North Spain Self Drive

Begin this tour by picking up the adapted 6-seater minivan. Accommodation in a 4* Hotel on a Bed and Breakfast basis in Madrid.

During these days in Madrid, you will visit the historic center of the city, strolling through the Plaza Mayor, which was the heart of the city during the Habsburg dynasty. Then down Calle Mayor where you will discover the Mercado de San Miguel, a popular food market where you can sample some Spanish delicacies.

Before reaching the Royal Palace, you will visit the Almudena Cathedral. The cathedral was built as a crypt for the deceased wife of Alfonso XII. At the entrance of the Royal Palace, we will see the Plaza del Oriente, designed by José Bonaparte to highlight the Royal Palace.

Finally, the tour ends with a guided visit to the Royal Palace of Madrid, one of the largest and best preserved palaces in the world.

On your last day in Madrid you will enjoy an accessible wine and tapas experience. Don’t miss out on a delightful tapas adventure at some of the best tapas bars in the city, each packed with locals, amazing food and delicious wine.
 

Discover the Rioja Alavesa, one of the most privileged areas of the DOCa Rioja. Visit some of the best wineries in Spain and do wine tasting. Visit Bodegas Izadi, surrounded by old vineyards, harnesses the exceptional conditions afforded by the land to produce unique, well-balanced, versatile wines.

During this wine tour, you will enjoy a guided visit of the Marques de Riscal Winery designed by one of today’s leading architects, Frank Gehry. Also famed for the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao. There, you will have the pleasure of discovering the private wine collection of the owners of the Marqués de Riscal Winery. Do not miss Villa Lucía Wine Museum, the first wine theme centre in Spanish in the world that is universally inclusive and accessible.

Finally, visit La Guardia, where you will enjoy the local gastronomy at a suggested restaurant without barriers. Enjoy a walk around the beautiful walled, medieval city of La Guardia, possibly one of the most beautiful villages in La Rioja.
 

Discover San Sebastián, known worldwide for its beauty and gastronomy. Stroll along the beautiful promenade of Playa de la Concha and visit the fashionable Gros neighborhood, popular for hosting Zurriola beach, famous for its waves where you will see many surfers. Don’t miss the impressive views of Mount Igueldo, world famous and possibly the most widespread image of San Sebastián.

Enjoy the atmosphere of San Sebastián walking through the Plaza Mayor and the Plaza de la Constitución, until you reach the Port, one of the most important places due to its relevance in the character of the people and its importance in maritime trade.

Before continuing on this journey, enjoy an accessible pintxo and tapas tour in San Sebastian and discover the best pintxo bars with a local expert guide, which visitors are unlikely to discover on their own. In this experience you will learn about Basque traditions and customs and how to navigate the streets of the old town to feel like one more local.
 

Immerse yourself in the city of Bilbao, stroll through its streets and enjoy its delicious cuisine. Once in the city, you will head towards the Ensanche area,  recognized as the center of the city of Bilbao. The geometric pattern of the Eixample offers a great variety of interesting buildings and squares. It includes the Indautxu and Bizkaia square, the City Hall library, the Alhóndiga building renovated by the French industrial designer Philippe Starck and the unique Metro designed by Norman Foster.

Enjoy a guided tour of the city’s jewel, the popular Guggenheim Museum, a striking fish-shaped structure built by Frank Gehry at the turn of the 20th century. Constructed of titanium and gleaming glass, the building put Bilbao back on the tourist map. In other words, today it is at the top of every visitor’s must-see list.

Afterwards, stroll through the Casco Viejo, the most popular area of the city. Here you will see all the important places, such as the Arriaga Theater, the old cargo port and the Church of San Nicolás.

Do not miss the opportunity to enjoy a delicious meal of pintxos and traditional Basque delicacies. You will instantly immerse yourself in the atmosphere and culinary history of Bilbao.
 

Delve into the history of Cantabria knowing Puente Viesgo, known as the place of reference to begin to know the Pas valley. From here you can visit the Palacio de Fuentes Pila, dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, or the Church of San Miguel, with its Neo-Romanesque aesthetic. Also noteworthy are the caves of Las Monedas and Las Chimeneas, in Puente Viesgo, considered “sanctuaries”.

To the south stands the Franciscan Monastery and in Villasevil you can see a good example of the 12th century Romanesque: the Church of Santa Cecilia. In Corvera de Toranzo is located the Manor House of Díez Villegas and in Acereda the Parish Church of the Assumption, from the 17th century. Further on we find the town of Vejoris (Francisco de Quevedo‘s site) with the Renaissance Church of Santo Tomás.

Explore the place and get to know the Villas Pasiegas Ethnographic Museum, where you can visit a traditional cabin and an exhibition that offers a broad perspective of the physical and cultural world of the Pasiegos. The Pasiega cabin is the most relevant of the patrimonial values of the region, a building adapted to the housing and sheepfold needs of cattle.
 

Discover Asturias through La Piloña, located in eastern Asturias. Mountains and forests full of life await you, hidden valleys and sheepfolds, crisscrossed by rivers and streams full of colour, unique ethnographic ensembles and mythical autochthonous species.

In the town of Infiesto you will be able to see the Sanctuary of the Virgen de la Cueva, whose first written testimonies date from the 16th century, although there are legends that go back several centuries. You will also find the Casa del Tiempo, which offers its visitors a journey through the history of watchmaking, with more than 100 watches and 500 watchmaking pieces from different eras and origins. Be sure to visit the apse of Santa María de Villamayor, part of the old abbey dating from 1003 and declared a national monument in 1931.

Enjoy the Sierra del Sueve, home of the mythical Asturcón, where this horse, unique in the world, lives in complete freedom. In August, the Asturcón Festival, declared of National Tourist Interest, is held at the Espineres stud farm, where the branding of foals and exhibitions of various sports and traditional activities take place.
 

Discover the most interesting sights of A Coruña, a city to walk and enjoy, with beaches right in the center and, presided over by the Tower of Hercules, a long promenade that almost completely surrounds it. Also, learn about the important historical attack led by Francis Drake during Queen Elizabeth I’s monarchy.

Visit the Tower of Hercules, the oldest lighthouse in the world. This monument has been a UNESCO World Heritage since 27 June 2009 and is the second-tallest lighthouse in Spain. From this viewpoint, you will have wonderful views of the ocean. Explore the city center of A Coruña, where you will see the beautiful church of San Nicolás, Azcarraga Square, Maria Pita Square, and the historic streets of Coruña Old Town.

Continuing the journey, visit Santiago de Compostela, the third most important city in the world for Christian pilgrimage. Pilgrims from the four corners of Christendom flocked to visit the magnificent Santiago´s Cathedral, built between the 12th and 13th centuries. Beneath the stunning cathedral’s high altar are enshrined the remains of St. James the Apostle, revered by pilgrims that have walked there from all over Europe, since the Middle Ages and continue to do so today.
 

Enjoy spectacular views from the coach of the Cies Islands, declared a National Park. Standing amidst the forest and leisure areas are the remains of the hill-forts that constituted the early settlement. The ruins of the 10th-century O Penso Castle were used for the construction of the 17th-century Fortaleza do Castro. Also, learn some of the Celtic civilization legacies, mysteries, and culture of Galicia.

Continuing through the city, you will admire the elegant facades as you pass by Plaza de España and Plaza de América. Upon arrival at 17th-century Castrelos park, you will have free time to wander through the stunning french style gardens.

Stroll through the atmospheric old town to see and smell the daily fish market. Besides, we will stop at Praza da Pedra. Do not miss the opportunity to visit the world’s most renowned oyster tasting bars and some of the best tapas places in Vigo. Enjoy tasty food along with a chilled glass of the locally produced Albariño white wine.
 

See some of Salamanca’s main historical sights by strolling through the streets of the historic center. Find out where Columbus planned his voyage to the New World and explore the oldest university in Spain, the University of Salamanca. Discover the rich history of this university that was founded in 1218 by King Alfonso IX.

Visit the Plaza Mayor and observe the details of its medallions, marvel at the Baroque architecture of the Colegio de la Clerecía and admire the more than 300 shells that decorate the façade of the Casa de las Conchas library. Walk through its streets and see beautiful buildings such as the ornate arches of the façade of the Pact of San Esteban.

Don’t miss the traditional and creative cuisine with local products, such as Guijuelo ham, veal or morucha meat, Armuña lentils… with cheeses, oils and wines from Salamanca.