Get your campervan at Bilbao's depot and within 30 minutes you’ll be in Bermeo, one of the main fishing villages on the Basque coast. A few minutes north of Bermeo lies Gaztelugatxe, an islet connected to the mainland by an impressive man-made bridge.
On top of the island stands a 10th-century hermitage dedicated to St John the Baptist, which might look familiar to you. That's because, thanks to its dramatic landscape, the site was used as a filming location for some episodes of Game of Thrones.
To the south of Bermeo you'll find the Urdaibai estuary, a Biosphere Reserve of wonderful beauty worth exploring. Further south you'll reach Gernika (or Guernica in Castilian).
This old Basque town was immortalised by Picasso in his famous painting condemning the brutal aerial bombings by aircraft of Nazi Germany during the Spanish Civil War, which killed 1,654 people. Pay your respects before resuming your road trip around northern Spain.
Drive your campervan along the AP-8 motorway and then head east towards San Sebastián, one of the most stunning cities in Spain. Its bay, Bahía de la Concha, is a shell-shaped area of extraordinary beauty thanks to its two beaches and an island in the middle of the bay.
San Sebastián is about 20 km from the French border, and its architecture reflects that — some even call its city centre a little Paris.
Besides wandering round this little gem, the other big draw is sampling some of the best food in the world. From three-star Michelin restaurants to unassuming pintxos bars, San Sebastián (Donostia in Basque) is a paradise for food lovers.
Head to Parte Vieja, the old quarter, where you'll find bar after bar of inviting pintxos laid out on the counters. Txakoli is a local, slightly acidic white wine that goes perfectly with pintxos.
Outside San Sebastián, there are several small villages along the coast worth exploring. Getaria, Zarauz, and Hondarribia are all beautiful. If your northern Spain road-trip itinerary allows it, try the grilled sea bream in Getaria. It’s delicious!
You’ve been eating like a king for a few days and fancy a break and some outdoor exercise in the fresh air. The perfect addition to your northern Spain road trip, Sierra de Urbasa sits halfway between San Sebastián and Logroño and is a brilliant spot for all sorts of outdoor activities. It’s a natural park, small and unspoilt, with a gorgeous beech forest.
There are several hiking routes, 7 to 18 km (about 4 to 11 miles) long, as well as three routes suited to mountain biking (18 to 30 km / 11 to 19 miles). Idiazabal, a cheese made from sheep’s milk, and wild mushrooms are some of the local specialities worth trying.
La Rioja is all about wine. There are hundreds of wineries where you can taste and buy wine. Some even have restaurants and accommodation, so you can drink as much as you like without worrying about driving afterwards.
Logroño, the capital, is a lively city for endless bar-hopping as you try delicious tapas and drink local wine. A day is more than enough to visit its cathedral and stroll around the old quarter.
On your way back to Bilbao, it’s worth stopping at Haro, the main wine production centre of the whole of La Rioja. Many wineries are nearby. The town itself is a great place to grab some lunch before jumping back into your campervan for the last leg of your northern Spain road trip.
