North-West Spain Road Trip | Campervan Hire

Stop 1: San Vicente de la Barquera

Highlights:

Forestal Park Bilbao: Climb rocks and walk rope bridges before you drive off.
Santillana del Mar: Village of cobbled streets and medieval marvels.
Comillas: An old aristocratic villa with stunning architecture.

Where to Eat:

Las Redes ($$$): Great seafood — a local institution.

Where to Park for the Night:

Estación de Autobuses: Waterfront car park where motorhomes gather.
Parking las Hazas ($): Motorhome parking in Cobreces with facilities.

San Vicente de la Barquera, a typical fishing village

San Vicente de la Barquera is one of Cantabria’s most beautiful villages. It’s a historic fishing village set beside the green slopes of Oyambre National Park.

The village’s old quarter has been declared a historical site. San Vicente’s estuary with its sandy beaches makes an ideal first stop on this north-west Spain road trip.

Pick up your campervan in Bilbao and drive west to San Vicente on the excellent toll-free A-8 motorway. Spend half a day visiting Santillana del Mar, one of Spain’s oldest and best-preserved villages.

Santillana is just 40 km (~25 miles) from San Vicente, and besides its charming stone houses, it’s best known for the Altamira Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Halfway between the two villages, Comillas is worth a short visit too. It’s a charming aristocratic villa set on rolling hills that shelter a secluded harbour and a beautiful beach.

Famous architect Antoni Gaudí built a modernist palace in Comillas, known as El Capricho (The Caprice). Kids will love its fairytale architecture.

Stop 2: Ribadesella

Highlights:

Cangas de Onis: Gateway to the mountains, don’t miss its Roman bridge.
Covadonga Lakes: Two glacial lakes surrounded by stunning scenery.

Where to eat:

Sidrería el Tarteru ($$$): Typical local cider spot.

Where to park for the night:

Calle Marqueses de Argüelles: Public car park next to the river.
Ribadesella Motorhome parking: Campervan area, 5 spaces available.

Enjoy the coast and the mountains of Ribadesella

The province of Asturias is famous for its stunning landscapes. Ribadesella is a small coastal town ideal for exploring not just the coast but also the nearby mountains.

Picos de Europa National Park is less than an hour away and offers several walking routes suited to all fitness levels that start at the Covadonga Lakes.

Ribadesella is a great spot for enjoying the beach, wandering its old streets or kayaking on the Sella River.

From San Vicente de la Barquera, rejoin the A-8 motorway and continue your north-west Spain road trip until you reach the Ribadesella exit. The fishing village is split in two by the Sella River delta, forming the spectacular Santa Marina beach.

Ribadesella's flamboyant old architecture is a reminder of when it was a thriving town thanks to the Indianos, returning emigrants who had made their fortunes in the Americas.

Stop 3: Castropol

Highlights:

Ribadeo: Old Galician town just across the bridge.
Playa de la Catedrales: Magnificent cliffs and picturesque sea caves.

Where to eat:

Meson La Santina (€): Great views over the estuary.

Where to park for the night:

Town centre: Public parking across town.
Tapia de Casariego (€): 10 km (about 6 miles) away on the northern coast.

Amazing hilltop views over Castropol

Castropol is an enchanting fishing village that overlooks the Eo estuary from the top of a hill, with splendid views of the river mouth. The Eo estuary is a protected nature reserve because it's one of the most important wetlands in northern Spain.

Located on the Northern Route of the Way of St James, Castropol is the last village in Asturias before this north-west Spain road trip enters Galicia.

Just a few minutes north of Castropol, Playa de Peñarronda is a gorgeous, wild beach shaped like an elongated shell, with a round rock in the centre that gives the beach its name.

Across the bridge over the Eo river sits Ribadeo, Galicia's very first town. From there, head west for about 15 minutes in your campervan to reach one of Spain's most famous beaches, Playa de la Catedrales (Beach of the Cathedrals). It's beautiful at any time, but visit during low tide to fully appreciate its natural arches and caves.

Stop 4: Santiago de Compostela

Highlights:

The cathedral: Impressive architecture housing the tomb of St James.
Museum of the Galician People: Colourful puppets, bagpipes and wooden clogs.

Where to eat:

Abastos 2.0 ($$): Right by the food market.
Casa Felisa ($$): Lovely garden.
Bico de Xeado ($$): Best artisan ice cream in town.

Where to park for the night:

Parking Cathedral ($$): Large car park near the cathedral.

Wander through the sacred streets of Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the Galicia region. The city’s origin lies in the shrine of St James the Great, now the Cathedral of Santiago, and the final destination of the Way of St James, a pilgrimage route since the 9th century.

Santiago’s Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and welcomes thousands of pilgrims and tourists to its well-preserved stone streets every year. It’s a must on any north-west Spain road trip for culture lovers, history buffs and travellers alike.

The cathedral is Santiago’s main attraction. Recently refurbished, it’s a stunning piece of architecture, particularly its towers and the Portico de la Gloria, the cathedral’s main entrance.

There’s much more to see in Santiago, so give your legs a break (and the kids a great time!) by hopping on the tiny tourist train that runs through the hilly town. Santiago is a university town, so it’s very lively and has plenty of restaurants and bars to choose from.

Stop 5: Illa de Arousa

Highlights:

Cambados: Admire the Pazo de Fefiñanes, a typical historic Galician palace.
O'Grove & Illa da Toxa: Take the kids to O'Grove Aquarium.

Where to Eat:

O'Triskel (€€): All about seafood.

Where to Park for the Night:

Parking AC: Parking just after crossing the bridge.
Camping Salinas (€€): Next to Carreiron National Park.

Soak up the Galician coastline on Illa de Arousa

Your final destination on this north-west Spain road trip, the Galician coast, is truly unique. Its long, deep estuaries, locally called rias, are not only stunning but also home to some of the finest seafood in the world. Galicia’s long coast is divided between the Rias Altas and the Rias Baixas.

Ria de Arousa is one of the main rias in the lower section, and Illa de Arousa, the island at the centre of the estuary, is the perfect place to park your campervan and enjoy this privileged spot.

On the southern tip of the island is Carreiron Natural Park, great for a short family stroll. There are some secluded beaches with pristine waters within the park. On the mainland, Cambados is an old town worth a visit.

From there, head south towards another island: Illa da Toxa, one of Galicia's most famous tourist areas. Visit the nearby Lanzada beach and the O Grove peninsula for a complete family day out.

Bonus: spend a day in Porto, Portugal, before returning your campervan at the Porto depot!