10 Epic Spain Road Trips—Maps, Itineraries and Tips
Do you want to take a road trip around Spain but are unsure where to go? With the help of our guides, thorough itineraries, and exclusive details, pick one of these ten breathtaking routes for your road trip to Spain.
We can assist you in organizing the ideal Spanish road vacation, whether your goals are to cruise along Barcelona’s Las Ramblas, explore Toledo’s winding streets, or relax in the mountains of the Costa del Sol.
Best Spain road trips comparison
Over the past fifteen years, we have made several trips up, down, and across Spain. Here is a comprehensive list of the top road trip itineraries and important details before starting. To view each one in greater depth, keep reading.
| Road Trips | Rating |
| Andalucia road trip 11 days, 518 miles | Relaxed |
| Drive Spain’s Mediterranean coast 14 days, 1,385 miles | A bit of driving |
| Castilla Leon – Visit the heart of Spain 07 days, 375 miles | Easy |
| Northern Spain road trip 10 days, 737 miles | Relaxed |
| Basque country and Pyrenees 07 days, 234 miles | Easy |
| Driving tour of Catalonia 9 days, 520 miles | Relaxed |
| Historic central Spain – Castilla-La Mancha 7 days, 380 miles | Easy |
| Galicia road trip 5 days, 322 miles | Easy |
| Road trip around Mallorca 5 days, 175 miles | 2. Drive Spain’s Mediterranean coast for 14 days, 1,385 miles |
| The full circle – A complete round of road trip around Spain 35 days, 2,800 miles | Challenging |
1. Andalucia road trip
Driving across Andalucia is a great way to see Spain. Andalucia is the destination for you if you enjoy the sun, beaches, and ideal mountain retreats with a view of the ocean.
Andalucia is also a destination for those who are more culturally inclined who enjoy magnificent churches, medieval strongholds, and stunning architecture.
However, Andalucia is the ideal location if you only want to explore old towns and enjoy traditional, substantial Spanish cuisine.
The ideal road journey across Andalucia would circle coastal towns like Nerja, Malaga, Marbella, Gibraltar, and Cadiz before heading inland to explore Ronda, Seville, Cordoba, and Granada.
This drive will take you to the fascinating Mezquita cathedral in Cordoba and the distinctive Moorish Alhambra complex in Granada, as well as over mountains with stunning views.
In addition to relaxing in the well-known Andalucian white villages of Mijas, Benahavis, and Casares, you will socialise with the new generation in Puerto Banus’ harbour, which is crowded with the largest yachts in the world, pricey supercars, and people who have had too much plastic surgery.
Road trip: 11 days
Total miles: 518
2. Drive Spain’s Mediterranean coast
The Mediterranean coast of Spain is ideal for road trips but, if you’re driving, wear sunscreen on your left arm because the heat becomes hot!
Start your road journey with a quick stop in Barcelona, where you can see Gaudi’s distinctive structures, Las Ramblas and La Sagrada Familia. Barcelona is a great place to start a Mediterranean coast journey because it offers more than most other towns.
The next step takes you south to Valencia, a much-underappreciated Spanish city with a fantastic historical center and plenty of culture, food, and sunlight.
Your journey continues to Granada, Costa del Sol, Seville, and Cordoba after you’ve passed over the Sierra Nevada mountains.
By driving from one region of Spain to another, you will experience a condensed version of the Andalucia road trip described above but with a far more comprehensive perspective.
You are usually a few minutes away from a beach when you follow the coast for almost the whole journey, which might offer helpful diversions along the route.
Try this road trip if you want to combine leisure and culture. It’s the ideal combination. While visiting Barcelona, Cordoba’s La Mezquita, Seville’s Cathedral, and Granada’s Alhambra fortress, you will also have time to relax at Puerto Banus, lie on the beach in Nerja, and explore the little lanes of Andalucian white villages.
Road trip: 14 days
Total miles: 1385
3. Castille Leon – visit the heart of Spain
The Castille and Leon road trip can be a fantastic way to see Spain if you’re flying into and out of Madrid. It eliminates the need to spend weeks traveling or driving to the coast.
This looping road tour across the center of Spain begins and ends in the province of Segovia.
You will begin in Segovia, a medieval city that has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site and is known for some of Spain’s finest architecture.
Following a day of exploration, the route passes via Arévalo and goes west towards Salamanca. Salamanca is an old city with two cathedrals; the New one, as it is officially called, was built in 1513.
Arévalo is a little historic town that is well-known for its Mudejar art and architecture, which has earned it a particular protected status in Spain!
Before visiting Valladolid, the presumed capital of the province of Castille and Leon, you can visit the two stunning old cities of Ledesma and Zamora from Salamanca. The city’s medieval past is evident everywhere; in the 17th century, the Spanish Monarchy called Valladolid home!
The tour concludes with a drive through the Ribera del Duero wine region, which is incredibly underrated compared to Rioja and the Portuguese Douro wine farther down the same river valley, following a visit to the city that shares its name with the Castile and Leon region.
The journey concludes with a drive back to Madrid’s airport from Pedraza in the region of Segovia.
The historic Spanish cities of Leon and Burgos in the province’s north can be added to this road trip, but it will take a lot more time and mileage, and there is already a lot to see in southern Castille and Leon; you could easily spend two weeks exploring this region of Spain and see new places every day.
Road trip: 07 days
Total miles: 375
4. Northern Spain road trip
So frequently ignored in favour of Costa Brava, Costa del Sol or Costa Blanca, Spain’s northern coast makes for a great road trip discovering the mix of cultures, fantastic food and rocky shore beauty.
Bilbao, the capital of Spain’s Basque area, is where the road adventure begins. Spending a few days here is worthwhile to visit the city’s historic center, the surrounding mountains, and the magnificent, internationally renowned Guggenheim Museum.
With its Michelin-starred restaurants, ancient streets, contemporary boulevards, and excellent pintxos at street bars, Bilbao has something to offer everyone.
After that, the road journey heads west along the coast to Santander, with stops along the way in Gijon, Santillana del Mar, and the Picos de Europa National Park.
This tour combines exploring the natural world, historic Spanish cities, and beaches—the ideal combination for a road vacation through Spain!
It’s time to head out and drive on to Oviedo and La Coruna after hiking through breathtaking gorges and stuffing yourself with pastries.
You will see everything along the way as you drive the whole length of Spain’s Bay of Biscay coastline, culminating with a day journey inland to Santiago de Compostela.
Depending on your flights, you may need to drive back along the coast to Bilbao, Porto, or Madrid. This is an incredible journey that isn’t often included in travel publications or suggestions!
Road trip: 10 days
Total miles: 737
5. Basque country and Pyrenees
The northwest region of Spain, which borders France and is situated on the Bay of Biscay, is rich in customs, history, and mountains.
With its distinctive indigenous language, cities that comprise two major medieval kingdoms (Basque and Navarre), and a special connection to the Pyrenees, the Basque area is a special region of Spain.
The Basque country, which included portions of France on the opposite side, covered the mountain range during the Middle Ages.
The area now places a strong emphasis on its culture. You will have the opportunity to sample the native pintxos customs while visiting key destinations like Bilbao, San Sebastian, and Pamplona.
Pintxos are tiny, bite-sized nibbles that are served and are priced by the quantity or dish, much like tapas, which are popular throughout the rest of Spain.
You can find complimentary nibbles at local pintxo bars if you leave the tourist areas, provided you continue to purchase drinks!
Despite being a stunning mountain region, hardly many tourists are aware of the Pyrenees.
The Pyrenees are an ancient mountain range with many peaks above 3,000 meters above sea level. Yet, they are frequently disregarded in favor of travel to the Alps or even the Sierra Nevada further south in Spain.
It’s time to leave the hillside after a few days of luxury and head to Pamplona, a historic city that offers much more than just the medieval customs of the July bull running event. In the late morning, you can relax in the charming local coffee shops, charming stone buildings, and narrow streets.
It takes under two hours to return to Bilbao airport and return home!
Road trip: 07 days
Total miles: 240
6. Driving tour of Catalonia
Spain’s Catalonia region is much more than just Barcelona. You might travel the region for weeks and yet miss out on hundreds of fascinating villages, hidden beaches, mountain waterfalls, and eccentric museums.
Travel south along the coast from Barcelona to Tarragona, stopping in Sitges and relaxing at one of the many wonderful beaches.
This journey begins in Tarragona, travels inland to Montblanc, and continues via Solsona to La Seu d’Urgell in the Pyrenees.
With the Garrotxa volcano national park, the village of Santa Pau, a detour into Andorra, and towns like Besalu and Castellfollit de la Roca all worth seeing before you reach Figueres, you have an abundance of options when traveling in the northern part of Catalonia.
Following some cultural touring, continue on to the coastal town of Cadaques, which has some fantastic beaches and the Salvador Dali House Museum.
The remainder of the road trip slopes to Barcelona via the Costa Brava. Roses Resort, the Empuriabrava canals, L’Escala, and Begur, are just a few of the many fantastic spots to stop.
Before you arrive at the destination’s peaceful final episode, including beach stops at Tossa de Mar and Lloret de Mar, you might drive inland to Girona.
There aren’t many places in the world with as much to see in such a small area, both in terms of culture and nature. If you enjoy hiking, the mountains, and exploring new places, a road trip around Catalonia is certainly the greatest option in Spain.
Road trip: 09 days
Total miles: 520
7. Historic central Spain – Castilla-La Mancha
One of Spain’s biggest regions, Castilla-La Mancha, is also one of the least visited by tourists.
Situated near Madrid, it extends nearly as far as Valencia and Murcia in the southeast region of Spain.
Discovering this area offers a variety of natural landmarks and stunning old Spanish cities. If you can find easy flights to Madrid, starting and ending there is simple, just like the trip to Castille Leon.
This road trip through Spain begins in Toledo, the most well-known city in the La Mancha region. Toledo is well-known for its mixture of Jewish, Muslim, and Christian cultures. It served as the capital of the Spanish Moors, the Visigoth Empire, and, ultimately, Spain at various times.
There is much to see in this region of Spain, including the notorious windmills made famous by Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote. After a few days of sightseeing, it’s time to get on the road and travel south to Ciudad Real via Consuegra and Daimiel. The area is mostly composed of a plateau with random bare hills.
The journey continues east to Cuenca and Siguenza, two beautiful towns that differ greatly from many traditional Spanish attractions.
There are several national parks along the route where you can take a beautiful detour or walk if you’re feeling adventurous.
Road trip: 07 days
Total miles: 380
8. Galicia road trip
If you enjoy seafood, lighthouses, and beautiful drives along breathtaking coastlines, this trip is for you.
It can be difficult to get to and from the area, so you may need to change your itinerary depending on where you’re coming from.
The goal of this road trip is to start at As Catedrais beach and travel all the way around the Galician coastline. You’ve undoubtedly seen images of enormous rocks and archways on the sandy beach before, even if you don’t recognize it by name.
You will spend several of these days driving along narrow coastal roads, even though the journey is only five days long. We advise ignoring the navigation since it will lead you down faster highways and inland. You’re unlikely to make a big mistake if you keep the sea to your right.
You will arrive in A Coruña after passing the cliffs of Vixia Herbeira. The lighthouse is the main attraction here, aside from the Hercules Tower. Of course.
Because it is a working port that supplies much of the region and beyond, the seafood here is fantastic. Spend a day exploring the city and its surroundings.
After that, the journey continues to Santiago de Compostela, which is located around the coast. You can take the direct route, but you will lose out on a lot of breathtaking views, cliffs that face the ocean, and amazing spots for lighthouses, including the shore, cliffs, and even their islands.
The route returns to the coast after touring the historic and spiritually significant city, passing Pontevedra on route to the charming town of Vigo.
This may not be as much a Spanish road trip as a cool coastal breeze (and there will be plenty of them!), but it’s certainly something to consider if you want to relax and avoid the tourist traps in Spain.
Road trip: 05 days
Total miles: 322
9. Road trip around Mallorca
Mallorca has a lot to offer beyond its beaches and clubs, but many people don’t think of it as a place to go on a road trip.
Palma is an excellent site to begin and end your journey if you are flying in and out of it.
The capital, Palma, is frequently disregarded by tourists who head directly from the airport to their favorite area on the island. Depending on when your flight is, it’s a wonderful idea to spend your first or last night here because the city has a lot to offer.
Don’t miss the enormous Cathedral, which is impossible to miss, and the area of the city that surrounds the market, which is only open in the morning.
Driving around the island is the best way to view it once you’re on it.
After you’ve gotten past the visitors, you may quickly drive down the coast to Cala Agulla, where the sun is hot and the beaches are deserted.
You must visit the resort town of Cala d’Or to complete the journey before returning to Palma.
The ideal approach to relax on a short vacation can be a quick journey with lots of beautiful scenery, cliffs in the north, and resorts with amazing beaches in the south!
Road trip: 05 days
Total miles: 175
10. The full circle – A complete road trip around Spain
A road trip around Spain can be a fantastic opportunity to experience the culture, see every part of this incredible nation, and truly immerse yourself if you have the time and feel brave.
It’s important to note that although this is one of our top travel destinations, we haven’t made the entire journey because it’s a long drive!
However, if you’re courageous enough, you can begin anywhere along the circling route.
The route cycles down through Valencia to an Andalucian tour before returning north from Cordoba, and Barcelona and Madrid are perhaps the greatest places to enter and exit Spain.
Following a tour of Madrid and stops in Toledo and the surrounding cities in central Spain, the trip continues into Spain’s Duero Valley, Valladolid, and then on to Vigo, Santiago de Compostela, and A Coruna in Galicia, where visitors may enjoy breath-taking views of enormous waves and cliffs that front the ocean.
Before heading into the Pyrenees and the ancient cities of Pamplona and Zaragoza, the journey continues along the north coast, including stops at Santander, Bilbao, and San Sebastian. The journey, which will take at least a month to finish if you want to do something but drive, concludes with a little tour of Catalonia.
Please let us know if you decide to tackle this one! We want to know how you’re doing!
Road trip: 35 days
Total miles: 2800
What is Spain famous for?
One of Europe’s cultural hubs for thousands of years, Spain is renowned for its snacks, beaches, sunshine, ballet dancing, music, and bullfights. Spain, an Iberian country, has a very lively culture that is brimming with heritage and boldness.
Is Spain cheap or expensive?
Practically speaking, Spain offers a high standard of living along with a somewhat low cost of living; according to Numbeo, the cost of living in Spain is 31.68% less than that of the US.
Is Spain a good place to live?
Good quality of life: Spain is ranked in the top ten countries on the Quality of Life index, which is a tribute to its excellent healthcare system, reasonable cost of living, and pleasant atmosphere, all of which contribute to its consistent standing among the top countries for quality of life.
How many days to see all of Spain?
Are you wondering how many days you’ll need to spend exploring Spain if you’re planning a trip there? In 10 days, you may see the finest of Spain and make the most of your trip.
What is the best time to visit Spain?
Spring (April–May) and early autumn (September–October) are said to be the finest times to visit Spain because of the pleasant temperatures, reduced crowds, and wide variety of activities available throughout the nation.
For more information on Spain visit, kindly visit http://tourspain.org
