Spain road trip ideas to enjoy the real taste of Spain!
Our team of local experts has carefully put together a selection of the best road trips to be enjoyed in Spain to help you get to know the real Spain and visit as many places as possible during your time in Spain. These road trip plans provide many possible ideas to adapt your itinerary to your budget, taste, and trip duration.
If you thinking to take a road trip across Spain and experience landscapes, food, wine, and local culture, we have put together these guides to help decide what you should visit on your road trip through Spain and Portugal while experiencing some of the best cities, local food and wine in the country.
The first, "simple" decision to make is to decide which part of Spain do you want to focus on for your road trip. We can divide the peninsula (including Portugal) in 3 large to ease the process
- 1 Northern Spain
- 2 The central Plateau
- 3 Southern Spain
Despite we split the country into these regions, please bear in mind that with these road trip plans you can mix and match and decide the perfect trip for you. Whether you want to see a more traditional side of Spain, or you want to have the best food, or you want something more of the beaten path you can do so without missing out on all the delicious wine Spain has to offer
Check out this overview and put together the perfect road trip for you.
1- Northern Spain roadtrips
When you think of Spain it’s difficult not to think of bullfighting, flamenco, paella, sandy beaches, and heat. This image is decidedly characteristic of southern Spain and, although alluring in its own way, the north of Spain is equally unique and perhaps more of a hidden gem to the general public.
These are the road trips recommended itineraries we have put together that feature Northern Spain
SAN SEBASTIAN TO SANTIAGO GASTRONOMIC ROAD TRIP
BASQUE COUNTRY, PAMPLONA AND RIOJA LUXURY ROAD TRIP
MADRID TO BILBAO ROAD TRIP VIA WINE COUNTRY
Ask any true Spaniard where the best food is and most would point northwards. Bathed by the Atlantic, northern Spain offers a special blend of ingredients and cuisine that reflects the love that the northern Spaniards have for food and wine. The weather is cooler, the scenery greener and the food is richer. It is a gastronomy that prides its self on the quality of ingredients and that views eating as an invaluable social element.
Thanks to the proximity to the Rioja wine region and Ribera del Duero regions, there is no shortage of red wines to enjoy as you make your way across the northern coast but you will also find a wide variety of delicious locally produced Spanish white and red wines (Mencia is a fantastic red variety harvested in Northern Spain)
In the north of Spain, due to the climate and a seafood-heavy diet, there is a higher concentration of white wines produced locally. Here the Albariño grape is king and some of the more famous regions are Rias Baixas, Txakoli and Ribeiro.
But northern Spain has much more to offer than just great food and wine, and this is no small thing. Spain is full to the brim with history and culture and the north is no exception. The cities here have a mixture of tradition and modernity that is characteristic of this region. Medieval cathedrals sit alongside Michelin star restaurants. As an example, the Ultra-modern Guggenheim museum is minutes away from the fine Arts Museum in Bilbao which dates back to the 1900’s.
Here are some of the most important cities to visit in northern Spain.
The biggest and most well-known city in northern Spain is Bilbao. The capital of the Basque Country, it is a cosmopolitan city built around one of Spain’s most important ports. Home to the Guggenheim museum, it is famous for its pintxos (northern style tapas) and its tavernas (bars). Find here an itinerary with things to do in Bilbao.
San Sebastián, also located in the Basque country is slowly losing its title of Spain’s hidden gem, as more and more people discover this amazing city. If the history, the beach, and the architecture, weren’t enough, it is also the city with the highest concentration of Michelin star restaurants in the world and, in general, it is one of the best food cities in the world. It is a truly magical place, that will make you want to stay. Find in this article the best things to do in San Sebastian.
Santiago de Compostela was and still is an important religious hub and because it is a city filled with history. It is home to one of the most important cathedrals in the world, the Santiago Cathedral that dates back to the 1300’s and it´s the finish line to the world-famous “Camino de Santiago” pilgrimage.
Lugo, an ancient Roman city, is also an interesting stop in a road trip in this part of Spain. It was founded in 25 B.C. and has all the historical landmarks to prove it. The roman wall that use to protect the city is still in place and the city features medieval cathedrals and fortresses as well as modern restaurants and bars from which to admire them. You will be impressed by its walls
Though technically not in northern Spain, it also makes sense to include in this list Porto. Porto is a coastal city located in northern Portugal and very close to the Spanish border.
The Duero river runs through it, the same river that crosses the Ribera del Duero region. Something special must be these waters because Porto is the birthplace of Port wine. A very different style compared to Ribera wine but equally as special and delicious.
Not only does Porto have port wine to offer visitors, it has amazing Portuguese style seafood and it is breathtakingly beautiful. It is an important visit for any wine lover.
The north of Spain and Portugal are generally cooler than the south and in winter it can cold and it is greener than the rest of the country because it tends to rain quite a bit more that’s why the best time to visit the north of Spain is between the months of April and October.
2-Central Plateau
Spain is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe. There are harsh mountain ranges crossing across the whole peninsula. These mountain ranges create natural barriers around what is known in Spain as the Central Plateau, and these barriers generate pristine conditions for wine making. In this area we find the main red wine producing regions of Spain: Rioja and Ribera del Duero.
This area is much drier compared to the rest of the country and these harsher conditions help create the best wine in Spain. The wine here is made predominantly with tempranillo grapes and Red wine is king, although you can find fantastic white wines as well.
The traditional food in this area is based on heavy roasted meats, charcuterie, cheeses and excellent produce. Castilian cuisine is rich in traditional regional dishes and family recipes.
Madrid, the capital of Spain, is in the middle of the country and of this region. It is the largest city in Spain and it is bursting with history, good food, nightlife and of course amazing wine. Madrid has its own lesser known wine-producing region but you will have no trouble finding the best wines from across the country here. The historical center of the city is a bustling cosmopolitan treasure and it is a must-see if you are anywhere near Madrid. The food and tapas are one of Madrid´s top attractions. But they are not the only one. The art galleries and museums in Madrid are amongst best Art museums in the world. To many people this means the Prado museum, but there are so many you will be surprised. , the architecture… There are many things to see and to do in Madrid.
La Rioja region is one of Spain’s 17 Autonomous Communities, which are similar to states in other countries. La Rioja is the Autonomous Community where most of the Rioja region is found, though it does spill over into the Basque Country and Navarra. Logroño is the capital and largest city in La Rioja. It is a city of great historical importance to Spain as a midway point for travelers and as the capital of this wine region. It is renowned as one of the top cities in Spain for tapas and has been voted several times among the best cities to live in Spain, so they must be doing something right. You will find recommendations with best tapas in Logroño in the road trip itineraries that include Rioja.
Burgos is the capital and largest city of the Autonomous Community of Castilla and Leon, and it is near Ribera Del Duero. The city is known around the world for its Cathedral which is considered to be one of the most important cathedrals in the World. It is, as many cities are in Spain, brimming with history and tradition. It is also famous for its cuisine which specializes in roasted meats and blood pudding and they have the perfect wine to go with it.
Toledo sits south of Madrid in Castilla la Mancha and was once the Capital of the country. If the other cities in this overview are filled with history, Toledo has them all beat. Under the reign of Alfonso the 10th, known as “the wise”, the city became a cultural hub for the 3 biggest cultures in Spain at the time: Cristian’s, Jews, and Muslims. The city itself is a museum with evidence of the influence of three cultures everywhere. There is no other place like it in the world and the good news is that it is easy to enjoy Toledo with one of the many day tours to Toledo from Madrid that departure from the capital. You will fall in love with its cobbled streets, the Jewish quarter, the spectacular cathedral of Toledo or the views from the Alcantara bridge.
Road trips itinerary that feature the Central Plateau:
ROAD TRIP IN RIOJA WINE REGION
3-Southern Spain
It is the most stereotypically Spanish region, with great (sunny) weather most of the year (although it can get scorching hot in summer); everywhere you go you will find tapas, flamenco, and the vibrant energy that makes this part of Spain so special.
What we think of as the south of Spain is mainly the autonomous community of Andalucía. It is the largest autonomous community in Spain and it is home to the cities main cities you might already know:
Seville: It is the capital city of Andalucía. The Guadalquivir river is what made Seville such an important city historically. The river leads directly to the Atlantic Ocean and, although -Seville is landlocked, it was the most important port in all of Spain as all the riches of the new world had to pass through Seville.
It is also a city that still has evidence of the Moorish occupation everywhere and the mix of cultures is reflected in the amazing architecture and art spread across the city.
It is considered to be the 2nd best city for tapas behind San Sebastian. Once the sun starts to set, the city springs into life.
Granada: in the 13th century this city was established as the capitol of the Moorish Kingdome of Granada. Most famously it is home to the Alhambra of Granada. The Moorish palatial complex sits overlooking the city and it is absolutely a place you need to visit if you are even remotely close.
The city is also known for its tapas, which are famously free in Granada with each round of drinks you indulge in.
Ronda: It is a somewhat hidden gem of Andalucía, it is definitely not the first place that comes to mind when you think of the south of Spain, but it should be. It is a medieval city perched atop a cliff and split in two by a deep gorge. Joining the two halves is a bridge, the “Puente Nuevo” that dates back to the 17th century.
Also, it is considered to be the birthplace of bullfighting and fittingly, has a spectacular fully operational bullring. It is a town that looks like it’s straight out of Game of Thrones.
Córdoba: Is another city of great historical importance in the south of Spain and there are treasures from each civilization that has called Córdoba home. You will find Roman ruins, medieval castles, and synagogues but none as spectacular as the Mezquita. The ancient Moorish temple and the Alhambra are the two most important monuments left from the Moorish occupation. It is an enchanting place that you just have to see for yourself.
And like all of the other cities mentioned in this article, the food is amazing. The best time to visit
Road trips itinerary that feature the Central Plateau:
ANDALUSIA: SEVILLE TO CORDOBA ROAD TRIP
