Spain Road Trip Ideas

In contrast to the south of Spain and its North African influence, the northern part of the country has more in common with the south of France. It has picturesque medieval villages and luxurious beaches and is a great region to explore if you’re into food and wine. There are some sumptuous restaurants and tapas bars, as well as sprawling vineyards where grapes are picked to make the popular Rioja wine.

Start your northern Spain road trip in Santiago de Compostela, the capital of Galicia. This city has major religious significance, and is the final stop on the Way of St. James pilgrimage, as the apostle St. James is believed to have been buried here. It has a bustling plaza and an impressive medieval cathedral. From here, you can trace the coastline around towards Santander, which has some of the country’s most spectacular beaches. Just another hour’s drive east is Bilbao, which would be a good place for a pit stop before you head off again the next morning. This former industrial port city’s most famous landmark is the Guggenheim Museum – a stunning titanium-clad art gallery designed by famed architect Frank Gehry.

Now you’re deep in the Basque region, you should pay a visit to San Sebastian, a hugely popular beach resort, surrounded by hills. This is a great spot to savour Spain’s culinary delights – tapas, steak, and seafood are all on the menu here. And if you’re travelling in July, you’ll get to experience the jazz festival, which is the oldest in Europe. July is also when one of Spain’s most popular tourist events takes place in Pamplona, which you’ll find under an hour inland, down the A-15 road. The San Fermin festival sees brave souls try to outrun a herd of bulls that is let loose in the town streets.

The Catalonian capital is perhaps Spain’s most famous city, and it has more than enough to keep you occupied for weeks at a time. Nightlife, shopping, and culture are all world-class, and there are beaches aplenty. In between sunbathing and tapas, don’t forget to check out La Sagrada Familia, the extravagant basilica in the centre of town that’s also a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, but construction was disturbed by the Spanish Civil War, and the building remains unfinished.

Once you’ve had your fill of driving in Barcelona, you can explore more of what Catalonia has to offer. One of our top Spain road trip ideas is to drive out to the glorious peaks of Montserrat, some 30 miles northwest of the city. Here you can take a stroll around the beautiful forested region, before heading up the side of the mountain on a cable car, taking in some breathtaking views on your way. Perched at the top is a dazzling Benedictine abbey, Santa Maria de Montserrat. This spiritual pilgrimage spot has some magical candle-lit passageways, as well as a famous Romanesque statue. Said to have been carved in Jerusalem in 50AD, it’s referred to as the Black Madonna.

Another must-see not too far from Barcelona is Girona. An hour’s drive to the north, this small, hilly city has a huge variety of architecture to take in. The Saint Feliu church dates back to the 14th century, and is one of the few in Spain to have a spire. There’s also the cathedral, which is approached by a total of ninety steps. You’ll also be amazed by the wall of the Old Town, which dates back to Roman times. These ancient fortifications have led to Girona becoming a hugely popular location for film and TV shoots – HBO’s Game of Thrones is just one of the big-budget productions that was partially filmed here.

No visit to Spain would be complete without a stop in the country’s capital. Madrid has some of the most impressive architecture in the world, like the Royal Palace and the Art Nouveau marketplace, Mercado Saint Miguel. You should also check out El Prado, the world-famous art museum, with its collection of works by Spanish masters like Goya, Velázquez and El Greco, as well as painters from further afield.

Once you’ve explored all that Madrid has to offer, you could head out along the road towards Valencia. The third-largest city is located around 3 hours drive to the east, on the Mediterranean coast. The birthplace of paella, this historic location combines the old and the new with style, and features plenty of winding cobblestone streets as well as idyllic beaches. If you time it right, you could go to the small town of Buñol for the famous La Tomatina festival, where tourists flock the streets with tomatoes to hurl at each other for hours on end.

A couple of hours outside Valencia is the hugely popular tourist spot Benidorm, which offers great sandy beaches and non-stop partying. You could also head out to the province of Alicante, part of the famous Costa Brava. This is equally popular with tourists of all stripes, and has a number of breathtaking little beaches tucked away if you know where to look. Don’t miss Santa Barbara, its 9th-century hilltop castle.

The Spanish road rules are very similar to those of the UK and elsewhere in Europe, but it’s always worth brushing up on the basics before you go, just in case. Some things to be aware of:
 

• Drive on the right-hand side of the road
• Always give way to cyclists
• Make sure you have a reflective jacket in the car
• Remember there are toll roads in Spain, so have some money ready
• Speed limits – urban areas: 31 mph (50 km/h), motorways: 74mph (120km/h), rural areas: 55 mph (90 km/h)
   

Now you have a feel for what the best road trips in Spain might be, you can start planning your visit in more detail. Take a look at our car hire rental locations in the country, to pick out the best start/endpoint for your driving tour. And if you’re thinking of travelling elsewhere for your road trip, check out our guide to great drives all around the world.