País Vasco
Hondarribia ↔ Salto del Nervión
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This six-hour route starts (or ends) at the border separating north-east Spain and south-west France in Hondarribia and hugs the Basque coast, checking into the unique city of San Sebastián and charming seaside villages such as Zarautz, Zumaia, and Lekeitio.
There’s then a stop to climb the steps of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe before heading down to the de facto region capital, Bilbao.
A final stretch takes you to two plunging waterfalls, first the Cascada de San Miguel de Angulo and finishing with the Salto del Nervión, the highest waterfall on the Iberian Peninsula.
Asturias
Bulnes ↔ Tapia de Casariego
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You’ll have to figure out whether your starting point is coastal or in the mountains with this one. It includes the small village of Bulnes, which sits at the gateway to the Picos de Europa and is one of the only pueblos in Spain which can’t be accessed by road. Instead, you have to take a funicular up through the mountain and arrive at a dreamlike village situated by a stream.
Being here also means you’re too close to not walk the spectacular Ruta del Cares, one of the best hikes in Spain, which I dive into in detail in my dedicated guide to Spain’s best hiking experiences.
Once you’ve done this essential hike (or if you’ve done it in the past), you can begin in the town of Covadonga or up at the magical inland beach named Playa de Gulpiyuri. Enjoy the coast at Ribadesella and then the lively city of Gijón. Continuing west, it takes you to the picturesque fishing port of Cudillero, via stops at the Mirador del Sablón and El Peine del Mar for sweeping ocean views, before ending in the laid-back surf town near the Galician border, Tapia de Casariego.
Other places to stop at briefly include: Lastres, Tazones, Candás, Luarca, and Iglesia de Santa María del Naranco if you want to head down towards Oviedo.
Cantabria
Santander ↔ Fuente Dé
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This road trip through Cantabria begins in Santander, the region’s coastal capital, before slipping inland to Santillana del Mar, one of Spain’s best-preserved medieval towns. Just outside this town, a visit to the Altamira Cave (one of the 12 Treasures of Spain) offers a rare glimpse into prehistoric art.
Continuing west, the journey reaches Comillas and pays a visit to El Capricho de Gaudí, before following the coastline to San Vicente de la Barquera, a dramatic fishing town. From here, the road turns inland, winding towards the jagged outline of the Picos de Europa in the distance. The Hotel Balneario de La Hermida is a thermal spa and hotel, a great place to take a break or spend the night. You can also take a lovely walk along the river banks in La Hermida.
The landscape becomes increasingly mountainous as the route climbs toward the beautiful town of Potes, and then Mogrovejo, a quiet stone village situated beneath towering alpine peaks. The final highlight is Fuente Dé, where a cable car lifts you high into the spectacular scenery of the Picos de Europa. You can finish up here, drive on elsewhere, or conclude a short drive back at the Hotel del Oso for lunch or dinner.
La Rioja & Navarra
Elizondo ↔ Bardenas Reales
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This seven-hour road trip begins (or ends if you want to do it in reverse) in Navarra, in the green valleys of Elizondo and the viewpoint of Zamarain, before heading to the region’s capital, Pamplona.
It then takes you down into La Rioja’s wine country, visiting the medieval Laguardia and the Bodegas Ysios, with architecture as impressive as its wine. Heading on you’ll visit Elciego, San Vicente de la Sonsierra, and Haro before exploring extraordinary castles and monasteries around Clavijo
It finally finishes with a cinematic finale in the surreal desert landscapes of Bardenas Reales.
Aragón
Mallos de Riglos ↔ Barbastro
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This 3-hour route takes you through the centre of Aragón, beginning (or ending) west at the towering Mallos de Riglos before stopping at Loarre Castle, one of Spain’s best-preserved Romanesque fortresses. It then heads south via Huesca before stopping to cool off beneath the Salto de Bierge, a beloved natural pool framed by cliffs and a great picnic area. (Take the mountainous drive, stopping at the Mirador de la Peña Falconera, not seen above.)
Continue to Adahusca, paying a visit to Bodegas Alodia and then on to the medieval hilltop town of Alquézar to enjoy canyon views over the Vero River. Here you can walk the Pasarelas de Alquézar, and spend the night if need be as it’s a great place for dinner.
You’ll then drive down to the Salto de Pozán de Vero for another scenic dip before checking out some more bodegas in the Somontano wine country, such as Bodegas Osca, Bodegas Lalanne, Viñas del Vero, and Bodega Pyrenees. Further on, there is the futuristic Bodega Sommos near Barbastro.
If you’re prepared to drive more, heading further east, there are two incredible things to do on the border of Aragón and Catalunya. Check out the Muralla de Finestres and hike the Congost de Mont Rebei trail.
Catalunya
Barcelona ↔ Castellfollit de la Roca
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This road trip through Catalunya begins in Barcelona, the region’s renowned capital. Leaving the city behind, the route takes a short inland detour to the Monastery of Montserrat, dramatically perched among jagged, saw-toothed rock formations. Home to Black Madonna, Montserrat is both a spiritual centre and a place of striking natural beauty with walking trails that make it an unforgettable introduction to the Catalan landscape.
The route then returns toward the coast and heads north along the Costa Brava, passing hidden coves, fishing villages, and dramatic cliffs. The next stop is Sant Feliu de Guíxols, a lively seaside town where one of the Costa Brava’s most exciting via ferratas can be enjoyed if it takes your fancy. Continuing north, the road weaves through some of the region’s most charming coastal villages. Calella de Palafrugell and Begur are ideal places to slow down, swim in turquoise bays, or enjoy a long lunch overlooking the sea, with fishing boats bobbing just offshore.
Turning inland, it then heads to the beautifully preserved city of Girona before heading via Figueres, the birthplace of Salvador Dalí, where the surrealist legacy of the artist is impossible to miss, and on to the north-eastern tip of Spain, arriving in the whitewashed town of Cadaqués, long a refuge for artists and writers, and home to the Casa-Museo of Salvador Dalí. It reaches the most eastern point of the Iberian Peninsula at the wind-sculpted landscapes of Cap de Creus before turning inland once more.
The scenery shifts as the route heads toward the foothills of the Pyrenees with a stop in Besalú, one of Catalunya’s most atmospheric medieval towns, and finishing at Castellfollit de la Roca, a dramatic village perched atop a sheer basalt cliff, where stone houses seem to cling impossibly to the edge.
Cuenca area
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This six-hour loop begins and ends in Cuenca, exploring some of the best natural spectacles the area has to offer. Having seen the hanging houses of Cuenca, it heads straight up to Bodegas Enrique Moreno to taste local wines, then gears up for adrenaline on the Vía Ferrata del Estrecho de Priego.
After this, there’s a chance to cool off with a swim at La Playeta, a natural river pool, and dive deeper into nature at the Parque Natural del Alto Tajo, with canyons and turquoise waters. Cross the Puente Colgante del Tajo for a dose of vertigo, then spot Iberian wildlife at Parque de Fauna El Hosquillo.
It then continues to the Nacimiento del Río Cuervo, where crystal-clear cascades tumble through mossy rocks before finishing the trip off exploring the surreal rock formations of La Ciudad Encantada.
Tenerife
Charco de la Laja ↔ La Laguna
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This 3-hour day road trip takes you around North Tenerife, beginning or ending with a dip at Charco de la Laja, a striking volcanic rock pool perfect to start the day.
Then head to Playa El Bollullo, a hidden black-sand beach, before cooling off at the Piscina Natural de Bajamar. Having lounged and swam from there, venture into the Parque Rural de Anaga, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of laurel forests, misty peaks, and hiking trails.
After heading on to Playa de Benijo, a dramatic surf beach framed by rugged rocks, unwind at the more relaxed Playa de las Teresitas. The trip ends in the colonial UNESCO-listed town of La Laguna.
Lanzarote
Playa de Papagayo ↔ Mirador del Río
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Despite driving across the entire island of Lanzarote, this route is under 3 hours but shouldn’t be attempted in one day as there is simply too much to do. I have mapped out the ideal route regardless, it can go from south to north or vice versa.
Starting (or ending) at the island’s beautiful Playa de Papagayo beach, it heads up to Los Hervideros and then El Golfo, where you can snack and do the short walk to Charco Verde. The Salinas de Janubio is an optional addition in this area, as is Parque Nacional de Timanfaya, which can be experienced in a dedicated morning, afternoon, or day.
It then heads north past several wineries, including Bodega La Geria and Bodega Stratvs, passing Volcán El Cuervo, and then more wineries such as Bodegas Barreto S.L. and Bodegas El Grifo, along with Cervecera Malpeis Masdache. It can be worth spending time in this area when you can try the wines without the worry of driving (unless you have a heroic designated driver with you).
Next comes culture and sightseeing in the shape of the unmissable Museo Lagomar situated close to the town of Teguise (a great place for lunch) and Casa Museo de César Manrique.
You can squeeze in a trip up to the surfy town of Caleta de Famara here if you please. You’ll then have to come back down to Teguise (or head straight on), going northward to the Jardín de Cactus, Jameos del Agua, and Cueva de los Verdes.
Reaching the northern tip of the island, there’s a beautiful beach called Caletón Blanco, and you can then wrap up at the Mirador del Río viewpoint for views over La Graciosa island. (This island is worth visiting via a nearby ferry.) Further information about this can be found in my Tenerife guide.
Andalucía
Andalucía extensive
Córdoba ↔ Granada
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Starting in Córdoba, this 10-hour trip around Andalucía takes you straight on to Sevilla and then down south to coastal Cádiz before swinging inland to Ronda, perched dramatically above a deep gorge and then Setenil de las Bodegas, a small town built into overhanging rock.
From there, take yourself out of your comfort zone a little by walking the Caminito del Rey and then continue on to see the surreal rock formations at Parque Natural Torcal de Antequera. Then head down to Málaga for some city life and up into the mountains to the whitewashed town of Frigiliana, considered one of Spain’s prettiest white villages.
Finish up by stopping in Granada, home to the Alhambra, and then on to the charming cliffside village of Zuheros, or loop back to Córdoba.
Other worthy spots to visit in Andalucía are:
- Parque Natural de la Sierra de Andújar near Jaen, where you can enjoy one of Spain’s best wildlife experiences, spotting the Iberian lynx.
- Doñana National Park in Western Andalucía, one of Europe’s most important wetlands and a paradise for birdwatchers.
- Cascada de la Osera in the Segura y Las Villas Natural Park, one of the tallest waterfalls in Spain, plunging nearly 130 metres, surrounded by pine forests.
- The town of Mijas, to the west of Málaga, is a classic whitewashed cobbled street village tucked into the mountains with traditional Andalusian charm and spectacular sea views.
Andalucía simple
Córdoba ↔ Granada
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If you wanted to prioritise seeing the key cities in Andalucía, you could also skip some of these stops above. I would say the essentials are Sevilla, Granada and Córdoba.
Cadiz and Málaga are certainly still worth a visit, but not quite as impressive as the other three, so you could cut time further by not heading down to Cadiz and instead going straight east towards Granada. In that event, you would pass Ronda, which is smaller but a more unique place to visit, in my opinion. You would also be close enough to Setenil de Las Bodegas, too, which can be visited in an afternoon.