Picos de Europa, the Asturian coast with Llanes, Cudillero and Oviedo, then Galicia's Playa de las Catedrales and Santiago de Compostela. Stick to the coastal N-634 and minor roads rather than the toll motorways to see the best of the region.
When is the best time to drive northern Spain?
June to September is the most popular window, with the warmest, driest weather and the liveliest coastal towns. July and August are peak season so book accommodation early. Spring (April–May) and early autumn (September–October) are quieter, greener and often very beautiful, though wetter. The Picos de Europa are best in clear summer weather for the cable car and high mountain roads.
Is northern Spain good for a first road trip abroad?
Yes — north Spain is an excellent first European road trip. Roads are well-maintained, distances between major stops are short and the route is far less crowded than southern Spain and the Mediterranean resorts. You will need to drive on the right, carry your driving licence, vehicle registration and insurance, and be aware that some city centres have restricted-traffic zones. A hire car picked up in San Sebastián and dropped in Santiago de Compostela keeps the logistics simple.
What makes northern Spain different from southern Spain?
'Green Spain' — the Basque Country, Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia — has a completely different landscape, climate and food culture from Andalucía and the Mediterranean coast. The coastline is Atlantic, with dramatic cliffs, green hills and cooler, wetter weather. The food is widely regarded as some of Spain's best: San Sebastián has more Michelin stars per capita than almost anywhere in the world, while Galician seafood and Asturian cider are attractions in their own right.
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