Pick up your campervan at Bilbao's depot and in 30 minutes you'll be in Bermeo, one of the main fishing villages on the Basque coast. A few minutes north of Bermeo is Gaztelugatxe, an islet connected to the mainland by an impressive man-made bridge.
On top of the islet stands a 10th-century hermitage dedicated to John the Baptist, which might look familiar to you. That's because, thanks to its dramatic landscape, the site was used to film several episodes of Game of Thrones.
To the south of Bermeo you'll find the Urdaibai estuary, a Biosphere Reserve of stunning beauty worth exploring. Further south you'll reach Gernika (or Guernica in the Castilian tongue).
This old Basque town was immortalised by Picasso in his famous painting condemning the brutal aerial bombings by Nazi German aircraft during the Spanish Civil War, which killed 1,654 people. Pay your respects before continuing your road trip through northern Spain.
Drive your campervan towards the AP-8 motorway and then head east to San Sebastián, one of the most beautiful 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 located 20 km (about 12 miles) from the French border and its architecture reflects this, to the point that some call the city centre a small Paris.
Apart from wandering around this little gem, the other big draw is tasting 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 tart white wine that goes perfectly with pintxos.
Outside San Sebastián, several small coastal villages are worth exploring. Getaria, Zarautz and Hondarribia are all beautiful. If your northern Spain road trip itinerary allows it, try a grilled sea bream in Getaria — it’s delicious!
You’ve been eating like a king for a few days and feel like taking a break and getting some exercise outdoors. A perfect addition to your northern Spain road trip, Sierra de Urbasa lies halfway between San Sebastián and Logroño and is a great spot for all kinds of outdoor activities. It’s a natural park, small and unspoilt, with a gorgeous beech forest.
There are several hiking routes from 7 to 18 km (4 to 11 miles), as well as three MTB routes of 18 to 30 km (11 to 19 miles). Idiazabal cheese made from sheep’s milk and wild mushrooms are local specialties worth checking out.
La Rioja is all about wine. There are hundreds of wineries where you can taste and buy wine. Some have restaurants and even accommodation, so you can drink as much as you like without worrying about driving afterwards.
Logroño, the capital, is a lively city where you can go bar-hopping while tucking into delicious tapas and sipping local wine. One day is plenty to visit the cathedral and wander around the old town.
On the way back to Bilbao, it’s worth stopping at Haro, the main wine-production centre of La Rioja. Many wineries are nearby. The town itself is a great place to grab some lunch before hopping back into your campervan for the final leg of your northern Spain road-trip itinerary.
