Best of Northern Spain Tour: Galicia, Asturias, and Basque Country

What to expect on this itinerary
World-renowned cuisine and striking geography paint Northern Spain’s beautiful backdrop. Taste artisanal pintxos and sangria while gazing over inspiring hills in a Mediterranean climate. Experience what beckons filmmakers, writers, and food critics to come and glimpse at the jubilee and pride that stirs in the natives. The diversified palette will bring you to think that you are traveling through multiple countries all the while remaining in the same locale. The best of Northern Spain is felt through the master chefs and century-old customs that remain in the traditionally-minded people as authenticity spares no expense.
Customizable Itinerary
Santiago de Compostela - Exploring Galician Territory and the Mecca of Spain
Your flight will arrive at Santiago de Compostela Airport, where your private transfer will greet you at customs.
At Santiago de Compostela, hundreds of pilgrims will also be accompanying your arrival from their hike through Northern Spain. These backpackers have just walked through the Camino de Santiago, which is a route that was first trekked by pilgrims during the middle ages to pay homage to St. James, who was one of Jesus’ twelve apostles. Visitors from all over Europe continue to walk this path for spiritual growth. You can gaze at the faces of the newly arrived as they will have a look of contentment and awe after finally reaching their destination. You will now be able to see the gorgeous landscapes and areas from where they just ventured. After settling into your accommodation, you will enjoy the Galician greenery around the town and see modern art at the Galicia Contemporary Art Center.
The Galician region has a deep history with strong connections to Celtic roots that you may see in the decorations of businesses and hear the Gaita, which is the Galician bagpipe that is played on the streets. The region here also has its own language, Gallego, that is somewhat similar to Spanish and Portuguese.
What's Included:
Santiago de Compostela - Visit the Cathedral Holding the Remains of Jesus’ Apostle
Oviedo - Unveil the Beauty and Style of the Asturian Capital of Oviedo
Oviedo - Gaze at the Beautiful Scenery of the “Pinnacles of Europe”
Bilbao - Visit the Guggenheim Museum of Bilbao
La Rioja - Discover the 600-Year-Old Wine Region of La Rioja
Pamplona - Walk the Streets Where Others Run During Running of The Bulls
San Sebastian - Discover the Jewel of the Basque Country, San Sebastian
San Sebastian - See San Sebastian Sights and Landmarks
San Sebastian - Departure for Home
Trip Highlights
- Go on a private tour of the Spanish wine country of La Rioja
- See Oviedo’s Castillo de Priorio and visit the charming shrines that dot the city’s landscape as well as scenery that was used for Vicky Christina Barcelona
- Visit one of Europe’s most beautiful national parks of Los Picos de Europa, a mountain range that signaled to sailors their arrival from the Americas
- Visit the Guggenheim Museum of Bilbao, known as being one of the most striking architectural feats in the contemporary age.
- Try the time-tested cuisine of Galicia, Asturias, and the Basque Country
- Dine in a three-star Michelin restaurant in San Sebastian, which is the culinary capital of Spain
- Visit and attend mass at the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, which is rumored to hold the remains of one of Jesus’ apostles
- Walk along the famous streets of Pamplona, which was immortalized by Ernest Hemingway’s novel, The Sun Also Rises, in addition to the running of the bulls
Detailed Description
Northern Spain’s distinct regional pride speaks for itself with cuisine and traditions that are unique to each region and distinct from the rest of the country. This 9-day tour will show you the beauty of Northern Spain and its many offerings. This luscious region is characterized by scenic mountains and shimmering grasslands. On day one you will arrive in Santiago de Compostela, beginning your journey where pilgrims are ending it. This city marks the final destination for the people that walk the Camino de Santiago from northeastern Spain to the west.
On day two, you will visit the Cathedral of Santiago, which was named after the apostle of Jesus, and see the sights of the city. On day three, you will then travel to Oviedo, which is the capital of the Asturian region, where you will enjoy a tour of the shrines, saving the night for an exquisite dinner that is complemented by the region’s famous apple cider. The next day, you will then be taken on a tour of Los Picos de Europa, which is a Spanish national park that is complete with a stunning mountain range.
On the fifth day, you will enter the Basque Country, which is known as the most independent region of Spain and one of its most prideful. You will arrive in Bilbao and visit the Guggenheim Museum. On the next day, travel to Haro, the wine country capital of Spain’s La Rioja region, and tour the many wineries located here, ranging from contemporary to rustic settings. On the seventh day, you will make your way to Pamplona, which is a festive city that is known for the running of the bulls as well as the setting of Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises.
Conclude the rest of your trip in San Sebastian, or as the Basques call it, Donostia. This beautiful city has the second highest concentration of Michelin starred restaurants in the world, marking it as a perfect end to your gastronomic trip of Northern Spain. Gaze at one of the most stunning beaches in Europe and up at the statue of Jesus that looks over the city from a hill. This spectacular setting will be an ideal ending to your once-in-a-lifetime culinary experience. Make sure your vacation is an unforgettable one by seeing additional Spain travel ideas.
Starting Price
$3,200 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Verified Traveler Reviews
Based on 3011 reviews
Zicasso's travel expert and his team were fantastic. They planned out all the details of our trip and the activities were set up through reputable and trustworthy third parties by him. I’d definitely use his team again.
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Our trip to Spain was wonderful and everything went as planned. The three hotels we stayed in (Madrid, La Rioja, Barcelona) met or exceeded expectations. Our guides were very knowledgeable and personable.
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We had an excellent trip! We loved the tours and how the Zicasso travel company was accessible during the duration of the trip. We encountered one issue, but the team responded and worked with us to resolve it.
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Excellent planning by Zicasso's travel company and first-class accommodations with professional staff made this 16-day trip to Spain a true pleasure.
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Zicasso's travel company did a wonderful job planning our trip. They were helpful and patient with me while planning our Spain trip. They truly listened to what we wanted in a trip and respected our budget.
All the tours we took were wonderful, with personable guides, and our drivers for transportation were also great. Everyone was on time, always. We had a flight delay leaving the US, resulting in missing an entire day in Barcelona. The agency could not have been better about getting transportation and tours moved, and making adjustments for us. We were still able to take all of our tours despite missing a day.
Also, while in Spain, our flight from San Sebastián to Madrid was canceled. The agency let us know right away and quickly made other arrangements. I could not have been happier with how they dealt with travel issues, especially when the issues we had were due to flights and not something they had booked for us. I was truly able to relax and have fun knowing that the agents at the travel company would handle any issues we faced.
I absolutely would recommend this company and happily use them again if I ever travel to areas they cover.
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We had an amazing experience with Zicasso's travel agency. Our trip coordinator helped us plan every last detail of our trip and it was perfect! She was incredibly responsive and even checked in while we were on the trip to make sure things ran smoothly. I can't recommend her enough!
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