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Road Trips in Spain: 18 Exciting Spanish Road Trips You Need to Take

If it’s not your first time here, you probably already know I have a minor Spain obsession. My Spain bucket list keeps growing and growing, and I’m not just looking for new city break destinations. I’m also in search of the best Spanish road trips and trust me when I say the list goes on and on.

I think my biggest dream would be to take a never-ending road trip in Spain so I could explore every inch of this incredible country.

Until that happens, I’ll have to take it one road trip at a time, so I’ve gathered some exciting routes with the help of a few fellow bloggers.

Prepare yourself for some serious travel inspiration and don’t make any decision about your driving holiday in Spain until you get to the end of this post.

* This post may contain affiliate links from which I earn a commission (for more info, read my disclosure ). As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

* I try to keep the information on this blog as updated as possible, but I still recommend consulting the latest prices, opening hours, and other details on the official website of each site, hotel, and tour, as well as checking the updated public transport routes and timetables.

Table of Contents

Best Spanish Road Trips in the Mainland

Costa brava.

By Naomi from Probe Around the Globe

Route:  Circular road trip from Barcelona.

Escape Barcelona and go for a slower-paced life with one of the most scenic drives in Spain! A road trip around Spain’s Costa Brava region is perfect for discovering sandy beaches, a rugged coastline, great food, culture, and history!

A must-do on your Costa Brava road trip is going to Girona! The city became famous due to the Game of Thrones, but the medieval old town has a lot more to offer.

Stroll around, take in the cathedral and bridges and get a warm ice cream sandwich at one of the best ice cream places in Spain!

On your second day, you can drive out to the peninsula. On twisting roads, you’ll finally reach Cadaques, a dreamy fisherman’s village with lovely white houses, tiny eateries, and the water surrounding you.

Here you can visit Salvador Dali’s private home or go to the tip of the land at Cap de Creus. The views from here are stellar, and you’re at the most eastern tip of Spain.

Either spend the night at one of the seaside villages or head to Figueres. People flock here to visit the extraordinary Salvador Dali museum to understand how Dali changed the way we look at art today.

After two days, head back to Barcelona. On the way, you can visit the archaeological site with Greek and Roman ruins at Empuries or go up to Begur for sweeping views of the Costa Brava.

Finally, you follow the main road to come back to Barcelona. To read all the details about the Costa Brava road trip,  go to Probe around the Globe .

The Region of la Rioja

By Pie y Pata

Route: From Logroño to Najera.

Known as one of the top wine regions in the world yet overlooked as a road trip destination, La Rioja is definitely worth exploring by car, driving through its scenic vineyards and enchanting small towns.

Start your La Rioja road trip in Logroño, the region’s capital. This beautiful historical city is not only an important stop on the Camino de Santiago but also a foodie’s heaven.

Be sure to head to Laurel street, which is filled with dozens of bars that offer delicious local dishes like  migas  and  champis.

Next, visit the Marqués de Riscal Wineries. Taking a tour here and tasting their wines are a must, but what makes this place so iconic is the unique architecture, which is the masterpiece of Frank Gehry, who also designed the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.

End your route in Elciego and Najera, two of the most charming towns in La Rioja. You can also visit other places in the region like Santo Domingo de la Calzada, Haro, Ezcaray and San Millán de la Cogolla, but if you do, add a day or two to your road trip.

By Anna from At Lifestyle Crossroads

Route: Circular from Almeria.

There are so many things to do in Almeria – the sunny Spanish Province full of rural sceneries, beautiful beaches, and dusty Western-like landscapes.

No wonder its wide and dry expanses have a long history with filmmakers, from Hollywood´s most iconic films like The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly or Indiana Jones, to the recent Game of Thrones shooting. It sounds like a perfect setting for a road trip, right?!

Your journey should start in the city of Almeria. Allow yourself at least a day to wander around the main sites: The Alcazaba, The Cathedral of Almeria, The English Cable, and Port Area and museums.

Afterward, venture out to the Cabo De Gata National Park in search of out-of-this-world landscapes. Your main stops here should be Monsul Beach, Vela Blanca Tower, Cabo de Gata Lighthouse, San Felipe Castle, and Viewpoint of La Amatista.

The next two possible stops here could be the ancient mines of Rodalquilar and Cortijo del Fraile. However, keep in mind that the road towards both is unpaved.

Thereafter, head to the small fishing villages of Las Negras and Agua Amarga and finish your drive through the Cabo de Gata National Park by visiting the famous Playa de Los Muertos Beach.

Now you can head to one of the prettiest white towns in Spain – Mojacar. Next, visit the famous Wild West Parks of Las Tabernas Desert on your way back to Almeria.

This Circular Almeria Route can be done in 4 days: 1 day for Almeria, 2 days for The Cabo de Gada National Park, a couple of hours in Mojacar, and 1 day for the Las Tabernas Theme parks. However, if you’re up to a more laid-back trip, you could perfectly stretch it for a week.

Medieval Villages of Catalunya

Route:  Circular from Barcelona.

Days:  5-8.

The region of Catalunya boasts an impressive number of tiny yet extremely charming villages that will make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time, and the easiest way to visit them is by car.

After spending a few days in Barcelona, head to the village of Mura, and then continue to the historic town of Vic.

Admire Vic’s beautiful Plaza Mayor, see the Roman Temple of Vic and Sant Pere Cathedral, and wander through the city center’s enchanting streets.

Continue north to the magical village of Rupit, Castellfollit de la Roca, and the picture-perfect town of Besalu, which has a fascinating Jewish history.

Head northeast to Monells, Peratallada, Pals, and the coastal town of Calella de Palafrugell.

From there, you can go back straight to Barcelona, or add another day stopping at other coastal towns like Tossa de Mar and Lloret de Mar.

The Region of Navarre

By Erick & Kirsten from Travelaar

Route: From Pamplona to the Bardenas Reales.

Navarre is an autonomous region in the north of Spain, which has a unique landscape as it has mountains in the north and a semi-desert in the south.

That’s exactly why this is one of the most scenic driving routes in Spain, and the starting point of your road trip is Pamplona, Navarre’s capital.

Pamplona truly is a beautiful city with a compact city center and lots of history. Stay a day or two to explore the city. Read more about what to do in Pamplona .

In the north of Pamplona lies the Irati Forest. It has a high altitude because it’s situated at the foot of the Pyrenees, making it the second-largest pine forest in Europe after the Black Forest in Germany. Drive around for a few hours, or spend as much as you like if you enjoy biking or hiking.

Olite is the next stop. Once, this was the capital of the Navarre region. This small historical town is dominated by the Royal Palace of Olite, which is a medieval castle. Visit the castle and enjoy the view from one of its towers.

The highlight of this road trip is definitely the Bardenas Reales, which is a semi-desert. The landscape is phenomenal and truly unique.

Bardenas Reales’ most famous place is Castilla de Tierra, a huge sandstone tower. It’s about an hour’s drive to cross the desert from north to south.

Basque Country to Galicia

Route: From San Sebastian to A Coruña.

Days: 10-14.

Driving from the Basque Country to Galicia is ambitious. There are countless places to see on a northern Spain road trip and it’s all about prioritizing.

Start your journey with a day or two in San Sebastian, which many consider the food capital of the world. Beyond the pintxo bars and Michelin-starred restaurants that will win over any foodie, you’ll fall in love with its old town, famous La Concha beach, and viewpoints like Monte Igueldo.

On your way to the Cantabria region, stop at San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, a scenic islet on the Basque coast that was also a Game of Thrones filming location.

In Cantabria, you have to visit the medieval town of Santillana del Mar, the village of Comillas where you can find one of Gaudi’s crazy creations outside of Barcelona, and the inland beach Playa de Gulpiyuri.

Continue your journey to the region of Asturias. Between the lakes of Covadonga that make you feel like you’re in Switzerland and the colorful fishing village of Cudillero, this region knows how to deliver.

Making your way towards the end of the route, Galicia is a fantastic final stop. I particularly loved the charming fishing village of Combarro, but the highlight for me was visiting the Cies Islands, a true Spanish hidden gem .

This exotic paradise is only a 20-minute ferry ride away from Vigo, and the islands are the perfect spot to relax and soak up some sun or take a few extremely scenic hikes.

Read here about the stops you should add to your road trip across Spain’s northern regions .

Extremadura Region

Route:  Circular from Caceres.

Days:  6-10.

Want to explore a region in Spain that is full of history but has yet to be discovered by international travelers? Go off the beaten path and take a road trip through Extremadura!

It starts in the medieval city of Caceres, the capital of the region and a true feast for the eyes. Its highlight is the UNESCO-listed old town, packed with beautiful streets and squares, landmarks, and museums.

From there, head north to the small village of Robeldillo de Gata, the unique abandoned walled town of Granadilla, and the archeological site of the Roman city of Cáparra.

Next, the village of Hervas with its well-preserved stunning Jewish quarter is a must-visit. Not too far, you’ll find the natural pools of Los Pilones, perfect for a little relaxation.

Continue to the stunning San Jerónimo de Yuste Monastery and the town of Villanueva de la Vera.

Before going back to Caceres, stop in Guadalupe to see the impressive Royal Monastery of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, and spend some time in the historic town of Trujillo.

If you can add a few more days, head to the southern part of the region and visit places like Merida (and its astounding Roman Theatre), Badajoz, Zafra, and Jerez de los Caballeros.

Route: Circular from Malaga or Granada, depending on your flight.

Days: 7 (but could be extended).

It doesn’t get more classic than a road trip through southern Spain . It is the land of olive oil, sherry wine, and flamenco, and it has such a unique culture and history. It’s also the region with the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Spain.

Your first stop should be Granada. Spend two days exploring its beautiful streets and landmarks, and of course, the iconic Alhambra.

This complex of palaces and gardens is one of the most visited sites in Spain, with its fascinating history, intricate architectural details, and mesmerizing views over the city.

Head to Cordoba for one day of colorful patios and charming alleys, and learn about the history of Jews, Christians, and Muslims in this city.

Continue your journey with 2- 3 days in Seville , a city full of UNESCO Sites, beautiful squares and streets, tapas bars, and authentic flamenco shows.

Your next stop has to be Cadiz . It is the oldest city in Europe and a gem often overlooked by travelers. I could spend an entire month in Cadiz, and it’s all thanks to its cozy and inviting atmosphere.

Finish your southern Spain road trip route with a visit to the stunning town of Ronda and some relaxation time in the resort city of Marbella.

Read here the full and detailed Andalusia road trip itinerary (and check out a few places in southern Spain I wish I hadn’t missed ).

Castilla-la Mancha Region

Route:  Across Castile-La Mancha province – from El Toboso to Argamansilla de Alba.

The province of Castile-La Mancha is one of the most authentic regions in Spain, as it is the famous homeland of the Spanish national hero and symbol Don Quixote.

Don Quixote is a novel by Miguel de Cervantes, one of the world’s best-selling books of all times and an emblematic prototype of a modern novel. Therefore, a book-themed  road trip through Castile-La Mancha  simply belongs on your list of best Spanish road trips.

All of the stops on this Don Quixote route are connected either to the author or to the characters of the book.

You could start your journey by exploring the small town of Toboso, then drive to one of the most famous Spanish landmarks – the windmills of Campo de Criptana.

Afterward, take your time to explore the local small towns of Alcazar de San Juan, Puerto Lapice, and Cuidad Real.

Make sure not to miss Villanueva de los Infantes, one of the prettiest villages in Spain and the local oasis of Lagunas de Ruidera Natural Park. Your road trip will end at another emblematic location of Argamansilla de Alba.

Not so many people know that the famous novel Don Quixote was written by Miguel de Cervantes during his imprisonment here, in Cueva Medrano.

The Region of Asturias

By Talek from Travels with Talek

Route: Circular from Oviedo.

This is a great  circular road trip starting and ending in Oviedo , the capital of Asturias in northern Spain.

Spend two or three days visiting all the city has to offer, and then rent your car and head north to the port city of Gijon, with its Roman ruins and a surfeit of Michelin-rated restaurants. Have lunch at El Otro Mallu for a fantastic and reasonably priced, 3-course daily special of fresh seafood.

Sixty-two km east of Gijon is the picturesque seaside town of Lastres, one of many fishing villages that dot the Asturian coastline.

Another hour east of Lastres is Llanes, a charming coastal town surrounded by a remarkably well-preserved medieval wall. Within the walls is a small but lively town with great tapas bars, winding cobblestone streets, and brooding churches.

From Llanes, you can visit Cueva del Soplao, a 250-million-year-old cave with amazing rock formations, and the medieval village of Santillana del Mar which many consider the prettiest town in Spain.

Stop at Picos de Europa National Park, one of the oldest in Europe where you can hike the famed Cares River trail. Also in the park is the spectacular Sanctuary of Covadonga and the scenic Covadonga lakes.

On your way back to Oviedo, you can travel route N-634 through some of the most beautiful, lush, green mountains and valleys in all of Spain. This is a magical road trip that can be extended or reduced depending on your time.

Galicia’s Death Coast

By Inma from A World to Travel

Route: From Fisterra to Malpica.

Nobody agrees where the wonderful Costa da Morte (aka Death Coast) in Galicia begins and ends, so we will take the fishing town of Fisterra as the beginning of our route (where the pilgrims continue to walk after finishing the Camino and arrive at Santiago de Compostela) and Malpica as the end of the same.

Famous for being one of the westernmost points in all of Europe (considered the ‘end of the world’ when the existence of America was not yet known), Fisterra has a lighthouse from which to watch the sunset that attracts many on a daily basis.

Lires, Muxia, Camariñas, Camelle, Corme, and Malpica are other nearby towns that are also well worth a visit. Among them are lighthouses, capes, cliffs, and exceptional beaches that rarely fill up with people.

One of the reasons for this is because this is a raw coast, where storms enter strongly and wreak havoc like the dozens of sunken ships that lie at the bottom of the sea.

Do you already understand where the name of the Death Coast comes from? If you dare to explore it, spend at least three days there. I assure you that there are many things to do and see in Costa da Morte .

Andalusia to the Basque Country

By Joanna from The World in My Pocket

Route: From Malaga to San Sebastian.

I have driven on a regular basis from Malaga to San Sebastian, on my  driving route from Spain to the UK .

This road trip is probably one of the easiest to make in Spain, with plenty of things to see along the way but also great condition roads and not much traffic.

Along the route, there are many beautiful cities where you can stop by and explore. My recommended stops are Granada, Toledo, Madrid, Vitoria Gasteiz, and San Sebastian. This would make a relaxed fantastic one-week road trip.

Granada is Andalusia’s gem, with its Moorish architecture and cultural influences and the mighty Alhambra waiting to be visited.

Toledo is an ancient museum city set on a hill, with narrow streets and three different cultures: Jewish, Moorish, and Christian. Madrid, the capital of Spain, is definitely worth a stop.

Vitoria Gasteiz, the capital of the Basque Country, is very different, with a medieval quarter and a Gothic-style cathedral. San Sebastian, the end of the road trip is an outstanding foodie destination with pristine sandy beaches and a lively atmosphere.

Extra tip: I personally prefer to stay in hotels outside the cities, located on the motorway because they are cheaper and offer free parking (as opposed to Spanish cities where you need to pay separately for parking that can easily cost as much as 20 extra Euros a day).

Madrid and the Region of Castilla Y Leon

By Corina from Another Milestone

Route: Circular from Madrid.

5 days, 4 Spanish cities, and a road trip you will remember forever! One of the best road trip routes in Spain is the one in the Castilla y Leon region, starting in Madrid and exploring the traces of kings and knights left along the way.

All your stops will be at UNESCO World Heritage Sites and that guarantees you an interesting experience.

After a day or two in Madrid , go to Avila, but before arriving there, you can spend a whole day in San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Here you can visit the royal monastery of San Lorenzo, the library, the two palaces, and the burial place of the kings of Spain.

Head to Avila, a fortified city with its medieval walls very well preserved. When you see it, you have the feeling you have traveled back in time. You can take a long walk on its walls, visit the cathedral, or get lost on the cobblestone streets inside the fortress.

Salamanca, your next stop, is famous for its university dating back to the 12th century, but once you get here as a tourist you will discover other beautiful attractions: The Cathedral or its old town with palaces and museums.

If you want to visit something different, try Casa Lis, the museum of Art Deco and Art Nouveau.

The last city you will enjoy is Segovia. A castle that inspired the Disney castle, a Roman aqueduct, and an impressive cathedral are just some of the reasons to stop here. If you have extra days to spend here, spice your road trip with some traditional villages.

Looking for more Madrid travel tips ? Here’s:

• Madrid packing list
• 4-day Madrid itinerary
• Hidden gems in Madrid
• Walking tours in Madrid
• Best areas to stay in Madrid
• Fun facts about Madrid
• Landmarks in Madrid
• Reasons to visit Madrid
• Brunch places in Madrid
• Free museums in Madrid
• Towns and cities to visit near Madrid

The Spanish Pyrenees

By Allan from It’s Sometimes Sunny in Bangor

Route: Biarritz (France) to Alquezar.

Days: 1-2 days.

This area of the Spanish Pyrenees is easily one of the least traveled routes in all of Spain, where the closest major city to our start in Biarritz would be Zaragoza which is 400 km south.

However, we chose a more scenic route through the Spanish Pyrenees traveling east into the hills of Huesca Province and to the lesser-known medieval village of Alquezar , which is one of the most secluded and picturesque destinations we have come across in Spain.

The roads are less traveled and almost empty for miles, yet they are also new and pristine as they wind between arid mountain karsts and blue lagoons, and at times, it is hard to believe you are in Europe.

Certainly, having just crossed the borders from Biarritz (France), the surroundings are more desert-like and arid, yet there is still snow on the caps of the further ranges of the Pyrenees mountains.

There is just so little traffic anywhere that it’s no problem to just pull up to the side of the roads to admire the surrounding views.

Along the way, settlements are few and scattered, and we stopped occasionally at abandoned villages like Escó, which had been left behind for further cities.

Otherwise, the first real sign of urban life would be in Pamplona, the small city famed for the running for the bulls, which makes for an ideal stopover along the way.

A Mini Road Trip Through Andalusia

By Priya from Outside Suburbia

Route: From Seville to Granada.

Days: One day, but you can overnight in one or more of the villages.

If you are visiting Andalusia, Southern Spain, you must plan a visit to the white villages. We went on a road trip from Seville to Granada and stopped at a couple of villages on the way.

The white villages , with whitewashed walls, red-tiled roofs, ornate churches on top of cliffs, and cobblestone streets are charming. Some of these villages date back to the Romans and Moors and are rich in history.

There are several little towns to stop and explore. The small town of Grazalema is where we stopped for lunch.

It’s located in a natural park with a variety of flora and fauna that varies from Spanish fir, maple woods, cork to deer, and Iberian wild goats. It’s known for its great hiking routes and outdoor activity options that are popular with climbers and hikers.

You can spend a night here or drive to Ronda and stay there. We were short on time, so we drove to Granada and reached in the evening right on time to catch the sunset over the Alhambra.

Read more about Spain:

• 55 things to know before visiting Spain
• Novels set in Spain
• 50 Spain travel quotes
• Travel quotes in Spanish
• Virtual tours of Spain
• Gifts for Spain lovers
• Long weekend breaks in Spain

Best Road Trips in Spain’s Islands

By Linn from Brainy Backpackers

Route: Circular from Palma de Mallorca.

One of the best road trips in Spain is definitely the Tramuntana mountain range on the beautiful Mediterranean island of Mallorca. To get the most out of it you should spend at least two or three days.

The UNESCO World Heritage site of Tramuntana has mesmerizing views of steep cliffs meeting the blue sea beneath. The whole mountain range is dotted with incredibly charming villages.

Start your  road trip in Mallorca by driving from Palma de Mallorca to Cap de Formentor’s viewpoint where you get some of the best cliff views of the island.

Just across the parking lot, you can drive up a smaller road until you don’t get any further. These views are incredibly mesmerizing and not everyone knows about the place.

Further, you can drive to Pollensa, a small medieval town that is truly beautiful. The main attraction is to walk the 365 steps to Calvary Hill. The town is good to have some lunch in one of the many bars.

The next stop should be Lluc, which is a sacred center for pilgrims and is home to an incredible monastery. After a stop here, continue to Fornalutx and go back in history among old buildings with incredible views.

I suggest you stay the night in Soller where you find restaurants and a few hotels to choose from. The next day you can have breakfast and explore the town before taking the old-fashioned tram to Port de Soller and back.

On the way back to Palma de Mallorca you should not miss Deia and Valldemossa, two picturesque villages sitting on implausible viewpoints towards the sea.

More on Mallorca:

• One-week Mallorca itinerary
• Free things to do in Palma de Mallorca
• Breakfast and brunch spots in Palma de Mallorca
• Hidden gems in Mallorca
• Is Mallorca worth visiting
• Mallorca packing list

Fuerteventura

By Gabor and Rachele from Surfing the Planet

Route : Circular around the island.

Days: A minimum of 4 days.

Fuerteventura is one of the main islands of the archipelago of the Canary Islands. It’s considered as one of the islands of Spain with the greatest number of paradise beaches.

Nevertheless, if you plan a road trip around the island, there are many more things to do in Fuerteventura than just relaxing on the picture-perfect beaches.

Whether you arrive by plane or by boat, you can divide the island into 4 sectors, and we recommend you dedicate at least one day to each of them.

You can start with the beaches of the Jandía Peninsula, where you can find some of the longest beaches surrounded by pristine landscapes. We especially recommend you to take the dirt road to the beautiful Cofete Beach. 

You should dedicate at least one day to the interior of the island, where you will find charming villages like Betancuria, lonely windmills, and fascinating viewpoints between the mountains. This is also the best area to try local food. 

You must also spend at least a couple of days in the northern part of the island. On the Northwest side, there’s the area of El Cotillo with Caribbean-style white sand beaches in beautiful coves and also some of the greatest beaches for surfers.

The Northeast side of the island is famous for the large dunes of El Corralejo that tower near the golden sand beaches.

By Teresa from Brogan Abroad

Route: From Costa Adeje to Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

From relaxing beach resorts to unique mountain villages and spectacular volcanic landscapes, Tenerife offers something for everyone. To make the most of it, a  road trip around Tenerife is the best way to explore the ‘Island of Eternal Spring.’

Start in Costa Adeje, in the southwest of the island. Spend your first day driving north along a rugged coast that hides countless coves and beaches. Finish in Puerto de Santiago, with its jet-black sandy beach and right next to the dramatic Los Gigantes cliffs. 

On day two, head to the Teide National Park, where you can climb (or take the cable car) to the top of the volcano, and hike around otherworldly landscapes.

The following day, drive up to the northwesternmost spot on the island, Punta de Teno, with its beautiful red and white lighthouse. Make sure you stop in Masca, a little hamlet perched on top of a rocky outcrop surrounded by rugged cliffs.

On day four, visit Garachico, a picturesque town with volcanic natural pools, and Icod de los Vinos, a traditional town known for its food and wine, and the Millenary Dragon Tree.

On your final day, as you drive along the north coast, make sure you stop in Puerto de la Cruz, La Orotava, and finally Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the capital of the island .

You can visit Tenerife with kids , as a couple, and even with a group of friends.

Looking for more European road trips? Read:

• A One-week northern Italy road trip
• Northwest Italy road trip itinerary
• Best road trips in Italy
• Road trips from Milan
• The best road trip from Lisbon to Porto
• Best road trips in Portugal
• The best road trip through Northern Portugal

Did you like these Spain road trip ideas? Pin this post for later!

About Or Amir

Hey, I'm Or! I'm a passionate traveler with a severe coffee, chocolate, and pastry addiction (or any other carb for that matter). I'm always planning my next trip to Spain, Italy, or any other country in Europe, and my goal is to help you make the most of each destination.

4 thoughts on “Road Trips in Spain: 18 Exciting Spanish Road Trips You Need to Take”

we are traveling for 4 weeks beginning in Madrid ‘spiralling’ down and up through Portugal to Santiago de Compostela, across the top and down through Barcelona ending in Seville. ant tips or recommendation appreciated

What kind of recommendations are you looking for? 4 weeks is not a lot of time for this route, so I’d say – don’t try to squeeze too many places into your itinerary.

All on this page is great!! I’m interested in a 3 week driving trip but not sure where to start, Interested in: Festivals Music Dance also any information about renting a SUV rates insurance Best weather No rain and not to hot

Hey Rudy! When are you planning to have your trip? Also, I don’t have any experience renting an SUV in Spain.

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Hi, I'm Or!

I'm a passionate traveler obsessed with traveling in Europe and discovering hidden gems in each place I visit. For me, it's not about ticking destinations off the bucket list but experiencing each one of them to the fullest. Read more about me and my story.

The Best Road Trips in Spain and Their Self-Drive Itineraries

March 11, 2021

From rocky volcanic coasts to medieval city charm, driving in Spain can be an absolute joy. After years on the road as a travel writer and resident, I bring you the best road trips in Spain, plus the ultimate Spanish road trip itinerary. Bucket lists at the ready? Let’s go!   Updated 2021.

Table of Contents

THE BEST ROAD TRIPS IN SPAIN

If walking is one of the best ways to see a city, then driving is one of the best ways to see a country. Driving in Spain has brought me deep, deep joy, rising through the red dust of Andalusia and plunging through the deep green of Galicia. 

You can find the separate road trip itineraries through Spain dotted throughout the article, but this article focuses on the best road trips in Spain. 

• Download your free road trip essentials list and road trip packing list.
• Download the road trip planner and toolkit here.

Recommended

I love sharing the best travel resources I can find. 

• I never book a flight without looking on Skyscanner first
• My favourite one stop shop for airport transfers, food tours & excursions is Get Your Guide
• Out of the big accommodation machines, I use Expedia and Booking.com the most
• I’ve hand-picked useful travel gear and tools for you in my Amazon shop . Never leave home without a travel adapter or collapsible water bottle . I’d also recommend these soft ear plugs and a sleep mask .
• Access all our planners and budget spreadsheets in the Travel Toolbox ©
• Plan the perfect road trip with our Road Trip Planner & Toolkit ©
• Use these packing cubes to make life so much easier on the road.
• Save on mobile phone roaming charges with an eSIM from Airalo .

TRAVEL SPAIN BY CAR

We start with the ultimate Spain road trip itinerary, taking in the mainland for first time visitors. But don’t forget Spain’s islands, not to mention delving deeper into the regions to find a richer, more authentic experience when you have more time. 

Whether you call it fly-drive, self drive or want someone else to help you travel Spain by car, this is the collection of the best road trips in Spain. 

Happy planning!

The Ultimate Spain Road Trip Itinerary

If all you have is two weeks, then this is the best Spain road trip itinerary for you. This two week self-drive Spain itinerary brings you the highlights of the country at a reasonable, but not relaxed, pace. 

However, I’d always advise that you take is slow if you can. It’s far more enjoyable to spend more time out of the car than in. With that in mind, check out some of the other regional road trip ideas below.  

Of all the places in the world, Spain is disinclined to rush. People here like to take their time and savour the joys of everyday life. Racing to fit your busy schedule does not usually rank highly in that regard.

The Ultimate Spain Road Trip Itinerary At a Glance

• Day 1: Arrive Barcelona
• Day 2: Barcelona
• Day 3: Girona and the Pyrenees
• Day 4: Valencia
• Day 5: Valencia to Madrid
• Day 6: Madrid
• Day 7: Madrid to Toledo
• Day 8: Toledo to Granada
• Day 9: Granada and the Alhambra
• Day 10: Alpujarras Mountains
• Day 11: Seville via Cordoba
• Day 12: Seville
• Day 13: Cadiz via Doñana National Park
• Day 14: Malaga to fly home

Historical city centres in Spain were designed for pedestrians and, at a stretch, horses. They were not designed for cars! Be careful when following SatNav instructions into steep, old towns. You can find yourself unable to make some tight turns and then somehow need to reverse backwards down a narrow road. Stick to the main roads in town!

Southern Spain Road Trip Through Andalusia

A road trip through Andalusia, Spain’s biggest region, unsurprisingly covers a lot of ground. This passionate place is the home of flamenco, jamon and sherry, as well as staggering, world-renowned monuments. 

You can easily fill two weeks with UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Alhambra in Granada, the Real Alcazar in Seville and the unbeatable mosque turned cathedral in Cordoba. 

But a self-drive road trip through Spain allows you to visit off the radar places and explore local traditions like joining the olive oil harvest in the mountains. From the beaches to the snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada, driving through Andalusia really is one of the best road trips in Spain.

Andalusia Road Trip Itinerary At a Glance

• Day 1: Arrive Malaga.
• Day 2: Drive to Cadiz
• Day 3: Cadiz to Seville via Doñana National Park
• Day 4: Seville
• Day 5: Seville to Granada via Cordoba
• Day 6: Granada & Alpujarras Mountains
• Day 7: Back to Malaga to fly home. Find the complete southern Spain road trip itinerary here.
• Malaga is the biggest international airport but you can also fly into Seville and Granada with relative ease.

How about the Madrid to Seville drive?

With so many international flights arriving in Madrid, you may be wondering whether or not you should drive from Madrid to Seville or take the train instead. 

A Madrid-Seville Road Trip can pass through many off the beaten path destinations, like Zafra and Merida, but in my opinion, it’s not one of Spain’s best road trips. 

If you are short on time, I’d highly recommend taking the extremely fast and efficient Madrid-Seville train and then picking up your rental car in Seville to tour Andalusia.

It’s also possible to drive from Madrid to Granada by car, swerving up and down the Alpujarras Mountains, but again, I’d suggest picking up your wheels in Andalusia instead.

The Sanctuary of Dismembered Wax Body Parts

Northern Spain Road Trip Itinerary

Prepare to be surprised when you find out what makes this one of the best road trips in Spain.

The northern area of Spain swaps dry plains for rocky coves, and bull rings for lighthouses and salt marshes amid the green. Famed for its seafood and as the finishing point for the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage route, this northern Spain road trip itinerary will show you a different side of the country.

• Want more detail? Explore this Galicia road trip itinerary.

Northern Spain Road Trip Itinerary At a Glance

• Day 1: Arrive San Sebastian
• Day 2: San Sebastian to Bilbao
• Day 3: Bilbao to Aviles
• Day 4: Aviles to A Coruña
• Day 5: A Coruña to Santiago de Compostela
• Day 6: Santiago de Compostela to Vigo
• Day 7: Back to San Sebastian to fly home

Recommended reading:  Road Trip Galicia, Spain; The Undiscovered Northern Coast

View above the clouds on El Teide in Tenerife

Road Trip Through Tenerife (Canary Islands)

As the largest Canary Island off the northwest coast of Africa, Tenerife is famous for its fly and flop beach holidays. But there are so many unusual things to do in Tenerife , from UNESCO World Heritage cities like Laguna to primitive biosphere reserves in Anaga. It’s a hiking paradise and if tight turns and steep roads don’t phase you, a great wild landscape awaits.

Driving through Spain takes on new and heady heights when you’re bounding over black volcanic stones and watching the clouds appear beneath you. This is one of the best road trips in Spain because it is also one of the most beautiful. 

It’s also easy to combine with staying in one place and organising a series of day trips around the island. So if packing and unpacking on a road trip becomes a chore for you, try this instead. 

Road Trip Through Tenerife at a Glance

• Day 1: Arrive and stay in UNESCO World Heritage La Laguna
• Day 2: Drive El Teide Volcano
• Day 3: Los Gigantes for a whale watching excursion
• Day 4: Hiking in Anaga National Park
• Day 5: Orotava, Icod de los Vinos and Garachico
• Day 6: Pyramids of Guimar
• Day 7: Explore La Laguna and fly home

Casa Mila: worth it on any Barcelona itinerary

Road Trip Through Catalonia (Catalunya)

Barcelona is the most famous part of Catalunya but to see more of the Catalan character, get behind the wheel and enjoy one of the best road trips in Spain.

Travel by car in Spain to discover the curious city of Girona, the sandy coast of Costa Brava and the smoky peaks of the Pyrenees.  

Costa Brava offers volcanoes, sleepy coves and some of the best restaurants in the world. That’s not a boast. That’s actually a validated claim (read more about that here. )

You’ll also find flamboyant artwork from local household name Salvador Dalí, a great spot for a hot air balloon ride and a renewed appreciation for the difference between Catalan and Castilian Spanish.

• How to spend three days in Barcelona, an inside guide
• Unusual things to do in Barcelona

Road Trip from Barcelona At a Glance

• Day 3: Barcelona to Girona
• Day 4: Figueres and Cadaques
• Day 5: Garrotxa Natural Park
• Day 6: Tarragona
• Day 7: Return Barcelona to fly home

Road Trip Through Central Spain

Treat yourself to a literary, gastronomic and thoroughly authentic journey through this central part of Spain, the region of Castilla La Mancha. It’s one of the best road trips in Spain for hidden gems and a sense of exploration. 

Take in Toledo, the former capital and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Search the hills for the windmills made famous by Don Quixote. Hike through one of the best bird reserves in the country. And relish taking your time amid small Spanish villages, far from the crowds. 

Road Trip Through Central Spain at a Glance

• Day 1: Arrive Madrid
• Day 2: Madrid
• Day 3: Madrid to Toledo
• Day 4: Toledo
• Day 5: Don Quixote Countryside
• Day 6: Hike through the Tablas de Daimiel
• Day 7: Return Madrid to fly home

Both islands have stunning coastlines (but this place is Menorca!)

Driving the Balearic Islands

One of the best road trips in Spain involves flying to one of her smaller islands and taking a laid back approach to plans and itineraries all together. Mallorca and Menorca are the two main Balearic Islands and each has a distinctive character. Mallorca has party spots, UNESCO World Heritage and wild hiking routes. Menorca specialises more in family beaches, quiet streets, small towns and an awful lot of gin.

• Menorca or Mallorca for your Balearic Island holiday?

Set yourself up with one home base for a week and take a series of day trips to explore either island.

One of the best things about Barcelona is that it leads right onto a sandy beach…

Road Trip Along Spain’s East Mediterranean Coast

Drive from Barcelona to Valencia to experience two of Spain’s most interesting cities and her sparkling coastline as well. Find the Roman amphitheatre at Tarragona and the rice fields that gave us paella outside Valencia. If you have more than one week to ten days, continue south to the Moorish fortress in Amería as part of a road trip through Andalusia. 

Road Trip Through the East Coast of Spain At a Glance

• Day 2: Barcelona and Girona
• Day 3: Valencia via Tarragona
• Day 5: Alicante and the Costa Blanca
• Day 6: Almeria and Cabo de Gata
• Day 7: Back to Barcelona to fly home (or to Malaga)

Road Trip Across Galicia

Decked out in deep green hues and bursting with salty seafood, a road trip through Galicia provides a completely different experience of Spain. 

With a coastline more reminiscent of the rugged, craggy inlets of Ireland than the white sand of the south,  it’s no surprise that Galicia offers seafood to make even the uncertain smile. Expect lighthouses, green fields, great walking routes and great food. 

• A Galicia Road Trip: Northern Spain’s Rugged Green Coast

Road Trip Around Galicia at a Glance

• Day 1: Arrive La Coruña
• Day 2: Pontedeume and Redes
• Day 3: Porto do Barqueiro &  Viveiro
• Day 4: Praia das Catedrais
• Day 5: Torre de Hercules Lighthouse & home

Road Trip Around the Basque Country

Link up San Sebastián, Bilbao and Santander for an epic road trip through Spain’s Basque country. Taste arguably the best food in the country in the pintxos bars in San Seb and take in the curls and swirls of the Guggenheim in Bilbao. 

Add in secluded coastal curves and surprise museums, like the Balenciaga museum in Getaria , and you will find yourself with an unforgettable Spanish Road Trip.

Road Trip Through the Basque Country at a Glance

• Day 1: Arrive Bilbao
• Day 2: Bilbao
• Day 3: Bilbao to Logroño via Pamplona
• Day 4: Logroño to San Sebastian
• Day 5: San Sebastian
• Day 6: Hiking in Getaria
• Day 7: Back to Bilbao to fly home

What to know if you travel Spain by car

Cars drive on the right and you’ll need a full and valid driving license.

Tips for Spain Road Trip Itineraries

If you book through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Cheers!

Typically, it’s best to pick up a vehicle at at the airport unless you have your heart set on exploring an historic city centre first. Bring your full driving license and book in advance. I’d highly recommend booking your car rental through Hertz.

Planning in Detail

I rely on the AA Route Planner to give me times and directions in Spain. Make sure you check for:

• Tolls (or factor them into your budget anyway)

What You Need to Drive in Spain

For a robust rundown of what you need to drive in Spain head to the Government website . From here you can check the latest recommendations and legal requirements, including information on an international driving permit.

Booking Hotels

Many smaller, boutique hotels in the centre of cities will not have parking options. It’s best to either park on the outskirts of town and walk in (in some places, such as Seville, taxis will struggle to get in as well) or if that’s too difficult for you then book a hotel on the outskirts of town and use their transport to travel in. 

Highlights of Driving in Spain

Travel Spain by car and you’ll find all the following benefits.

While the big cities can get the pulse racing, for the most part, driving in Spain is a beautiful experience. Here are five reasons why:

1) THE ROADS ARE EMPTY

Outside the main cities that is. Gleaming wide main roads covered with smooth tarmac are the rule rather than the exception. Drive from  Granada  to  Seville  or Segovia to Merida and you’ll hardly see another car for miles.

2) THE SCENERY IS STUNNING

Low swirling mist rising over olive groves, intense sunshine hugging the contours of rust-red rock. Sparkling coastlines and white-washed towns with church towers spiking out of scorched plains. The green cloaked mountains of Galicia, the almond-scented mountains of Alpujarras and the Catalan curves of  the eastern Pyrenees.  Unlike driving in some countries, these views are visible from the windscreen of the car – you don’t have to wait until you park and get away from the roads.

3) GIANT BULLS ON THE HORIZON

Not real ones, of course. But building-sized, black, one-dimensional bull cutouts. Apparently, these first appeared as part of an advertising campaign for sherry. They were due to be removed until people clamoured for them to stay. Now, they add to the fun, as you never quite know when the next one will appear.

4) FRESH TAPAS AT SERVICE STATIONS

Forget about crisps, biscuits and overpriced coffee. Most petrol stations along the road in Spain are family run affairs with a chef on site. Coffee costs less than a euro while a plateful of patatas bravas, chocos, gambas or more is only a few minutes away. And if you’re feeling too hot? Try refreshing gazpacho instead.

5) FREEDOM AND GETTING OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

For reasons I’ll never quite understand, Spain has a reputation as a sand-and-sea destination and that’s about it. Visitors tend to cling to the coast and never realise just what they’re missing. Hiring a car and hitting the roads is the first step towards fixing that. Stop off in one of Andalucia’s pueblos blancos, for example, and you’ll probably be the only foreigner in town.

And that’s just for starters.

What is the best way to travel across Spain? Road trip or by train?

Great question. And the answer is: it depends. 

Driving through Spain is an absolute joy, once you are out of the cities. Road tripping through Spain allows you to reach hidden villages and hike through unspoilt landscapes. It also makes life much easier if you are travelling with your children. 

If you mainly wish to city hop between the big cities like Madrid, Barcelona and Seville, then the train is the better option. If you want to get off the beaten track and explore, go for a road trip.

Tools & Planners for the Best Road Trips in Spain

You’re in road trip heaven here, as we have everything from a full list of road trip essentials to the Ultimate Road Trip Planner for people who love freedom and hate spreadsheets.

And just for fun, we have the best road trip quotes and some road trip questions and games to help everyone get along.

Also, check out our road trip planning series on YouTube:

• The 5 biggest road trip planning mistakes people make (and how to fix them)
• The 7 best road trip planning tools.

1 thought on “The Best Road Trips in Spain and Their Self-Drive Itineraries”

The scenery is stunning indeed. I didn’t have to go driving to notice that. It’s wonderful!

Comments are closed.

These 5 road trips will show you the best of Spain

Mar 13, 2024 • 7 min read

These road trips cover the best of Spain, from the coast of Catalonia to the mountains of Andalucía © Artur Debat / Getty Images

Explore  Spain ’s world-famous natural scenery and cultural heritage – and savor its acclaimed cuisine at every pit stop – with a road trip across this beautiful country.

Wherever you head, you can count on passing medieval castles and ancient cities, charming seaside towns, towering mountain ranges and coastlines that stretch for miles. In between the memorable monuments, Spain’s  pueblos (villages) offer the chance to recharge with traditional tapas (small plates) among warm locals.

Get into gear with these five outstanding driving routes, which will show you some of the best parts of Spain.

1. Costa Brava road trip

Best road trip for Catalonian history and cuisine – and all things Dalí Barcelona – Cadaqués; approx 246km (153 miles); allow 3-4 days

Spain is blessed with over 3000 miles of coastline, and one of its most spectacular stretches is the Costa Brava , along the Mediterranean on the northeastern coast of  Catalonia . This drive will reward you with long, sunlit beaches; historic cities; and picturesque fishing villages that inspired the region’s most famous artist, Salvador Dalí. 

Starting in  Barcelona , take the GI-682 road from Tossa de Mar to Sant Feliu de Guíxols, where there are designated viewpoints to stop and gawk at the spectacular scenery. Detour from the coastline for a pit stop at the ancient city of Girona  to take in its  iconic cathedral  (which has one of the widest Gothic naves in the world), and the archaeological treasures at Banys Àrabs (Arab Baths).

Art lovers will not want to miss the famous “Dalinian Triangle”  (formed by the municipalities of Figueres, Portlligat and Púbol), where you can immerse yourself in Salvador Dalí's outlandish world by visiting his former residences, now open to the public.

The road trip ends at the quaint seaside town of Cadaqués on the bay of the Cap de Creus peninsula. This was a favorite summer playground of iconic artists and writers, including Dalí, Pablo Picasso, Daphne Guinness, Man Ray, Frederico Garcia Lorca, Melina Mercouri and Marcel Duchamp, among many others. And now you.

Planning tip:  Girona’s  El Celler de Can Roca has been named the world’s best restaurant numerous times over the years, and it takes bookings up to a year ahead. So what are you waiting for? Get those reservations in now. 

2. Andalucía road trip

Best road trip for getting close to Spain’s Moorish past Malaga– Seville; 471km (293 miles), allow 5 days

Southern  Andalucía  is the only European region that has both Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines, linked by the Strait of Gibraltar. A drive through this fascinating region takes you along the justly popular  Costa del Sol .

Start in the sunlit coastal city of Málaga , and enjoy stunning views of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Head inland for the enchanting cities of Granada and Córdoba , where the imprint of the Muslim dynasties that ruled Spain until the 15th century is palpable.

No visit to Granada is complete without stopping at the  Alhambra , the ancient palace and citadel of the Nasrid Dynasty, which gloriously blends Moorish and Christian decorative styles. The same entrance ticket will get you into the nearby Palacio de Generalife , a summer palace for the Nasrid sultans. 

Córdoba is a captivating city that is home to the La Mezquita–Catedral de Córdoba (the Córdoba Mosque), the city’s shining jewel which, alongside the Alhambra, represents the apex of Islamic architecture in Spain. 

A 90-minute drive from Córdoba, the Andalusian capital of Seville offers an idiosyncratic and dreamy mix of horse-drawn carriages, citrus trees, a colossal Gothic cathedral , Mudéjar (Moorish) architecture and flamenco tablaos (flamenco performances). 

3. Northern Spain road trip

Best road trip for greenery and cuisine along Spain’s Atlantic coast San Sebastián – Santiago de Compostela; 750km (466 miles), allow 6–7 days

Because the north of Spain sees more rainfall than the rest of the country, its landscapes tend toward the verdant; on the road, you’ll be treated to a visual feast of lush hillsides, snow-capped mountain peaks and Atlantic Ocean views. This itinerary will take you across four autonomous communities of Spain, departing from the Basque Country , crossing Cantabria  and  Asturias , then ending in Galicia . 

A great jumping-off point is the gastronomic coastal city of San Sebastián, which has the greatest concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants per square meter in Europe. It would be ideal to spend a day or two here to explore the city’s Parte Vieja (Old Quarter), and savor the endless array of pintxos (appetizers) that tempt you at every turn. 

Not too far away is the Basque islet of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe , which has become world-famous as the filming location for Dragonstone in  Game of Thrones . This breathtaking rocky precipice juts out into the Bay of Biscay, and is connected to the mainland by a long, winding stone staircase. Crowning the islet is a small chapel with a bell at its facade: tradition calls for visitors to ring the bell three times and make a wish.

Stretch out your legs on the spectacular golden sand beach, Playa del Sardinero , in the port town and Cantabrian capital of Santander . The whimsical oceanfront Magdalena Palace  was built in the early 1900s as a summer residence for the royal family. 

You’ll enjoy dramatic views of the Picos de Europa mountain range as you drive onward into Asturias. Stop by Oviedo  to explore the charming old town and try the traditional fabada asturiana bean stew. Finally, join pilgrims from all over the world at  Santiago de Compostela , the final destination of the thousand-year-old pilgrimage of the Camino de Santiago (Way of St James), where you could visit the Basilica of Santiago de Compostela , the reputed final resting place of St James the Apostle. Luckily, you won’t be tired from walking there.

Planning tip:  Most car-rental firms will gladly throw in a silla infantil (car seat) for an additional cost. You should always book these in advance, especially around holidays like Christmas and Holy Week (when finding a car to rent itself can be a challenge).

4. Castilla y León road trip

Best road trip for towns filled with medieval castles, churches and charm Madrid – Salamanca; 265km (165 miles), allow 2 days

This itinerary through central Spain takes you across plateaus with the dramatic backdrop of the Sierra de Guadarrama mountain range and into some of Spain’s most outstanding historic towns in the Castilla y León region. Look forward to walled medieval cities, fortified castles, Romanesque architecture, Gothic cathedrals and UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Just over an hour away from Madrid , your starting point, lies  Segovia , famous for its magnificent Roman aqueduct , Gothic cathedral and the 12th-century Alcázar of Segovia castle.

The next stop is the medieval-era walled town of Ávila , “the town of stones and saints,” known for having the most Gothic and Romanesque churches in Spain (and that’s saying something!). Spend a day walking its cobblestone streets and visiting the El Salvador Cathedral , San Vicente Basilica and the Convent/Museum of St Teresa , perhaps the town’s most famous native.

End your road trip in the charming university town of Salamanca , known as “La Cuidad de Oro” (Golden City), since its honey-colored sandstone walls glow with infinite golden hues in the late afternoon light.

Local tip:  Castilla y León is hot and sunny in summer – but winters can get cold. The climate is relatively dry, even in the cold months, which means it doesn’t snow very often – but temperatures can drop below zero overnight. Pack for proper winter weather.

5. Ibiza road trip

Best road trip for coves and beaches Ibiza Town – Cala d’Hort; 35km (22 miles), allow 1–2 days

Renting a car in Ibiza is the best way to explore the island’s stunning calas  (or coves): having your own wheels will save you both time and expensive taxi fares. While the island has a reputation as a 24/7 party destination, its timeless allure lies more in its natural attractions: think rugged cliffs, turquoise-colored waters and ancient archaeological sites.

Starting from Ibiza Town , drive over to Ses Salines beach at the southern tip of the island (only about 10 minutes away) to get a taste of glamorous beach life. It’s not uncommon to spot celebrities soaking up the sun or enjoying cocktails in one of the many beachside bars and restaurants. 

A fascinating contrast awaits at Sa Caleta  (Es Bol Nou), a more secluded beach tucked between rugged red cliffs. Take some time to hike up the ancient Phoenician civilization World Heritage site of Sa Caleta ruins, and pause for some fresh seafood at the cala ’s restaurant, with its shady Mediterranean garden bar. 

End your drive at Ibiza’s emblematic Cala d’Hort , featuring the mythical Es Vedrà island, which rises 382m (1253ft) from the glittering Mediterranean waters. Everything from UFOs to the Virgin Mary have reportedly been seen on this island, giving it its legendary status. While it’s a spellbinding sight at any time of the day, viewing it for the first time at sunset is an almost transcendent experience.

Local tip:  The Balearic Islands, including Ibiza, are pushing forward long-term projects to transform tourism into a more sustainable and less seasonal industry . Check out Illes Sostenible and Ibiza Sostenible  for information on ways you can get involved, from “ plogging ” to restoring corals.

This article was first published September 2021 and updated March 2024

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Wander-Lush

The Ultimate Spanish Road Trip Itinerary: Barcelona to Seville

Plan your dream road trip through Spain with this epic Spanish road trip itinerary! I’ll show you how to spend a perfect 3 weeks in Spain travelling from Barcelona to Seville, plus everything you need to know about renting a car to self drive in Spain.

I was part-way through planning a six-week Eurotrip with my partner when I became fixated on visiting Spain.

Spain had never really factored into my travel plans. But as soon as I realised just how much variety the country has to offer – from majestic mountain villages and enthralling cities to romantic small towns and a postcard-perfect coastline – not to mention the sheer number of historical and UNESCO sites held within its borders – I decided we should spend a whole three weeks in Spain.

Wanting to pack as much into our short stay as possible, we thought renting a car for a Spanish road trip would be the best way to see the main sights plus a few smaller towns.

We were right – the action-packed Spain itinerary we devised saw us criss-cross the country from north to south, taking in most of the country’s top attractions .

Spain is one of the top places for a self drive holiday in Europe. Both rental cars and petrol are relatively affordable. Travelling in shoulder season (November), we were often the only car on the road. For the most part, parking is cheap, even in hot spots like San Sebastian.

Best of all, having our own transport opened up a lot of opportunities to visit smaller towns and squeeze more into each day than our slow travel style would normally permit. Our trip was certainly fast-paced, but it was worth it to get a good overview of Spain in a short period.

This tried-and-tested itinerary for a three week self drive road trip across Spain includes my top recommended activities for key cities, ideas for where to break the journey, some handy Spain driving tips, and much more.

Please note: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you). Learn more.

Where to hire a car in Spain

Hiring a car in Spain is an efficient and affordable way to see a large part of the country in a short period of time. Since a lot of visitors drive in Spain, the market for rental cars is competitive, meaning you can usually get a pretty good deal.

We planned our Spain road trip from Barcelona, so we decided to rent our car on our last day in the city. I recommend collecting your car from Barcelona-Sants train station because it’s easy to get to using public transport, and easy to leave from to get to the highway.

There are two main things to consider when choosing a hire car: transmission type, and size of the vehicle. Manual cars are much more ubiquitous in Spain so it can be harder to find an automatic car to rent. In addition, you should prioritise hiring a small car that will be easier to park on the street and can better navigate narrow village roads (these were our two biggest qualms about driving in Spain!).

Discover Cars lets you easily browse and compare different rentals cars from a variety of international and local agents. It lets you choose the exact features you want, and offers a full range of price and date options so you can find the best value for money. Visit Discover Cars and plug in your dates to see what’s available .

At the end of the itinerary, I’ve included a few driving tips for Spain.

About this Spain itinerary

Looking back over our itinerary makes my head spin a little! We drove almost every day and covered a lot of ground, but by splitting the long drives up into smaller journeys, we still got to visit some interesting local towns.

Spanish highways are incredibly easy to drive on and the scenery is invariably stunning no matter where in the country you are. Because of this, driving never really feels like a drag – it’s all part of the experience.

We started our road trip in Spain from Barcelona and finished up in Seville. From there, we continued on to Tarifa by bus and caught the ferry to Tangier, Morocco. You can adapt this itinerary to create a loop, but I recommend paying the one-way car rental fee so you don’t have to backtrack. If your Spain trip ends there and you’re not continuing on to Morocco , you can fly straight out of Seville.

There are endless options and itinerary combinations for seeing Spain by car. I’m not saying mine is the best road trip in Spain – but I can tell you that it’s tried and tested. Of course there are some things missing (you can’t possibly see all of Spain in 3 weeks), but after I did this road trip, I felt like I’d seen the main highlights.

If I had my time again, I would extend our stay in Madrid by a few days.

A good way to save time is by taking advantage of the Spain day trips and tours mentioned in this itinerary. If you think there’s too much packed in, you can easily take out a few places and stay in certain locations for longer (Madrid and Granada would both be ideal places to extend your time).

How much time do you need to drive across Spain?

A Spain road trip can be as long or as short as you want it to be. As you’ll see from the map, we covered most of the country (apart from the north-west) in 21 days touring Spain by car.

Remember you don’t want to rush driving across Spain too much. Three weeks is the absolute minimum amount of time you need for a Spain road trip like this one – unless you’re prepared to seriously cut down on the number of places you visit.

This 3-week self drive Spain itinerary is fast-paced, but if it’s a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Spain that you’re planning, you probably won’t mind hustling to see as much of this beautiful country as humanly possible.

If you have less time in Spain, you can do a shorter itinerary that focuses on the North of Spain (Basque Country) or the South of Spain (Andalusia).

Spanish road trip route overview & drive times

Let’s start with a basic overview of our Spain road trip itinerary and the 17 cities, towns and villages we visited in Spain in 3 weeks.

Remember you don’t have to follow this itinerary exactly – you can use it as a Spanish road trip planner to pick and choose the destinations that most appeal to you.

• Days 1-3: Barcelona
• Day 4: Barcelona to Sos del Rey Católico via Zaragoza (400km; 4.5 hours of driving)
• Day 5: Sos del Rey Católico to Bilbao via Pamplona and San Sebastián (217km; 2 hours of driving)
• Day 6: Bilbao
• Day 7: Bilbao to Madrid via Segovia (400km; 4 hours of driving)
• Day 8: Madrid
• Day 9: Madrid to Toledo (72km; 1 hour of driving)
• Day 10: Toledo to Valencia via La Mancha (270km; 4 hours of driving)
• Day 11: Valencia
• Day 12: Valencia to Cartagena (270km; 3 hours of driving)
• Day 13: Cartagena to Lanjarón (330km; 3.5 hours of driving)
• Day 14: White Villages and the Sierra Nevada
• Day 15: Lanjarón to Granada (46km; 45 minutes of driving)
• Day 16: Granada to Córdoba (200km; 2.5 hours of driving)
• Day 17: Córdoba
• Day 18: Córdoba to Seville (145km; 1.75 hours of driving)
• Days 19-20: Seville
• Day 21: Depart Seville – or Seville to Tangier via Tarifa

This Spain itinerary covers a whopping 2,450km (1,523 miles). Remember that not all the driving is back-to-back, there are some rest days in between!

Spanish road trip map

Detailed self drive Spain itinerary

This section includes a detailed day-by-day breakdown of our 3 weeks in Spain, including the best things to do in each city, where to stay, and where to break up longer drives.

Vivacious Barcelona is the perfect place to start your Spain road trip itinerary. Capital of the autonomous Catalonia region and the second-largest city behind Madrid, Barcelona is quintessentially Spanish and offers a perfect introduction to many of the things that make Spain so great – incredible architecture, beautiful beaches, and fabulous cuisine.

On top of that, Barcelona is logistically the best place to start a trip through Spain. It’s home to an international airport, a train station with services from most other countries in the region (we arrived by night train from Geneva), and a ferry terminal.

I recommend spending at least 3 days in Barcelona to get a good feel for the city and see the main highlights. The city has a great public transport system, so you don’t need a car here – in fact, it would be a major burden.

I highly recommend picking your car up on the day you leave Barcelona. Most rental companies have offices at Barcelona-Sants, the city’s main train station. This is a good place to start as the traffic isn’t too hectic and you can easily get to the highway.

Where to stay in Barcelona

Barcelona is huge – where you stay can make or break your trip. Take some time to familiarise yourself with Barcelona’s inner-city neighbourhoods so you can make an informed decision.

Here are a few recommendations for where to stay in Barcelona – car or no car.

• Ayre Hotel Rosellón . Located in the shadow of the Sagrada Familia, you won’t find a better patio view anywhere else in Barcelona (just look at the pictures if you don’t believe me!). Parking at the hotel is guaranteed and only costs a modest 16 Euros extra per night.
• Barcelona Catedral Hotel . This modern boutique hotel has light-filled, spacious suites, a rooftop pool and patio, and offers free walking tours for guests. Note that secure parking costs a bit extra, and you’ll need to reserve a spot in advance.
• Motel One Barcelona-Ciutadella . Don’t let the name ‘motel’ fool you – this is a boutique hotel through and through. If you can tear yourself away from the trendy lounge-bar and rooftop terrace overlooking the city, it’s a short 20-minute walk to Las Ramblas. Private parking is offered at a nearby location and costs an extra 20 Euros.
• Unite Hostel Barcelona . My top budget choice in Barcelona, this boutique hostel offers dorms and private rooms, all bright, clean and minimally furnished. The yoga studio and co-working spaces are the cherry on top. Reserve on-site parking in advance for 18 Euros/night.

Things to do in Barcelona

In all honesty, planning a Barcelona itinerary can be a bit overwhelming. There’s just so much to see and do. I’m only recommending a few select activities and restaurants that we really enjoyed – know that there is a lot more out there!

Start by pounding the pavement on Sandeman ‘s free city walking tour . This will help you get your bearings while introducing you to some of Barcelona’s must-sees, including the Gothic Quarter and Barcelona Cathedral.

La Sagrada Familia , the grand cathedral designed by Gaudi, is the symbol of Barcelona. You should prioritise visiting on your first or second morning. Skip-the-queue tickets are essential – or else you risk spending hours waiting in line. Pre-buy your skip-the-line tickets for the Sagrada Familia online.

Gaudi’s other works in Barcelona, including the iconic Park Güell Monumental Zone (buy fast-track tickets here ) and Casa Batlló are absolutely worth a visit as well. Even if you’re not that interested in architecture, these buildings all capture the spirit of Barcelona and tell a fascinating story of Spanish and Catalonian history. The experience is even richer if you’re accompanied by a guide who can illuminate the symbology.

Ride an e-bike around the gorgeous Gothic Quarter to explore one of Barcelona’s most charming neighbourhoods. For a break from the hubbub, head for the hills and spend an afternoon wandering around the cactus gardens at Montjuïc . Take the cable car over La Barceloneta beach for fantastic views, and visit the beach itself if the weather is right.

Don’t skimp on the food, either! Barcelona is packed with incredible restaurants . We especially loved eating Spanish ‘ hamburguesas ‘ at Hamburguesería Bacoa and pigging out on homemade churros at Bar Churrería Layetana . If you’re a foodie, this market to table tour of Mercado de La Boqueria , Barcelona’s biggest produce market, is a must-do.

Take advantage of the free entry to Museu Picasso every Friday night – it’s busy, but it’s a wonderful experience. And for something truly memorable, try to see a gig at the Palau de la Música Catalana (we watched an unforgettable performance by the late, great Sharon Jones). If there’s nothing on, I highly recommend booking in for a short guided tour – it’s truly one of the most majestic buildings I’ve ever been in (aside from Sagrada Familia!).

Recommended day trips from Barcelona

If you decide to extend your stay in Barcelona, there are lots of fantastic day trip opportunities within a few hours’ drive of the city.

• Get your Game of Thrones on in charming Girona
• Visit family run wineries and taste tapas in the Penedès region
• Discover the mysteries of Montserrat solo or with a guide

No car? This 12-day journey around Spain by train , starting from Barcelona, takes in some of the country’s best cities and beaches.

It’s time to hit the road! After collecting your car in Barcelona, start heading due west towards the Bay of Biscay. The drive to Zaragoza takes 3 hours. If you want to make it in time for lunch, try to leave the city as early as possible (by 8am at the latest). That way you’ll also beat most of the traffic.

Zaragoza lies smack-bang in the middle of northern Spain. Capital of the autonomous Aragon region, it’s one of the country’s most underrated cities and an ideal place to break for lunch and a short walk.

On reaching Zaragoza, we stopped at a small tavern in the shadow of the Aljafería Palace and ate a bowl of fideos negros (black noodles simmered in fish stock). There are plenty of restaurants and gastrobars around the river, close to the historic centre. However, it might be tricky to find a car park, so I recommend heading to the city’s western fringe like we did.

Sos del Rey Católico

When I picture an archetypal Spanish town, the Sos is what comes to mind. This little village on the frontier of the Pyrenees is located another 1.5 hours’ drive north of Zaragoza, so I recommend leaving after lunch no later than 1pm to maximise your time in Sos.

Ferdinand II of Aragón, husband of Isabel I of Castilla and one-half of the most influential royal couple in Spanish history, was born here in Sos. The little town is loaded with history and packed with charm.

The town is petite and easily navigated during an evening or early morning stroll ; admire the flower boxes, pop in and out of charcuterie shops, and listen to the church bells toll.

We stayed a night at the Parador de Sos del Rey , which sits on a low rise overlooking the Sos’ ancient cobbled streets (you might recognise it from the 2017 film The Trip to Spain ) and had a very memorable meal at the Parador’s Cinco Villas-themed restaurant.

Where to stay in Sos del Rey: Hotels with parking

• Parador de Sos del Rey Catolico . It’s honestly worth the splurge to stay at this Parador. Set in a historic Aragonese mansion that overhangs Sos’s winding streets, it’s one of the most romantic hotels I’ve ever had the pleasure of spending a night in. Rooms are plush as, and the set dinner at the on-site restaurant is a must-try (I’ve never eaten so much food in my life). Parking on the grounds is free and easy.
• El Peiron . For a budget-friendly alternative, this hotel has a similar 17th century ambiance. Cozy rooms feature large beds and exposed stone walls. The location on Sos’s main street, close to some of the village’s best tapas bars, will make you feel like you’re part of the city (unlike the Parador, which makes you feel like absolute royalty). Free street parking is available near the hotel.

On your next full day of driving, break the 2-hour journey to the Bay of Biscay by stopping off in Pamplona for lunch. This will be your first taste of Basque Country tapas ! Pamplona is the perfect place to practice the art of ordering ahead of your arrival in San Sebastián.

Outside of the famous San Fermin (Running of the Bulls) cultural festival , which takes place in Pamplona every July, the streets are surprisingly peaceful and sparse. Bakeries and boutiques run the length of the main pedestrian drag and are well worth a browse.

San Sebastián

Most people head straight for San Sebastián’s pintxos bars , but don’t forget to take a stroll along the waterfront promenade , too. After a day’s drive, this is exactly what you need to stretch your legs and re-fuel.

We spent a few early evening hours in San Sebastián, and while I didn’t really fall head over heels for the town like I’ve known other people to do, it’s a worthwhile stopover on the way to Bilbao. If food is in your wheelhouse, you can easily switch your itinerary and stay in San Sebastián instead of Bilbao.

Bilbao and San Sebastián are only an hour’s drive apart, so you can plausibly stay in one city and visit the other as a day trip. If I had my time again, I would probably stay in San Sebastián instead.

The futuristic Guggenheim Museum is Bilbao’s main attraction, but I found the rest of the city a little bland. One full day is ample time to see the museum and explore Bilbao’s riverfront.

In 24 hours, you can discover the city by bicycle and tour a few of the key Game of Thrones filming locations around Bilbao. An in-depth Basque County gastronomy tour is worth considering if you’re particularly interested in food and wine (let’s face it, if you’re planning a trip around Spain, you probably are!).

Where to stay in Bilbao: Hotels with parking

• Hesperia Bilbao . These trendy self-contained apartments are a 10-minute walk from the city centre (just across the river from the Guggenheim) and feature everything you need for a comfortable stay in Bilbao. There’s even a Japanese restaurant and a rooftop terrace bar – because both those things are basically travel essentials nowadays. Secure parking can’t be reserved but is available at an extra charge.
• Ercilla Hotel . For something with a touch more old-world charm, this boutique hotel offers pretty rooms with herringbone floors and chequerboard tiles. The restaurant serves traditional Basque food, and there’s a panoramic bar here as well. Park on-site for 20 Euros (reservations essential).
• Parador de Limpias . If you don’t mind staying outside the city, this Parador is a 50-minute drive from Bilbao. The former summer residence of King Alfonso, the setting amongst private gardens and a protected woodland is just divine. Free parking is plentiful.

After a short but sweet introduction to Basque Country, it’s time to leave the coast and start driving inland towards Madrid.

Segovia is 100km shy of Spain’s capital city. Coming from Bilbao, you’ll naturally pass through it – so there’s no reason not to stop off and check out two of Central Spain’s most impressive historical sights.

Aqueduct versus alcazar – when an urban landscape is a battle between the most important Roman civil engineering work in Spain and a Moorish palace so beautiful that it’s instantly recognisable from pop-culture, you know you’re in for a treat.

Segovia is a complete contrast to Madrid. Park your car on the hill leading up to the aqueduct and ease your way into the capital by wandering around this charming town for a few hours first.

Climb the concealed staircase to the right of Segovia’s UNESCO-listed aqueduct for a different perspective on this feat of engineering. Visit The Alcazar , apparently Walt Disney’s architectural inspiration when creating Cinderella’s castle.

Between 10.30am and 4.30pm you can join a 60-minute guided tour of Segovia Cathedral , another of the city’s landmarks. This particular tour also allows you to climb the 500-year-old bell tower for a panoramic view of Segovia.

And as a reward for all that walking, treat yourself to a Pasteleria Limon y Menta , Segovia’s signature pastry. It’s lemony, it’s minty, and it’s wrapped in caramelised marzipan. Yum!

If you opt to drive straight into Madrid, you can always visit Segovia on a day trip.

Our first experience of Madrid was the nightmarish drive through the city at peak hour. Don’t make the same mistake we did – try to arrive in Madrid before nightfall!

Where to stay in Madrid: Hotels with parking

• Only YOU Hotel Atocha . The design of this jaw-droppingly beautiful hotel draws on the 19th-century building its housed inside. Deluxe rooms face onto an inner courtyard and are bright and airy as a result while still feeling private. There’s a cafe, bakery and lounge, and breakfast is served on the 7th floor with city views. The Prado Museum is only 900m away, making this a great choice for museum and culture lovers. Parking on-site is guaranteed and costs extra.
• Hostal Patria Madrid . Coming in at under $100 a night, this hotel is excellent value for money in Madrid. Rooms are basic but comfortable with Scandi-style furnishings, and the location on a popular cafe strip is perfect for hungry travellers. Parking (reservation required) costs a very reasonable 17 Euros.
• Parador de Alcala de Henares . If you want to avoid driving into Madrid (smart choice!), this Parador is 45 minutes outside of Madrid. The 16th-century convent building reminds me of a Silk Road Caravanserai. There’s an outdoor pool, and parking on the grounds costs a little bit extra.

Things to do in Madrid

An easy walk or cycling tour through the city is the best way to see central Madrid. Make sure you explore the gorgeous Real Jardín Botánico , wander through the bookstalls that line Cuesta del Moyano , and top it off with sunset at the Temple of Debod , an ancient Egyptian temple that was dismantled, shipped to Spain, and reassembled in all its glory on a hill in the city centre. A live flamenco performance is the perfect way to end your first day in Spain’s capital.

For a dose of history and culture, visit Madrid’s four most iconic landmarks: The Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas , the Royal Palace , the Plaza Major , and of course the Prado Museum .

Here are my top tips for exploring historic Madrid:

• Join a tour of Las Ventas to access some of the building’s hidden nooks and crannies.
• Take in the scale of the magnificent Plaza Major on a bicycle. This 3-hour small group tour takes in many of the city’s highlights.
• Let a professional guide show you around the Throne Room, Banquet Hall and Private Royal Apartments inside the Royal Palace. This 2-hour tour is excellent value for money.
• Skip the line by buying your Prado tickets online in advance through Get Your Guide .

Recommended day trips from Madrid

• Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cuenca , and its amazing ‘hanging houses’
• See the ‘three cities’, Segovia, Avila and Toledo, on a day trip (a good option if you want to condense your Spain road trip itinerary and stay longer in Madrid)
• Tour the wineries around Madrid and taste the local drop
• Cast your eyes on the surreal landscape of El Escorial and the Valley of the Fallen

Leaving Madrid, start your journey to Southern Spain’s enchanting Andalusia region. Over the next 12 days, you’ll be driving from Madrid to Granada and Cordoba via some of the loveliest small towns and historical villages in the country.

The first of these, Toledo , is just an hour outside Madrid. After the chaos of the capital, it’s a salve. Toledo’s mix of old-world charm, literary heritage and multicultural influences makes it one of my favourite places in all of Spain. I highly recommend staying for at least one night.

Toledo is the first place where you can see, hear and smell the Middle Eastern/North African influence that becomes more and more pronounced the further south you travel. We had a wonderful introduction to Syrian and Turkish food in Toledo, which became our go-to cuisine for the remainder of our trip.

Where to stay in Toledo: Hotels with parking

• Hotel Santa Isabel . A great budget choice at under $40 per night, this charming guesthouse is right in the heart of Toledo. Private balconies overlooking the town rooftops and a central courtyard are terribly quaint. Rooms are a bit boxy, but nicely finished and clean. Reserve parking in advance for 12 Euros per night.
• Parador de Toledo . This is another great candidate for a little splurge. Set 4km from the centre of Toledo in a low-set historic building, rooms here are a bit more outdated than at other Paradors, but the outdoor pool and panoramic terrace are lovely. Parking is free.

Toledo is the spiritual home of Don Quixote , Spain’s literary legend. A great way to see the old town is by walking the Don Quixote Trail . Alternatively, let a Toledo local show you around on a private walking tour .

Fall in love with Syrian food at Posada El Cristo de la Luz , then down a sampler box of marzipan from Santo Tome (the signature sweets of Toledo).

For more Toledo inspiration, see this list of the top 10 things to do in Toledo .

Consuegra, La Mancha

I’m a huge fan of Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote , but even if you’ve never read the book, a quick detour through Spain’s iconic La Mancha landscape, with its towering windmills and patchwork fields, is an absolute delight.

Leaving Toledo and driving east, aim to arrive in the small town of Consuegra in the early morning before the tour buses pull in at around 10am.

Stop at one of the provincial bakeries for a quick bite. You can then drive all the way to the top of the hill and explore the windmills on foot.

Spain’s third-largest city, Valencia has all the charm of Barcelona and all the amenities of Madrid with a laid back, beach-town feel. This is the Orange Blossom Coast , and the streets of Valencia are lined with citrus trees (which you must pick and sample – luckily our Airbnb came with a juicer!).

Valencia is also the traditional home of paella and Spain’s signature beverage, horchata. While we weren’t all that impressed with the City of Arts and Sciences , we loved cycling through the elongated Cabecera Park that runs through the heart of the city. (Perhaps we should have opted for the rooftop wine and tapas tour instead!) If you’re an outdoorsy type, you’ll adore Valencia.

Driving in Valencia is relatively easy compared to Barcelona or Madrid, so you can stay in the city centre without having to worry too much about traffic or navigating the roads.

Where to stay in Valencia: Hotels with parking

• HQ Rooms Apartments San Vincente . Spacious and featuring all the mod-cons, this self-containted apartment sleeps up to 8 people and comes with a large private balcony. It’s 1.5km from the centre of the city, and there are bicycles available to rent for a small fee. Parking costs an extra 15 Euros.
• Palacio de Rojas . 350m from Valencia’s Central Market, it doesn’t get much more inner-city than this. The canary yellow facade, the indoor-outdoor living spaces, the high ceilings and the heavy doors… This must be one of the most beautiful hotels in all of Spain. Seriously. Palacial apartments sleep up to 9 people and all feature a full kitchenette. Underground parking is available for an additional 15 Euros.

Things to do in Valencia

You’ll probably be quite content hiring a bicycle and exploring Valencia at your own pace. If you want a deeper look, try joining a private walking tour with a local .

For a hands-on activity, I highly recommend taking a paella cooking class and learning just why Valencia is the birthplace of Spain’s most famous dish. Head to the Plaça de Santa Caterina to try a glass or horchata (or two) at one of the open-air cafes. Horchateria Santa Catalina is my personal favourite.

Three hours’ drive down the coast from Valencia, Cartagena is another of Spain’s most underrated cities. We rolled into the sleepy historic centre in the early afternoon and were greeted by a medieval festival, the annual Mercado Medieval (how’s that for timing!).

Catagena’s Roman amphitheater is one of the best-preserved in all of Europe, and exploring the state-of-the-art museum was honestly one of the most enjoyable ‘historical’ experiences I had in Spain. It’s fascinating to see how the city has been built-up around the ruins.

Cartagena is small so you only need a day or two at the most. Start by getting your bearings with a walk around the inner city. The food scene here is great, so I also recommend doing a gourmet tapas tour .

Where to stay in Cartagena: Hotels with parking

• NH Cartagena . Elegant rooms with a view of Cartagena port are the stand-out feature of this efficient hotel. It’s only 200m from the Roman Theatre but in a quiet corner of town, so you can still get a good night’s sleep. Reserve paid on-site parking at the time of booking.

The Sierra Nevada: Lanjarón and the White Villages

Leaving Cartagena behind, you’ll next be driving the coast of Spain (at least a portion of it) and dipping inland to visit one of Spain’s most beautiful natural landscapes, the Sierra Nevada.

Once you hit the mountainous Las Alpujarras region, you’ll realise what a blessing your hire car truly is. Navigating the windy, steep, narrow roads around the white villages was nail-biting at times, but I can’t imagine trying to get around any other way.

Base yourself in Lanjarón , the area’s most populous village and home to a number of quirky accommodations, including the healing retreat/yurt we stayed in.

Once a hippie mecca and still famed for its spring water and olives , Lanjarón is a gateway to the smaller villages of Pampaneira, Bubio and Capileira . If you can brave the altitude, add Trevélez (Spain’s highest settlement) to your driving itinerary.

Some of the villages take a good few hours to get between, especially in inclement weather, so I recommend setting aside at least two days to explore the area, more if you intend on hiking between the villages .

Where to stay in Sierra Nevada: Hotels with parking

• Hotel Alcadima (Lanjarón). Homely suites at this quaint little hotel are excellent value for money. Indoor and outdoor pools, plus a kids’ play area, make it a great choice for families. The restaurant specialises in roast lamb with cinnamon. Need I say more? Parking costs an extra 10 Euros.
• Enchanting Yurt (Lanjarón). One of the coolest Airbnbs we’ve ever stayed at, this whimsical yurt is set in an olive grove at the foot of the mountains. It’s absolutely magical, and the Israeli hosts are very kind and welcoming. Free parking is plentiful.
• Parador de Nerja (Nerja). Another town, another Parador! This one is a bit different because it’s set inside a modern building on a cliff top overlooking the ocean. An elevator ferries guests down to the nearby beach (how cool!). Private parking is available for an additional charge. Note that it’s a 60-minute drive to Lanjarón.

Granada boats a quixotic mix of Spanish and Moorish cultures. The Alhambra is an architectural triumph – if it’s not on your itinerary, you’re doing Spain wrong!

You need to buy tickets to the Alhambra and Generalife Palace and Gardens a day or two ahead of your visit (or a week in advance if you’re travelling in summer). The easiest way to do that is by booking online through Get Your Guide .

On the day of your visit, make sure you leave early to account for the time it takes to access the complex (which includes a long, beautiful walk through the forest if you’re using public transport).

Where to stay: Granada hotels with parking

• Eurostars Catedral . The exception location 70m from Granada Cathedral is only topped by the traditional coffered wooden ceilings inside some of the suites. Rooms are otherwise modern and luxurious with more subtle nods to the building’s history sprinkled throughout. Parking costs an extra 22 Euros per day.
• Anacapri . This 18th-century house turned boutique hotel wears its heart (and its history) on its sleeve. The inner courtyard is outstanding, and rooms are very comfortable. It’s even closer to the cathedral and just 20 minutes’ walk from the Alhambra, right next to the start of the pathway. No reservation is required for the off-site parking (an extra 20 Euros per day).
• Alhambra Palace . Just shy of the city walls to Granada’s iconic UNESCO attraction, this hillside hotel has spectacular views, Moorish-inspired decor, and of course, quick access to the Alhambra. Secure parking is off-site and costs 22 Euros.

Things to do in Granada

After the once-in-a-lifetime experience of The Alhambra, everything else pales in comparison! However, Granada has a lot more to offer, which is why I suggest staying an extra night (or even longer, if you can).

Discover the city’s most charming neighbourhoods , Albaicín and Sacromonte, on foot with a walking tour. Watch a traditional flamenco performance inside Albaycin, and treat yourself to an authentic Arabian hammam bath .

There is a secret sunset spot in the hills above Granada where you can watch the warm light bathe the entire Alhambra complex before someone flicks the switch and it lights up like a beacon on the hill. Don’t miss it!

From The Alhambra to Códoba’s Mezquita, a fascinating mosque-cum-church that is home to a set of much-photographed candy cane archways. Córdoba is an archetypal Andalusian city (my favourite in the region) and has many other offerings, including a pleasant waterfront and some incredible vegetarian restaurants.

Every year, Córdoba hosts the Patio Festival , which showcases the amazing indoor gardens that are a traditional part of every home here. Make sure you peek inside a few doorways as you’re wandering the town’s lanes. This is also a good place to catch a Flamenco/equestrian show – our pick is the Royal Stables of Córdoba .

Where to stay: Córdoba hotels with parking

• Hotel Boutique Patio del Posadero . This intriguing little hotel features bespoke rooms and a beautiful patio (as is the style in Cordoba). The outdoor swimming pool and terrace lounge are perfect for summer. Reserved parking costs extra.
• Hotel Cordoba Center . A bit further from the mosque, this ultra modern hotel sits on the city’s Golden Block next to the AVE Train Station. The 7th floor pool and Jacuzzi are particularly noteworthy, but it lacks the charm of some other Cordoba hotels. Non-reserved parking is located on site.
• Parador de Cordoba . It’s almost your last chance to stay in a Parador! Cordoba’s is a fine choice – another renovated summer palace, it’s located north of the centre and boasts a massive pool plus sprawling gardens (the grounds, Los Naranjos, are where the first palms brought to Europe were planted.) Rooms are extremely spacious and well-appointed. Parking is free.

Things to do in Córdoba

Join the official Mezquita tour (price includes entry) and see this incredible UNESCO mosque-cathedral up close. In the summer, cycle the waterfront on a bicycle tour , or visit seven of Cordoba’s most impressive patio gardens and learn about the history of the city’s courtyard tradition.

If you have an extra day, venture outside the city to see the impressive Azahara Medina .

An entire day can easily be spent inside Seville’s Alcazar complex , another incredible palace – this time in the Andalucian style – that mirrors The Alhambra in its layout and design. GoT fans will recognise the Alcazar as the setting for the Water Gardens of Dorne.

Seville is a sun-bathed walking city, and the Plaza de Espana , Barrio Santa Cruz and Parque de Maria Luisa are all worth a wander.

I found Seville a lot grungier than other places in Spain. The streets are filled with cool v intage stores and hip cafes , and the city has a great vibe.

We returned our rental car in Seville and got around the city very easily using public transport. I recommend you do the same.

Where to stay in Seville: Hotels with parking

• Hotel Las Casas de la Judería . If it’s atmosphere you want, look no further. This charming hotel is set with 27 traditional houses (yes, it’s big), all connected by courtyards and internal passageways. Traditional decor including antique furniture and French windows is straight from the history books, while the rooftop pool brings the property up to date. Some of the rooms are just spectacular – I couldn’t imagine a better way to end your Spain road trip than with a few nights here. The location in the old Jewish Quarter means there’s lots to be explored nearby, including the cathedral, which is just a 7-minute walk away. Off-site parking costs 24 Euros.
• Melia Sevilla . Modern, minimal and a complete contrast to the previous property, this hotel is centrally positioned off Plaza España. Twin hot tubs and a hamman round-out the ample services. Public parking near the hotel costs 24 Euro. Staff can help you coordinate, but I recommend you return your hire car before you check in.
• Hotel Rey Alfonso X . This trendy hotel features a summer pool that overlooks Seville’s oldest church. Business-like rooms are smart if not a little soulless. On-site parking costs extra (enquire at the time of booking).

Things to do in Seville

The Alcazar should be top of your list for things to do in Seville. This skip-the-line ticket includes a guided tour.

Marvel at Seville’s Cathedral and Giralda Tower , watch a flamenco show at Museo del Baile Flamenco (the birthplace of this Intangible Heritage icon), and walk through the gorgeous Santa Cruz Jewish Quarter (don’t forget your camera!).

If you want to get even further off the beaten path in Seville , I highly recommend this alternative market and walking tour .

Seville is a great place for a Spanish cooking class . This one shows you how to prep several popular Seville-style tapas , and includes bottomless sangria.

Recommended day trips from Seville

• The British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar is just a short drive from Seville
• See Ronda , a small town set on a dramatic gorge
• Village hop through the Andalusian countryside
• Visit the port city of Cadiz and the Moorish Jerez, two of Southern Spain’s most stunning cities
• Get another stamp in that passport! – take a full day trip from Seville to Tangier, Morocco

Quick tips for driving in Spain

Here are a few pointers to make your Spain road trip as smooth as possible.

Things to remember when renting a car in Spain

Obtain an International Driving Permit before you leave home. Most rental car companies require an IDP by law (you also have to carry your regular driver’s license).

Book your rental car well ahead of time , especially if you want an automatic transmission as they are in short supply. We could only find a few automatic cars available in Barcelona, and they were more expensive than manual. I highly recommend using Discover Cars to compare rental prices and reserve your car in advance .

Choose the smallest car possible. In between the narrow village streets and tight street parking spaces, you’ll want to go with the smallest car you feel comfortable with. Driving around Spain in a small car (a Hyundai or a Corolla, for example) is perfectly safe provided you stick to the highways and don’t go off-road.

Bring your own GPS (with maps for Spain and Portugal pre-loaded) to avoid the GPS rental fee. Alternatively, use your phone to navigate with Google Maps or Maps.Me – it works just fine, provided you have the map pre-downloaded for offline use or you have a Spanish sim card with plenty of data.

General driving tips & Spain road rules

Plan your route to avoid toll roads. Some tolls are very expensive – up to 20 Euros – but we managed to avoid most of these by taking indirect roads and alternate highways.

Avoid driving in the bigger cities , especially Madrid. Pick up and drop off your hire car from an office in the outer suburbs or the airport to avoid inner-city congestion.

Note the blood alcohol limit. If you plan on visiting any wineries while you’re driving across Spain, remember that the blood alcohol limit in Spain is 0.05% (or 0.01% if you’ve had your license for 24 months or less).

Tips for parking in Spain

Look for ‘Blue Zones’. If you’re visiting cities and towns for the day and need a place to leave your car away from your accommodation, you’ll need to get a grasp on how the street parking works in Spain. Blue Zones (portions of curb marked with a blue line) designate paid parking spots. Wherever you see Blue Zones, you’ll see a meter or automatic machine nearby where you need to register your car. Take the ticket and display it prominently on the dash, with the date and times face-up.

Yellow lines designate disable parking spots. You’ll need a displayed permit to park here. Other coloured zones vary from city to city but usually indicate Resident Zones. If you’re not registered to a nearby address, you obviously can’t park here.

Park during siesta hours. Depending on the city, metered parking is sometimes free between 2pm and 4pm Monday to Friday and after 2pm on Saturdays. If you want to save a buck, try finding a car park during siesta hours.

What to pack for your Spain road trip

A few of my favourite must-pack essentials to make your road trip around Spain comfortable, safe and hassle-free.

Travel insurance for Spain

The one thing I never travel without. When it comes to medical expenses, accidents, travel delays and the like, preferred partner for long-term travel insurance is SafetyWing .

When renting a car, make sure you read the PDS to see what you’re already covered for. I always recommend purchasing extra insurance just in case, either via the rental agent or through a provider such as Insurance4CarHire.

Handy gadgets

Travel adapters. If you carry a universal adapter, you’ll never get caught out with the wrong plug. This portable travel plug works in more than 150 countries (including Spain and the rest of the EU) and features 4 USB ports for charging multiple phones/iPads at once.

USB phone charger. Don’t let your phone run flat while you’re in the car. You can plug your regular charging cable directly into this Anker USB car charger . It works with most phones and iPads.

Car mount phone holder. Using a phone while driving is illegal in Spain. If you plan on using your phone to navigate around, you’ll need to use a mobile phone mount. This travel-friendly phone holder fits any phone or phone case, and has a 360-degree rotating cradle.

Lightweight cooler bag. An insulated bag to keep your drinks and road trip snacks cool is especially useful in summer. This simple family-size cool bag packs down into a neat, flat little bundle that you can easily squeeze into your suitcase.

Wine Wings. Whether you’re road tripping or not, these handy non-leak wine bottle protectors are one of my favourite travel items for Europe. Essential if you want to bring a few bottles of Spanish vino home with you!

Eco travel essentials

Refillable water bottle. It’s crucial to stay hydrated in Spain, especially in the warmer months. Tap water in most cities and towns is potable. As you drive through the mountains around the Sierra Nevada you’ll see fresh-water springs by the side of the road where you can fill up your water bottle (this was one of my favourite things about road tripping in Spain!). I highly recommend S’Well insulated bottles because they look good, stay cool for up to 12 hours, and they don’t sweat.

Reusable coffee cup. You’ll probably be drinking a lot of coffee in Spain. It’s always a good idea to bring a reusable cup that you can take with you in the car. This gorgeous gold barista-friendly travel mug is vacuum sealed (zero chance of a spill!) and will allow you to cut down on plastic and paper waste.

What to wear in Spain

Good walking shoes. Even if you’re on a Spain road trip, you’re still going to be spending a lot of time pounding the pavement (and cobblestone streets!). Comfortable walking shoes are absolutely essential. To cut down on luggage, we carry ‘stylish’ walking shoes in Europe that we can also wear out at night.

Sunglasses. Some highways in Spain are quite exposed – I guarantee you’ll be reaching for your sunglasses on the first day. Bring your favourite pair of polarized lenses, or pick up a pair of foldable travel sunglasses .

Loose, comfortable clothing. There’s nothing worse than feeling uncomfortable in the car. Pack a pair of travel leggings or yoga pants plus a few comfy t-shirts for longer driving days. A comfy travel cardigan like this one is a must-pack for winter in Spain.

Essential reading

A copy of Lonely Planet Spain. This essential guidebook for Spain is the perfect Spain road trip companion. As well as planning and logistics, it includes useful Spanish phrases and detailed information about Spain’s top tourist sites.

A copy of Back Roads Spain. This little book is a bit light on practical information, but it does contain some beautiful photos. Great inspiration for getting off the beaten track in Spain.

Spain paper map. Good for peace of mind if your sat nav fails you. Even if you don’t use it for navigating, you can still plot out your route and hold onto the map for a nice souvenir! This map is current for this year and covers both Spain and Portugal.

I hope you’ll agree that this is one of the best routes through Spain by car for first-time visitors who want to pack everything in. Are you planning a self drive Spain itinerary for your next road trip? Leave your questions in the comments!

Spanish road trip itinerary: Pin it!

50 Comments

This is such a great post, we did a very similar route over three months! We didn’t realise just how much we would fall in love with Spain.

Whilst in Spain, we were crashed into TWICE!!! both times when we were parked!! Although there is nothing we could have done to prevent this – I thought I would let you guys know! Spanish drivers can be crazy – even in a parking lot!!

Sorry to hear that Christie! Hope you still had a fun time!

Really love your post on spain. Just wondering if this will work also in winter in dec?

Hi Jaime, I don’t see why not – I was there at the start of winter and the weather was nice, roads quiet, etc. You might have to make some small adjustments for the mountain roads. Happy travels!

I travelled around Spain in a campervan from January to March this year and the weather was great. Even on the coldest days, the temperature was really mild and completely manageable. Bilbao was the only place that even felt remotely “wintery”, but with that being said, I’d take a Spanish winter over a Scottish winter any day!! I would 100% recommend visiting Spain over winter as it is not overcrowded with tourists and the weather is still good enough to do most outdoor excursions!

Looks wonderful! I recommend renting a car and driving off the road to get to know the culture and customs of people in the provinces. It is such a cultural and spiritual journey.

Amazing road trip! In Spain there is so many places to visit from the north with beautiful nature to the south with cultural impact. Love your style of writing.

Dear Emily, thanks for sharing your invaluable experience and tips. I’ve never been to Spain (but I will soon), except for the Canary Islands, so this thorough guide is just priceless while planning a trip. After seeing the super narrow streets on Tenerife, I can totally vouch for hiring the smallest car. We were lucky enough to hire a really small one while traveling around Tenerife. Otherwise, it would have been impossible to pass some of the roads, especially when there was a bus in our way.

Absolutely! We had a terrible (but also hilarious) experience with our car in Bilbao… Smaller is definitely the way to go in Spain!

Enjoy your trip!

Dear Emily, Thank you so much for sharing with us your great experience in spain, I’m very glad to read your trip report and happy to hear that you enjoyed it.

Regards, Hamid

Hey Emily, Love your travel blog. I was just wondering about the language barrier? My partner and I only speak English. Was it hard to communicate with people? Thanks!

You have nothing to worry about – English is widely spoken, even in small towns. For extra peace of mind, you could download Google Translate’s Spain module to use offline when you’re travelling.

I hope you have a wonderful trip!

Oh & We are planning to spend 2 days in Madrid and 2 in barcelona , which leaves us with 5 days for driving and moving around from madrid , throughout these Andalusian cities and reacb to barcelona. At what point do u think a train would be more convenient? Thanks again Emily 🙂

Wow your post was so helpful and informative! We are planning a 9-day trip to Spain. We will arrive in madrid and depart from barcelona. Starting in madrid , driving south (rent Car) to Toledo , Cordoba , Seville , Granada. We are not sure if we should continue driving from Granada towards Valencia then off to barcelona for the last 2 days. OR skip Valnecia all together, drop the car in granada and take a train to Barcelona. Do you habe any advice as to the best way to accommodate this itinerary? (In terms of making use of the beautiful towns and scenary, but not waste too much time on tje road!) thanks a lot , your input is appreciated.

Hi Marco, sorry for the late reply. I really enjoyed Valencia – don’t skip it! You can easily do the whole route by car and drop off your rental in Barcelona.

Enjoy Spain!

Your post information is very unique and useful for all readers.

Hi Emily! This is great! Thanks for putting so much effort !! What was you guys process for mapping the road and avoiding the tolls?

Hi John—if you Google ‘Spain toll map’ you’ll find a good road map with no toll roads marked out. We just planned our route according to that!

Hope that helps!

Great thank you! We have been traveling Europe for a little over a month now and going to finish the trip with a 10 day drive from Seville to Barcelona stopping a lot along the way! Will definitely use your post to help!

Sounds incredible! I’m very jealous. Enjoy—and please don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s anything else I can help with.

Great article! Thank you for sharing!

Hi Emily – thanks for this super helpful feature ! Just wondering what car hire company you used and if you have any recommendations on type of car Thanks 🙂

Hi Jess! Thanks so much for reading. I’m glad you found the itinerary helpful.

We were advised to go through Sixt—but unfortunately they didn’t have an automatic car available for our dates. We used Hertz in the end. We rented a regular sedan—we didn’t go off road at all, so it was fine. Even in the Sierra Nevada, you won’t need a 4WD as long as you’re sticking to the path.

I hope this helps! Emily

Thank you for your suggestion Emily!

Wonderful!road trip advice for Spain. Would you suggest me how much total cost to travel so that I would manage my budget accordingly. I would be grateful.

Depending on your travel style, I would recommend budgeting 50-120 USD/day.

I love your blog, I am traveling to Spain early May and currently preparing itinerary for a 16 day road trip. I will be travelling with my husband, we love to explore culture, local food and love nature and seneic places. As we will be little tight on schedule, we want to plan properly so that we can cover the most in 16 days. Please help me with your suggestions on the itinerary, we were planning to spend 5 days in San Sebastian + Bilbao. I am having second thoughts after reading your blog. We will fly in at Barcelona and fly out from Madrid. Below is the itinerary, let me know your thoughts

Night 1 : Barcelona – we will fly in late so not planing anything Day 1 : Roam around Barcelona Day 2: Leave for San Sebastein – stop over at Pamplona – night at San Sebstein Day 3: Explore San sebastein Day 4 : Leave for Bilbao, night at Bilbao Day 5 – Day 6 : Explore Bilbao and nearby. Is this too much for Bilbao? I found POIs that appeared seneic.. I am unsure if 3 nights is way too much for Bilbao Day 7 : Leave for Leon and stay there for a night Day 8 : Plan to spend 5 days in south to cover Seville, Gibraltar, Granda and fly out from Madrid

We are not very keen on Barcelona and Madrid. After reading your blog I am tempted to add Cordoba and Lanjaron to our plan..

I will be glad if you can help me here .. 🙂

Hi Namrata! Thanks so much for your message. Your trip sounds wonderful!

I personally thought Bilbao and SS were overrated—I much preferred Cordoba, and Lanjaron was absolutely beautiful. If you like scenery, you will love Lanjaron. I am less of a foodie so you will probably appreciate San Sebastian more than I did! I would spend less time in Bilbao, but that would just be my personal preference. I really encourage you to check out Cordoba—it was definitely a highlight of Spain for me.

I hope this helps! Have a wonderful time in Spain!

Wow! What a nice roadtrip, Emily. You did covered a large area of Spain and included areas that many travellers overlook. If you ever decide to do another Spanish roadtrip, I would recommend including Extremadura in your trip. It is the most unknown of all Spanish regions, totally overlooked by most foreign tourist, yet a fascinating area full of history, Unesco sites, the best ‘jamón’, castles, vast open spaces and empty roads. Cheers, Irene

Thanks, Irene! I just did a quick Google and Extremadura looks gorgeous! I will definitely keep it in mind for next time.

Cheers, Emily

We’re planning a 3-week trip to Spain this summer probably starting in early June. We are thinking of “winging it”. Flying into Barcelona, renting a car and just driving with an itinerary similar to yours. Do you think winging will be OK? We don’t want to plan staying in any one place for a specific number of days. If we come across a place we like we want to be able to stay there for as long as we want without affecting any reservations that otherwise would have been had. Do you think booking AirBnB’s on the fly will be an issue? With respect to car rentals, are we able to rent in Barcelona and return in Malaga for example? Thank you for posting your article. It’s a great help.

Hi Richard,

Thanks very much for your comment! Your trip sounds great. I wish we had more flexibility with our itinerary as there are spots we would have spent less time (Bilbao) and places where we would have loved to stay longer (Valencia, Granada).

I haven’t travelled in Spain during summer, but I would guess that things are a tad busier! With Airbnb, you should always be able to find something, even at short notice. The only restrictions will be your budget and the availability of car parking. We were on a tight budget, which is why we preferred to book in advance and secure rooms at a lower price. I have booked Airbnbs on the fly in other countries before without any issue—so it’s definitely possible. You may have to compromise on price and location, though.

We rented our car in Barcelona and dropped it off in Seville. There was no issue. We just had to pay a small premium for returning it in a different city, as is standard with most rental places around the world. So you shouldn’t have any problem with returning the car in Malaga.

I hope you have a wonderful trip! Please do let me know if there’s anything else I can help with.

Oh I keep rereading your report and seeing more each time. Thank you so much! We are going to Spain from 21st Sept until 17th Oct and driving three weeks of that. We’ve been to the major cities before (Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Granada) so we are concentrating on smaller places, Jerez, Cordoba, Toledo, Salamanca, Zaragoza (where we’ll catch the annual festival!) etc. Still a little concerned about parking though. How did you manage? We also love apartments so we can visit the local markets and cook some of our meals at home so we’d love you to share your advice about really good airbnb’s. We have one in Jerez so far – haven’t got very far as you can see – and have fortunately found a hotel in Zaragoza with free parking during the festival. We’d really appreciate any other advice along the way. Here’s the general order: start Jerez, check out the white villages from there, Cordoba, Ubeda, Toledo, Salamanca, Burgos, Zaragoza… then somewhere in between and end at Barcelona airport to fly home. Lots of other little places to check out close to these towns but I think they will be our main stops (think…). Would LOVE your comments.

Hi Kathryn, your trip sounds great! We had a few parking dramas in the bigger cities but nothing too bad. I’ve just posted a list of the Airbnbs/hotels we chose to stay at in Spain – some are no longer listed, but there are a few still going. I hope this helps!

https://wander-lush.org/spain-best-airbnb-where-to-stay-road-trip/

Safe travels! Emily

Hey Emily, I plan to make the same road trip you have done in Spain with my wife in January. In which month you did yours ? I am not sure if the weather January is not very convenient for such trip !?

thank you so much in advance

BR Redouane

Hi Redouane! Thanks for your comment. That’s very exciting – I hope you love it as much as we did!

We did our road trip in November. I’ve never been to Western Europe in January, but I can’t imagine the weather would be too drastically different. We prefer the cooler weather, which is why we chose that month. Everything was a touch cheaper as well given that it’s shoulder season.

I hope this helps with your planning! Enjoy!

Hi there! Thanks for a great blog! This is what I love – discovering places off the beaten track. We are doing a 5 week trip with 3 kids taking our own car by ferry in July! The only thing I have planned as yet is that we arrive in Santander….! Would welcome air bnb recommendations but will touch base wth you as I get planning to see what you recommend. Have noted your recommendation for Córdoba. X

Thanks Aabida! Your trip sounds great. Please do get in touch if you want specific recommendations for Airbnb – we stayed at some great places.

Hi Emily, I’m traveling in southern Spain at the end of July and have booked a rental car. I’m concerned about parking in Granada and Cordoba (Granada especially as I’ll be there for a few nights. Any parking recommendations? Thank you!

Thanks so much for your comment. Your trip sounds wonderful!

We stayed at Airbnb apartments with private parking in both Granada and Cordoba. From memory, Cordoba was a bit tricky because the streets there are quite narrow so I would definitely check with your accommodation in advance.

Granada, however, had plenty of street parking. We parked and took public transport to/from town and the Alhambra. I dug up the link to the Airbnb apartment we rented – there was a lot of street parking in this part of town: https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/726540

Best of luck with the rest of your planning! Please let me know if there’s anything else I can help with.

wow amazing road trip! and the photos you’ve taken are really incredible.

Hello Emily I’m thinking of travelling to Spain in May 2017. Thanks for all your information. I like your intinery and will probably follow some of your guides. Did you book your airbnb before you commenced your trip and further did you do it online? Any tips or websites would help? Thanks for any help. Peter

Hi Peter! Thanks for reading.

Yes, we booked all our Airbnb accommodation online before we started the drive. Some places were excellent – others weren’t so good. If you go to Cordoba (which you absolutely should), please stay with Maria and Xavier. They are probably the best hosts we’ve ever had, and their place is incredible: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/929791

We also stayed in one Paradore, which I highly recommend!

Have fun planning your trip and please let me know if there’s anything else I can help with!

Hi Emily We tried to contact these people on the AirBNB link and it says no longer available. do you know what happened ? Is there a way to contact then direct?

Hi Tom, which listing was it? I’ve recommended a few. If it’s not available, they may have taken the listing down. I don’t have direct contacts but if you let me know which one you were after, I can tell you the area and you can try searching for other properties nearby.

Oh my God! Spain is my dream. Soon I’ll visit this country. I’m really grateful for all this information. Unfortunately, I can’t be there all 21 days to explore everything you’ve write. But it’s an awesome purpose to return as soon as possible again. Thanks for sharing

Lovely photos. I stumbled upon your blog while researching itineraries for my next trip to Spain. My boyfriend is a huge fan of road trips and would very much like to drive down the coast, starting Barcelona and ending in Lisbon. I was just wondering whether or not you felt there was a significance cost difference between renting a car and taking local trains. Can you share your main reasons for choosing to drive through Spain? Also, I guess you were able to leave the car in a different city from where you began? Thanks 🙂

Thanks so much for your comment. I’m a huge fan of both trains and road trips – but I felt that having a car would be better for us because we wanted to check out some of the smaller towns and travel at our own pace. Spain is a perfect place to drive since the roads are very well kept and safe, and hiring a car was within our budget. I definitely recommend it!

Have an awesome trip, Emily

What a whirlwind trip to Spain. I’ve been to Madrid/Toledo/Segovia and Sevilla a couple of times. My husband and I are heading to Barcelona then Girona and small towns along the coast. I’m hoping to rent a car outside of Barcelona but am having a difficult time finding a reputable car rental company. Do you remember which one you used and were you happy with it? I’ve come across many complaints/scams.

Toledo is my favorite so far. Can you recommend any towns similar (southeastern Spain)? Thank you.

Hi Cindy, thanks so much for your comment!

A friend recommended Sixt – they have good rates and are reliable. But we had a bit of trouble finding a car at Sixt, because neither of us have a manual license (it’s difficult and more expensive to get an auto). So if you need auto, book ahead of time online. We went with Hertz in the end, and they were fantastic. We took our own GPS but the car had a built-in system as well.

As for towns in the southeast, Cordoba was my personal favourite. Don’t miss it! I would also recommend spending a night in Cartagena. There is plenty to do in Valencia – it’s a little bigger, but also lovely – and of course Granada.

Happy travels!

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The Ultimate Spain Road Trip Itinerary

A road trip in Spain – just the mere mention conjures up images of scrumptious tapas, ambrosial wine , affectionate and fun-loving people, pristine beaches, stunning landscapes, and architecture that spans pretty much all ages.

Today, we take you on a journey from Andalucía in the South of Spain all the way up to Figueres in the North-East with a suggested itinerary for a Spanish road trip that will let you savour the best of what Spain has to offer. Expect to see sights like this:

I would like to add that this was a “birthday trip” for Savi, so the idea was to hit as many carnivals and festivals in Spain as possible. Besides having tons of fun, this also made us see the real Spain and helped us understand local culture.

Spain Road Trip Itinerary

• Day 1: Fly from London to Malaga and pick up rental car
• Day 2 – 4: Malaga and some gems of Andalucia
• Day 5: Drive to Valencia via Granada
• Day 6 – 7: Explore Valencia and get bruised by tomatoes in Bunol and coloured by red wine in Valencia
• Day 8: Drive to Figueres
• Day 9 – 11: Explore Figueres and the surrounding areas
• Day 12: Fly back to London from Barcelona

Total distance :  Approximately 2,000 Kms including the day-trips

Malaga and Costa Del Sol (4 days)

Malaga is a party-hub and a popular beach-side resort on the Southern coast of Spain. Popular with British tourists, it’s quite cheap to get to Malaga from London. To avoid the commotion, we opted to stay in an adjacent village called Benalmádena – great choice. The beach was quieter and nicer as compared to the one in Malaga and it was just a short drive from the centre of Malaga.

A major reason for us to fly into Malaga was to attend the annual carnival in Malaga, also known as Feria De Malaga. People take to the streets and the Feria grounds as early as 10 in the morning. There’s wine, there’s tapas, there’s dancing, and there’s a lot of happy people. We spent the entire day and the evening partying with the locals.

Read more about our exploits at the Feria De Malaga  (opens in a new tab).

The following morning (what with the hangover!) we decided to enjoy a leisurely Spanish breakfast coupled with a strong cortado (espresso with little milk) and make friends with some locals. Morning well spent, we got into our car, put on our favourite road trip playlist  over at Argus, and off we went to explore the surreal rock formations near the quaint village of Antequera. The layered rocks are a sight to behold and the neighbouring village of Antequera is right out of a Spanish fairy tale – cobbled streets, majestic churches, street side cafes, and a towering castle.

Read more about our adventures at the  surreal rock formations in Antequera  (opens in a new tab).

It’s not possible to visit South of Spain and not visit the mighty Alhambra. Make a day trip out of it, and instead of taking the highway, opt for what is now called the “old road to Granada”. The serpentine road will take you through vineyards, rustic houses, treacherous mountains, and our favourite, Rio Frio, a tiny hamlet which is known for Trout fishing.  We’ll be writing a detailed post on this day trip soon, so watch this space.

Accommodation in Malaga

Like we mentioned before, we stayed in  Benalmádena , a 20 minute drive from Malaga. The village and the beach were definitely quieter than Malaga, especially in the carnival season. You can compare and book a hotel here .

Valencia and Bunol (3 days)

Valencia is a bustling city and it’s easy to spend a couple of days just walking around countless Plazas (squares), sampling tapas in hidden tapas bars, and sipping on the local drink, Horchata, a traditional beverage made of ground almonds. The highlight of this segment of our road trip, however, was the day we spent in the tiny village of Bunol, made famous by the annual Tomato throwing festival, La Tomatina. Thousands of visitors descend upon this otherwise sleepy village to partake in the biggest food fight in the world. How could we have stayed behind? We can safely say we came out with a lot of bruises and an aversion to tomatoes, at least for the next couple of days. If you can, definitely plan your Spanish road trip so that you can enjoy the madness in Bunol. La Tomatina festival takes place on the last Wednesday of August each year.

If you do make it to  Spain during the last week of August, don’t miss out on the wine fight that happens in Haro near Valencia . Participants pour wine all over each other using water pistols, glasses, and buckets at the La Batalla del Vino festival. Expect unending dancing and revelry.

Recommended Reading : Our experience at the Tomato throwing festival, La Tomatina (opens in a new tab).

Accommodation in Valencia / Bunol

We would recommend staying in Valencia instead of Bunol – Bunol is a tiny village and accommodation options are limited. Valencia has tons of places to suit all budgets and needs. You can compare all hotels and book here .

 Figueres and Costa Brava (3 days)

Figueres is known for the The Dalí Theatre-Museum , which is the largest surrealistic object in the world and houses the largest collection of Dalí’s paintings and sculptures. It’s easy to spend an afternoon in the museum. Owing to the popularity of the town, accommodation is sometimes difficult to come by, so it’s best to set base in one of the neighbouring quaint villages like St. Miquel De Fluvia.

There is no dearth of picturesque towns in the Catalonian region, Cadaques being one of the most popular ones. For us, however, the medieval town of Besalu and the seaside town of Begur stole the limelight. This region boasts of some of the most spectacular drives and scenery in Spain, not to forget vast expanses of sunflower fields.

On the last day of our road trip, we spent the entire afternoon lazing on one of the hidden ‘Calas’ (coves) that are commonly found in Costa Brava. Looking back on the last 10 days, we realised that we had seen so much, met such amazing people, eaten some of the best tapas, and sampled lush wine. The following day we drove to Barcelona to catch our flight back to London.

Accommodation in Figueres / Cadaques

We stayed in a tiny village called St. Miquel De Fluvia. To be honest, you won’t go wrong if you choose any village/town to stay in this region. If you don’t mind the crowds, then definitely go for Cadaques . If you’d like to be in a quieter place, then look for a hotel or apartment near Figueres .

The next road trip to Spain, this time through central Spain, is currently being planned as we pen this post 🙂

• We opted for self-catering apartments in Malaga, Valencia, and Figueres. The cost was roughly £15 per person per night on an average. You can find more details in our Where To Stay In section .
• Car rental in Spain is cheaper than other European countries. We paid £15 per day for a 5-door economy car from Hertz. There was NO one-way drop-off fee when renting with Hertz.
• There are two kinds of highways in Spain – Autopistas and Autovias. The former are mostly toll roads, so if you want to save some money, use the Autovias which have a lower speed limit.
• All towns and cities are well connected by road and it’s easy to drive in Spain. As always, it’s handy to have a GPS during your road trip, especially if you like to take detours to discover hidden gems like we do.
• For your visit to The Alhambra, book in advance as the tickets run out fast. The combined ticket to Alhambra, Generalife, and the Nasrid Palaces costs around 14.50 Euros per person. Keep in mind that you have to choose the time of your visit to the Nasrid Palaces when booking the  ticket, so plan your day-trip accordingly.
• Entrance to The Dalí Theatre-Museum is 12 Euros per person, but in summer, there is an option of a night time visit, which comes highly recommended from us. Tickets for the night time visit cost 13 Euros per person. It’s strongly advised to book in advance.

We have been to Barcelona and Madrid on city-breaks in the past, so we wanted to do a road trip that would take us to some offbeat places in Spain, and this particular itinerary did not disappoint. From grand palaces to barren deserts, from windy beaches to the snow-capped mountains of Sierra Nevada, we saw it all.

If you are planning a road trip in Spain, you can read all our posts about Spain here  (opens in a new tab).

If you love driving as much as we do, you should definitely check out our epic Iceland road trip  (opens in a new tab). We can guarantee you that you will be tempted to pack your bags and leave for Iceland 🙂

Drop us a line if you have questions about planning and places to visit – we’d love to help. If you have done a road trip in Spain already, share your tips with us in the comments below 🙂

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151 thoughts on “ the ultimate spain road trip itinerary ”.

I haven’t done a road trip in Spain, but watching “Spain: On the Road Again” has made me long to go on one to last for weeks, driving, photographing, eating (rinse & repeat). Fantastic! I’ll have to keep your post in mind!

Wouldn’t that be amazing ? We would love to spend 3-4 weeks (or more) driving through Spain. We absolutely love Spain !

Hi is Spain a good idea in January around 19-26th jan.. I’m planning to travel for my anniversary

Yes. Spain will be nice in January too, albeit a bit cold.

Spain Spain Spain !!! I so badly want to be a part of the Tomatina festival some day 🙁 🙁

You should go in 2014 – you’ll love La Tomatina. Maybe you can do a similar road trip to what we did 😉

Planning a similar list part of our bucket list.A bit older but looking forward to the adventure

Tell us how it went 🙂

Great job guys! I’ve been longing for Spain for a few years now and have it on my list for the next few years. Will definitely keep this in itinerary somewhere safe for future. Can I ask, how did you find driving in Spain vs driving in the UK?

If you haven’t driven in Europe before, then you might find driving on the other side a bit tricky to begin with. But you soon get used to it. Driving in Spain was fine as long as you stay out of busy cities. Spanish countryside is very beautiful 🙂

Well done! I will add this into our “to-do” list. Looking at all these road trip posts, I am desperate for one. Have you guys ever done a road trip through French alps?

Hey Snigdha,

We love driving wherever we go – we have driven in the South of France in the French Riviera but didn’t go further north. That post will be up on the site soon )

Yes, this is on my to-do list so badly! Great idea for a road trip, thanks 🙂 I’ll be looking to do something like this in the next year or so.

We are sure you’ll have an amazing time in Spain. Everything about the country is gorgeous.

Ooh, fun! Where are you planning to go for your central Spain road trip? I lived for three months in Merida, the capital of Extremadura, a town full of Roman ruins which receives so few tourists it’s almost like you have them all to yourself most of the time. And I had no idea car rental was so cheap there…if only I could remember how to drive!

Car rental was in fact super cheap. So much so that we had to check twice that the rental agency hadn’t made a mistake 😉 We’ll go to Madrid, Salamanco and Toledo. Merida sounds amazing – we’ll definitely factor that in. Cheers for the tip !

In 2008, I met my then 21 year old son at the Madrid Airport. We rented a car and did a 4 night trip that was a loop with stay-overs in Segovia, Salamanca and Toledo (with a day stop in Avila). Between Avila and Toledo, we drove through the Gredos Mountains. This was a reasonable itinerary for the amount of time we had. My son did the driving. I thought it was because he liked to drive. I only learned later that the only thing he hates worse than driving is the thought of me driving.

That is quite a funny story. I’m sure you guys have a good laugh about it now. The places that you visited sound so amazing – we will be covering those on our next road trip in Spain 🙂

Gadhe !Awesome website! Just started going through it to plan my trip to Spain in end-of-June/first-week-of-July for work+leisure.. Too bad I will miss both the bull run and tomatina, but can’t change my travel dates.. 🙁 Expect a lot of queries from my end! :))

Thanks a lot 🙂 Of course – let us know what all questions you have and we’ll help you plan an amazing itinerary for Spain 🙂

and this post goes in my Life’s top 10-to-do list !!!

Priyadarshini that’s a good choice for a top-10 list. It was definitely one of the best road trips we have done.

What’s so great about Spain is that you never run out of things to do. Most of the great stuff is hidden in the small towns anyway! My favorite villages are Mondoñedo (Lugo), Cangas de Onís (Asturias), Garganta la Olla (Cáceres) and my boyfriend’s hometown, San Nicolás del Puerto. Pueblos have the cheapest food, the best fiestas, and the cutest grandpas!

All the villages you mention sound amazing. For our next road trip through Spain, perhaps 😉 I completely agree about the cutest Grandpas 🙂

We love Malaga too – The Carnival of Malaga should not be confused with the Feria which you went to in August. Carnival is in February – Both are great parties!!!

Thanks guys ! Your tips came in very handy. Yes, we are also planning a trip to Malaga during the Carnival in February:) Absolutely loved Malaga and the Feria

I love Spain!! You guys should definitely try going to Seville and Ronda sometime. They’re both beautiful and for Ronda, you can even do just a day trip. We drove from Granada to Seville and took a 4 hour break in Ronda.

We have been to Seville – way back in 2009. We were completely bowled over by the city. It’s one of our favourite places in Spain. We really wanted to visit Ronda on this trip, but since we had to go up north and attend the La Tomatina Festival in Bunol, we had to give Ronda a miss this time. Will definitely go there next time. Thanks for the heads-up 🙂

savi and vid awesome job. Spain has been on my mind for a long long time and this is how we’d exactly want to do it. I am going to keep this bookmarked for future use 🙂 Love the name, the content everything about this site. Thumbs up from me !!

Thanks Sneha 🙂

We loved this road trip through Spain and are planning another one for next year 🙂

Hi guys, great post! I did a 6 day road trip a few years back starting in Malaga and going to Ronda, Marbella, Casares, Granada, Gibraltar, Las Alpujarras and Nerja. I loved Analucia – definitely my favourite part of Spain. The moorish history, mountain towns, hiking and white washed buildings were incredible. Looking forward to reading about your next trip!

Your trip sounds amazing Katie. We love Spain 🙂

the name says it all . Spain seems to be definitely ultimate.. !!! everything from tomato fight to scenic beaches .. all looks amazing !!! 🙂

What a great itinerary, and beautiful pictures! Was the first European country I visited, so it has a special place in my heart. I only went to Valencia and Madrid, but I’ve been dying to go back ever since. Hopefully one day I’ll be able to do a trip as cool as this!

Hannah Spain is one of our favourite countries. We’ve taken a number of trips in Spain, but this road trip itinerary ranks right up there as our favourite one 🙂

What was the total cost incurred during the road trip? Was communication ever a problem?

Hey Anmol, the cost of a road trip in Spain depends on the place you’re flying from and the accommodation you choose. Just drop us an email with the details and we’ll get back with an estimate of costs 🙂 Communication isn’t a problem. One can get away with English in most places

An indepth exploration of Spain (beyond Barcelona, which we’ve visited) is high on our travel wishlist. The Alhambra and Grenada (and Seville and Madrid) is calling to us! But we’d prefer not to deal with the stress of driving. Hopefully Spain has a good train system like the rest of Europe?

Spain does have a decent rail system but it’s possible to explore a lot more with a rental car. The Alhambra and Granada are gorgeous – you must explore them soon 🙂

I haven’t done a road trip in Spain (yet), and after reading this post, it’s now on my bucketlist!

Spain is one of our favourite countries for a road trip Valerie – one is almost guaranteed perfect weather, scrumptious food, and picture perfect villages in every corner of Spain 🙂

I was planning a 10 days trip to spain with friends.We have for 5 places in mind.Barcelona,madrid,valencia,ibiza and formentera.Could you please suggest best road trip possible from these 5 places.I was thinking of barcelona to madrid..

We’d suggest driving from Barcelona to Malaga (along the coast, via Valencia) and then flying to Ibiza. To be honest, 10 days might not be enough to enjoy all these things, but if you must, drive from Barcelona to Malaga over 6 days and spend 4 days in Ibiza and Formentera.

This looks like a perfect itinerary for a road trip!! I will be going to Spain in Winter with my family and I think theres a high probability of us using your suggested itinerary. Too cool to be missed! 🙂 Thank you for this!

Nurin a couple of our readers have followed the exact same itinerary and they loved it. We hope you have a great time too 🙂

Great post! I’m planning to do a coastal road trip similar to yours but in the last week of dec and into January. Have you been to Spain during those times? I heard the winter on the Mediterranean side is quite mild. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks! Ps did you pass by any vine regions on this road trip?

Thanks ! Glad you like it. You’ll have a great time in Spain. We have never driven there in December, but I’m certain that as long as you don’t go up the Sierra Nevada, you should be fine. Winter will be mild (around 15 degrees Celsius). We once went to Seville (south of Spain) in December and it was amazing. As for vine regions, we did see some near Almunecar – initially we had planned to visit Bodega of Horacio Calvente (very close to Almunecar) but thanks to my constant stops for taking pictures, we had to skip the detour to the vineyard since we had to drive a long way to Valencia that day.

Have a great trip and let me know if you have any other questions 🙂

Hey guys – Enjoyed reading your travelogue. One question though – Do you guys have an international driving license or will the Indian driving license work for car rentals in Spain? I am planning to follow the same itinerary in Q1-2015 🙂 Cheers!

Hey Akash – the Indian driving licence works well 🙂 Have fun in Spain

I recently discovered your blog and I am honestly addicted to it! I love travelling so much… I just wanted to ask you, I am planning a holiday to Spain as I have never been, which one city would you recommend? I love your pictures with the sun flowers and beautiful postcard beaches, but ideally would like to go somewhere with a lot to do (kid friendly things) as I will be going with my family and we all like different things. Your response will be much appreciated! 🙂

Hey Shazia – we’re sorry for the late response. If it’s your first time in Spain, then Barcelona is a great city to begin with. The city itself offers lots of kid-friendly activities and the sun-flower fields that you love are just an hour’s drive away 🙂

Hi guys, I’m from India and live in Delhi. My wife and I are planning a short road trip in spain around end May 2015. I would really appreciate it if you could share your email or telephone number with meso that I could connect with more details. My email is [email protected] thanks guys

Hey Sanjeev – drop us an email using the ‘Contact Us’ button you see on the top right 🙂

Hey Guys, great job on the blog!

Me and my future wife are gonna be travelling to spain for my honeymoon. Were renting a car and wanting to hit all the hot spots and gems in southern spain. Any ideas on where we should be going? We originally planned on flying into Barcelona and driving south but Im thinking we should be flying into Malaga first. Is there a language barrier in the large/small towns. My fiancée has celiac disease (gluten-free), do you think it will be difficult for us/her at restaurants. If so what option/route should we go? Thanks Tony

Hey Tony – English is widely spoken (and understood) in Malaga. Communicating gets a bit harder as you go deeper into the countryside, but it’s nothing a few fervent hand gestures can’t solve 🙂 There are a few speciality restaurants in bigger cities but it might be hard for your fiancée to find food in restaurants in smaller villages. But there are always supermarkets and there’s nowhere better than Spain for dozens of picnics in the countryside 🙂 Hope you have an amazing honeymoon

Hi guys, We did a Spain road trip as well.. And your blog really helped us. We wouldn’t have discovered cadaques without you guys! I am completely hooked to your posts !

Aww thanks Shilpa – so good to know! We hope you continue to enjoy our adventures around the world 🙂

Hey Savi Vid,

Am I glad that I found this post 🙂 we are three families with teenage children from India planning a road trip in Spain in the second half of June. We have 7 days with us and plan on doing Barcelona to Valencia to Madrid.

Can you recommend if hotels are a better option or apartments ? Also the area which is central and good to stay. Also the absolutely must visit places in these cities ? Will appreciate your inputs !

Hey Reena – I think apartments are always better when you’re travelling as a family 🙂 We booked some great ones through Air B&B and GoWithO. You can check out detailed reviews of all our accommodation in Spain in our ‘Accommodation’ section here: https://www.bruisedpassports.com/category/where-to-stay-in

I’m so glad to chance upon your site as your experience would hopefully help me with my itinerary. I am planning to rent a car in Madrid and drive up to Barcelona and then back, with a stopover at Zargoza.

Here’s the thing that makes me think twice about driving. Is it really that bad to drive in the city? Understand parking will be bad but i’m searching for apartments via airbnb that offers free parking space. Is it advisable to drive in the city to places of interest or should i just park my car and use their public transport? Hear from you soon!

In places like Barcelona and Madrid, it can be tricky to drive in the city, especially in office hours. Many of the places in Madrid and Barcelona are well connected by public transport so you should just use that when you can. For driving a bit out of town or for day trips, you can use the car 🙂

He, we are planning to visit Spain and start from Barcelona for about 10-12 days and mostly a road trip… What are ideal days to be at each location.. Cities which we want to cover are Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Costa Brava, Madrid Ibiza and granada.. Please help

You shouldn’t try to visit all these places in one trip – Ibiza is an island so you will have to take flights to and from. We would recommend 2 days in Seville, 1 day in Granada, 3 days in Madrid, 2 days in Barcelona, 3 days in Costa brava. You can leave Valencia and Ibiza from this trip or it will become too hectic.

Hope this helps.

I’ve been planning to do a roadtrip like this one…seems amazing!! I have finally a starting point in Spain and you made it easy for me to want to go. I’m portuguese and I’m planning to start in Portugal and go to Spain through the South. Since I have time I want to continue and go through the north to Pamplona, San Sebastian Vigo and back to Portugal. Do you have any recommendations to these areas? Are you considering to do a roadtrip in Portugal? We have amazing places that you would enjoy also.

Hey Pedro – we loved driving around in Portugal but we’re yet to write about it (we visited Portugal before we had our blog, so it’s one of those stories that never got written!). Pamplona is a great area, less touristy and every bit as amazing as the rest of Spain. Try to rent a cottage/apartment in the countryside – it makes for a perfect base to explore the area

Savi & Vid – if you like the occasional nature tour, check out SpainBirds, they offer several different guided tours (in English) to national parks or wilderness areas in Spain to spot local birds and if you are lucky to see an Iberian lynx. They also go to Morocco…cool! A thought for your next trip to Spain. You can learn more about SpainBirds and other eco tour companies by country destination on my new directory website, EcoTourLinQ.com. also @EcoTourLinQ Cheers!

Hi Savi & Vid,

This road trip looks enchanting. I was planning to go to Spain with my family and 6 month old nephew. Since we have never been to Spain before, is it possible to add Madrid and Barcelona to this itentiary? Do recommend.

Madrid might be a bit out of the way (or not if you have 4-5 extra days) but Barcelona can definitely be added – it was on the way from Valencia to Figueres but we didn’t stop there this time as we have been there before 🙂

Hope you have a great trip.

Amazing.. I also read ur Iceland trip.. Thanks a ton.. Now.. I m planning Spain by road in September.. 15 days.. Starting around Sevilla.. Upto barcelona.. Ibiza for a couple of days.. Harley or car? What do u suggest Thanks again

Whatever floats your boat, Tarun 🙂 We really can’t comment on that – depends on your tastes and travel style. All we can say is that irrespective of what you choose, you will have a great time in Spain 🙂

Hi Savi and Vid,

Nice post there. I am visiting Barcelona for four days in the first week of September along with a friend. We have already booked a car (a convertible BMW, thanks to much cheaper rental prices than other countries!) and would like to do some rugged road trips instead of just spending time within the city. So we were planning to drive all the way down to Valencia with little stops here and there and then of course come back to Barcelona as we have our return flight from there. (I might get to meet a friend at Valencia, so can’t change the route)

So I have come across names like Sitges, Montserrat, Tarragona, Peñíscola, etc. What stops would you suggest me? We could do some onward and some on our return.

Any kind of suggestion for this driving route would be really helpful. Thanks buddy.

Warm regards, Lalit

We didn’t stop at many places in that stretch because we wanted to get to Figueres from Valencia. We had lunch at Peniscola and it was nice.

Have a great trip – with that car and the sea on one side, it can’t really go bad 😉

Hello, coming all the way from Australia and planning to travel around Spain and Portugal for about 18 days, starting probably in Madrid or Barcelona. Must see San Sebastian and would like to see the coast,places of beauty, not toooo touristy. What would you recommend? We are in our late 50’s, fit and healthy, can get around but don’t want to ride pushbikes! We would prefer to drive, stop, look around, have a bit of lunch, drive some more, look around some more, stop again, settle for a night or two in palace of interest and then go again. Many thanks, Sue

Perhaps you could start in Barcelona, spend a few days in the city, rent a car, drive to Cadaques or a neighbouring village, spend a couple of nights in Costa Brava. Then drive to Zaragoza or Girona depending on what you prefer and on towards San Sebastian. We haven’t explored the northern part of Spain so won’t be able to comment much.

We definitely recommend Costa Brava though 🙂 Some parts might be touristy, but some are absolutely amazing. We really enjoyed Besalu and Begur. Just rent a car and explore – you’ll definitely come across a hidden gem – Spain is full of those 🙂

Hope this helps. Have a great trip in Spain 🙂

hey guys…great post !!! I think you guys can help me out. Me and my wife are landing to Valencia in early feb. We have 3 days of work there. After that we want to extend our trip for another 6 days to other parts of spain. Now we should add Barcelona side to it or go for andalucia and Marbella/Malaga. We are more interested in spanish culture, food and wines. We will prefer a self driven car with scenic beauty and stopovers at beautiful villages. What do you suggest.

Hey Nitin – both areas have their pros and cons but you should choose Andalucia and Malaga if you enjoy scenic drives and culture 🙂 There are tons of incredible villages and gourmet tours along the way

Hi guys, Have just discovered your website whilst looking for a good guide book to Spain. My husband and I are planning a road trip through Spain, driving down from France and heading to the south of Spain as quickly as possible(although I am tempted to get some info on flights and hire cars after you saying how cheap that is) We spent 4 days in Seville just before Christmas and loved it, and we are particularly interested in places that have had major peninsular war connections. Any suggestions woud be gratefully received! Alison

How about driving down the eastern coast of Spain – Girona, Costa Brava, Valencia, Almeria, Granada, and Malaga. To really enjoy this stretch, you will have to dedicate close to 10 days or so 🙂

Hi! Can we drive around with an Indian license?

Hey Richa – yes you can drive in Spain with an Indian driving license 🙂

I dont think you can drive with an Indian Driving Licence. Right now I am in Spain only for holidays and have got my International Driving Permit. I came to this conclusion after too much of search and gather info from so many people. Some car companies like sixt dont care what licence you have but if you would caught by the cop then you will have to pay hefty fine. According to my information, only EU countries issued licences are valid to drive in Spain.

Hey Nitin, an International Driving Permit is nothing but your licence translated into English. Since all driving licenses in India are already in English, we don’t think it should pose a problem. However I’d like you specify that we’ve never been stopped by the cops, so we can’t base this on experience. It’s best to verify this with local authorities before renting a car 🙂

Hey Savi Sid

I have rented a car from Gold car and specifically asked if IDP is necessary. Their reply was that the car rentals just required the regular licence in English but if in case you get caught by the cops then you will be in trouble. So I would recommend to get IDP to avoid the problems and Richa getting IDP is not a big deal in India. I got it in one day only with the validity of one year. The one thing I found strange that the Gold car rental company asks for atleast one year driving experience. Otherwise they dont give you the car.

Where is the first picture taken? I am looking into a road-trip through the south of Spain and want to go to as many beach towns as possible.

Hey Lizzy – the first photo is from Cadaquez 🙂 Have fun in Spain

Need Help in building by itinerary for spain in may. its a 10 day trip..please help. i will land and depart from madrid

Hey Vineet – you’ll find all our favourites above. Just pick and choose the towns/cities you find interesting and cover those in the 10 days you have 🙂 Cheers

Hey guys !! We are planning for Road trip through Spain this July August. Will really appreciate the guidance for Route, Things not to be missed, must visits, and accommodations… Trip duration is no bar for us… We can spend put o 3 weeks !!

Hey Sriram – we’ve written everything about our favourite route, things not to be missed in Spain and the accommodation in our articles. Just go through them when you have a moment 🙂 Here’s the link: https://www.bruisedpassports.com/category/spain

Hi We are planning a road trip spain and love the idea of road trip . how did u guys get the driving permit for spain .we r from delhi and dont have international driving permit . Althou we did a road trip thru new zealand 4 years back but they accept indian driving licences. Please help.Plan to go in sept . Also did u do skydiving and scuba if so …please share ur experience

Hey Rashmi – we used an Indian Driving License in Spain. It worked ok 🙂 September is a great time to go to Spain. We didn’t go skydiving or scuba diving in Spain.

Thanks a ton …ur blog is super cool and inspiration for travel adventures . Mite keep bugging u guys till I go to Spain .but just wondering if Ibiza and Majorca will be worth a visit in sept. Also is staying in Marbella as a base in Malaga a better option.

Thanks Rashmi – hope you have an amazing time in Spain. Ibiza and Majorca are great during September – however do beware it is still tourist season, so they will be quite busy. As for the better base out of Malaga/Marbella, that depends purely on what you have planned for your time in Spain 🙂

Hey Savi, do u advise a road trip from Malaga to Barcelona with a one night stop ever in between , maybe at valencia

Hey Rahul – you could definitely do that but do beware that you’d be driving for the majority of the time. This itinerary won’t leave you with any time to explore the places along the way

Hi I just came across your link while trying to plan a road trip to Spain.may be you can suggest what is the best wat to plan it we are planning to leave from NJ to Barcelona on sept 1st & return on Sept 7th.we would like to see Barcelona,Valencia,Sevilles,Grenada not sure if we have enough time to do Madrid also. I am open to suggestions & alternate cities if it comes highly recommended. Thank You

Hey Poonam – think that’s a LOT to fit in a week. You’ll end up spending most of it in transit. We’d suggest sticking to Barcelona, Valencia, and Costa Brava (gorgeous beaches). If you want, you could add Zaragoza to your itinerary instead of Valencia. Hope this helps 🙂

Hiiii guys.. love love your blog. Thank you for all the information you provide, so helpful!! We are planning a trip to Spain in December and were planning to do Madrid – Seville – Granada – Valencia – Barcelona. We were thinking of driving from Seville – Granada – Valencia. Would you recommend the drive? Is it beautiful or should we rather take the AVE?

Thank you in Advance! Manika

Hey Manika – that’s a great drive. Try driving by the coast as far as you can and you’ll love it 🙂

Thank you! Let me check Maps, i think i saw AP7 being the coastal route 🙂 Thanks Again!!

But, is December a good time to drive here? Wouldn’t it be windy and hence too cold, to be at the beaches? Thanks.

Yes December will be a bit cold for the beaches – we did this road trip in August!

Hey, just came across your link , very interesting and inspiring to do a road trip , just wanted to check how safe it is to drive around in Spain and do u think Madrid can be included in a 10 -12 day trip Thanks

It’s absolutely safe to drive around in Spain. Yes, of course you can definitely include Madrid on this trip 🙂

Hi, I sent a private message few days back, don’t know if you received it.

Hey Payal – we wrote back to you. Hope you got it ok

Hi Savi Vid,

glad that i found your trip internery ,, just let me know how about parking facility in spain ..can we park nearby attraction we visit?

Hey Jaya – parking varies from place to place. Generally parking in larger Spanish cities is expensive but plentiful. Hope this helps 🙂

Thanks so much for your detailed blog! My friend and I are planning a trip to Spain this April. I have a few questions!! My first two questions are about the Andalucia region specifically, because this is where we will be renting a car! 1) How is the terrain in the countryside? Is it steep/mountainous? We’re a little scared to drive in mountainous areas, especially if there’s no fence on the side of the road! 2) How are the drivers (in both the city and the country)? We’re from the states and drivers here are pretty tame, so we do not have much experience driving with aggressive drivers. 3) We are thinking of driving from Granada to Gaucin/Ronda/Grazalema area (to do some hiking). Then from there to Jerez de la Frontera. And finally from Jerez to Seville. Any general suggestions about the itinerary?

Next I wanted to ask about Costa Brava. My friend and I are thinking of renting a small boat to navigate around the coves. Is there a lot of boating traffic in this area? Would you say this is a good and safe way to get around the coves, or do you guys have any other suggestions? Thanks!!

The terrain is not very difficult to drive on, even when driving through the mountains. The drivers are absolutely fine and drive in a sane fashion. Your route sounds fantastic – try and drive on the old road to Granada (I believe your friend Divya messaged regarding that on another post).

As for Costa Brava, we didn’t hire a boat to explore the coves so can’t comment on that. Sorry 🙂

Have a great trip

hey hi how much did this road trip in spain cost?

Hey Anchal – the cost depends on the kind of hotels you choose and the place you’re flying from. But once you’re there expect to spend around $100 per day on fuel, car rental, food, activities etc

Hello! Thank you for your post. We are six friends travelling to Spain in May 2017. We land in Barcelona and take from Madrid. After spending 5 nights in Barcelona we plan to hire a self-drive a car to costa brava. There we are staying for a night and doing scuba diving next morning and spending the day there. Next Morning we plan to leave south for Valencia and drop the car there. From Valencia we would like to go to Seville. Since we are in our early 20’s and not having much experience in driving we want to avoid driving for long distances.

My questions are. 1. How much will car rental from Barcelona to Valencia cost which can accommodate 6 adults with 6 suitcases and handbags? Which car can you suggest? From where in Barcelona should we rent a car?

2. Is it a good idea to go to costa brava only for scuba diving?

3. How is the journey from Costa Brava to Valencia? Is it a costal drive?

Hey Yash – I don’t think most cars would accommodate would that much luggage with 6 adults unless it is a mini van. I’d suggest renting 2 4X4s. We use a price comparison engine to get the best prices. Here’s the link: http://www.economybookings.com/?lang=en&btag=bruisedp

Costa Brava is great for Scuba Diving and Costa Brava-Valencia is a beautiful costa drive.

Thank you for sharing your post! This is so very helpful as I’m currently trying to plan a road trip down the coast of Spain. I was wondering how long in advance you booked your car rental through Spain? It caught my eye that you didn’t pay a one-way fee, which is rare and something I was hoping to jump on as well. Any tips on renting a car? I have a rather large group of 6 that I’m planning for, so it’ll be an adventure!

You’re welcome 🙂

We booked the car 6 weeks before our trip and were happy that we didn’t have to pay a one-way fee. A lot of car rental agencies have these offers from time to time as they need to relocate the vehicles so they’re happy to waive off one-way fees 🙂

Hope you have a great trip 🙂

Hola Savi-Vid, Lovely pics there. What time of the year did you make this trip? We are contemplating if August is a good time for a road trip on the southern coast. Gracias!

We did this road trip in the carnival season – end August. As you can see, we had a great time. It can get really hot in places in August, but overall it was amazing!

We are planning a road trip to Spain this July 2017, So could you help us in brief the places we should cover, we are there for 9 days with both start and end point in Madrid. Barcelona is a must in our list. Also if you could suggest us a good festival/carnival around that time as we are going to miss La Tomatino.

Hey Rahul – we’ve mentioned all our favourite carnivals and places in Spain in this itinerary. You can pick and choose the ones that suit your interest. July isn’t carnival time, so there are a few going around.

Hi Guys! First visit to your site by searching for Road Trips to Spain. Interesting stuff here. Nice to see what you guys are doing. We are 4 adults & are planning a Spain holiday. Were looking at 2 days driving in Spain and then flying to Ibiza & Barcelona. For 2 days, what area of Spain you would recommend; to do a road journey? Though seeing your above Road trip itinerary: THE ULTIMATE SPAIN ROAD TRIP; I feel like just copying & pasting it. But people in the group want to do Ibiza.

Hi Anubhav,

Thanks for dropping by. To be honest 2 days isn’t a lot to enjoy a road trip in Spain. However, you could rent a car in Barcelona and drive up to Costa Brava and spend a couple of days driving around that area – it’s beautiful 🙂

Have a great trip.

Hey guys! Really liked the site. can you please tell me more about Valencia to Barcelona road trip? Like if it has scenic roads and sea side roads? or its just normal drive!

You can opt for the coastal route – it’s a great drive but I wouldn’t call it spectacular. You should drive to the north from Barcelona (towards Cadaquez) – that’s an amazing drive!

Hey! Loved yoour post and have aleady started planning a road trip. I understand that yoou’ll stayed at Benalmadena and did day trips in your car to Malaga, Antequera, Granada and the beaches. Could you please tell me what the car parking scene was like in these various places (Malaga, Antequera, Granada (Alhambra) and the various beaches)? Is it possible find free parking and if not, how much should one expect to shell out for parking? Also, diid your apartment in Benalmadena offer free parking? I understand that staying away from Malaga city would be comparitively cheaper and would offer parking as well.

Hey you can find free parking in quite a few places but even if you don’t it’s not so expensive (around a euro per hour if it’s not bang in the town centre). Even in Malaga city you can find many apartments with free parking 🙂

Hey guys! This is the first time I have visited your site at the recommendation of a colleague. I have been wanting to do Spain for the longest time and this post has really gotten me excited. However, would you recommend doing an 8 days trip instead of a 12 days road trip? Also, is it safe to drive around with a 3 year old?

Yes, it’s safe to drive in Spain as long as you pay heed to simple rules and common sense 🙂

Yes you can definitely do an 8 day road trip – just cut out the places that don’t tickle your fancy 🙂

Is valencia better or Ibiza? Planning for Sept. Please recommend.

They’re both very different. Of the two we like Ibiza better

Hi guys, is there an entry ticket to the feria in Malaga? Also how good was it? Should I be mentally prepared for over priced food/drinks?

Hey there – no entry ticket to the street parties. A small entry fee for the actual Feria and drinks etc are priced a bit more than usual but not crazy overpriced!

Hey Guys. I am biggggg fan. Getting married in Nov. was planning a road trip to Portugal and Spain from end Nov to mid dec . Do you think it will be a good idea ?

Yes a road trip in Spain and Portugal is always a good idea 🙂

Hi guys, We are going to Spain and Lisbon for 8 days on our honeymoon, the entry point is Madrid and exit from Lisbon. We were hoping if we can do the road trip in Spain but don’t know if it would be possible in such a short duration. Can anyone please suggest any itinerary?

Hey you can always tailor the drive according to your preferences and days at hand 🙂

Spain v/s East Europe? Your pick? (For a vegetarian adventurous crazy foodie)

Spain is better as vegetarian food is more accessible

Hello We are a family of 7 traveling to Barcelona on April 1 and leave April 10, 2019. We are interested in driving from Barcelona to Gibraltar then back to Barcelona. Can you help with best route And stops so we get to see as much as possible. Also what is a good company to rent vehicle in Barcelona

Hey unfortunately we haven’t driven that route, so will be unable to advise!

Hello Savi and Vid!

Please keep inspiring us with your stories!! We are planning a trip to Spain this summer (Barcelona, Ibiza, Granada and Madrid). Can you help us with any specific not to miss things/food/places around? It would be great if you can direct us to any of your blogs on these places 🙂

Hey Reemki – instead of particular restaurants I’d suggest trying some fun local dishes. You can find suggestions here: https://www.bruisedpassports.com/wheres/best-things-to-eat-in-spain

First of all, I love your blog and have been following it for quite a while! 🙂

I am planning a trip to Spain in May and would love to have your inputs/suggestions.

My itinerary currently looks like this – Barcelona (4 nights) -> Malaga by flight (2 nights), which would include a day trip to Granada -> Seville by road (1 night) -> Madrid by road/train (2 nights)

Have a few questions for you guys:

1) What do you think of the itinerary? Do you guys think 1 night would suffice in Seville and 2 nights in Malaga? 2) Is driving around in Spain easy, if you’ve never driven in Europe? 3) Where did you guys stay in Spain? Do you recommend booking an Airbnb or a hotel? 4) Is Madrid worth the drive? FYI I’m traveling to Spain for the first time

Sorry for bombarding you guys with so many questions, but I would love to hear out your suggestions on the points above. Please let me know! Would really appreciate it.

Cheers! Aashray

Here you go: 1) Looks good. I’d say spend 2 nights in Seville and 2 in Malaga especially if you;re going to Granada 2) Yes it is. Just get used to it on the first couple of days 3) We’d suggest AirBnB 4) Yeah why not? Madrid is nice

Hope this helps 🙂

Hi Savi and Vid – Thank you for sharing the guide, so informative . Trip looks so satisfying.

I am actually looking out for Spain + Portugal guide for the months Nov – Jan If you can share any listing of festivals around the this time that would be great.

Looking forward.

Hey Shivani – unfortunately most festivals happen during summer months, so you will only find Christmas Markets in the bigger towns around that time 🙂

Hey Savi and Vid, Hope you are enjoying at home in Delhi.

I am a avid follower and you are my first travel blog I refer to before travelling anywhere. Going to Spain in July, and this is my first trip to Europe. I wish to see Madrid, Barcelona and will surely follow this road trip (duh?!). Can you suggest something where I can include Madrid and Barcelona also and what all to cover there? If you have an itinerary for there as well.

Hey Prerna – you can easily include Barcelona and Madrid in this itinerary. However would suggest renting a car on your last day in Barcelona as it is really hard and expensive to find parking in the larger cities 🙂

we are planning a road trip in Spain in the last week of October, what would you suggest ?

Great time to go – the tourist hordes have calmed down. The only con is some of the beaches might be quite chilly to swim etc

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The Ultimate Spain Road Trip Itineraries: Routes, Sights, Guides, Maps And More

From San Sebastian’s world-famous food scene and the attractions of Barcelona, to the incredible museums of Madrid, history of Granada and beaches on the Costa del Sol, this Spain road trip has it all!

Road tripping past perfect beaches, huge mountains and ancient monuments sounds like a pretty perfect holiday doesn’t it? If you’ve dreamed of exploring Spain, this guide is guaranteed to help you plan your trip.

It’s the country I’ve visited the most in the world. Why does it keep me coming back for more? Because it’s so varied. I love the fact that you can spend mornings exploring pretty Medieval cities, lunchtimes feasting on plates of tapas, afternoons on the beach and evenings enjoying the nightlife.

In the south of Spain you can even ski in the morning in Sierra Nevada and then hit the beach on the Costa del Sol in the afternoon – how amazing is that?

Whether you’re interested in art, architecture, history, food or fashion, a trip to Spain will no doubt appeal. 

If you’re interested in art, you’ll enjoy visiting Barcelona’s Picasso and Miro Galleries, the architectural wonder that is Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum, Madrid’s impressive art collection at the Prado Museum and the modern artworks in Malaga’s Pompidou Centre.

If you enjoy the great outdoors there are plenty of beautiful landscapes in Spain . You could hike in Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park in the north, explore Valencia’s Turia Gardens, explore Murcia’s weird and wonderful sandstone wonders at Bolnuevo or even ski in Sierra Nevada.

I’m a firm believer that the best way to get to know a country is through its cuisine, and in Spain, you’re in for a treat! San Sebastian in the Basque Country has the most Michelin-starred eateries per capita in Europe. There’s a great culture across this region for pintxos – small dishes often showcasing local ingredients.

Head south and you’ll enjoy plates and plates of delicious tapas. From Spanish hams and cheeses, to griddled peppers, calamari and fresh fish, there’s so much to taste along the way,

And the best part about a Spain road trip? The freedom! You don’t have to stick to the obvious routes. I’d 100% encourage veering off course from time to time.

Often it’s when you decide to travel slowly and go off the beaten track, you start stumbling across hidden gems. You’ll take a wrong turning and end up in an authentic Spanish town that isn’t in any of the tourist guide books!

Spain is often associated with summer beach holidays, but it’s worth remembering that many of the interior parts of the country offer just as much natural beauty, with vineyards, mountains, canyons, olive groves and whitewashed towns.

So, rather than create one epic Spain road trip, I’m diving it in tow: a northern Spain road trip and a southern Spain road trip . That way you can just pick one and break the country up into manageable chunks. If you’ve got a while, then simply join the two up and continue on from Salamanca to Madrid.

Click through to take a look at each itinerary, and figure out which one is right for you…

The Ultimate Spain Road Trip Itinerary

From sampling some of the best Spanish food in the Basque Country and enjoying the vibrant colours of Barcelona, to visiting the Alhambra in Granada and relaxing on the beautiful beaches on the Costa del Sol, it's time to plan the ultimate Spain road trip! 

The Ultimate Northern Spain Road Trip: Routes, Sights, Guides, Maps And More

From Catalonia’s unspoilt coastline and Aragon’s scenic architecture to quaint cities in the Basque Country, this northern Spain road trip offers something for everyone.

The Ultimate Southern Spain Road Trip: Routes, Sights, Guides, Maps And More

From the historic cities of Seville and Cordoba, to the natural beauty of Ronda and the spectacular beaches of Cadiz and Valencia, this southern Spain road trip offers something for everyone.

When Is The Best Time To Visit Spain?

You might think that Spain has a Mediterranean climate, but that’s only true for the southern parts of the country. Spain’s location and geography means that the north has a cooler climate and the east around Murcia has a more arid climate. Obviously the mountainous areas in the Pyrenees and Sierra Nevada are completely different too.

Temperatures vary greatly by region, but as a quick example, you can expect temperatures as low as -10 in around Sierra Nevada (in the mountains near Granada) in January, and as high as 40°C in July in cities such as Seville. Temperatures in the south remain mild in winter, making destinations along the Costa del Sol including Malaga and Marbella, great options for a winter holiday.

If you’re wondering when is the best time to visit Spain, I’d suggest planning a trip between April and June, or between September and October, just after the peak summer season.

The weather tends to be consistent in these months and you’ll skip the peak season so should benefit from lower prices and fewer people.

What to pack for your road trip

If you’re wondering what to pack for your trip, this guide to road trip essentials has you covered. From portable chargers to ways to stay entertained on long journeys, it’ll help you create your road trip packing list.

I hope you’ve enjoyed checking out my Spain road trip itineraries. Let me know where you decide to go and what your highlights are!

Chloe Gunning

With a passion for food, fun and adventure, Chloe is the content creator behind one of the UK's top travel blogs Wanderlust Chloe. From volcano boarding in Nicaragua, to sailing around Sicily and eating her way around Japan, her travels have taken her to some of the coolest spots on the planet. Named Travel Influencer of the Year in 2022, Chloe regularly works with a number of tourism boards, producing inspirational travel content across multiple platforms. Find out more about Chloe here.

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Spain Road Trip - The Ultimate 2 Week Itinerary

Start your road trip from barcelona.

With this road trip spanning the length of Spain, you can start at either end, but we often find ending in a hotter place more sun and sea works better.

The first few days you can take a bit more history and culture, visit sights and museums before heading for more relaxed scenery driving along the Costa del Sol towards the end of your trip.

Day 1: Barcelona - Fly in, sightseeing & seafood dinner

This epic Spanish road trip starts in the Catalan capital - Barcelona.

One of the best things about going on a road trip to Spain is the weather - check out the best time to visit Spain to pick your month of travel. Catalonia is beautiful and captivating all year round - so get ready for the adventure of a lifetime.

If you've arrived with your own car, our advice is to park it up for a few days at the nearest underground car park as you won't be needing it around town.

If you plan to hire a car, don't bother picking one up until day 3. While there is ample parking around the city, much like most of Spain, getting around on foot or using the relatively cheap metro system is a lot more convenient and relaxing.

Where to stay in Barcelona

There's a huge choice of hotels and villas to stay in when visiting Barcelona, some of them considerably more expensive than others.

A top tip is to stay somewhere within a short walk of the main sights such as La Rambla and La Plaza Real and near the old port - this is where you'll be spending a lot of your time and where the best restaurants in town are.

I would highly recommend the Onix Liceo - it's located in the Gothic Quarter, right near Las Ramblas, the city centre and the Old Port. It's really good value for money too - especially for somewhere so central. If you're looking for the perfect hotel to stay at in Barcelona, this is it.

The majority of car rentals are really close at the Placa dels Paisos Catalans so this is handy for getting your Spain road trip underway on day 3 as you can just walk across with your bags.

Having checked into your hotel and dropped your bags off, it's time to go see what this crazy (in a good way) city has to offer, so head on down towards the Plaça de Catalunya at the top end of Las Ramblas.

Walk along Las Ramblas and explore the Gothic Quarter

The two streets and the wide promenade in-between are the true heart of Barcelona. Street artists line the pavement, eager to do a caricature of you, while street dancers, human statues and various other forms of entertainment vie for tourists' attention.

The first day is always a great opportunity to relax before your Spanish road trip really gets underway so take your time as you stroll around.

Walk halfway down Las Ramblas until you get to the Liceu metro station and turn left into the Gothic Quarter, the ancient part of the city which forms the main part of the Old Town.

One of the first things you'll see is the Barcelona Cathedral. This majestic dark stone structure is a beautiful example of fine Gothic architecture and - miraculously - seems to be somewhat off the tourist radar, making the visit that much more peaceful.

As you wander around the twisting streets of the area, head towards the sea until you reach Port Vell. This marina used to be the busiest trade port of the region and today serves as a yacht harbour.

Here you'll see a large brick building which houses the Museu d'Història de Catalunya, which gives a somewhat unique perspective on the region's continuing fight for independence as well as the history of the Catalonia's relationship with other parts of Spain.

For a spot of late lunch just before you go into the museum, you can't do much better than walk into the small Barceloneta district right behind the building.

Here you'll find a large number of bars and restaurants with all manner of Catalan tapas on offer.

Grab dinner in Barcelona's Port Vell

Barcelona has a famously fabulous dining scene, and there's a multitude of outstanding restaurants dotted around the city to choose.

The majority of these are located within walking distance of Las Ramblas, with a few further afield.

If you fancy some fish and a romantic table in the cool evening sea breeze then return to Port Vell and pick one of the dozen restaurants serving the freshest seafood in town.

Day 2: Barcelona - More sightseeing, tapas & hiking

Visit the gaudi's buildings and sights.

I know you're probably thinking that it's time to get going on your Spain road trip, but Barcelona is worth spending a full day after your arrival - you'll be very glad you did!

Your second day in Barcelona is perfect for a stroll around town taking in some of Gaudi's most famous sights. The key sights are relatively close to each other and all of them are not too far from your hotel, so it will be an easy walk!

Begin the morning in style and find a traditional café on your way to Passeig de Gràcia.

As you make your way through town, you will notice that most street crossings in Barcelona form octagonal squares and these are the best place to equip yourself with some bakery produce and fresh orange juice. If you're feeling peckish, you can indulge in one of the famous crêperies.

The first stop on your route will be the Casa Milà on Passeig de Gràcia. This famous apartment building was designed and built by Gaudi.

Just as impressive on the inside as the outside, it's worth going in to see the layout of the skeleton-like structure and get a good view of Barcelona from the wavy rooftop.

Once you're back outside, head north east on Carrer de Provença. Keep going in a straight line over the Avinguda Diagonal and you will very soon see the Sagrada Familia.

This truly unique Gothic Cathedral is still under construction, with decades of work yet to be completed; nevertheless, it's one of the most unique and jaw-dropping cathedrals in the world.

The amount of detail on the facades is astonishing, and everything from the interior decoration to the columns, towers and the naves is unlike any other in the world. You won't see another cathedral like it on your road trip through Spain... or anywhere in the world.

It's worth sitting down in one of the nearby coffee shops for a moment or two to take in the magnificent sight and do a spot of people watching before carrying on with your Barcelona tour.

Your next stop is the famous Park Güell, which is just a short walk up the Carrer de Sardenya. It's free to enter, so be prepared for crowds if you plan to visit over the weekend.

Once you're inside, have a wander and explore all the bizarre ins and outs of the park. Everything from the asymmetrical houses by the main entrance through to a large pagoda inside was born in the mysterious depths of Gaudi's brain.

Indeed, he used to live in one of the houses on the Park's grounds and frequently relaxed here himself. Be sure to walk to the highest point for fabulous views over the city.

Lunch in Barcelona the Spanish way

You could spend hours discovering new bizarre things in Park Guell, but at some point your appetite is sure to kick in.

Lunch options are fairly broad around the area, with a number of great restaurants located nearby the park.

Alternatively, you can learn from the locals and stock up on some local Iberico ham, bread, olives and cheese and have a picnic in the warm sunshine somewhere within the park. Remember that Day 3 is when the Spain road trip properly starts and if you are going to stop for a picnic on the way to Valencia, plan ahead to not eat the same packed lunch two days running!

Walk up Mount Montjuïc

As the afternoon passes by and dusk approaches, it's time to head over to the last sight of the day - Mount Montjuïc, right across the other side of town.

The walk will take about an hour and a half, although the metro option is fairly straight-forward with a direct line from the Lesseps stop nearby to Poble-sec at the foot of the Montjuïc Park.

Take your time to climb to the top of the hill, where a number of monuments built for the Olympics are dotted around the green park.

The views over the city of Barcelona are spectacular from here, so spend a few minutes figuring out where you've walked and finding your hotel roof. If you walk on a little further, you can see past the Barcelona bowl and map out the route for your Spain road trip first leg towards the mountains in the distance.

On your way down, make sure you pass the Montjuïc Fountain to watch the water and light display that takes place every half hour starting from 7pm - it's worth it. Note that the shows don't happen Monday to Wednesday, so plan your route accordingly.

By the end of the display you will be ready for a hard-earned spot of relaxation before freshening up and heading out to town for food. Perhaps a hearty steak dinner?

Drive from Barcelona to Valencia

First stop on the way is Valencia - a historic trade city on the Costa Blanca.

Day 3: Drive from Barcelona to Montserrat to Valencia

Distance: 265 miles

Visit Montserrat Monastery to kick-start your Spain road trip

Wake up, have some breakfast and check out of your hotel. This is a road trip after all, and it's time to hit the road!

Once you've loaded your luggage and set up the GPS, drive inland. The first stop on your Spain road trip itinerary is the majestic Montserrat Monastery.

This unbelievably beautiful secluded establishment - home to Benedictine Monks - is perched atop a picturesque mountain in-between two peaks.

Here, you will see stunning interior decorations and a number of highly prized religious relics.

Driving-wise, you have a choice of going up the mountain and parking close to the Monastery, or parking at the bottom and taking the train.

The train provides great views down the mountain and of the Monastery itself, so that's our preferred option.

Beware that if you choose to park at the top, you will still have to walk a fair bit uphill to get to the monastery.

The drive from Barcelona to Valencia along the coast

The drive to Valencia along a toll road will get you there in around 3 and a half hours and is a perfect way to kick off the driving on your Spain road trip. If you want to stop for lunch along the way, your best bet is to stop in Tarragona soon after you get to the coast on your way south.

The majority of other towns along the route are fairly uninteresting, with a score of high-rise hotels lining the shore and a distinct lack of restaurants and views.

Tarragona, however, is an ancient city rich in history and culture. A decent range of restaurants in the town centre will offer plenty of choice before you jump back on the AP-7 on your way to Valencia.

If you have time for a detour, hop off the motorway (remember - you'll have to pay the toll!) and check out the Pont del Diable - the Les Ferreres Aqueduct is right by the Tarragona junction. If you head into the city, there is a large amphitheatre and ruins of a Roman Forum to see.

As you arrive in Valencia, you will notice that the city's Old Town is strikingly different to the rest of the city. The city centre is confined by a river to the west and a long green park that also used to be a riverbed before the river was diverted in the fifties.

As with most Spanish cities, vast numbers of affordable underground car parks are provided, so find one near your hotel and dump the car for two days as you won't be needing it to get around.

Where to stay in Valencia

Now that you're travelling by car, you'll want to pick a hotel with parking or somewhere nearby a car park.

Silken Puerta Valencia is a sleek and modern hotel with super comfortable rooms and the perfect location on the east side of Jardin del Turia. It is easy to drive to from the V-21 and it has FREE on-site parking, which is ideal for road trippers.

The rooms are super reasonably priced (especially compared to other hotels nearby) and the breakfast is truly outstanding.

Day 4: Valencia - Market, Old Town and aquarium visit

Explore valencia old town and visit the market.

With only one full day to be spent in Valencia, you really ought to get yourself out of bed at a reasonable hour and head into town for some traditional Valencian breakfast.

Make your way towards the Mercado Central in the heart of the city (it's a 30 minute walk or a 25-minute bus ride) and stop in a cafe along the way for a couple of churros (traditional doughnut-like treats) and a coffee or a large glass of blood orange juice.

The town of Valencia is miraculously unpopular with tourists - which makes it a very appealing Spanish road trip destination!

Compared to most other Spanish cities, you will rarely see a tour guide leading a stampede of visitors here.

The only ones who make it this far away from Granada and Barcelona can typically be found in a queue outside the Oceanogràfic first thing in the morning, which is exactly why the best time to go is later on in the day.

Despite its somewhat under-the-radar status, Valencia is one of the most beautiful Spanish cities. Its Old Town is full of narrow streets criss-crossing through a mix of architecture from across the centuries.

The market, one of the oldest in the country, sells a wide range of fresh produce and local delicacies. Our top tip is to try the dozens of varieties of ham and stock up on your favourite snacks for a picnic later on in the day.

Once you've purchased everything you want and are ready to move on, exit onto the Plaça del Merkat and pay a visit to the UNESCO-listed Lonja de la Seda across the street, which is free to enter.

This grand Gothic building once functioned as a Silk Exchange. Inside you'll see beautifully decorated walls, floors, ceilings and carved columns indicating the power and wealth of Valencia in the 15th and 16th centuries.

It's fascinating to see the sheer difference between the two historic trading hubs only yards away from each other.

To round off the morning, walk the short distance towards the Valencia Cathedral. This beautiful and - to a degree - austere structure can be somewhat tricky to find, as it's closely surrounded by buildings on all sides.

The Cathedral is known for holding the most likely true Holy Grail - the cup from which Jesus drank at the Last Supper.

We'd highly recommend you pay the €2 to climb up the Cathedral's tower, as the views that open up over the city and the busy harbour are truly stunning. It's quite a walk to the top (205 steps), so make sure you've done your stretches before you make the attempt. You can even plan the next leg of your road trip through Spain as you look towards the hills in the distance!

Have a picnic in the Jardín del Turia

The Cathedral is only a stone's throw away from the Jardín del Turia. This vast green belt around Valencia's Old Town used to be a river until the source was diverted following a flood in 1957.

Today this park has everything from a roller skating park to football pitches and large chess sets. This is exactly why you bought the picnic ingredients at the market earlier on in the day.

Not every part of our Spain road trip has to involve driving, so a stroll is in order. The gentle walk down to the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències will take you around 45 minutes, so you'll be able to pick the best spot for lunch on your way.

The park's chilled out vibe, away from the humdrum of the city, combined with the smouldering Valencian sunshine will make for a great meal alfresco.

Mingle with sharks at the Oceanogràfic

The Oceanarium is located on a large and relatively new site called the City of Arts and Sciences. The entrance is easy to miss as it is relatively small, with almost the entire structure buried beneath the ground.

Tickets are expensive but well worth it, as this is one of the best and largest marine parks in the world.

A major highlight of the attraction is a long tunnel that takes you through a tank, with various species of shark swimming alongside swarms of multicoloured fish. Dolphin shows are held regularly, so check the schedule when purchasing your ticket.

Closing times vary, with doors shutting at 6pm during the winter and as late as midnight during the summer months.

Where to go for dinner in Valencia

Once you've haddock a whale of a time, it's time to find a plaice for dinner (just couldn't resist the op-perch-tuna-ty for a fish pun!)

Your best bet is to head back into town and go towards the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. There is a very broad selection of restaurants in that part of the Old Town, with a large number of them specialising in the local specialty - fresh fish.

Of course there are other options around, but you would be doing yourself a real disservice if you do not try a good fish restaurant in Valencia.

Spain road trip arrives in Granada

Having seen the best of Valencia, it's time to scale some mountains and head towards the sunny province of Andalucia with its endless beaches and beautiful white villages.

First stop on the way is Granada - one of our favourite Spanish cities that just feels great on every single visit.

Day 5: Drive Valencia to Granada via the Sierra Nevada

The drive down from Valencia to Granada is almost a mini Spain road trip in itself. It involves following the coast south to Alicante, before heading west and going over the snowy peaks of Sierra Nevada to Granada on the other side. This may sound like an ominous route, but it's actually easy and relaxed.

Once you leave Benidorm in your rear view mirror (it's really not worth stopping for), and head past Murcia, you will suddenly notice an eerie silence.

Given that the next 70 odd miles are pretty much an empty desert on a mountain plateau, nobody other than you seems keen to drive along this route.

This complete absence of other people is perfect for a relaxing drive in some of Spain's most fantastic scenery. Contrary to any fears you may have had, the road is straight and great for driving. The snow-covered mountain peaks form a gorgeous backdrop, and you're likely to have the road almost to yourself all the way there.

Going on a Spain road trip and spectacular mountain views was maybe not the obvious association, but there are few things better for a relaxing drive.

Now we obviously do not condone speeding, but you're guaranteed to be pleasantly surprised by how quickly you get to Granada - just be careful to stay within the speed limit for the two speed cameras on the way. They're clearly marked by three separate signs, each indicating exactly how many metres separate you from a €400 speeding ticket.

We know that you might have already had more picnics on this trip than you did over the course of the last decade, but we promise that this is the last one.

Every now and then you'll come across a rest area by the side of the road which often coincides with a Mirador - a great view of some beautiful landscape.

Take your pick of the pit stops and park up to have your lunch at one of the wooden tables designed exactly for this purpose.

Where to stay in Granada

If you want to stay in central Granada, at the heart of the action, head to the boutique Hotel Palacio Santa Ines.

Tucked away in a narrow street in the historic centre, the Hotel Palacio de Santa Ines consists of two revamped 16th-century buildings designed in the traditional Mudejar style.

With its tranquil inner courtyards, lovely spacious rooms and super convenient proximity to the Alhambra fortress and the Granada Cathedral, it's the perfect place to rest for a few nights.

The only issue with staying in central Granada is parking.

Luckily, the hotel has thought about your Spanish road trip needs and has partnered up with two nearby public car parks, who offer a special rate just for their guests. Simply park your car and bring your parking ticket to the hotel (they'll even reimburse you for a cab ride if the car park is too far to walk).

The hotel will stamp your ticket with a lower daily rate (€19.50 for 24 hours). Simple as that!

Head out to enjoy a tapas dinner in Granada

After dropping off your bags, go out to enjoy the evening in this awe-inspiring city. We recommend a walk around the compact town centre, which is rife with cheap and cheerful tapas restaurants.

For a cosy, relaxed option, head towards Plaza de las Pasiegas. Here you will find a quaint and unassuming little restaurant called Rollo offering a number of quirky dishes.

Our tip? Try the crunchy pancakes made with tiny prawns... delicioso!

Day 6: Granada - Visit the Alhambra fortress

Spain has culture in abundance, so you simply can't ignore it! As one of the most famous and recognisable tourist attractions in Spain, the sprawling Alhambra palace is a symbolic icon of the country. It's positively enormous, so you'll need almost an entire day to see all the various sites around this old Moorish palace complex.

Spain road trip top tip : Be sure to book your tickets ahead of time (see the official Alhambra website for details) as during peak season the limited daily allowance can be sold out weeks in advance. You can't miss out on visiting the Alhambra.

There are buses that can take you to the Alhambra entrance, but the walk up the hill is not strenuous and will make for a pleasant 20-minute stroll.

Start at buy buying an ice cream on the corner of Plaza Santa Ana, where you'll find flavours ranging from marshmallow to kiwi fruit, and head up the Cuesta de Goméres through the park at the foot of the Alhambra walls.

Once you've made your way to the Alhambra's main entrance at the far side of the complex, head right past the queue of ticket hopefuls to one of the yellow machines, insert the card used in pre-booking, and walk straight in.

Pay attention to the time you selected for entering the Nasrid Palaces and be there around 25 minutes early to join the queue.

Other than that, take your time to explore the various sights and take pictures of the sprawl of Granada below you, with the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains in the background.

Enjoy (free) tapas for dinner

Spend your time relaxing in the evening. If you want a taste of typical local food, head for Calle Navas, right in the centre of the Old Town. This narrow street is home to dozens of small family-owned restaurants serving all manner of Andalucian and general Spanish cuisine. The tables in the street are great as the cool breeze and night sky will are a perfect compliment to your bottle of Rioja.

You will probably have tried a lot of tapas on this road trip through Spain, but Granada is known as the city of free tapas. This means you can eat very cheaply if you play your cards right. Most restaurants will give you a free tapa for each drink you order, with each tapa increasing in size as you go on.

To get the most bang for your buck, order a ca ñ a of beer (small glass) as opposed to a tubo (big glass). You'll finish the beer quicker, which means more tapas!

Day 7: Granada - Explore Old Town & Albayzin

Your second day in the city can be spent wandering around the medieval streets and seeing more of the 'real' Granada.

There are a number of distinct areas, with the west part predominantly devoted to typical high street shops. The area around the Cathedral has a large number of restaurants, so study the menus on your way around to pick out your evening meal.

Visit the Cathedral and Capilla Real

The north side of the Cathedral has a large spice stall offering every spice you've ever heard of and then some - this can be an attraction in its own right!

Once you're done smelling the various beans and roots, visit the Cathedral itself and the adjacent Capilla Real. These grand buildings are an archetypal example of southern Spanish church buildings - rich in history, with elements of the Moorish culture making their way into traditional European architecture.

Once you've done your sightseeing, head up the Calle Reyes Católicos towards Plaza Santa Ana - the town's main square, located directly beneath the Alhambra's walls.

Pay attention to one of the city's highlights: the green man traffic light at all pedestrian crossings. This green man is like no other, with a very unique moonwalk impression indicating when it's safe to cross the road.

Walk through the Albayzín neighbourhood

From Plaza Santa Ana, walk past the Church onto the Carrera del Darro. This street runs next to the river Darro, which is home to a large feline colony that spends its time roaming through the shrubs.

A little further along is a small square to your right lined with restaurants that offer a great opportunity for lunch. Take a break from tapas by ordering the fritto misto - a selection of various battered fish and seafood.

Next stop: the Albayzín, the quarter that runs uphill from this street on the opposite bank to the Alhambra.

Take your time to wander through this ancient part of Granada, which is home to a vast number of small artisan shops selling everything from unusual metal work to traditional Moorish clothing.

If you head all the way to the top, the Mirador de San Nicholas is a great place to take in the views and snap some stunning shots of the Alhambra.

Day trips along the Costa del Sol

This might just be the best bit of the entire road trip through Spain. Yes - you'll be visiting some of the most amazing cathedrals and historic cities in the world, but there are few things that put as wide a smile on your face as cruising along the Costa del Sol.

The majority of the Costa has two roads running along - the free slower road along the shoreline and the fast toll road further inland.

Unless you're in a hurry or driving back to the airport, I'd stick with the coastal road for the views.

First stop is Benahavis via Malaga.

Day 8: Spain road trip continues from Granada to Benahavis

Once you have retrieved your car after breakfast, it is time to plough on with the Spanish road trip and make the short journey towards Malaga.

Once again, you will find mostly empty roads until you get close to the costas. You will know you're close to the city once the road suddenly dives down at a steep angle, and lush green vegetation appears in place of the arid rocky landscape.

As you descend towards the sea, you'll notice that the weather on the coast is mild in comparison to the hot inland Andalucia. If you don't notice this the first time round, you definitely will when you visit Cordoba.

Have a wander around Malaga

As you're passing right through Malaga, you might as well stop and have a wander.

The two forts overlooking the city are the best place for a quick break. The Alcazaba is the best preserved Moorish fort in all of Spain, and it sort of feels like the Alhambra's little cousin. The Castillo de Gibralfaro is set slightly higher and also offers brilliant views of the city and the Costa del Sol.

Spend a few hours in the city of Malaga itself. It may have a reputation as stag do-central, but this historic settlement is worth seeing in its own right.

The city centre is a tangle of cobbled streets, secret nooks and crannies and countless restaurants surrounding the Malaga Cathedral.

With tourists often passing Malaga by in favour of the Costa del Sol's many other attractions, take advantage of the atmosphere and treat yourself to lunch overlooking the marina, with the sun shining above you.

Spend the night in the white village of Benahavis

Getting to Benahavis is relatively straight-forward. You have a choice of the toll road AP-7 and the free A-7. The free road is more than good enough and takes a much more scenic route once the two split at Mijas. It also benefits from frequent exits, allowing you to stop along the way when you see a spot you like the look of.

The village of Benahavis is set in the Sierra de las Nieves mountains rising up from Marbella.

With only a 10-minute drive separating you from the beach, you benefit from staying in the culinary capital of the Costa del Sol, while also getting away from the huge package holiday hotels in the large resorts down below.

The peace and tranquillity will make for an enjoyable few evenings, and the choice of great food will make you want to come back time and again.

Where to stay in Benahavis

The best hotel to stay in the quirky Amanhavis right in the centre of Benahavis .

Set around a traditionally designed courtyard, each room has a unique theme around medieval Christian and Moorish influences. There are a lot of steps in-between the rooms and you can have dinner in the best restaurant in town in the court yard by the pool!

You can park your car for free along a couple of streets 50 yards down the hill from the hotel.

Day 9: Day trip from Benahavis - Visit Nerja and Marbella

Day 9 is perfect for seeing what the Costa del Sol is all about so this is the day your Spanish road trip takes you up and down the coast.

After a late lie-in, get in the car, put your windows down (and roof if you've got a convertible) and head down towards the sea.

Turn east along the coast and make your way past Malaga to the town of Nerja. This beautiful town takes a prime spot on the Andalucian coast and is steeped in history dating back to pre-Roman times.

Wander inside the ancient caves.

One of the main sights is a set of caves discovered in 1959.

The Nerja Caves were home to some early humans and neanderthals, with skeletal remains found throughout the linked caverns. Visitors can observe archaeological finds inside ranging from natural rock formations to prehistoric fossils and paintings.

The town of Nerja itself is a charming spot to get out and explore. Be sure to head to the elevated Balcon de Europa - a viewing platform built on top of the Nerja cliffs - for sensational views of the coast.

Two old cannons standing here remind you of the town's historical past, and the benches are a great place to enjoy an ice cream.

Drive to Marbella: the playground of the rich and famous

A late lunch is a good idea in Andalucia, as dinner is traditionally eaten later on in the evening.

Once you've seen enough of Nerja, hop back in the car and make the return trip down the coast to Marbella. No road trip in Spain is complete without driving up and down the Costa del Sol so head on right back along the beachfront.

Getting back to Marbella will take around an hour and a half. This famous resort is well-known for its beaches and countless hotels, but the Old Town is great for a midday stroll.

Park up underneath Paseo de la Alameda and cross the road to get into the historic part of town. There is a broad selection of restaurants with tables on every square, so take your pick and have some lunch here. Some of the restaurants do amazing sizzling prawns if you fancy a bit of seafood.

A number of shops sell everything from furs (no, really) to beach accessories.

After having passed through Marbella, it's time to head to Puerto Banus only minutes away up the coast.

This is Costa del Sol's playground of the rich, with ridiculously expensive yachts in the harbour and an equally elaborate display of supercars parked next to them.

Top tip: Restaurants and shops here will sting your wallet, and the parking charges are insane. If you do want to grab some lunch, head to the west end of the marina (the one with the biggest boats) - there are a couple of spots that are less busy with reasonably priced menus.

Here's another insider tip for your road trip in Spain - park up for free at La Playa Fantastica - the closest beach to Puerto Banus.

Come back out of Puerto Banus and turn right onto the A-7 motorway towards Malaga. Stay right and take the right turn onto the N-340 towards Marbella.

As you come off onto the N-340, take the first turning right onto a narrow lane running towards the sea, then take the second street on the right and follow it down to the beach. You can park your car here for free for as long as you like and have access to one of the best beaches in the area with a great beach bar.

Puerto Banus is a mere 200 metres away, so you can stroll along at your leisure to have a closer look at how the other half live and inspect the exotic automobiles.

Spend the afternoon and early evening relaxing on the beach with the odd cocktail thrown in before making the 10-minute trip back up into the seclusion of Benahavis.

Enjoy dinner back in Benahavis

Freshen up in your hotel room before making your way through the narrow streets to select your restaurant for dinner.

Note that with many visitors coming from resorts up and down the coast, going out a little later can mean a less busy and more relaxed atmosphere.

Day 10: Road trip along the Costa del Sol to Casares and Ronda

Drive to casares - one of the most beautiful 'pueblos blancos' in spain.

Today shall be the day of the Mirador . This Spanish word encompasses everything we like about driving up into the Andalucian mountains, as there are frequent labelled roadside stops allowing you to take in the magical views.

You could break tradition and set off on this leg of your Spain road trip before having breakfast to get down to Estepona.

This relatively quiet resort town has a number of cafés and bars on the seafront where you can pause and indulge in a couple of waffles covered in chocolate sauce.

Be sure to fill up the car before heading off the main road and up towards Casares, as petrol stations off the coast are few and far between.

Casares is pretty much postcard-perfect, with neat white houses built into the mountains.

With a population of just a few thousand people, the town is definitely small, but it has a surprising number of nice restaurants and hotels to choose from.

When you arrive in Casares, park your car and head towards Plaza de España, which is the focal point of this small community.

To get some great views, make your way up the narrow street next to the Virgin del Rosario Chapel and keep heading uphill until you reach an old fort at the top.

If you walk a bit further along, you will come to a viewing platform set above a sheer cliff face. From here you'll likely see a number of falcons and kestrels up close and personal - and the views of the town below are simply spectacular.

Head to Ronda and walk along the bridge

Once you've got your snaps and feel that you've seen all there is to see in Casares, it's time to hop back in the car and make your way further inland to the majestic town of Ronda.

This unique Andalucian town is placed on top of two plateaus with sheer rock cliffs down to a river valley below. The scenery is incredible from every angle and the town itself is a real marvel too.

Parking can be troublesome, so grab any spot you see once you get near the centre. Large underground car parks are available further out, but are a fair walk from the centre - we like the Parking Martinez Astein - it's about 10 minutes' walk down the main shopping street, but easy to get in and out of.

The main attraction of the city is the Puente Nuevo - the newest and most striking of the town's three bridges across the Guadalevín gorge.

This unbelievably beautiful structure took 42 years to complete and is one of Spain's most famous sights. The view that opens up from the top of the bridge is impossible to describe and pictures do not do it justice - it's just one of those places that you have to see for yourself. If there's one place that makes your Spain road trip worth it, this is it.

Once you've gotten over the quiet gurgle of the river below and the amazing views, it's time to pay attention to the rest of the historic town and there's definitely a lot to see.

The ancient cobbled streets are home to a number of museums and a bullfighting ring which you can visit. There are also plenty restaurants that are perfect for a late lunch.

A few restaurants on the south side have rooftop or terrace seats with views over the gorge and the bridge, which can make your meal a lot more romantic.

Once you feel the need to get back and relax by the pool through the late afternoon, it's a comfortable drive along a stunning road through the mountains, which comes out almost directly at Benahavis.

Your last night on the Costa del Sol ought to be celebrated with a couple of cocktails and a fabulous dinner in the calming sea breeze.

Spanish road trip ends with Cadiz, Seville and Cordoba

The last stint of this journey will take you inland as you drive up to Seville and Cordoba via Cadiz.

Don't be fooled by driving north - this is going to be the hottest part of the drive so get some water in the car. Seville and Cordoba are only an hour apart but could not be more different. You'll see how Seville's grand wide avenues with a distinctly European feel compare to Cordoba's narrow winding streets and a Moorish style.

Day 11: Drive from Benahavis to Gibraltar, Cadiz and Seville

First on the menu is a spectacular drive along the coast, a quick detour into Gibraltar and a day full of amazing views.

Driving from Benahavis to Gibraltar is fairly straight-forward until you get to the narrow streets of La Linea de la Conceptión on the Spanish side of the border. Here, you will undoubtedly join a huge queue waiting to enter.

Many people choose to park up and walk in, but with the main part of town fairly far down, we'd recommend waiting in the queue which moves along swiftly enough and driving through.

Make sure that your passports allow you visa-free entry to Gibraltar as it is outside the Schengen zone.

Climb up the famous Gibraltar Rock

There are two distinct parts to Gibraltar and you can choose how to split up your morning.

The main town is a throwback to England of a few decades ago, which is a very unique cultural experience. You will notice a lot of expensive cars and shops selling watches and jewellery for the wealthy beneficiaries of Gibraltar's favourable tax system.

The town itself, however, is more shabby chic than flamboyant, complete with iconic British red phone boxes dotted around.

For the more adventurous types, the Gibraltar Rock is a popular destination, with a cable car taking you to the top.

At the highest point you'll find the remains of an ancient Moorish castle, with a series of linked tunnels below called the Galleries. Look out for the enterprising monkeys that populate the area and are particularly keen on anything shiny they can get their hands on.

Visit the ancient city of Cadiz

On your way up to Seville, you absolutely must stop off at Cadiz.

This radiant city is the oldest in modern Europe, with history going far back into pre-Roman times. The main part of the city is located on a thin strip of land stretching out to sea, with a stunning yellow stone Old Town centred around a Cathedral.

Oddly enough, Cadiz attracts virtually no tourists whatsoever, so you are free to roam at your own leisure and visit some genuine Andalucian shops and cafés without having to distinguish them from tourist traps.

Enjoy the views from the top of Cadiz Cathedral

We highly recommend visiting the Cathedral and climbing up the tower to get a great view over the town and surrounding water. Spanish road trips tend to involve climbing huge cathedral towers in every city you visit, but it's really worth it!

The Panorama from the top of the Poniente will leave you breathless and also give you the opportunity to plan your route towards the Santa Catalina castle.

The walk there is along a narrow route that comes off the beach and heads several hundred metres into the sea, towards the fort built to protect the city from English attacks.

While you can't enter the venue, which is used exclusively for social events and concerts, the walk itself is a great way to chill out in the cool of the Atlantic waves, get a great view of the city, and have a swim in the locals' favourite relaxation spot.

Drive to Seville in time for dinner

The final stint of day 11 of your Spain road trip is getting to Seville. This will take you just over an hour and you should comfortably arrive in time to unpack, find a place to park your car and scour the surroundings for a great restaurant.

We would highly recommend finding Calle Mesón del Moro for some of the best restaurants in town, although beware that some of these may be fully booked on Friday and Saturday nights.

Where to stay in Seville

Our pick for the very best place to stay in Seville is Posada del Lucero - an elegant 16th-century inn that's been refurbished with all the modern amenities you could possibly want.

This hotel is situated near all the best shopping streets, just north of the historic sights and right next door to Metropol Parasol - the iconic massive wooden structure that locals have nicknamed "the Mushrooms".

The stylish minimal exterior of the hotel contrasts with what you'll find inside: two beautiful courtyards flanked by marble columns and sleek arched doorways.

There's also an amazing roof terrace with a plunge pool and a bar where you can enjoy drinks with a view.

Navigating the streets of central Seville can be the toughest of this Spanish road trip The hotel doesn't have its own parking, but there is a decent public car park nearby just one block up the road so head there as you drive in.

Day 12: Seville - Walking tour of all the best sights

First stop: plaza de españa.

The grand architecture and wide streets of Seville are more reminiscent of major European capitals than Andalucia, giving the city a distinct allure.

There is a lot to see around town, so get yourself out of bed at reasonable time and head down to Plaza de España. This vast open space was built in the 1920s in the middle of the Parque de María Luisa in time for the 1929 World Fair.

The large exposition building is now chiefly used for Governmental functions, but you can still go up the grand stairs for a better view.

The square itself is a semi-circle with fountains in the centre of a large paved area. Be sure to check out the perimeter of the Renaissance-style square, which is lined with Province Alcoves named after each of Spain's regions, complete with a mosaic depiction of each province.

Visit Seville's Real Alcazar

The Alcazar is probably Seville's best-known attraction, famed for its unique fusion of Moorish and Christian architecture.

Originally built as a mudejar fort, it has been converted into a Royal Palace and comes complete with stunning internal courtyards, romantic baths and grandiose apartments.

Along with the Jardines Reales Alcazares gardens around the back, this palace is guaranteed to leave you speechless.

See the largest Gothic church in the world

Last but not least on your long excursion around the city is the Seville Cathedral.

As it's only a few yards away from the Alcazar, you might want to have a spot of lunch before going inside. We would recommend crossing to the other side of the Cathedral square and stocking up on traditional local black squid paella on Calle Argote de Molina.

The cathedral itself is a masterful example of Spanish Gothic architecture and is the third largest church building in the world.

The interior's opulence has traditionally been a symbol of the wealth and power of the Catholic church, so you simply must go in and take in the sight for yourself.

Note that much of the altar and surrounding parts were completely rebuilt at the turn of the 20th century after the main dome collapsed in the 1888 earthquake, but despite this, the Cathedral remains staggeringly beautiful.

Be sure to climb up the cathedral's famous main tower, the Giralda.

Day 13: Last full day of the Spain road trip - day trip to Cordoba

On we go with the last leg of our Spain road trip.

If you thought that Seville is hot during the summer months, wait until you get to Cordoba. The city boasts Europe's hottest summer climate, and you can expect to feel it hitting you square in the face as you get out of your air-conditioned car.

The city centre is fairly compact, so your best bet is to drive towards Avenida de la República Argentina/Paseo de la Victoria and park on the street.

Explore Cordoba's top attractions

The first stop on your Cordoba tour is the Cathedral of Cordoba - aka La Mezquita. This stunning piece of architecture is probably the most impressive sight on this road trip through Spain.

This unique cathedral in the centre of the city was built on the site of a grand Moorish mosque. When it was constructed, La Mezquita defied tradition, incorporating much of the Mosque's design into the Cathedral structure.

This melange of cultures reflects the history of Cordoba, which has been characterised by two religions living side by side for centuries.

The ancient city of Cordoba is surprisingly unlike any of the other major cities in Andalucia.

The ancient Moorish influences are considerably more evident here, the narrow streets, low-rise buildings and shops looking more like northern Africa than Spain.

Be sure to pass through the Jewish Quarter to see beautiful white-washed houses set out in an impossible maze.

Cordoba used to be Europe's biggest city in the early medieval period, and it was Spain's capital during the days of the Roman Empire.

This vast historical importance means there are dozens of sights and museums to visit all around town. Many of these focus on archaeology, although there are other culture-based ones such as the Casa de Sefarad in the Jewish Quarter, where you can learn about Cordoba's Jewish community throughout history.

How to spend your evening in Seville

At the end of your day out, hop back into the car and return to Seville for the last night of your road trip - Spain has been well and truly conquered.

If you feel like treating yourself, Seville has plenty of outstanding restaurants.

If you fancy some traditional local cuisine, look no further than the Eslava in San Lorenzo, which has the town's best choice of tapas. For something a little bit more exotic, try the Az-Zait - the food here is fantastic, but it is also one of the pricier options around.

Day 14: Seville - Eat a meal at the market & fly home

The last day of your stay is likely to be cut short by the need to get to the airport or get started on your drive back home.

Malaga airport offers the most flight options out of Andalucia so consider options from there. Madrid airport is over 5 hours away so it's not a great option.

If you've hired your car in Barcelona, all major car hire firms have depots right by the airport, so make your way straight there.

If you have a bit of time to kill before leaving, make sure you go and wander through Calle San Pablo and the surrounding streets for a bit of shopping and some great cafes.

For one last taste of authentic Spanish life, walk across the Puente de Isabel II bridge and head to the large market on the right. Here you'll find a great choice of cured meats and other traditional produce.

Pick up a couple of snacks and souvenirs to remind you of your lazy trip along Spain's Mediterranean coast!

Tips for your Spanish Road Trip

Almost all cities in Spain have a network of underground car parks right in the centre - don't be afraid to follow signs for the centre of the city and dip into one of the car parks to check out the sights.

The motorways and dual carriageways in Spain are some of the best in Europe - the surfaces are typically very good, traffic is generally sparse and you can literally pay to go faster (speed limits are higher on toll roads)!

To get all the details, read our Driving in Spain guide with a lot more about local rules, speed limits and general quirks.

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Spain Road Trip: 8 Amazing Routes for an Epic Trip

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Our Pick of the Best Road Trips in Spain

Amongst the beautiful landscapes of Spain, in the mountainous interior and along the gorgeous coasts, you’ll find fascinating history, vibrant culture, and incredible cuisine. One of the best ways to experience Spain is by taking a road trip.

With the lively attractions of Barcelona, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the historic medieval cities of the interior, and endless summer days in Andalucia, Spain is an eclectic place to take a road trip.

We base ourselves in Spain when not traveling and have explored much of the country on four wheels and two! Whether you want historic cities, gorgeous landscapes, beaches and sun, or something a bit different, our detailed guide has the best Spanish road trip routes plus itineraries and travel tips, to help you plan the perfect trip.

Getting to Spain

Whether you’re taking a Spain road trip in a car, motorcycle, campervan, or motorhome, self-driving is absolutely the best way to explore this spectacular part of the Iberian Peninsula.

When you road trip Spain you can stop whenever you want, try new activities, visit places you see along the route, and have the freedom to change plans at the last minute.

Spain is an easily accessible country from the UK and most of Europe, with a direct ferry route from England to Santander or Bilbao, and an established network of autovias to help your road trip across the country. Plan on getting to Spain as part of your trip and enjoy an epic road trip to Spain, followed by one in the country itself!

RELATED POST: Driving from UK to Spain – Routes & Tips

Book with Skyscanner and fly into the well-located international airports of Madrid , Malaga , and Barcelona are ideal starting points your Spanish road trip – you can be anywhere in the country within a day and that’s the beauty of a viaje por carretera , or road trip in Spanish!

Are you planning to rent a car in Spain? As one of the largest car hire aggregator companies in the world, we recommend Rentalcars.com because they have massive purchasing power which enables them to secure the best car rental prices, which benefits you when you’re planning a roadtrip in Spain.

For a real adventure , hire a motorhome or campervan in Spain. We recommend Motorhome Republic , an aggregate booking site who pull together all the best deals from a number of rental agencies, to offer you a wide choice of options alongside an excellent English speaking expert motorhome Concierge Team.

Best Spanish Road Trips Map

Which is the best road trip in Spain?

• Castille-Leon for historic cities, vineyards, and empty roads.
• Barcelona and Catalonia for beautiful beaches and lively party vibes.
• The Basque County and Pyrenees road trip is perfect for foodies and hikers.
• Andalucia for gorgeous Moorish cities, flamenco, and fantastic beaches.
• East Coast Costas for vibrant seaside resorts and sunny days year round.
• Central Spain for wild natural landscapes and off-the-beaten-path towns.
• Green Spain for quiet beaches, mountain hiking, and fab food.
• Epic Spain for an amazing journey through the best of Spain.

Is this your first time visiting Spain? Get all the information you need in our Spain Travel Guide , including what to pack, the best time of year to go, getting there, and practical tips to help you have the best trip!

Castille-Leon

Madrid – segovia – salamanca – zamora – león – valladolid – penaranda del duero – madrid.

• Distance: 915km
• Duration: 7-10 days
• Drive Time: 11 hours

This fantastic seven to ten day Spain road trip itinerary through the land of frontier castillos and roads that stretch into the distance for miles will take you across the high plateaus and rugged mountains of central Spain. This is a road trip for those who want the real Spain.

It will be unbearably hot in summer and bitterly cold in winter in this part of Spain. This road trip in Spain should be taken in spring when the fields are carpeted with colorful wildflowers, or in autumn/fall for the late summer sun and the beautiful ochre and red of the Duero vines.

Pick up your hire car at Madrid airport and spend a day in Madrid , the largest city in Spain, seeing the most important attractions, including Plaza de España, the Prado Museum, Plaza Mayor, and the nearby Baroque Royal Palace before heading to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Segovia, a walled city with grand squares and mansions from its days as a royal holiday resort, and one of the most distinctive medieval castles in Europe.

Next up,  visit Salamanca , known as the Golden City because of the prolific use of honey-colored sandstone in the civic and religious buildings of the city. Salamanca is beautifully graceful, with learning at its heart, and the most elegant Plaza Mayor in Spain.

Zamora is your next destination. With its Romanesque churches and charming streets and squares of the old town, this makes a great stop for an overnight stay. Onwards to Leon, a sociable city with a fabulous casco antiguo,  packed with great architecture and atmosphere, and a notable Gothic cathedral.

Valladolid, your next stop is high on the mesta (plateau) and has been lived in by many of Spain’s famous historical figures. Despite that, it is a more modern town than its neighbors. You’ll find restored plazas and churches along with some excellent museums.

To the east, the small town of Penaranda del Duero is deep in the lush rolling vineyards of La Rioja, where some of the  best wines in Spain  are produced. This gorgeous town, on the Ribera del Duero Wine Route, sits beneath an impressive castle and is a popular weekend getaway for  Madrilenos .

Spain is famous for its history and if you have an extra day at the start or end of your road trip,  visit Toledo , an hour’s drive to the south of Madrid. Known as the Imperial City, this UNESCO World Heritage Site has one of the most well-preserved old towns in Spain and more historical sites per square meter than Rome! 

• Eat suckling pig in Segovia, a truly delicious local specialty.
• Head for the tapas bars of the cathedral quarter in Leon. Order a small beer and get a complimentary tapa!
• Visit a bodega along the glorious Ribera del Duero and enjoy a wine tasting.

Where to Stay

Madrid ⇒ Only You Hotel Atocha  for its hip vibe, contemporary luxe decor, and fantastic public spaces.

Leon ⇒ Hotel Real Colegiata San Isidoro  for its superb location, complete uniqueness, and fabulous history.

Valladolid ⇒ Abadia Retuerta LeDomaine  for sheer luxury, fabulous restaurants, and an incredible spa. A fabulous hotel for the perfect end to your road trip.

RELATED POST: Madrid in One Day – Itinerary, Map, Tips & Guide

Make sure you have travel insurance you can trust when visiting Spain . We recommend True Traveller for their excellent TrustPilot reviews, variety of cover options, best activities cover as standard, great prices, and excellent service.

Barcelona & Catalonia

Barcelona – sitges – tarragona – la seu d’urgell – figueres – calella de palafrugell – tossa de mar – barcelona.

• Distance: 642km
• Drive Time: 10 hours

This seven day Costa Brava road trip from Barcelona takes you through one of Spain’s most distinctive regions. Catalunya is fiercely independent with a unique identity, and like nowhere else in the country. With its own language, Catalan, the region has long been an intersection of cultures and influences.

We start on the Costa Brava in the second biggest city in Spain, Barcelona. This is Gaudi’s city and home to the sublime but unfinished La Sagrada Familia cathedral. Once you’re done admiring his masterpiece, head for the Gothic Quarter, a great spot to while away an evening bar hopping in this most lively of cities.

If you have enough time, try  hiking in Montserrat , just a short drive from the city. Famous for the cliff-hugging monastery and distinctive serrated rocks, you don’t even have to hike, you can get a cable car to the top! 

Head south along the coast to beautiful Tarragona, stopping at Sitges if partying is your thing …but be prepared to party hard, the town is famous for its nightlife.

Tarragona is situated on a rocky hill above the sparkling Mediterranean Sea. With a fine historic center and a scattering of Roman ruins, this is a great place to spend the day visiting the must-see 2nd century Amfiteatre Romà, Necropolis, and Forum before wandering the Passeig Arqueològic for sweeping views of the city. Or you could just relax on one of the many beaches.

From here it’s inland and north to the Pyrenean medieval town of La Seu d’Urgell, overlooked by the Sierra de Cadí mountains. Replete with the Romanesque style architecture of Catalonia in the 11th and 12th centuries, this is a town for meandering.

From La Seu d’Urgell, it’s a hop and skip to Andorra, the sovereign landlocked country that crowns the Pyrenees. We’re on the fence about this tiny microstate, which we thought was a little… odd. But, if you want to tick another European country off your list, now is the time!

From here, a spectacular drive through the foothills of the Pyrenees takes you to Figueres, via La Garrotxa Natural Park, known for its many extinguished volcanoes. Figueres, the birthplace of artist Salvador Dalí, houses the Teatre-Museu Gala Salvador Dalí, which is worth a visit if you like Surrealism.

You’re heading south now, bypassing Girona (which is worthy of a visit all of its’ own if you have time) in favor of the Costa Dorada beach resorts of Calella de Palafrugell and Tossa de Mar.

Calella de Palafrugell is one of the most beautiful coastal villages in Spain, with cute white houses, colorful wooden boats on the beach, and rocky inlets and hidden coves, and makes a perfect spot to stop and relax for a couple of days.

Tossa de Mar has a beautifully preserved old town, complete with cobblestone streets and fortifications and a fine beach, at total odds with its near neighbor, Lloret de Mar, which was one of the first places to Spain offer package holidays in the post-Franco tourist boom in the 1970s and has the highest concentration of hotels in the Mediterranean.

• The works of Gaudi define Barcelona and the Sagrada Familia and La Pedrera are must-sees.
• Bar hop and eat pintxos, delicious small snacks on sticks, local to Catalonia and the Basque region.
• Take out a kayak or paddleboard from El Golfet Beach to enjoy a different perspective of the coast, and the clear turquoise waters.

Barcelona ⇒ B Hotel  for its handy location between the airport and the city, glitzy rooftop terrace with pool, and welcoming staff.

Tarragona ⇒ Plaça De La Font  for its excellent old town location, lively vibe, and superb breakfast.

Tossa de Mar ⇒ The Hotel Delfín for its beachside location, supremely stylish decor, and pool with a view.

RELATED POST: One Day in Barcelona – Itinerary, Map, Tips & Guide

Don’t forget your road trip essentials! Our free road trip checklists help you remember everything, including road trip snacks , podcasts , and road trip songs for the journey!

Basque Country & Pyrenees

San Sebastián – Bilbao – Pamplona – Torla Ordesa – Ainsa – Zaragoza – Barcelona or Madrid

• Distance: 962km
• Drive Time: 12 hours

This northern Spain itinerary takes in the cities and coasts of the Basque Country, and the magnificent Pyrenees mountains that extend for more than 400 kilometers between Navarre, Aragon, and Catalonia, and create a natural barrier between the Iberian Peninsula and the rest of continental Europe.

Start in Donastia-San Sebastian, the jewel in the crown of the Basque resorts. A picturesque city with fabulous beaches, San Sebastian is perhaps best known as a foodie town, with some of the finest restaurants in Spain gracing its leafy boulevards and squares of the city center.

Bilbao makes a natural next stop and now rivals Donosti, as it’s known locally, as one of the top coastal cities in Spain. The beautifully curved and sweeping architecture of Museo Guggenheim and the fine Basque cuisine and freshly caught seafood served in its lively restaurants and bars make Bilbao a worthy stop.

In the northern Spain foothills of the Pyrenees, Pamplona is a town with a compact and enticing casco antiguo and a hulk of a citadel to visit. From its powerful fortress city history to the modern-day  Fiestas de San Fermin (Running of the Bulls festival), this city is as swashbuckling and red-blooded as they come.

Visit in early July for the festival and nine days of riotous partying and entertainment, but book early as thousands of visitors descend and everything gets booked up at least nine months in advance.

From Pamplona, the mountains are enticingly close. Torla-Ordesa is the nearest village to the breathtaking Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park where you can explore lush meadows, gushing waterfalls, and incredible gorges formed by glaciers millions of years ago.

The best way to see all this natural beauty is to hike the Circo do Soaso, a Pyrenean cirque that surrounds the vast Ordesa Valley. With sheer walls stretching up the 3,355m peak of Monte Perdido looking down, and over twenty cascades along the tumbling Rio Arazes to accompany your hike, this will undoubtedly be the highlight of your Pyrenees road trip.

Capital of the old kingdom of Sobrarbe, which became part of the kingdom of Aragon in the 11th century, Ainsa is a fantastic example of medieval city design and has the best views back to Monte Perdido from the preserved citadel.

From here, it’s south to Zaragoza, famous for the Baroque Nuestra Señora del Pilar basilica, a pilgrimage site with a shrine to the Virgin Mary and the Mudéjar-style Aljafería Palace, an 11th-century Moorish palacio. Together with La Seo Cathedral, the Mudéjar architecture of Aragon forms a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

And now you have a choice! From Zaragoza, it’s almost equidistant to Madrid or Barcelona, give or take 10km. So, Spain is now your oyster and you can go south for the museums and classical architecture of Madrid, or east for the laid-back vibes of Barcelona.

• Arriving at the Cola de Caballo horsetail waterfall at the far end of the Ordesa Valley, and having lunch under the mist.
• Sample the Basque seafood cuisine, like baked spider crab and clams marinière in the old town of San Sebastian.
• Watch the bulls (from a distance!) get a fair chance at Pamplona’s Fiestas de San Fermin.

San Sebastian ⇒ Zenit Convento San Martin for its central location, stylish decor, and rooftop pool.

Pamplona ⇒ Pamplona Catedral Hotel for its beautiful design, friendly customer service, and very comfy beds.

Zaragoza ⇒ Hotel Sauce for cozy rooms, great location, and exceptional homemade breakfast in their bakery.

RELATED POST: How to Hike the Circo de Soaso and Ordesa Valley

Malaga – Marbella – Ronda – Cadiz – Jerez de la Frontera – Seville – Antequera – Cordoba – Granada – Malaga

• Distance: 1041km
• Duration: 10-14 days
• Drive Time: 13 hours

Andalucia in the south of Spain is the quintessential Spanish region and is home to some of the most colorful and vibrant cities in the whole of the country. Heavy with Moorish influence, evident in the fantastic food and historic architecture, the cities of Andalucia are a feast for the senses.

This south Spain road trip starts on the Costa del Sol, in the  lively coastal city of Malaga , which comes to life on the seafront. A favorite place for Malaguenos to go for a stroll post siesta , a fiercely protected custom in the south of Spain, the seafront comes alive after 5pm. You’ll find whole families out, enjoying the sunshine and stopping for a beer and tapa along the paseo .

From Malaga, the seaside resort of Marbella beckons, where you can spend a day soaking up the sun on one of the three immaculately kept sandy beaches and enjoying the people-watching before visiting the charming old town. Head for Plaza de los Naranjos at the center of the Casco Antiguo and enjoy a coffee whilst watching the world go by. For lunch, find  Taberna Casa Curro Marbella  where you’ll enjoy great tapas and fruity Spanish wine.

Up next is beautiful Ronda, surrounded by the dramatic mountains of Sierra de Grazalema and Sierra de las Nieves. The drive from Marbella to Ronda is simply stunning, with white villages on every hillside and spectacular views as the road dips and swoops between lakes, valleys, and peaks.

Known for its Ronda its arched bridge of Puente Nuevo which spans the 120m deep river gorge of El Tajo, the bridge is best seen from the beautiful  La Casa del Rey Moro , where you’ll find lush and fragrant gardens and a spectacular view. There’s also a spectacular bullring here, and whatever your views about the divisive sport of bullfighting, you should visit Plaza de Toros.

Just north of Ronda are the Pueblo Blancos of Zahara de la Sierra and Setenil de las Bodegas. Both are worth visiting, and the latter is known for its whitewashed houses built into the surrounding cliffs and that image, the one with the rock covering half the narrow street and its houses.

The faded splendor of the sea city of  Cadiz , one of the oldest cities in Europe, will beguile you. Just across the water in the famed sherry triangle is Jerez de la Frontera, the home of sherry since the 14th century. The nearby towns of Sanlúcar de Barrameda and El Puerto de Santa María are the other points of the triangle.

Make sure to stop for a tour of a sherry bodega for a taste of Spain’s most famous alcoholic drink. Whatever you think you know about sherry, think again!

As well as sherry, Jerez is also famous for its flamenco tradition and is one of the best places to watch the steamy and seductive dance whose name literally means ‘hell-raising’!

Next is hot and steamy Seville, one of the most popular places in Andalucia, if not Spain! Seville boasts the Gothic Seville Cathedral, the imposing Giralda Tower, and the stunning Alcazar, all conveniently clustered together in the historic center, and located right next to the narrow streets of the Barrio Santa Cruz, the heart of Seville’s lively tapas culture offering some of the best plates in Andalucia.  

Past the ancient dolmens and lover’s rock of Antequera is Cordoba, known for the UNESCO Mezquita mosque cathedral, which will take your breath away when you step inside for the first time. Meander through the nearby Jewish quarter where you’ll find narrow lanes and pretty squares where many of the whitewashed houses are covered in blooms from window boxes providing the perfect images of this gorgeous city. 

Next up is one of Spain’s most underrated cities. Well off the beaten path, Jaén is known for its olive oil production, and its medieval fortresses, including Santa Catalina Castle. The Renaissance Jaén Cathedral houses the Holy Veil which is said to have been used to wash Christ’s face.

From Jaén, it’s a beautiful drive south to Granada, in the Sierra Nevada mountains and very possibly Spain’s most romantic city. The Alhambra, the spectacular Moorish palace sits high on a hill overlooking Albaicin, the old town of Granada, and is the jewel in Andalucia’s crown.

Finish this southern Spain road trip by hitting the Costa Tropical and the seaside resorts of Almuñécar, Salobreña, La Herradura, and Nerja.

• Watching live Flamenco in Seville , passionate, sensual, and a true art form.
• The Alhambra Palace is the most exciting and romantic of all of Europe’s ancient palaces.
• The Mezquita in Cordoba is one of the most spectacular mosque cathedrals in the world.

Malaga ⇒ Hotel Molina Lario for its perfect location, buzzy rooftop bar, and incredible cathedral views.

Seville ⇒ Case del Poeta for its perfect Santa Cruz location, live Spanish guitar gigs, and stunning roof terrace views.

Granada ⇒ the  Hotel Santa Isabel la Real  for cozy rooms, spectacular Alhambra views, and an exceptional cooked breakfast.

RELATED POST: The Perfect Andalucia Road Trip: Itinerary, Map & Tips

Looking for the best SIM card deals in Europe for your trip? Check out our guide to the best data SIMs in Europe and get the best deal for your trip to Spain.

East Coast Costas

Valencia – denia – xabia – altea – alicante – cartagena – almeria.

• Distance: 553km
• Drive Time: 8 hours

This delightful and easy seven day trip down Spain’s eastern Mediterranean coast bypasses the worst of the high-rise excesses and explores the best of the Spanish Costas, including some you’ve never heard of! Costa de Valencia, Costa Blanca, Costa Calida and Costa de Almeria.

Valencia is a seriously underrated city and is preferred by many Spaniards to Barcelona. The city is much less touristy than Barcelona but has the cultural variety of Madrid and the charm of Seville. Alive with noise and color, the city will surprise and delight you. 

Visit Valencia  during the fabulous Las Fallas  when the city erupts with bonfires, music, and life. Don’t forget to sample a traditional drink of horchata (made from tiger nuts) when you’re in Valencia, it’s not to be missed!

Head south and make for La Albufera, a huge lagoon separated from the sea by a sandbank and surrounded by rice paddy fields, still irrigated by systems installed by the Moors.

An important wetland and the stopping-off point for thousands of migratory birds, the area is also where paella originated, due to the perfect growing conditions for rice. You can take a guided tour through the lagoon on a boat trip, and check out the ‘paella’ villages, including Perel-Lonet, the best place to get a taste of the real thing, not with seafood but with chicken, rabbit, and snails. 

Next up is the old port town of Denia, less touristy and ex-pat, and the closest departure point in Spain for the Balearic Islands. From here, you can sail to Ibiza, Formentera, and Palma, to start your Mallorca road trip (if you have a few extra days!).

There’s more to Denia than the port though. Home to a modern marina surrounded by cool bars and an old town lined with fish restaurants and Spanish fusion food, this is a wonderful place for an overnight stop. Check out our favorite, Els Magazinos, for street food Spanish style.

Javea, or Xabia in the local dialect of Valenciano, is a pretty seaside resort close to Cabo de la Nao, a beautiful rocky promontory where you’ll find hidden coves and beaches. Lively in the evenings in summer, you’ll also find a beautiful sandy beach and a pretty old town.

For the best beach in the area, head south by around 5km to Playa la Barraca, a shingle beach with perfect turquoise water and a fantastic seafood restaurant. 

Altea is your next stop, a small resort that sits below a historic hilltop village, which has incredible views. The old village is gorgeous with bougainvillea and jasmine in bloom, alongside alleys lined with alfresco dining and interesting boutiques and gift shops.  

Bypass built-up Benidorm and head for the very Spanish city of Alicante, with its wide and spacious esplanades and seafront paseo. The renovated old town is a perfect place to stroll and people-watch, especially in the early evenings. You’ll also find good tapas restaurants and bars in this area. 

Swing by the  pink lake at Torrevieja . Las Salinas Torrevieja is a real sight, with its bubblegum pink water and fascinating history of salt production.  

Head south, ignoring the outskirts of Cartagena, and make for the medieval narrow and twisting streets of the old town. The city will surprise you with its eclectic architecture, historic sites, and modern feel. 

It’s quite a long drive down this part of the coast but the unspoiled and undeveloped resorts of Aguilas and El Puerto de Mazarron make good stopping points before arriving in the wild and beautiful region of Almeria , one of the driest places in Europe and home to some weird and wonderful landscapes and coastal rock formations, both on dry land and in the surrounding sea.

The Cabo de Gata particularly is a  scuba diving hotspot and a kayaker’s and hiker’s paradise, and whales are sometimes spotted along these shores.

• The authentic and vibrant city of Valencia, where there are more Spanish than visitors.
• Exploring the gorgeous Mediterranean beaches of the Cabo de la Nao that are perfect for snorkeling.
• The sheer exuberance of Alicante, with its magnificent beaches and atmospheric old town.

Valencia ⇒ One Shot Mercat 09 for its historic location, rooftop pool, and hip vibe.

Alicante ⇒ Melia Alicante  for its stunning views, casual style, and excellent service.

Cartagena ⇒ NH Cartagena for its central location, contemporary style, and welcoming feel.

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Central spain.

Madrid – Toldeo – Cáceres – Ciudad Real – Consuegra – El Toboso – Cuenca – Madrid

• Distance: 1085km
• Duration: 10 days

This road trip from Madrid explores the wild and windswept plateau of Castilla-La Mancha and Extremadura, parts of Spain’s interior that are really on the road less traveled. Amongst the hidden gems and architectural surprises expect abandoned villages and huge swathes of, well, nothingness.

For us, the the rolling steppe and vast plains, rich with birdlife and craggy outcrops more than compensate for its remote nature and long hours on the road.

Toledo is up first, and what a start to your road trip! An ancient city set on a hill above the plains, Toldeo is known for the medieval Arab, Jewish, and Christian monuments in its walled old city, giving rise to its name ‘City of the Three Cultures’. There’s also a connection with Hannibal who used extra-hard Toledo steel for his swords in the Punic Wars.

It’s a gorgeous drive through forests and rolling plains to medieval Cáceres, a UNESCO jumble of narrow alleys, castles, palaces, and squares, where it’s easy to while away a few days eating tapas and admiring the olive trees growing in serried ranks across the rolling lands which surround the town.

Ciudad Real is a quick stop to admire the 14th century Puerta de Toledo, one of the city’s original Mudéjar-era gates, and visit the Quixote Museum, dedicated to Miguel de Cervantes’ classic Spanish novel, Don Quixote .

Next up, riding the Cerro Calderico mountain and with the 12th century Castle of La Muela as a backdrop, are the Consuegra windmills, a line of twelve tower mills described in the story of Don Quixote , that are one of the most iconic landmarks in Spain. 

Initially built to grind grain, the mills were modeled on the Dutch windmills of the 16th and 17th centuries. These tower mills were passed down through the generations until being retired in the 1980s when twelve of the original thirteen mills were restored and opened as a tourist attraction. 

El Toboso is your next stop. Famous for being the hometown of the fictitious Dulcinea, lover of Don Quixote, El Toboso has a great many pretty corners and traditional buildings of masonry and whitewashed walls. Don’t miss the House of Dulcinea, a traditional La Mancha structure from the 16th century, which has been beautifully renovated.

Your final stop before returning to Madrid is Cuenca. Founded by Moors, Cuenca is perched on a limestone spur above the Júcar and Huécar rivers and has a historic Walled Town with steep cobbled streets and medieval castle ruins. Cueunce is most famous for its well-preserved casas colgadas , or hanging houses which are dramatically cantilevered over the Huécar gorge as they cling to the cliffside.

Green Spain

San sebastian – bilbao – comillas – oviedo – a coruna – santiago de compostela.

• Distance: 838km

This north of Spain road trip will take you through the beautiful and lush, aptly named Green Spain, hugging the north coast along the Atlantic Ocean.

From San Sebastian through Cantabria, Asturias, and Galicia, you’ll see some of the most picturesque landscapes in Spain, enjoy amazing food, and crisscross the famous  Camino de Santiago .

Start in gorgeous Donastia-San Sebastian, the most well-known of the Basque resorts. A picturesque seaside resort with fabulous sandy beaches, San Sebastian is known as a foodie town, and deservedly so. There is a great collection of fine restaurants and authentic pintxo bars here, serving world-class food produced from local ingredients.

Next is Bilbao, home of the incredible Museo Guggenheim and backed by beautiful green mountains. The museum itself is a work of art, with beautifully curved and sweeping architecture.

Bilbao now rivals San Sebastian as one of the top coastal cities in Spain , with its vibrant restaurant and bar scene, and offers fine Basque cuisine and freshly caught seafood in its atmospheric restaurants and bars.

Head west to the stunning Santillana del Mar, known as the town of the three lies. Not holy  (santi),  not flat  (llana)  nor by the sea  (del mar) . This medieval town is well-preserved and worth a meander before you make your way to Comillas, further along, the coast.

Traditionally low-rise, you’ll find a lovely beach, a tiny fishing port, and a charming cobbled  casco antiguo  here. If you have a few extra days, head into the Picos de Europa National Park for excellent hiking in the beautiful peaks of this small, but perfectly formed mountain range.

Oviedo is the next stop and the starting point of the lesser-known Camino Primitivo (the oldest Camino). This compact and elegant city is another foodie delight, with a vibrant gastronomic scene.

Home to Spanish cider, you’ll find traditional  sidrerías  along Calle Gascona, known as Cider Boulevard. Visit in September for  Fiestas de San Mateo,  a live theatre and music spectacular. If you go in October, you’ll be in the middle of the apple harvest in  Asturias, a region in which you could easily spend several weeks .

A Coruña is up next, passing by the spectacular Playa de Las Catedrales en route. The ‘beach of the cathedrals’ is one of Spain’s top natural landmarks and is best visited at low tide , when its possible to walk on the beach and get up close to the fabulous rock formations.

A Coruna is a dynamic city that is home to a busy port, a relaxed beachfront resort, and an atmospheric old town. The seafood here is some of the freshest and most delicious in Spain, with seafood tapas being a specialty. Take a walk out to the Tower of Hercules, a lighthouse that looks nothing like a lighthouse!

Finally, you’ll reach Santiago de Compostela, the end point of the famous Camino de Santiago, and your last stop. As you enter the city, you’ll see pilgrims covering the final few miles and proudly displaying their  Vieira,  the scallop shell badge that you’ll have seen along your route .  

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Santiago de Compostela is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in Spain, full of labyrinthine alleys, dramatic squares, and historic religious buildings.

There are too many must-sees to list, but consider a walking tour with a local guide if you don’t have much time, you’ll get to see the most important things and learn about the history of the city too. 

It’s a hop and a skip from here into tiny Portugal, via fascinating Vigo. Portugal packs a powerful punch with incredible coastlines and vibrant cities and a  Portuguese road trip  makes the perfect complement to your Spanish road trip. 

• Visit the highly recommended  Guggenhei m Museum Bilbao  and be awe-struck by both architecture and art.
• Explore the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela and make the climb to Las Cubiertas , the cathedral roof, for incredible views of the city and the landscape beyond.
• Walk along the boardwalks at Playa de Las Catedrales and marvel at the extraordinary natural arches and racing sea.

Bilbao ⇒  Hotel Tayko  for its minimalist style, hip location, and excellent restaurant.

Oviedo ⇒ Barcelo Oviedo Cervantes  for its laid-back vibe, modern decor, and smooth service.

Santiago de Compostela ⇒ Parador De Santiago de Compostela  for its history, traditional decor, and HUGE breakfast buffet.

RELATED POST: North Spain Road Trip: Itinerary, Route & Tips

Madrid – Salamanca – Santiago de Compostela – San Sebastián – Barcelona – Valencia – Alicante – Almeria – Granada – Malaga – Cordoba – Seville – Cáceres – Toledo – Madrid

• Distance: 3791km
• Duration: 3-4 weeks
• Drive Time: 38 hours

If our seven great driving tours of Spain have whet your appetite but you have a bit more time and want to experience all that Spain has to offer, why not try this combination of all our Spain road trips together?

Stop in the major cities on this eclectic itinerary, and take day trips as you go to see the main attractions along the route. Enjoy local gastronomy, learn about regional customs, and marvel at the variety that Spain has to offer.

From coast to mountains and taking in all the major cities and must-see places, this ultimate Spain road trip will give you the drive of your life and show you the best of Spain in all its wonderful guises. 

Want to plan your own road tri p? Get our step-by-step road trip planning guide to help you organize the perfect trip., or check out our favorite road trips in Europe for inspiration.

Planning Your Spain Road Trip

Spain road trip resources.

Here are the websites and services we personally use and recommend for traveling in Spain.

• Search for affordable flights to Spain with Skyscanner
• Search for availability and book hotels and accommodation in Spain with Booking.com
• Find and book the best campsites in Spain with Eurocampings
• Book the cheapest and most reliable hire cars in Spain with Rentalcars.com
• Find and hire your perfect motorhome or campervan with Motorhome Republic
• Get highly rated, reliable, and trustworthy travel insurance with True Traveller
• Check if you need a visa and arrange your documents with Visagov

Best Time to Visit Spain

Spain has varied weather and different climate systems, depending on where you are in the country.

The weather of Spain in spring is just perfect for those who want to enjoy the beautiful climate and it’s no wonder that this is also considered to be one of the peak seasons for travelers in Spain.

From March to May, the weather is pleasantly warm and you definitely won’t need your winter woolies! You may need a long-sleeve top for the evenings, and if you’re visiting the north of Spain, it’s a good idea to pack a cozy fleece or jumper and a waterproof.

A visit in spring also offers the opportunity to experience Easter or Semana Santa . Catholics in Spain celebrate Holy Week through traditions that commemorate the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus and each day has its special traditions, like processions on the streets and bringing olive branches to church. It really is a spectacle, and best seen in Seville or Granada.

Summers in Spain can be punishingly hot, especially in the south, and there will be a greater influx of European tourists heading to the popular beach resorts and historic cities, although most Spaniards will stay at home during these months.

Lower temperatures in the green north make it a great option during the summer, but be aware that prices for flights, accommodation, car hire, and activities increase everywhere.

Similar to spring, fall sees milder temperatures and fewer visitors, making it a good option for a post-summer break. Spain turns the most beautiful shades of russet and yellow during fall and hotels and other accommodation are reasonably priced at this time.

Winter temperatures are where the extremes really show. Northern Spain may see snow and Madrid in winter can be super cold, just as Malaga is one of the hottest winter destinations in Europe with the sea warm enough to swim in!

This is also a good time for budget travelers to plan Spain trips as prices tumble and there are real bargains to be had. Avoid the north and Pyrenees though, which regularly see snow in winter.

RELATED POST: Autumn in Europe: 23 Stunning Destinations for Fall

Fiestas in Spain

Right across Spain, from the largest cities to the smallest villages, fiestas or parties, are an important annual marker and a great excuse to celebrate life.

Usually held to mark a religious day, these riotous parties are one of the greatest pleasures of traveling in Spain.

The streets are adorned with decorations, street food is prepared, wine flows, and live music is played as people come together. Everyone is welcome; to visit Spain and not join a fiesta  is to miss the ethos and spirit of this country entirely.

You can find a  fiesta calendar here  to help you plan your trip and coincide your visit with the best of them.

Driving in Spain

Car travel in Spain is easy, with a good network of Autovias (A) and Autopistas (AP). The latter were toll roads until 2020 when many (but not all) became toll-free.

Fuel and car hire are some of the cheapest in Europe making Spain a really cost-effective place to take a road trip. 

Touring Spain by car in rural and mountainous areas can take longer than you think although the standard of non-motorway roads in rural areas is generally good. Allow time to get off the beaten track and experience the real Spain as you tour this fabulous country.

Whether you’re driving your own vehicle to Spain or you’re in a rental car, follow our driving in Spain tips;

• You must have at least three months remaining on your passport (issued in the past ten years) at your intended date of departure from Spain.
• You must have at least 3rd party insurance for your vehicle when you roadtrip Spain.
• Citizens of non-EU third countries may require an IDP, you can check here .
• You must carry two warning triangles for the front and rear. These warning triangles are now being phased out and from 1st July 2021, a new law requires that a V16 flashing emergency light is used, although both means of advising other traffic will be legal until the end of 2024.
• You must also carry a reflective jacket (for the driver and all passengers) a spare wheel and the tools to change a wheel or a tire repair kit.  
• If you wear glasses you must also carry a spare pair in the vehicle.
• UK cars will need headlight beam converters to be fitted (unless they adjust automatically).
• The use of winter tires in Spain is regional. Look out for traffic signs indicating that winter tires or snow chains are compulsory where you are.
• Anything with a screen (television, video, DVD, etc.) that could distract you when driving should be positioned where you can’t see it. This doesn’t apply to a sat nav but you must not touch or program your sat nav unless parked in a safe place.
• Using radar detection equipment is prohibited under Spanish law and new regulations from January 2021 mean that it will also be illegal to be in possession of such equipment .
• On roads with single carriageways, the speed limit established may not be exceeded by more than 20km/h when overtaking.
• Free parking is almost impossible to find in Spanish cities. A better way is to book a hotel or accommodation with its own parking.

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Epic Spain Road Trip Ideas With Itinerary Details and Tips

A road trip through Spain is a dream, hands down. This post has over 20 Spain road trip ideas plus a detailed itinerary – I know you will be spoilt with choices to choose the perfect Spain road trip itinerary, but trust me, you will end up having a blast.

Whether you have one week in Spain or amazing 3 weeks in Spain, these Spain road trip ideas cover many regions – from the popular Barcelona to Seville route to the offbeat routes in the heart of the country.

In this post, you will get to know all about renting a car to self-drive in Spain.

Spain remains one of my favorite destinations in Europe, especially because it is perfect for road trips in Spain. 

No matter how much time you have, you can hop in a car and end up having any of these epic trips covering some splendid Spanish villages amidst mountains, cities, and towns home to many UNESCO wonders to the spectacular coastal line home to turquoise beaches and fishing villages.  

A road trip in Spain is the best way to explore the country’s heart, to truly go beyond its famous cities and towns to get to know its fabulous villages and smaller towns. 

Renting a car for a Spanish road trip is the best way to travel in this gorgeous country, especially if you travel for the first time.

This post has both kinds of Spain road trip ideas – action-packed Spain itinerary ideas for those wanting to see more in a short time as well as leisurely covering fewer places over time, traveling slowly. 

WHY YOU SHOULD PLAIN A ROAD TRIP IN SPAIN

Apart from the amazing roads and gorgeous places, there are other reasons why Spain is one of the best places to have a self-drive holiday in Europe.

The rental cars and the fuel prices are cheaper, and it is easy to get them without much hassle(more details in next sections).

Also, unlike other countries, the parking costs are cheaper as well.

Plus, you can decide on a whim whether you want to add more places on a given day or slow down and cover as little as you want. 

In short, Spain road trip = complete flexibility. Plus, hiring a car in Spain is an excellent way to see most of the country in a short period.

What is the best time for planning these Spain road trip itineraries? Summer is the most popular time and is preferred by many – thanks to the weather and the holiday season.

But peak season also means expensive accommodation and food, crowded attractions, and more vehicles on the road.

Hence, if you are like me that want to avoid all of the above, I’d recommend picking the shoulder seasons – Spring or Autumn months, or even winter as Spain is one of the best warm European destinations. 

These months are great to travel to Spain with your dog as well. if you prefer not overwhelming the pet.

During these times, you would hardly find other people on the road or in tourist spots. 

If you don’t mind crowds or prices, summer is, of course, the best time.

SPAIN ROAD TRIP IDEAS – HOW TO USE

I did a few of these itineraries for over three weeks spread apart, and I would say it was one of the most adventurous things I have done.

There are many itinerary combinations for seeing Spain by car. 

This self-drive road trip across Spain includes things to do at all stops, unmissable activities and recommendations, and also some useful Spain driving tips, and general things to help you plan a road trip in Spain.

Each Spain road trip itinerary in this post is categorized based on the regions and routes and the number of days you need. 

Depending on your time and the regions you wish to travel, choose a route and the itinerary accordingly from this Spain self-drive itinerary blog post.

If you are going to coming in and fly out from two different cities, I’d suggest taking the one-way rental option that allows you to drop at the same location from which you will fly out of Spain. 

HOW LONG DOES A SPANISH ROAD TRIP TAKE?

The best road trip in Spain is the one that will make you feel amazing, the one where you can enjoy all the places you want to, without ending up exhausted or cramped. 

You can go for a Spain road trip 2 weeks itinerary or plan a 3 weeks Spanish road trip, which you can also convert to a month-long road trip to Spain.

Ideally, you need to have at least 2 weeks if you intend to embark on a Spain road trip, which will let you cover the bare minimum destinations. 

Although you can keep a Spain road trip can be as long or as short, a Three-week Spain road trip is the best period and a suggested ideal time frame. 

It will allow you more time to squeeze in more attractions or take it slower if you prefer to do it without feeling rushed.

Anything less than this will make you driving across Spain most of the time, where it might be the case of more time behind the wheels rather than anywhere else.

To make the most of your time, go for all those suggested Spain day trips and guided tours in each itinerary. Add smaller towns instead of big ones if you want to go further off beaten Spain.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE HIRING A CAR

Here are some things to know before renting a car for a Spain road trip.

Car rental in Spain is simple, and it’s one of the cheapest countries to rent in Europe. Since Spain is a popular road trip destination, you have plenty of companies’ choices to choose from. 

Also, renting for one way is available, which is best for different cities to get in and out of the country.

License requirement:  For your driving holiday in Spain, you will need a driving license and an international driving permit(IDP) if you’re visiting a non-EU country. 

If you’re an EU citizen, a driving license from your home country is sufficient.  

Insurance:  You need to have third-party insurance while renting a car in Spain. Find the best insurance quotes here.

Picking the right car:  Picking the right car is essential for a hassle-free driving trip in Spain. Manual cars are in large numbers rather than automatic ones, so you will have limited book options if you are used to automatic cars.

Also, it is best to avoid bigger cars if that’s not essential. Driving inland around villages and towns, particularly in mountain areas, is easier and faster with small-sized cars.

Touring Spain by car in these areas can take longer than usual, so smaller cars will minimize the effort and risks on non-motorway roads. Driving around Spain in a small car means no difficulties in finding parking spaces, and safer on all kinds of roads.

Ensure to book your car in advance:  If you are going for automated cars, I recommend booking in advance, and also, if you are planning a trip in the peak months, it is best to book your car ahead.

Google Map over Car GPS:  Most car rentals in Spain charge additionally for the GPS. It is best to use Google Maps if you plan to buy a Spain Sim card or offline Maps.Me to save cost.

SPAIN ROAD TRIP ITINERARIES IN DETAIL

North spain road trip – san sebastian to santiago de compostela.

ROUTE: SAN SEBASTIAN > HONDARRIBIA > BILBAO > SANTANDER > CANGAS DE ONIS > OVIEDO > LUGO > SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

When: Spring and Autumn

Duration: 12 to 14 days

Distance :  800+ KM

Northern Spain is known for its excellent culinary platter, UNESCO world heritage sites, wine, gorgeous mountainous landscapes, and spectacular coastal line. 

This road trip in Spain offers a great way to discover Spain’s north in about 2 weeks minimum, covering the best of its cities, towns, and fishing villages. 

This self-driving route Spain is one of the best to experience a country that is not very touristy. For the best experience, choose spring, early summer, or autumn months.

Begin from  Donostia-San Sebastian or San Sebastian , the gastronomical capital of the country. You can spend 2 days in San Sebastian easily. 

Check out the old town Parte Vieja filled with medieval monuments, the highest bars globally, and Michelin-starred restaurants, where you shouldn’t miss the many types of signature pintxos or Basque tapas.

Stroll along the famous La Playa de la Concha beach. Explore the heart of the city La Concha. Visit the local market Mercado de la Brecha to taste the local delicacies.

Recommended San Sebastian tours: 

Next, plan a half-day or a day trip to  Hondaribba , a tiny fishing village bordering France – known for its stunning beach and rich old town in the Casco Viejo neighborhood. Explore the castle El Parador and the medieval square Plaza de Armas. 

After dipping on the beach, leave to  Bilbao , one of the best cities in northern Spain . Although it’s possible to cover most of the city in a day, it would be a bit hurried. 

Spend 2 days checking out the highlights, including the famed museum of Guggenheim, the old town area Ensanche, the Neo-Baroque styled oldest theatre in the town – Teatro Arriaga, La Ribera Market, and the art museum Museo de Bellas Artes. 

Enjoy a funicular ride to the top of Mount Artxanda for sweeping views of the town and beyond.

Recommended Bilbao tours: 

Head next to  Santander , the capital of Cantabria from Bilbao, which is a 1-hour drive. You can spend one day in Santander or two if you want to relax a bit. The town is known for its national parks, castles, and coves. 

If you are a nature lover or enjoy the outdoors, spend time exploring Cabarceno Natural Reserve and Reserva Natural de las Marismas in Santoña, home to many wild birds. You need a day to check out both.

Also, visit Castro Urdiales, home to a castle, church, lighthouse, and other medieval monuments.

Recommended tours in Santander: 

From Santander, continue your Spain road trip to the Asturia region to arrive at Cangas de Onis, its capital. I suggest you spend one day in Santander and keep the next to explore the below attractions on the way.

I recommend you stop at Santillana village, home to the gorgeous prehistoric Altamira Caves, over 13000 years old. 

Check out San   Vicente de la Barquera, a gorgeous fishing village home to a castle, the stunning cave Cueva El Soplao, and Gulpilluri beach. 

If these are too many to cover on a single day, keep the first part – Santillana and Altamira.

Cangas de Onis  is mainly known for the beautiful lakes and nature, dominated by Picos de Europa Mountains. Many hikers make Cangas the base to check out the trails in the mountains. 

Within the town, check out the landmarks like the Roman bridge and the cathedrals.

Climb the top of Covadonga Sanctuary for majestic views if the weather is clear. Then, head to the gorgeous Lakes of Covadonga, a 35-minute ride from the center. 

You can keep an extra day here to check out many interesting spots on the way to the next stop, Oviedo. 

Head to a unique observation deck Mirador del Fitu, for enjoying spectacular views of the Picos de Europa Mountain range. Stop at the beautiful fishing villages Lastres and Tazones. 

If you have one or more days to spare, you can include a stop at  Gijon , a stunning coastal city with hill cliffs, beaches, and medieval splendor.

Your next stop is  Oviedo , which can be explored in a day. Check out the medieval landmarks in the old town comprising fountains, cathedrals, Campoamor Theater, and museum. 

On the way to Lugo, you can stop at another UNESCO world heritage site, the 8th-century cathedral Santa Maria del Naranco.

Lugo  is one of the oldest towns in Europe, dating back to Roman times. It is home to the walled old town, which is a UNESCO site. 

There is not much to do in Lugo itself beyond a day but based in Lugo. You can visit some amazing places like the fishing villages of Cudillero, Luarca, and Navia. Beah bums should check out Ribadeo, Peñarronda, and Playa de las Catedrales beaches.

Next would be the last stop on this northern Spain road trip itinerary. You will be heading from Lugo to Santiago De Compostela, where you can spend 2 days and an extra day checking out day trips.

On the way to Santiago, you can plan a day trip to the gorgeous Castle of Pambre.

In  Santiago De Compostela , spend a day or two checking out its highlights – The Obradorio Square, Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, where you should head to the rooftop for amazing views and other smaller cathedrals in the old quarter.

Visit the local market Abastos, home to many bars, cafes, and excellent seafood.

Stroll in the famous Alameda Park to enjoy splendid views of the city in the evening.

Plan a day trip to  Rías Baixas wine region of Galicia , a one hour drive away from Santiago de Compostela for an albariño wine tasting tour. If you have more time, you could plan another day trip to  A Coruña.

Depending on whether you have planned for 12 days or 15+ days, you can add the recommendations as suggested. 

If you have more time in hand, you can even cross over to Portugal and extend this itinerary further.

NORTH OF SPAIN – SAN SEBASTIAN TO A CORUNA

ROUTE: SAN SEBASTIAN > SAN JUAN DE GAZTELUGATXE > SANTANDER > GIJON > CUDILLERO > A CORUNA > 

Distance: 828 KM

Duration: 14 days+

When to plant: Spring, Autumn .

Another Spain Road trip in the northern part of the country can cover this route in 2 weeks, perfect if you don’t mind exploring just a portion but slowly. 

This is similar to the route above, with slight modifications. You can compare to combine these as per your preferences.

You can extend this trip by including more attractions on the way or reducing a few if you don’t like them or have other preferences.

Start your north Spain road trip itinerary with a day or two in  San Sebastian , exploring the highlights – from the old town to dining at one of the Michelin-starred restaurants to tasting the different Tapas. 

Relax at the beaches and get ready to head next to  San Juan de Gaztelugatxe  off the Basque coast. 

Game of Thrones fans will instantly recognize the enchanting hilltop stone fortress, Dragonstone, in the TV show. Capture the magnificent views before continuing your drive to Santander, the capital city of Cantabria.

Spend one or two days in  Santander  following the above itinerary for the city covering beaches, national parks, and caves(mentioned in the 1st road trip). If you have one more day, drive along the coast to visit a few amazing fishing villages.

On the way to Gijon from Santander, there are many places for you to check out, some of which you can cover if you have one or 2 days basing yourself in either city.

As in the previous itinerary, you can stop at  Covadonga  for fishing villages, lakes, and parks – Depending on your time and interest; you can easily spend up to 2 days in these.

Head next to  Gijon , the beautiful port city, where you can spend at least two days or one if you are short on time. You can plan a few day trips to the surrounding villages, including Cudillero, explore the castles, apart from checking out all the attractions in the city.

Galicia  is one of the best places as your last stop. In this region, you next have options to visit  A Coruna, Santiago De   Compostela,  and neighboring villages similar to the first itinerary above. Adding these will extend your trip by at least 4 days.

GALICIA ROAD TRIP

ROUTE: A CORUNA > MALPICA > LAXE > CAMELLE > CAMARINAS > MUXIA > LIRES > FISTERRA > A LANZADA > SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTALA > VIGO > LUGO

Distance: 1000 KM

Duration: 13 – 15 days

Another spectacular Spain road trip that will make you get away from the touristy destinations is the gorgeous Galician coastline in the northwest part of the country.

Including a few stops of the sacred Camino pilgrimage, this Galicia road trip itinerary can be kept as short as within 7 days to as long as over two weeks.

Lighthouses, rocky cliffs home to turquoise beaches leading to the North Atlantic ocean, seafood, sea breeze, dramatic views of the panorama – these are what you encounter in this route, which will make you fall in love with this slice of Spain. 

This is one of the pretty Spanish road trips right along the coastline – Driving all the way watching the coast next to you is one of the surreal experiences.

Start this route from  A Coruna , a pretty beach town where you can spend a day leisurely, admiring the beaches, lighthouse, and seafood. You can reach by flight from Madrid to A Coruna, or all the way by car from Madrid too.

The next day, stop at the gorgeous  Vixia Herbeira cliffs  and the village of  Culleredo  before continuing along the coast to your next stop  Malpica. 

Now, you have the option of basing yourself in Lires, which is the bigger town, to explore the others by short drives or cover the neighboring towns as stops first and then arriving at Lires.

Visit the towns of  Muxia, Camariñas, Camelle, and Corme  lying between Malpica and  Lires . Depending on your time, you can include or skip some of these towns. 

All of these amazing towns are home to stunning coastline filled with pretty beaches, lighthouses, rocky cliffs, and capes with viewpoints to offer 360-degree views of the horizon.

In these parts of Galicia in Northern Spain, you will realize how isolated it is from the country’s most bustling tourist hubs. This route takes you deep into the country’s heart – you will meet mostly locals and a few or no tourists at all, and all the attractions remain treasured away.

You can go sailing, try SUP boarding, and kayaking at the many fantastic Galicia beaches. Try the unique cuisines of Galicia, which you will absolutely love if you are into seafood.

After a few days, head next to  Fisterra , one of the westernmost locations in Europe, for continued bliss and bounty. Fisterra is the ideal town to spend a couple of days for a bit of hiking, beach sports, and enjoying the Spanish villages.

After a day or two, continue around the coast to  Santiago de Compostela , one of Spain’s beautiful places.

I suggest sticking along the coast, although Google Maps may provide you with a few inland alternatives because half of the fun lies in enjoying the sweeping views comprising of amazing landscapes along the way on this road trip. 

One of the country’s sacred places and the Camino pilgrimage path’ s endpoint, explore Santiago for at least 2 days, checking out its historical attractions, including the old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Drive towards the coast again to reach the next town  A Lanzada.  You can spend a day in the town, and then take a day trip to  Pontevedra  to  Vigo  town. 

From Vigo, plan a day trip to the beautiful  Cies Islands,  where you can hike and enjoy the secluded beaches.

This stretch is best for all watersports, splendid sunsets , and sunrise views . Add a visit to the amazing You can drive through within a day or spend a few days in each of these towns – the choice is yours.

On the way to Lugo, where you will drive away from the coast, you can stop at  Sil Canyon , one of the magnificent gorges known for splendid views and underground wine ports. 

Get to know traditional wine-making processes while you are here. You can also hike to some viewpoints before heading to Lugo.

Your last stop on this Spain road trip route in Galicia is Lugo city, known for its rich old town, gardens, and National Parks. You can spend at least 2 days checking out Lugo’s attractions before ending this fabulous road trip itinerary in Spain.

ANDALUSIA (SOUTHERN SPAIN ROAD TRIP) 

ROUTE: MALAGA > NERJA > GRANADA > CORDOBA > SEVILLE > CADIS > GIBRALTAR > MARBELLA > RONDA > OSUNA > SEVILLE

When to plan: any time of the year

One of the most famous regions in Spain is Andalucia, a dreamy province home to fantastic cities, beach towns, mountains, incredible historical ruins, amazing food, and nightlife. 

If you are visiting Spain for the first time and looking at a trip of about 2 weeks or so, I’d highly suggest you pick this route.

Sure, this Spain road trip route includes many famous destinations, and you can expect crowds at any time of the year, but trust me, this is the route to immerse yourself in Spain for first-time visitors.

You can add more days and turn this itinerary into a full-fledged 3-week Andulacia road trip too, which is best. Or you can browse through places on a week-long road trip in Andulacia if you are short on time.

Majestic, mammoth fortresses atop hills, lavish architecture, castles, many fantastic historical sites, mountains, and beaches are the elements that makeup Andalucia astounding. 

It’s the region with the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country, another reason for you to choose this itinerary.

Thanks to compact towns, it is possible to see and do more on this route, so it is one of the famous self-drive Spanish road trip itineraries. 

This road trip loop can be started anywhere, depending on where you will be arriving. This itinerary begins at Malaga and ends in Seville, which you can reverse if Seville is where you will arrive.

Spend 2 days in  Malaga , visiting its Alcazaba, the Moorish fortresses, the Roman Theatre, cathedral, and many museums, including Picasso’s home. Relax at the beaches, try the cuisine and drinks. 

Keep a day for exploring the whitewashed Andalucian villages or pueblos from Malaga, including  Mijas .

Spend a day checking out the small yet pretty town of  Nerja . On the way next, visit  Torre Del Mar  and  Frigiliana,  beautiful   Moorish villages.

Head next to  Granada , one of the beautiful towns in Spain. Admire the spectacle of the Alhambra complex, one of the iconic landmarks in the country. One of the most visited sites in Spain, explore its many palaces and gardens while enjoying the incredible views from the top.

Depending on your time, you can spend one or two days in  Cordoba  next, one of Spain’s best cities for its enriching history, architecture, and religion. Check out its famous monuments, colorful cobbled alleys, and stunning views. 

Continue your drive to arrive at one of the top 10 places to visit in Spain – the city of Seville. 

Home to flamenco dance, a vibrant maze of cobbled streets, UNESCO world heritage sites like the splendid Alcazar and royal plazas, you can spend a week just exploring  Seville  and around itself.

After enjoying the Tapas bars, monuments, and colorful streets of Seville, head next to  Cadiz , the oldest city in Europe, dating to prehistoric times, spend a day going around the neighboring villages around Cadiz before heading to Gibraltar.

Gibraltar  is not a part of Spain but rather a British overseas territory, known for its stunning rocky landscapes, tunnels, caves, and hiking trails. You can spend one to two days here. You might have to check on the visa based on your nationality, though you intend to add it to your route. 

On the way next, follow the coast to visit a few Andalucian white villages, including  Benahavis  and  Casares , before reaching  Marbella,  the seaside resort town.

You can spend two days in Marbella before heading to  Ronda , the wonderful hilltop town, where you can spend a day, before heading to  Setenil de las Bodegas.

Before heading back to Seville, your last stop is the town of  Osuna,  one of the Game of Thrones filming locations, where the Roman Theater was the venue for a scene including the Mother of Dragons.

Wrap up this epic itinerary at Seville, having tried some more Tapas and Sangria.

CASTILLE LEON ROAD TRIP

One of the amazing road trip itineraries for Spain is this route that takes you through the Central region of Castille Leon. Spring and Autumn are the best months to embark on this drive in Spain as the summers are hot while the winter months are cold. 

You can witness the beautiful rugged mountains carpeted with colorful wildflowers of spring. You will cover pretty towns along the winding roads, hilltop villages, and some amazing UNESCO sites on this Spain road trip itinerary. You can cover this route within a week or stretch it up to 2 weeks, the ideal being around 10 days.

After checking out the capital  Madrid  for a day or two, begin your trip on the road by taking the day trip to  Toledo , one of the most well preserved old towns in Spain, to explore its UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with amazing ruins.

Drive next to  Avila , a small town famous for being home to the well preserved, Romanesque style medieval walled old town. Get transported back in time as you wander through the old quarter’s cobbled stone streets, the walls, and the square lined with cathedral and other medieval buildings. 

You can spend overnight here or continue this self-drive Spain road trip itinerary to head next to  Salamanca , one of Spain’s most beautiful cities. 

Sitting atop a hill, this gorgeous city is filled with pastel-colored stone buildings and the university, which is one of the oldest in Europe. A famous university city, Salamanca’s old quarter is a UNESCO heritage site. 

Spend at least 2 days in Salamanca checking out all the sights before heading to your next stop  Zamora . Another beautiful town known for its richness in architecture in history, Zamora is the land of castles, churches, medieval walls, and other splendid medieval buildings – all of which you can check out spend overnight there.

Continue this Spain road trip from Madrid to arrive next to  Valladolid,  where you can cover the attractions within a day and explore any of the lovely vineyards, after which you can head to  Leon .

You can spend one to two days checking out Leon, home to many beautiful medieval attractions, including cathedrals and museums.

Plan a day trip to  Aranda   del Duero  before your next stop  Pedraza,  or head directly to spend a day or two in  Segovia,  one of the prettiest Spanish towns known for its   UNESCO World Heritage Site – a walled city home to several stunning monuments. 

Don’t miss the gorgeous castle and the aqueduct here in Segovia, along with some interesting museums.

Before heading back to Madrid, you have one stop to make, at San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Housing the pretty royal monastery, palaces, and burial tombs are one of Madrid’s famous day trips.

MALLORCA ROAD TRIP

ROUTE: PALMA > CALA D OR > CALA RATJADA> POLLENCA > LLUC > SOLLER > DEIA > VALLDEMOSSA > PALMA 

Duration: 7 – 10 days

When to plan: Throughout the year

One of the unique road trip itineraries in Spain to get off the mainland and explore one of its stunning islands – Mallorca.

You can complete this trail in less than a week or drive along the coast for up to 10 days on this self-drive Spain road trip itinerary.

Home to the majestic Tramuntana mountain range, Mallorca is blessed with rich landscapes filled with rocky cliffs offering sweeping views of the ocean, fairytale villages, fortresses, and excellent food.

Start your trip from Palma, which would be your arrival point on the island. The capital city of Mallorca, Palma, is one of the underrated cities in Spain.

Spend a day to check out this beautiful city home to a huge medieval cathedral, a bustling morning market, and other Renaissance monuments.

From here, you have two options. If you want to keep this trip short, then continue next to Pollenca, and then afterward along the coast, circling Palma.

However, you can have a complete, bigger circle around the island if you have more than a week, which will mean you can visit the east coast of Mallorca.

Assuming the second one for this reference, drive from Palma to the east coast, all the way to  Cala d’Or , a swanky resort town with some amazing viewpoints and beaches.

If you fancy a nice bungalow, spend overnight or more in one of the luxurious resorts. Or explore during the day, and drive along the coast to arrive at your next stop Cala Ratjada . You can spend a day or two exploring the nearby fishing villages and beaches. 

Continue to drive further to go to  Pollença . It is one of the laidback towns perfect for a relaxing stop. One of the top attractions is the lovely Cap de Formentor ,  from where you can enjoy beautiful views of the sunrise. 

After a day in Pollenca, head next to  Lluc , home to the sacred monastery, one of the country’s pilgrim sites. 

You can base here and spend the next few days checking out the enchanting villages of  Fornalutx, Deia, Valldemossa, and Port Valdemossa.  

Also, spend a day or two in  Soller , close to Deia, before winding up this trip in Palma.

OTHER TRAVEL TIPS

Here are a few more driving tips for Spain that you should check out.

• There are two kinds of roads in Spain, with main highways having a toll fee. In some regions, the fee is costly, so make sure to divert or go for alternatives. 
• Parking for travelers is usually marked in blue in the parking lots, close to which there would be ticket machines for parking. Buy the ticket and place it on the board.
• It is best to avoid using the car to go around in bigger cities like Barcelona or Madrid . Apart from traffic, you need to stay on top of parking details and manage crowds – all of which can be exhausting. 
• Avoid combining drinking and driving – Although it goes without saying, sometimes on holiday, it’s easy to get carried away, especially in Spain road tripping with one too many wine or Sangria. Watch what you drink if you have to keep driving.
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The Road Trip Guy

Find The Best Road Trips Around The world!

Spain Road Trip [ My Ultimate 10-Day Road Trip Itinerary ]

Table of Contents

Spain Road Trip Itinerary – Route: Barcelona, Calpe, Granada, Malaga & Madrid

Traveling through Europe by car can be an amazing experience. During the summer thousands of Europeans hit the road and travel to all kinds of exotic destinations. It can either be a family road trip on the North Coast 500 in Scotland, or a romantic journey through the Norwegian fjords . But what about a real summer road trip? Well, you have come to the right place as in this blog post we discuss the ultimate Spain Road Trip Itinerary .

Get ready to see some ancient architecture, eat delicious Spanish foods , drink famous beverages and learn all there is to know about the local culture, the beautiful traditions and some amazing hidden gems .

Vamos! Let’s go!

Road Trip in Spain Planner – The Route

The route will take you through all the major hot-spots of Spain , but also focuses on the countries hidden gems. The route starts in the famous city of Barcelona and takes you down south towards the small beach-town of Calpe.

After this you will drive south towards Granada and Malaga where you will include a day trip to Gibraltar rock, before heading towards the capital Madrid. Our Spain Road Trip Planner came up with the following route:

Distance = 1815 Km Duration = 10 days

If you are interested in a different route, make sure to check out this blog post about the best places to visit in Spain  when planning your next road trip.

How to Rent a Car in Spain? Important Tips & Tricks!

Renting a car in Spain is not complicated, but you need to follow a few basic steps. First of all, it is important that your driver’s license is a valid EU license. This can either be a European drivers license or an international drivers license if you are from the America’s or Canada.

There is always a basic insurance included, therefore an additional insurance is not mandatory. I do recommend getting an extra insurance for flat tyres as you will be driving a lot of miles and a new tyre will cost you 50 Euro’s at least. The additional insurance costs will be well worth it.

At the airport you will find all the international car rental companies . If you are departing again from Madrid, ask if you can drop of the car at their airport office. If not, you can always drive to Barcelona from Madrid and add some extra kilometers to this Spain Road Trip.

Click on the city you wish to start your road trip from and get the best car rental deals and prices: 

Barcelona , Madrid , Valencia or Granada

10 days Road Trip to Spain – The Spanish Culture

Now that you are ready to spent 10 days in Spain, it is time for a quick lesson in Spanish culture and customs! These important tips will come in handy when you are traveling through the small country-side towns and you want to meet the local people. Also keep in mind the Spanish Traffic Rules and Toll roads to make your travels as smooth as possible.

• Be late for dinner, because everybody else will!
• Use the Siesta culture to the fullest
• Never refuse an invite to a dinner party
• Tipping in restaurants

Don’ts

• Get upset about people being late. That is just the way it is!
• Speeding on the highway. They well catch you!
• Break the law.
• Complain about smoking as all of them do it. And I mean everybody
• Talk bad about their favorite football team

With these important tips in mind you are good to go and ejoy your road trip through Spain.

Are you ready for the best road trip to Spain? Vamos!

What to do in Barcelona for 2 days – Day 1 & 2

Once you arrived it is time to find out what to do in Barcelona for the next few days . I recommend you park your car close to the Plaça de Gaudí. Here you can park at  Parking Bond Krup for just 2,30 Euro per hour and you are just a 2-minute walk from the city centre. And make sure to check out this blog post on where to stay in Barcelona . It will help you find the best deals!

Exploring the City

From the parking building, you travel through the city by taxi, bus or metro. With the Barcelona Travel Card you can make unlimited travels based on a certain amount of days.

Many blog posts already discussed all the in’s and out’s of Barcelona, I would recommend visiting the Sagrada Familia, Park Güell and the Turtle Rescue Centre. The first two are your typical tourist attractions, but since they are such an iconic sight I highly recommend you visit them. It is one of the most romantic things to do in Barcelona .

Plaça de Gaudí & Sagrada Familia

Work began on creating the true symbol of Barcelona back in 1882, and the Sagrada Familia remains a work in progress even today. Gaudi’s iconic work draws hundreds of locals and visitors alike to its impressive facades and awe-inspiring interior every day, making it one of the most visited monuments in Spain.

Walk past the notorious long queues and explore the amazing basilica at your own pace; admire the facades, museums, and schools. Next to the church you will find the small park:  Plaça de Gaudí.   From this park you can make the best pictures.

As a public space, Park Güell was much appreciated by Barcelona’s inhabitants, and also became a major draw for visitors to the city. It was recognized as an artistic monument in 1969 and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. The park was designed by Eusebio Güell, who wanted to build a British residential park on Muntanya Pelada. When he died in 1918, the park was given to the municipality who turned into a public park in 1926.

Buy your administration ticket today and avoid the long queues!

Turtle Rescue Centre

CRAM Foundation is an organization dedicated to the protection of the environment and the species who life in it. Its principal activity is the clinic and rescue of the threatened marine species in danger that strand along the catalan coast, for a later reintroduction into its habitat.

The Foundation also carries out different lines of work in conservation investigation and education; that include social awareness actions about the marine environment status and its problematic.

CRAM has at his disposal a Rehabilitation Center and a technical and human team specially prepared for the marine species attention. It also has two crafts, the Vell Marí and the Pacific, that make possible to work in many field projects.

There is free parking and you need to make an appointment before you visit. You are also located right next to the beach and the airport, therefore a day relaxing on the beach do some plane-spotting is a great idea!

Sometimes there won’t be any turtles at the center, but in that case you can also consider visiting the local Barcelona Aquarium. Experience the spectacular Oceanarium as you walk along a transparent tunnel surrounded by sharks. Learn about the seabed and the importance of water to the planet.

Buy your ticket for the Barcelona aquarium here!

Things to do in Calpe – Day 3 & 4

After spending a few days in the big city, it is time to relax your mind in one of the small beach towns. Calpe is located between two popular tourist destinations Valencia and Benidorm, but is actually still one of Spain’s hidden gems. Thankfully, there are a lot of fun things to do in Calpe!

If you want the beauty of the Mediterranean Coast, but not the overcrowded beach bars and loud music, this is the place to be! Staying at the Hotel RH Ifach is an excellent choice. They provide free parking for your car, is a few hundred meters away from the beach and marina and has an excellent cuisine.

Click Here To Find The Latest Deals & Best Prices for Hotels, Campings and Apartments in Calpe!

Calpe Beach Cruise

Enjoy a sailing cruise day in Calpe aboard a modern catamaran. Admire the coastal beautiful scenery and make a stop to swim and snorkel in the clear waters before a barbecue is served on board. Later in the evening, savor a delicious dinner in the port.

Click here for more information and book your cruise today!

Hiking the Peñon de Ifach

The 322 meters high Peñon de Ifach – also known as Calpe Rock – is one of the most famous sights along the Costa Blanca. In 1987, the peninsula island was declared a natural park and is till this day one of the most popular hikes of Spain.

The rock started out as a watchtower as the height and location of the rock was perfect for spotting enemy boats. Today it is beautiful protected eco-system, which has a wide variety of Flora and Fauna (Audouin’s gull, Eleanora’s falcon and Peregrine falcons).

There are currently two routes to the top; a walking path and a more rocky road. There are several guided tours that take the walking path, but if you wish to go off-road make sure you are well prepared.

Remember to wear appropriate footwear and clothing for the season. Climbing the Calpe Rock is not recommended for children under 12 years.

Excited? Well, get ready for the southern Spain road trip part of this amazing journey!

Places to visit in Granada – Day 5 & 6

Visiting the alhambra.

If you really want to visit a unique location, I highly recommend you visit the palace and fortress: Alhambra! These beautiful place shows how the Nasrin Sultans lived in Granada during their reign from the 13th till the 15th century.

The Alhambra is the most important and captivating monument of Muslim Spain and one of the most visited attractions in the country.

Because its popularity is so big it also comes with one very big problem: Tourists! And a lot of them!

I highly recommend you book your ticket for a guided tour or private tour beforehand. I waited in line almost 2 hours before hearing that the tickets already sold out that morning.

Communication to the costumers is definitely not their strongest asset, therefore I booked my ticket online, and the next day I skipped the line and was inside the palace within 10 minutes!

Tickets include:

• Your entrance ticket is valid for the Nasrid Palaces, Alcazaba Generalife, Palace of Carlos V, and the Mosque Baths • This is a small group tour, with no more than approximately 20 people • The tour is conducted in the language you choose when booking

If you are planning to stay a few days extra I highly recommend you read this blog post about best things to do in Granada !

Click Here To Find The Latest Deals & Best Prices for Hotels, Campings and Apartments in Granada!

Things to see in Malaga – Day 7

Malaga is a harbor-town located in the south of Spain. This town is actually the 5th largest city in Spain and has close to half a million inhabitants in the city alone. The beaches of Malaga are also known for its beauty.

Of course, that makes Malaga a very popular tourist destination, therefore it is a must-see when you are doing a road trip in Spain.

Malaga Marina – Plaza de La Marina

Although there are many fortresses and castle to be visited in this area, we prefer to mix things up a bit. After your visit to the Alhambra in Granada, it is now time to visit the famous Plaza De La Marina.

This beautiful marina is a popular tourist destination that offers a whole wide variety of summer activities. There are several beaches nearby that are suitable for families and youngsters.

In the marina itself you will find dozens of cozy little restaurants, which serve top quality sea-foods and local Spanish dishes.

Order a nice bottle of home-made Sangria and enjoy your afternoon siesta. You can also book family bike tours for the day and cruise along the beautiful blue waters!

Click Here To Find The Latest Deals & Best Prices for Hotels, Campings and Apartments in Malaga!

Tips for visiting “Plaza de La Marina”

• Collect a free map at tourist information desk. The office is located right at the entrance of the marina.
• Be early when visiting for lunch or diner as it can get very busy during the high season.
• Visit one of the many statues of the famous Danish author “Hans Christian Anderson”. He visited the marina in 1862.

Car Museum Malaga

The car museum Malaga is in the historic Tabacalera Building, which has been renovated for the museum. One can see about 85 cars, which show all the history of the automobile.

There are cars that were made in every decade since the car was invented. All of them have been beautifully restored. This is probably the best car museum in Spain.

The nice thing about this museum is that there is a description of each car on display, both in English and Spanish. So one can learn by reading the car descriptions about the history of each car.

Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 19:00 hours.

Closed: 25th of December, 1st of January.

24th and 31st of December from 10:00 to 14:00 hours.

The ticket office will remain open until half an hour before the Museum will be closed.

For more information call +34 951 13 70 01

Things to do in Gibraltar – Day 8

Gibraltar is only a 1-hour drive from Malaga and is a UK-owned little peninsula in the most southern point of Spain. The whole island is just a few km’s big, but has some of the most amazing views you will encounter on your road trip.

There is a city walking tour  for just 16 Euro’s, which was well worth the money. The good thing? It is just 1 km as the island is not that big, but the guide really shows you all the hidden gems.

Crossing the border

Crossing the border in Gibraltar is not that complicated. It only takes a few seconds and you can go in and out as many times as you want. Just keep in mind that your passport needs to be valid for entering the United Kingdom, not only Spain.

Click Here To Find The Latest Deals & Best Prices for Hotels, Campings and Apartments in Gibraltar!

Europa Point Lighthouse

When you drive to the far end you will see the Europa Point Lighthouse . Here you can park your car for free and have a beautiful sight of the “Street of Gibraltar”. There are several monuments and interesting wildlife education signs present at the park.

If you are thirsty or hungry you can go to the main restaurant , which is located at next the parking lot.

If you like carefully you will be able to spot the local marine life. This area is well-know for having lots of dolphins and whales. I highly recommend you do a Dolphin and Whale Watching Tour as they are actually really cheap in this region and the tour guides provide excellent information about their behaviors, habitats and social structures.

Check out this 90-minute Dolphin & Whale watching cruise!

Rock of Gibraltar

Visiting the famous Gibraltar rock (426 meter) is a must-do. This iconic large natural wonder can be seen from miles away and has some of the most beautiful views in Europe. There is a cable transport service that will take you from a small parking lot all the way up to the top.

On the top you will find a nature reserve, which holds a large population of wild Barbary Macaques . Although they might be cute to look at, they are still wild animals, therefore you always have to be careful when you are close to them.

Do not try to touch or provoke the animals as the can bite very hard and most of them carry diseases.

Most of the Macaques arrived in the 1700’s when merchants from North-Africa arrived in Gibraltar and left them there. They have been an iconic sight of Gibraltar ever since and draw thousands of tourists each year.

Things to do in Madrid | Day 9 & 10

The final city you will visit on this road trip is of course the capital of Spain.. Welcome to Madrid! This beautiful city is together with Barcelona the most popular tourist destinations of Europe.

If you planned your trip to Madrid correctly, you will be able to drop your car off at the airport, or you can choose to drive towards Barcelona.

It really depends on where your flight departs from, but almost all international car rental companies are located at these two destinations.

But before you go, there are still a few amazing sightseeing experiences you must see when visiting Madrid! I do recommend you park your car and travel by bus when you are visiting the city center.

For just 21 Euro you can get a hop-on hop-off bus card , which is valid for 24 hours. Trust me, you will thank me later!

Click here to buy your hop-on hop-off bus card!

(Related: 72 hours in Madrid )

Madrid Zoo Aquarium

Madrid Zoo has more than 6,000 animals and over 500 species. Mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates, everything can be found in the five continents that the guests of the zoo can experience.

Ready to meet some real elephants? Or are you more interested in the gorillas? How about a close encounter with a real panda bear?

All these animals and much more can be found in one of the largest zoos in the world. It is almost 20 hectares and next to terrestrial wildlife it als includes a wide variety of aquatic mammals including a spectacular dolphin show, interesting sea lion presentation and a large aquarium.

Click Here To Find The Latest Deals & Best Prices for Hotels, Campings and Apartments in Madrid!

Food Market – Mercado de San Miguel

Right next to Plaza Mayor you can find the beautiful and historic building of  Mercado de San Miguel.   It reopened in 2009 after a 6 year renovation and is currently one of the most popular culinary hot-spots in the city.

The food market offers fresh tapas, grilled garlic prawns and variety of skewers, vegetables and of course delicious drinks. Prices are on average 1,50 to 2 Euro per item and most vendors offer their home-made alcoholic beverages.

Once you enjoyed a will deserved dinner you can get your sugar-rush going at the desert section. Here you will find art-works of chocolate, creams, sugar and much more delicious items that are of course so tasty you will never ever want to leave the market.

Opening times from Sun-Wed 10am-midnight, Thurs-Sat 10am-2am

Classic Car Museum Madrid

This unique experience allows the traveler to go back to Madrid and enjoy our magnificent collection of vintage cars with its contemporary images.

Enjoy this guided tour through our Vintage Car museum that will please everybody in the family. You will get a chance to feel like a gangster in the 20s, to learn how a Ford T from 1915 works or to be pictured inside an “Issetta” (egg car). It will be an unforgettable experience for all the family.

Final words

I hope you will enjoyed this “Road Trip Through Spain Itinerary” and that it will come in handy during your next travel. Spain is a beautiful country with very nice people, but keep in mind that most people do not speak English.

But let’s be real here.. Is that not part of the adventure?

Have fun driving in Spain!

P.s – If you are interested to explore the Spanish Canaria islands I recommend you check out my blogposts about road trippin in Fuerteventura , Gran Canaria and Lanzarote .

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12 thoughts on “ Spain Road Trip [ My Ultimate 10-Day Road Trip Itinerary ] ”

This looks like a fantastic itinerary. I love all the different choices and places that you have put on this guide and have been to a few of these places and a few that I would love to do the next time I’m visiting Spain again.

I was laughing when I read your Dos and Don’t. As an Indian, I would feel absolutely at home where people turn up late. As a Goan would be happy to have my siesta time – a perfect way to recharge batteries in warm climates.

Your drone videos are fantastic! Nice tips on renting a car. The Classic Car Museum looks and sounds like fun.

I love everything about this trip! There’s a beach, a zoo, a lighthouse, a Muslim monument, and food!!! It’s everything I want to see and do in one trip! I also love that it’s okay to be late! haha

I’d love to go on a road trip through Spain too! So many wonderful places to explore. Good to know that renting a car is easy: just need to have that international driver’s license. 🙂 I’d love that you’ve included tips/ lessons about the Spanish culture too. Makes it easier to understand the people and the basic law. Overall, great recommendations for a road trip!

This guide is incredibly helpful! I feel like I wouldn’t need to do any research if I copied this exactly. That information about renting a car is so helpful, as sometimes that holds me back because I can’t figure out how it works in certain countries.

This is perfect for me! I have been thinking of taking a road trip in Spain for a really long time, and I haven’t been able to come up with a perfect 10-day itinerary (that’s exactly the amount of time I have) and this is just what I needed! I love your tips about the Dos and Donts, and the fact that people are usually late (this is very Indian also) and that you must never say no to a dinner invite (again, very similar to our culture). I know I am going to love Barcelona, I can’t wait to get there. And I definitely want to include Al Hambra in my itinerary. This is going to help me a lot in planning my road trip, thanks!

This is pefect. We also did a road trip when we were in Spain and we loved it. We Did most of Andalucia– Madrid, Seville, Ronda, Granada and more in a car. Driving in spain is easy. I really really loved spain for the food and the things to see. One of the countries I enjoyed.

the international drivers license info is gold thank you! I never think of that when I travel and it is good to know that it is needed for Canadians who want to drive in Spain. I love the part about “don’t complain about the smoking” – just because smoking is not part of the culture in North America (anymore) does not mean we have the right to push our opinions on other cultures. It drives me insane when people complain about it (and I am not a smoker and I have kids. I just deal with it). How much did you spend in road tolls on this route ?

Less than 50 Euro, because took most of route next to the toll-roads. Those roads are great as well! 🙂

Road tripping in Spain will be like a dream come true. My husband is gonna love this out. The best thing about this itinerary is that you get to see every wonder and you can munch on the yummiest food too.We are going to follow this while planing our trip to Spain. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you! 🙂

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A Vocabulary Guide to Roads and Traffic in Spanish

Get ready to take a road trip with this awesome guide to roads in Spanish! 

Become your friend group’s guide with all these words and phrases about roads and traffic in Spanish and make the best out of your upcoming adventures. 

Driving Vocabulary

Whether you drive within your city or you plan a cross-country trip, this driving vocabulary is a must when talking about roads and traffic in Spanish!

Example Sentences in Spanish

Asegúrate de revisar el carro antes del viaje. Be sure to check the car before the trip.

El conductor debe estar atento al camino.  The driver must be aware of the road ahead.

Revisa la fecha de vencimiento de tu licencia de conducir. Check the expiration date of your driver’s license.

Utiliza los pidevías antes de cada cruce. Use the turn signals before each turn. 

Driving Verbs in Spanish

Here are some useful verbs to make your way along the roads in Spanish!

To Accelerate – Acelerar

Acelera el auto cuando la carretera esté libre. Accelerate the car when the road is clear.

To Brake – Frenar

Frenar de golpe es peligroso. Hitting the breaks all of a sudden is dangerous. 

To Change Lanes – Cambiarse de carril

Utiliza el retrovisor antes de cambiarte de carril. Use your rearview mirror before changing lanes. 

To Cross the Street – Cruzar la calle

Mira hacia ambos lados antes de cruzar la calle. Glance both ways before crossing the street.

To Decelerate – Desacelerar

Desacelera con cuidado en el semáforo. Decelerate carefully at the stoplight.

To Drive – Manejar

Sé cuidadoso al manejar en carretera, por favor. Be careful when driving along the road, please.

To Drive By – Pasar por

Pasé por un pueblo hermoso durante mi viaje. I drove by a beautiful small town during my trip. 

To Have the Right of Way – Llevar la vía

Siempre debes saber si llevas la vía. You should always know if you have the right of way.

To Honk – Bocinar

Bocinar es útil para advertir a otros conductores. Honking is useful to warn other drivers.

To Pull Over – Orillarse

Debes orillar el auto si el motor falla. You should pull over if your engine fails. 

To Slow Down – Reducir la velocidad

Reduce la velocidad en los pasos peatonales. Slow down at crosswalks.

To Speed Up – Aumentar la velocidad

Aumenta la velocidad si vas en el carril izquierdo. Speed up if you’re in the left lane.

To Stop – Detenerse

Siempre debes detenerte ante un semáforo en rojo. You always have to stop before a red light.

To Swerve – Cruzar abruptamente

Cruzar abruptamente es peligroso. Swerving is dangerous.

Basic Road Vocabulary

Make the best out of your trips with your Spanish speaking friends by using these words about roads in Spanish!

Revisa el mapa; no queremos llegar a un callejón sin salida. Check the map; we don’t want to end up in a dead-end.

Mantén tu carril para evitar accidentes. Stay in your lane to avoid accidents.

No conozco las carreteras de Guatemala. I’m not familiar with Guatemala’s roads. 

No excedas el límite de velocidad, puede ser peligroso. Don’t go over the speed limit, it might be dangerous.

Naming the Roads in Spanish

When I think of big countries like the United States, I can only think of the tons of long road trips I would like to take. Knowing how to refer to the roads—small or big—is important to make the best of your travels! 

Here are the names of the different types of roads in Spanish!

Country Roads

Las carreteras rurales tienen paisajes increíbles. Country roads have incredible landscapes.

Maneja con cuidado en las carreteras de terracería. Drive carefully along the dirt roads.

Identifica las rampas de emergencia cuando manejes. Spot the off-ramps when you’re driving.

Siempre debes detenerte antes de un cruce de ferrocarril. You should always stop before a railroad crossing.

Be an expert traveler! See also: Useful Travel Phrases in Spanish: Listen and Practice!

Small Town Roads

Small towns have an undeniable charm. Be sure to find your way the next time you drive along their roads with these words in Spanish!

Ten cuidado en las encrucijadas. ¡Los autos vienen de todos lados! Be careful at crossroads. Cars are coming everywhere!

¡El peatón cruzó la calle y tuve que frenar de golpe! The pedestrian crossed the street and I had to brake suddenly!

Cuando estás en un redondel, siempre llevas la vía. When you’re on a roundabout, you always have the right of way.

Las bandas de frenado evitaron el accidente. Speed bumps avoided the accident.

Long-Distance Roads

Ese puente parece eterno. ¡Es muy largo! That bridge seems endless. It’s so long!

Me encanta manejar en la autopista.  I love driving along the highway.

Mañana debo manejar una larga distancia; tendré que usar la interestatal. I have to drive a long distance tomorrow; I’ll have to take the interstate.

Traffic Signs in Spanish

Road safety is a life-saving subject! Be sure you know what the traffic signs in Spanish mean ! 

Cuando hay señales de construcción, las carreteras pueden estar bloqueadas. Whenever there are construction signs, roads might be blocked.

No ignores las señales de guía. ¡Podrías perderte! Don’t ignore the guide signs. You might get lost!

Ignorar las señales reguladoras puede costarte una multa. Ignoring the regulatory signs can cost you a ticket.

Ese semáforo no funciona. ¿Cómo sabemos cuándo cruzar? That traffic light is not working. How will we know when to cross?

Guide Signs

La señal de distancia de destino te ayuda a saber si estás cerca de tu destino. The destination distance sign helps you to know if you’re close to your destination.

Toma precauciones en el cruce de carreteras. Take your precautions at the roadway junction. 

Regulatory Signs

PRO TIP: Add la señal de before mentioning any of these signs. 

La señal dice “no estacionarse.” Si te estacionas, tendrás una multa. The sign says “no parking.” If you park, you get a ticket.

¡Tienes el alto, cuidado! You have the stop sign, watch out!

Si no cedes el paso, podrías tener un accidente. If you don’t yield, you might have an accident.

Esta calle es de doble vía, puedes cruzar. This is a two-way street, you can turn here.

Recreation Signs

Never forget you need to rest and eat during a road trip. Hit the roads in Spanish with these awesome words! 

¿Podemos hacer una parada para comer? Hay una señal de comida justo ahí. Can we make a stop to eat? There is a food sign right there.

Deberíamos buscar alojamiento. No arreglarán el auto hasta mañana. We should look for lodging. They won’t fix the car until tomorrow.

¡Mira! Un área para nadar. ¡Vamos! Look! A swimming area. Let’s go!

Warning Signs

Mira la señal de advertencia de velocidad. No te excedas del límite. Look out for the advisory speed sign. Don’t drive over the limit.

Ahí hay una señal de cruce hacia la derecha. Ya casi llegamos. There’s a right turn sign. We are almost there.

Detente en la intersección. ¡Creo que nos perdimos! Stop at the intersection. I think we’re lost!

Other Signs

If I included every existing sign in this post it’d be endless! But here are some more useful traffic signs in Spanish!

Hay muchos niños en el cruce peatonal escolar, reduce la velocidad. There are a lot of kids in the school crosswalk, slow down.

¡Esta calle es muy larga y no permiten bicicletas! This is a long street and there are no bicycles allowed!

Muchos carros circulan en esta área, por eso no se permiten peatones. Many cars drive around this area, that’s why no pedestrians are allowed.

Traffic in Spanish

Nobody likes traffic, but we’ve got to get into it! Use these words in Spanish to let your friends know you’ll be late to the party!

Hay un embotellamiento; no sé cuánto tiempo estaré aquí. There’s a bottleneck; I don’t know how long I’m going to be here.

El GPS indica que hay tráfico ligero. Deberíamos irnos ahora. The GPS says there’s light traffic. We should go now.

Hoy me pusieron una multa. ¿Puedes creerlo? I got a ticket today. Can you believe it?

Sigo en el atasco. Lo siento, no podré llegar. I’m still in the traffic jam. I’m sorry, I am not going to make it.

If you want to avoid traffic and make your trips unique, taking trains is always an option! With these words in Spanish, you’ll be ready to plan your next journey.

Compré mi boleto de tren. Sólo debo empacar y me iré. I bought my train ticket. I just have to pack and then I will leave.

Nos encontraremos en la estación de ferrocarril, ¿cierto? We will meet at the railway station, right?

Me encanta viajar en tren, es una experiencia única. I love traveling by train. It is a one-of-a-kind experience.

Travel to marvelous places. Check out: 12 Ways To Enjoy Ecotourism in Panama on Your Next Trip

Keep Up 

Did you know that year by year, the number of Spanish speakers around the world and in the United States increases? Spanish is a diverse language with a fascinating history and amazing backgrounds that make it unique in each region they speak it. 

Keep up with our modern world and increase your chances of traveling and having new experiences in Spanish-speaking countries by learning the language!

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Sign up for a free class today and discover how simple, fun, and effective it is to learn Spanish with us. 

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these

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Ready to learn more Spanish vocabulary? Check these out!

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O.J. Simpson, NFL star whose murder trial gripped the nation, dies of cancer at 76

O.J. Simpson , the former NFL star who was acquitted of murdering his ex-wife and her friend in a televised trial that gripped the nation, has died of cancer, according to his family.

"He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren," the family said in a statement posted on X . "During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace."

Reports circulated in February that Simpson had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and was in hospice care as he underwent chemotherapy. He denied that he was in hospice in a video posted on X, but did not address whether he'd been diagnosed with cancer.

“Hospice? Hospice? You talking ‘bout hospice?” he said in the video with a laugh, adding that he doesn’t know who started the rumors. 

Orenthal James Simpson played 11 seasons in the National Football League and was known as "The Juice" to his fans, but his sports legacy was tarnished forever in the 1990s after his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman were killed.

Brown Simpson, 35, and Goldman, 25, were found stabbed to death outside her Los Angeles home in 1994.

On June 13, 1994, Goldman was returning sunglasses that the mother of Brown Simpson had left at a restaurant where he worked. The two were stabbed and slashed dozens of times, and their bodies were found the next day.

When Los Angeles police officers went to Simpson's home to speak to him about the slayings, Simpson did not answer the door but officers noticed a trail of blood leading to his car, as well as blood on his car.

Once a revered athlete, Simpson went from a Hall of Fame icon to a murder suspect.

Days later, officials charged Simpson with the murders and he attempted to evade arrest, resulting in an infamous hourslong police chase along Southern California's highways in his white Ford Bronco .

Simpson's case went to trial in 1995 and was broadcast to millions of viewers across the nation. The court case was dubbed the "trial of the century" as it dragged on for months and transformed into a public spectacle.

Feelings over the trial have remained mixed over the years, with many accusing the Los Angeles Police Department of racism in its handling of the case. Others believe that Simpson's ability to retain high-powered attorneys allowed him to get away with murder.

The trial made prosecutors Christopher Darden and Marcia Clark household names, in addition to Simpson's defense attorneys Johnnie Cochran, Alan Dershowitz and Robert Kardashian.

He was acquitted of both murders in a controversial verdict. Two years later, he was found civilly liable for wrongful death in the double homicide case.

Despite his acquittal in the criminal trial, many still believed Simpson was guilty, a belief bolstered by a jury ordering him to pay $33 million to Goldman's family in the civil case — damages that were never paid in full.

Goldman's father, Fred Goldman, spoke to NBC News by phone Thursday and described Simpson's death as "no great loss."

“The only thing I have to say is it’s just further reminder of Ron being gone all these years," he said. "It’s no great loss to the world. It’s a further reminder of Ron’s being gone.”

Bob Costas, the sports broadcaster who worked with Simpson for years at NBC Sports covering the NFL, said Simpson leaves behind “a complicated legacy, to put it mildly.”

“I can’t think of anyone historical or someone that we may have known where the first chapter and the second chapter of their lives are such a stark contrast … revered and then reviled,” Costas said on NBC’s “TODAY” show Friday.

In 2007, Simpson led an armed robbery attempt of a sports memorabilia dealer in Las Vegas. He argued in court that he was recovering his own stolen items, but his defense failed to sway the jury.

He was convicted and sentenced to 33 years in prison, of which he served only nine before he was released on parole .

Simpson spoke to The Associated Press by phone in 2019 , telling them that he was healthy and happy living in Las Vegas. He maintained that he believed his robbery conviction was unfair, but said: “I believe in the legal system and I honored it. I served my time.”

The Simpson murder trial was re-enacted and relitigated decades later in FX’s “The People v. O.J. Simpson,” an installment of the network’s popular “American Crime Story” series in 2016. Released that same year was the Academy Award-winning documentary "O.J.: Made in America," detailing Simpson's rise and fall.

Simpson was born in San Francisco and raised in public housing, going to a local community college before transferring to the University of Southern California. He was part of the school's national championship in 1967 and earned the Heisman Trophy the next year.

He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 1969 as a No. 1 overall pick.

According to NBC Sports , Simpson was the first player in the league to rush for 2,000 or more yards in a season and is considered the best running back of his era.

Simpson had three children from his first marriage to Marguerite Whitley, one of whom died in a drowning accident as a toddler.

He also shared two children with Brown Simpson.

Following her murder and his acquittal, Simpson won custody of their shared children and moved to Miami with them. His custody fight with his former-in-laws also drew headlines as the children's grandparents took him to court in a bitter legal battle.

Doha Madani is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News. Pronouns: she/her.

More EV drivers embracing outback roads amid plan to expand Queensland's charger network

Queenslander Justin Searle lives almost 1,000 kilometres from the nearest service centre, but that did not stop him from buying an electric vehicle (EV).

The outback miner says the decision to ditch the country favourite 4WD surprised his mates.

"There is definitely the perception that EVs don't work in the bush, but if the charging infrastructure is there it really is easy," Mr Searle said.

Fifty-five public charging stations are now switched on across rural and remote Queensland and Mr Searle is among a growing number of EV drivers taking to the open road.

He says the installation of charging stations along the arterial Flinders Highway from Mount Isa to Townsville mean he can easily navigate the 10-hour drive to the coast.

"I get 440 kilometres on a full charge and it takes about an hour to charge fully from near-empty," Mr Searle said.

"But the reality is you're probably going to make a few stops along the way to stretch your legs, doing top-up charges, which all-up will probably tag about an hour onto your trip," he said, adding that it costs him about $40 to travel 900km.

Mr Searle said that while the environmental benefits of EVs were a plus, it was the long-term economic perks that convinced him to go electric. 

"The final point that put me over the line was the fringe benefits tax exemption that you get with a novated lease.

"I end up saving about $45,000 over five years," he said.

Opening up the outback

As tourist season gets underway in rural Queensland an increasing number of electric car owners are heading to the outback from the coast, according to Sam Bush, a manager for assets and operations with Yurika, which is a branch of Energy Queensland that is installing chargers in remote areas.

"We're seeing an uptick in EV type tourism," he said.

"We have a lot of customers that comment about how it's providing them the ability to take their families on holiday using their EV.

"We're actually starting to see some of the regional areas becoming real hotspots for EV owners."

The purchase of electric cars in Australia more than doubled in 2023, when 98,436 new EVs hit the road, according to the Electric Vehicle Council.

The group predicts the market will continue to grow by 30-50 per cent each year.

Vandalism, charging fears

But Mr Searle said limitations including a lack of EV mechanics and examples of targeted EV vandalism were holding back rural communities.

"Although the EVs are low maintenance compared to your diesel and petrol cars, if something does go wrong I still have that anxiety with the closest service centre being in Townsville," he said.

Mr Searle said cases of vandalism against vehicles and charging stations were also a deterrent.

"Some people are just deliberately targeting EVs," he said.

"There have been cases in Mount Isa where people run shopping trolleys into them and things like that."

Mr Searle said there could also be a risk of queuing at the charging stations dotted along the highways as more EV drivers headed to the bush.

Mr Bush said there would be plans to expand existing services if demand rose.

"As more vehicles use the electric highway, we will be upgrading the technology to larger capacity charges, so that, potentially, people will only be required to charge for five to 10 minutes," he said.

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