Tour Highlights
- Embark on a Journey Through Time: Explore the cultural marvels of 7 monumental cities, from renowned gems to hidden treasures, each narrating a unique tale of northern Spain's rich history.
- Immerse Yourself with Expert Guidance: Engage with local guides who breathe life into cultural marvels, sharing stories and insights that transform each visit into an unforgettable experience.
- Culinary feasts: Indulge in culinary adventures, savouring rustic and innovative dishes that showcase the diverse and rich gastronomy of northern Spain.
- Exclusive Wine Discoveries: Journey to our favourite wineries in Galicia and Basque Country, where local hosts offer distinctive experiences for a privileged glimpse into the world of northern Spanish wines.
- Engage with Local Chefs: Delight in the culinary creations of local chefs, receive personal guidance and recommendations, ensuring each dining experience is a gastronomic delight.
- Retreat in Style: Sojourn at exclusive charm hotels, strategically located in historic city centers and a country estate. Experience the perfect blend of comfort and authenticity.
- Unveil the Kingdom of Castile's Splendours: Be captivated by northern Spain's hidden treasures, where remnants of the kingdom of Castile's glory days paint a vivid picture of the region's rich heritage.
Inclusions & Pricing
Availability:
This is a bespoke tour, available throughout the year. Minimum number of guests is two. To check availability for specific dates, please get in touch. Our itinerary can be altered to suit your flight schedule and duration desired.
Pricing:
The price for a 16 days (15 nights) trip: Euro 4.395,- per person.
Inclusions:
- 2 nights’ accommodation 4-star charm hotel Santander
- 2 nights’ accommodation 5-star charm hotel Oviedo
- 3 nights’ accommodation 5-star hotel Santiago de Compostela
- 2 nights’ accommodation boutique hotel / manor house cum winery Galicia
- 2 nights’ accommodation 4-star charm hotel Leon
- 2 nights’ accommodation 4 star charm hotel Burgos
- 2 nights’ accommodation 5-star charm hotel Bilbao
- 15 breakfasts
- 2 restaurant dinners Santander, including wines and soft drinks
- A private tour of Centro Botin / Santander
- 2 restaurant dinners Oviedo, including wines and soft drinks
- private tour Oviedo’s historic centre.
- A private Asturian food tour of Oviedo – serving as lunch
- A private tour of Santiago de Compostela’s historic centre.
- 2 restaurant dinners Santiago de Compostela – including wines and soft drinks
- 1 tour & tasting at winery Galicia – including wines and soft drinks
- 1 lunch at a classic Galician eating house, including wines and soft drinks
- 1 restaurant dinner Ribadavia – including wines and soft drinks
- A private tour of Ribadavia’s historic centre.
- 1 tour & tasting at winery Bierzo, with tapas lunch – including wines/soft drinks
- A private tour of historic Leon
- 1 restaurant dinner Leon – including wines and soft drinks
- A private tour of historic Burgos
- 1 restaurant dinner Burgos – including wines and soft drinks
- A private tour Guggenheim Bilbao and surrounding Belle Epoque area
- 1 restaurant dinners Bilbao – chef’s market menu with wines & soft drinks
- 1 restaurant dinner Bilbao – tasting menu with wine & soft drinks (Michelin star)
Not included:
- Air fare
- Travel insurance
- Car rental & chauffeur services
- NB: Upon request we can add airport transfers and / or a personal driver service for your visit to the regions.
Overview
Tour at a glance
Embark on a captivating 16-day self-driven road trip through the lesser-explored gems of Northern Spain, catering to travellers seeking unique cultural and gastronomic experiences. If guests prefer not to drive, a personalized driver service can be arranged for seamless exploration.
The tour, conceived as a loop, starts in Santander (via Bilbao airport) and spans cities like Oviedo, Santiago de Compostela, Ribadavia, Leon, and Burgos and concludes in Bilbao, ensuring a convenient and well-rounded journey. It seamlessly blends cultural exploration, gastronomic delights, and scenic beauty, each day promising a unique experience.
During the tour you will meet expert guides to accompany you, not just providing information but delving into the meaning and stories behind each site visited, adding depth and context to your cultural immersion. Adding to your delight, enjoy guided tours of modern art galleries, food markets, historic old towns, and Gothic cathedrals.
As regards the gastronomic side of the tour, indulge in authentic regional cuisines, from Asturian fare to Galician wines, enhancing your gastronomic journey. Sojourn at exclusive charm hotels in historic city centres with fantastic restaurants at walking distance. Explore wine regions, unwind in a countryside retreat, and revel in the fusion of tradition and modernity. Culminate the adventure with art-filled encounters at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.
If you like, you can customize this tour for a further personalized exploration, catering to your specific interests and preferences.
Santander and Oviedo
In the coastal province of Cantabria, with its picturesque landscapes, lies the historic city of Santander, adorned with elegant architecture. This is an inviting place for you to explore its cultural and gastronomic treasures.
The city’s setting in the Bay of Santander is beautiful, framed with superb sandy beaches and views across the bay to rolling green hills and high mountains. The old city centre has an excellent collection of restaurants and tapas bars. Its central market Mercado de la Esperanza is a highlight, frequented by everyone from students to top chefs, as it a beautiful food temple dedicated to top quality produce. The Cento Botin, a new major modern art gallery, is a lovely landmark. It reconnects the old city to its waterfront, and inside the views over city and ocean are most seductive.
Two hundred km east of Santander lies Oviedo, the capital of the Asturias region. it’s a hidden gem, boasting a wealth of architectural wonders. Its attractive old town offers many delights through its squares and palaces built of honey coloured stone. The regal, uncluttered Cathedral and the pre-Romanesque Santa María del Naranco church are mightily impressive. These structures narrate the tale of Asturian artistry across the centuries. Our guides will share with you the meaning and stories behind it.
As you drive through Cantabria and Asturias and you will note a rugged coastline and lush greenery. The Picos de Europa mountain range straddling Cantabria and Asturias, often visible, forms a stunning backdrop. Both regions share a passion for gastronomy, making this tour a feast for the senses. Cantabria’s culinary landscape is an ode to the sea, with succulent seafood dishes like Cantabrian octopus salad with red peppers, and anchovies from Santoña.
In Asturias, indulge in the robust flavours of apple cider, which the locals drink after waiters pour it from high above their heads to introduce air into the cider. You can savour traditional specialties such as the Fabada Asturiana, a hearty bean and cured pork stew that reflects the region’s rustic charm. And of course Cabrales, a flavoursome semi-hard blue natural cheese, the number one cheese in Asturias.
Santiago de Compostela & Ribadavia
Santiago de Compostela and Ribadavia are situated in Galicia, at the northwest corner of the Iberian Peninsula. The land offers the visitor again beautiful, intensely green landscapes, but here there are many vineyards too. A shoreline like fjords whereby the estuaries known locally as Rías provide dramatic coastal scenery.
The spectacular city of Santiago de Compostela is a key attraction of Galicia. This is one of the most beautiful cities in all Spain. It is a famous ancient pilgrimage centre and, thanks to a large and lively student population, remarkably unstuffy. There are many great places to eat and drink.
In a densely packed historic town, Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque buildings that grew around the St James Cathedral make for a very atmospheric cityscape – UNESCO World Heritage listed. The city is not stuck in time though. Through careful architectural additions a modern side to Santiago has been created with spectacular projects designed by various star-architects.
The enchanting town of Ribadavia, inland from Santiago, offers a captivating blend of history and architectural splendour. You guide for a carefully calibrated tour will unveil the secrets of its heritage, where medieval charm meets artistic treasures. Roam through cobbled streets lined with centuries-old buildings, each narrating a story of Galician history. Highlights include the grand Castle of the Counts, and the timeless allure of the ancient Jewish Quarter, leaving many visitors enchanted.
Galicia is famous for its great gastronomy. The seafood and fish here is hard to match in terms of quality and diversity. Think vieiras (scallops) mexillónes (mussels) xoubas (sardines), centollas (spider crabs) and pulpo – Galicia’s most famous dish may be Pulpo a la Gallega (Octopus dressed in olive oil and paprika). There is also an abundance of local meat dishes, and a tradition of making cured hams and sausages. Rich and buttery local cheeses like the Tetilla are a good match for the local Albariño white wines, thanks to its spritzy quality and peachy fruit.
Finally, this is a land of pazos – grand manor houses surrounded by vineyards with Albariño grapes. In the Rías Baixas wine region, some fabulous Albariño wines are made of these grapes. Inland, in the Ribeiro wine region, there is more grape diversity, think Treixadura, Godello and Loureira – you will taste some satisfying full-bodied whites.
Leon and Burgos
A lovely drive eastwards from Galicia through undulating countryside brings you to the architectural jewel that is Leon, in the expansive Castilla y León province.
Leon is the former capital of the ancient kingdom of León, which became Castilla y León when it merged with Castille. Castilla y León is considered the heartland of Spain as its rulers were the driving force for in the 15th century towards unification with other regions. As a result, the country of Spain was created as a single political entity.
Leon is a most attractive historic city with a sublime old centre. It’s also very lively as it is a major university town. Leon’s architectural splendours are rooted in centuries of history. The city has many outstanding medieval buildings and artistic marvels unfold at every turn. The spectacular Cathedral constructed over old Roman baths, is a masterpiece of French-inspired Gothic architecture. The interior invites you to marvel at its intricate stained-glass windows, offering a palette of colours that change the building’s look and feel depending on the sunshine outside. Another captivating monument is the royal pantheon, a Romanesque gem with astonishing crypt that is the resting place of the Leonese kings.
Leaving Leon, heading northeast towards Burgos, you’ll traverse bucolic landscapes across the heartland of Spain in old Castile. This region is adorned with numerous monasteries and historic small towns, and as you continue your journey, the grand medieval city of Burgos unveils itself, almost unexpectedly.
Burgos, we believe, is a truly delightful place. Serving as the capital of old Castile for centuries, its splendid cityscape is replete with monuments. Even more so than in Leon, the city centre is dominated by an extraordinary cathedral, and the surrounding old town exudes undeniable charm. One can discern the prosperity that once graced this city during the 15th and 16th centuries when Burgos evolved into a vital business centre, controlling the monopoly of the Castilian wool trade. The wealth of that era funded the great art and architecture still adorning the city today. Wandering through the medieval town, you’ll discover charming streets lined with enticing shops, lively squares, alluring esplanades, and welcoming coffee bars.
The regional Castilla y León cuisine relies firmly on roasted meats. The main roles here are for suckling pig, and lamb. Cured hams, spicy sausages, and a diverse set of cheese varieties are excellent. Classic eateries offer rustic breads, bean dishes, and hearty soups or stews given extra flavour by local cured meats. There is innovation too, with internationally minded young local chefs giving traditional recipes a new twist. Always there are good wines; prime wine regions like Ribera del Duero and Rueda are nearby.
Our curated tour delves into the depths of Burgos and Leon’s gastronomic scene, allowing you a proper taste of the region’s culinary heritage. In Leon, savour Cecina, a delicacy of cured beef that epitomizes the artistry of local charcuterie. In Burgos, feast on traditional cuisine with a strong focus on red meat and vegetables. The roast baby lamb and local Morcilla are a treat.
Bilbao
Bilbao in the northeast of Spain, is the main city of the food obsessed region of Basque Country. This is an iconic city, a real urban success story. Here one encounters striking contemporary, neo-classical, Beaux-Arts and medieval architecture, agreeably blended. It is also a serious food town with Michelin star restaurants as well as many pinxtos bars (Basque-style tapas bars) serving often extraordinarily innovative finger food. Like salt cod fritters with romesco sauce or, more substantial, Merluza a la Koxkera: hake with clams and peas. Like in that other famous Basque city San Sebastian, food is often elevated to a fine art.
In Basque Country a mostly rocky and wild coastline shelters the land from the Atlantic Ocean. The hillsides close to the sea are famous for the Txacoli vineyards, producing a fresh, lightly sparkling white wine low in alcohol but with good acidity. But perhaps the most renowned aspect of Basque Country is its superlative cuisine: the produce is often fantastic, with meats, fish and seafood often cooked over charcoal. Adding to this, a plethora of innovative chefs have been creating innovative dishes of local ingredients for decades. The high quality of the frequently Michelin starred restaurants of this region is one of the pillars of the current international prestige of Spanish cuisine.
Your Itinerary
Day 1 | Arrival & Santander’s Coastal Charm
- Arrival in Santander, an elegant resort city. To access Santander from abroad, it may be easiest to fly into Bilbao airport. Then drive from Bilbao to Santander which takes little over one hour.
- Check into your charming hotel – a charming belle epoque hotel next to a superb sandy beach. Then, free time to explore Santander on your own.
- In the evening, enjoy dinner in a classic Santander restaurant. charmingly located near the marina. Here authentic regional cuisine is expertly prepared, with a focus on fish and seafood, such as lobster, monkfish and red prawns. A three-course chef’s menu, paired with local wines, will be specially crafted for you.
Day 2 | Art & Market Magic
- After breakfast, you are scheduled for a private tour of Santander’s Centro Botin, an understated chic work of 21st-century architecture. It houses a fantastic modern art gallery, and the building dazzles. It reconnects this city with its waterside by being completely glazed at either end and looking out on both the hilly city and the water, drawing the two closer together. Your guide is a local, he will share fascinating insights about the Botin and the city of Santander
- After the tour, time on your own. The engaging Mercado de la Esperanza with its market stalls, restaurants, and tapas Bars is a few minutes’ walk away from the Botin.
- Dinner in town at favourite local restaurant with a contemporary yet informal décor. It offers a refined take on very Spanish dishes like ham croquetas or regional dishes the shellfish ‘’mariscada’’ and the ‘’calamaras al a Romana’’. The wine list is outstanding.
Day 3 | Oviedo's Gothic Marvels & Cider Delights
- After breakfast and checkout, drive through dramatic coastal landscapes towards the great Asturian city of Oviedo, with its wealth of art and architecture. Upon arrival in Oviedo, check-in to your charming hotel.
- Late afternoon, enjoy a private tour of Oviedo’s old town with a passionate and knowledgeable guide, a local who knows the place inside out. During the visit, you will explore some fascinating history of this old place while seeing some amazing architectural masterpieces. It includes the stunning Gothic cathedral, with tombs of the early Asturian kings, and the adjoining Cámara Santa, a original pre-Romanesque church with fine sculpture. Fascinating anecdotes and stories will be shared, much beyond the typical tourist experience.
- In the evening, savour authentic regional cuisine at a great cider restaurant, where the cloudy cider flows like water – this is perhaps the best place for traditional Asturian fare. You may sample some signature dishes, like delicious Asturian veal or sirloin steak combined with bell peppers grilled on charcoal grills. Think simplicity and bold flavours. There will also be artisanal Asturian cheeses for you to sample, like famous Cabrales and lesser known Beyos and Casín cheese.
- Dinner here will be an authentic culinary journey, with food accompanied by the finest cider and Asturian wines to turn your visit into a unique experience.
Day 4 | Leisurely exploration of art & food
- After breakfast, time to explore Oviedo at your leisure. Its remarkable old quarter pedestrianized and extremely charming with is lovey alleys and squares. is ideal for walking. The Fine art museum is a gem.
- For lunch, there will be a food tour with a local. She will select some local delicacies for you to taste and provide insight into the local food culture. The tour will be around the city centre. You will uncover the marvellous Mercado El Fontan market and savour some of the local food in the bars around it in bustling Plaza El Fontan.
- After the tour the day is free for you to explore.
- Dinner at an authentic Asturian restaurant for a meal of a updated Asturian dishes. The wine selection is top notch, the atmosphere warm and inviting. Here you can expect cooking of a very high standard with service to match. You will dine on the chef’s market menu with matching Spanish wines. The chef will personally explain his suggestions of the day to you.
Day 5 | Santiago Arrival & Typical Galician Gastronomy
- After breakfast and checking out from your hotel, drive to Santiago de Compostela, a trip that should be around 2 hours.
- Arrival at your charming Santiago hotel, perfectly located. The remainder of the day is at leisure to settle into your hotel, to explore on your own, to impressed by the towering St Jacobs Cathedral.
- Dinner at a very good local Galician restaurant, a few minutes’ walk from your hotel. The restaurant is run by a young, talented chef, who has keen eye for quality local produce. You will taste a selection of the chef’s signature dishes, in small/medium sized portions (tapas/raciones). All dishes will be paired with excellent local wines. Dishes may include artichokes with clams and roasted peppers, lamb chops grilled over vine prunings, and Galician risotto with scallops and black mushrooms.
Day 6 | Santiago's Hidden Gems & Culinary Artistry
- After breakfast, a tour with a local and enthusiastic guide through the oldest and most remarkable areas of historic Santiago. Strolling through the small alleyways and majestic squares you will enjoy the sights and sounds of this enchanting city with so many hidden nooks and crannies. The tour will be off the beaten track, and your guide will keep you captivated with local facts and stories which are not usually mentioned in guidebooks.
- After the tour, some free time to explore the town and do some shopping. Of course, we can give you tips as to where to find local delicacies and local tapas bars.
Day 7 | Rías Baixas Wine Exploration
- After breakfast, depart for a day trip to the nearby Rías Baixas wine region, famous for its top Albariño wines. It is a short and beautiful drive away from Santiago.
- Embark on a journey of exploration and tasting at one of the most prestigious wineries in Rías Baixas. It begins with a brief guided tour, introducing the wine region and the esteemed winery. Then, a stroll to the terrace for a wine tasting experience featuring both white and red wines. The terrace offers panoramic views of the Salnes Valley’s vineyards and the Atlantic Ocean.
- After the tasting, lunch is organised at a classic eating house, a favourite of local winemakers. The chef here offers guests a combination of traditional dishes alongside more modern dishes. Expect delectable seafood options, and grilled specialities cooked over a wood fire. It may include grilled octopus on a bed of spinach and potatoes, and grilled hake with clams in an Albariño wine reduction.
Day 8 | Country Retreat in Ribadavia
- After breakfast, check out and depart to the historic Galician town of Ribadavia, located in the Ribeiro wine region. It is just over 1-hour’s drive in easterly direction.
- Check-in at your beautiful and exclusive country house hotel cum winery set amidst the vineyards, very close to Ribadavia. We feel this is an ideal place to unwind whilst enjoying unspoiled and spectacular countryside, a nice contrast after your sojourn at city hotels.
- No program during the day.
- Dinner at the hotel’s excellent restaurant. You will taste a chef’s menu composed of country-inspired dishes with a modern twist. The line-up will change according to the season, but might include mussel soup with herbs, tender bits of octopus with carrot and orange, or roast kid with wild mushrooms. Dishes will be paired with wines from the winery.
Day 9 | Jewish History & Gastronomy
- After breakfast a tour with a local and enthusiastic guide through the old and venerable wine town of Ribadavia. Strolling through the small alleyways and lovey squares you will enjoy the sights and sounds of this enchanting place. There are many hidden nooks and crannies, and a wealth of Jewish history in its old Jewish quarter.
- At the end of the tour, the guide walks with you to the town main square where there are many places for lunch. Her food places recommendation will ensue.
- After lunch return to your hotel, with more time to explore the enchanting surroundings. No program rest of the day.
Day 10 | Bierzo Wine Tasting & Leon's Heritage
- After checking out from your hotel you will drive to further eastwards to Leon, an ancient capital city full of architectural splendours. The drive should be around 2 hours.
- Halfway into your drive a stop in the Bierzo wine region bordering Galicia and Castille & Leon. Here we have organised a visit at a wonderful organic winery. The winery produces aromatic Godello white wines, as well as fruit packed red wines from the Mencia grape, from old vines. The wines are great, the family who will host you is hospitable and kind, and the natural settings surrounding the winery are quite splendid – all ensuring you a distinctive experience.
- Following the tour of the winery you will have a tasting and local tapas as a light lunch.
- After lunch, a short drive to Leon, check-in at your lovely hotel in the heart of town. This is a perfect place to unwind, the place seamlessly blends ancient charm with modern comfort.
Day 11 | Leon's Historic & Gastronomic Heritage
- After breakfast, you will head out on a private walking tour of Leon focussing on is superb old quarter, its history, and art. You guide will help you uncover the charms of the extraordinarily well-preserved Royal Pantheon, and the mighty cathedral, on a par with the more famous cathedral of Chartres in France.
- At the end of the tout the guide will bring you to the Barrio Húmedo, Leon’s lively taps bar district, where narrow alleys lead to bustling bars and restaurants. This is the area where one eats hearty stews, or rustic or refined taps. You guide will unfold more of Leon’s gastronomic heritage here for you.
- After the tour, lunch on you own and more time to explore on your own, no program rest of the day.
Day 12 | Burgos Architecture Extravaganza
- After breakfast and checkout, a relaxed drive through panoramic landscapes towards the great Castile city of Burgos, with its wealth of art and architecture.
- Upon arrival in Burgos, check-in to your charming hotel.
- Late afternoon, enjoy a private tour of Burgos old town with a passionate and knowledgeable guide, a local who knows the place inside out. During the visit, you will explore some fascinating history of this most charming town while seeing some amazing architectural masterpieces. Like the grand entry gate to the old town, where your guide can highlight the meaning behind the rich iconography of this spectacular doorway. The stunning Burgos Gothic Cathedral will also be visited, allowing you to appreciate the French, German, and Dutch influences of its centuries of building history. Fascinating anecdotes and stories will be shared.
- Dinner will be served at one of the best restaurants in the region, located in the heart of the old town Classic dishes are reinterpreted, and the ambiance is suitably modern. Dishes are refined and served in smaller portions than usual for Castile. Your dinner will be paired with excellent wines from the region. The chef will come to your table, to personally recommend his suggestions of the day.
Day 13 | Free day for a Deeper Discovery
- After breakfast, free time to explore Burgos on your own. There is no program for today. You might wish to wander around the old city rich in memories of the Santiago pilgrimage, there are plenty of surprises to be unveiled. Or you might want to explore other local highlights, like the stunning Miraflores Charterhouse, where the beautifully ornate tombs of many Castilian kings and queens can be found. For nature lovers, the Vía Verde de Ojos Negros, a former railway line converted into a bicycle and hiking path, is appealing.
Day 14 | TxakoIi Winery & Arrival Bilbao
- After breakfast, check-out and depart for the Bilbao in Basque Country.
- After a drive through a bucolic landscape of cereal fields, green hills and increasingly vineyards, stop at a captivating old Basque manor cum farmhouse which also contains an excellent modern wine making Txakoli wine making operation. Stone farmhouses are the beating heart of Baque culture, and one of the family members showing you around the manor and vineyards will provide their local insights.
- After the tour, a tapas lunch with various wines from the estate.
- After lunch, a short drive to Bilbao, check-in at your Bilbao hotel, an elegant and charming property. Free time to discover buzzing Bilbao on your own.
- Dinner at favourite local restaurant, set in a former salt warehouse. The chef here excels in modern Basque cuisine, with an occasional Asian twist.
Day 15 | Guggenheim & Fine Basque Cuisine
- After breakfast, you will be picked up in the morning at the hotel by our local guide. She is knowledgeable art historian, who will accompany you to the renowned Guggenheim Museum, transforming your museum visit into a truly exceptional experience. Following this, enjoy a leisurely walk through the charming Abandoibarra district, where the guide will unveil architectural gems that might otherwise go unnoticed, thereby providing insights beyond the typical tourist experience.
- After the tour time to explore Bilbao at your own pace.
- Tonight’s dinner unfolds in a top-tier gastronomic restaurant within walking distance of the hotel. The chef showcases his modern Basque creations in an elegant dining room. A refined and light tasting menu is complemented by harmonizing wines.
Day 16 | Farewell in Bilbao
- After breakfast, and check out, your itinerary comes to an end.
Accommodation
Santander
You will stay 2 nights in a grand hotel in Santander, a discreet 4-star gem overlooking the Bay of Biscay. This refined seaside retreat seamlessly blends classic elegance with modern comfort. Tastefully decorated rooms exude quiet sophistication with its each offering breathtaking views of the sea. Nestled in a quiet yet convenient spot, this hotel places you within easy reach of the city’s cultural treasures and offers a selection of good dining options and chic boutiques a leisurely stroll away. Experience Santander’s allure with a stay that combines modern comfort with timeless coastal charm.
Oviedo
Experience 2 nights of refined elegance at your hotel in Oviedo, a 5-star haven, quietly but centrally located. It is set in a majestic late baroque palatial building, and as boutique hotel it seamlessly combines an enchanting blend of historical grandeur with contemporary comfort. Your two-night stay promises tranquillity in tastefully decorated rooms, each offering a harmonious blend of classic and calming design. Enjoy lovely views of Oviedo’s picturesque surroundings from your window.
Located in a serene setting yet conveniently close to Oviedo’s landmarks, your stay ensures a peaceful retreat.
Santiago de Compostela
You will stay 3 nights in an elegant and charming 5-star hotel located in a former medieval convent. The building was refurbished, in a quiet contemporary style with charming period details. There is a pretty garden and a spacious outdoor terrace with fine views to the historic city of Santiago. Rooms are large and extremely comfortable. The old town of Santiago, and good restaurants, are just a short stroll away.
Ribadavia
For the two nights of your stay will be sojourning in a relaxing and elegant small size hotel cum winery set among vineyards. This is a beautiful building, an 18th century granite manor house, painstakingly renovated whilst keeping an old-world charm. Decoration is refined rustic, with wood panelling, stone floors, and fireplace mantles preserved. Rooms are very comfortable, combining modern amenities with some period furniture. The views over the land are gorgeous: especially those over the vineyards against a backdrop of jagged mountains.
In the premises you will find an atmospheric dining room with one of the best restaurants of the region. There is also a nice garden terrace. This is a lovely place, perfect to unwind and to sample a wide selection of the wines produced at the on-site winery. The attractive old town of Ribadavia with its remarkable Jewish quarter is around the corner.
Leon
Immerse yourself in the timeless allure of Leon with a two-night retreat at an exquisite 4-star boutique hotel nestled in the heart of this historic city. Housed within a meticulously restored monastery, with an exuberant Plateresque façade and Renaissance chapels, staying here will create a unique experience. At the same time this hotel seamlessly blends ancient charm with modern comfort. Every room is decorated with warm colours, top-quality materials and fine fabrics, marrying classic elegance with a calming ambiance.
Oozing warmth from the moment you step onto its charming entrance, expect top-tier amenities, ensuring a rejuvenating stay. Its quiet yet convenient location places you are at walking distance away from major landmarks, inviting you to explore the city’s cultural wonders.
Burgos
Your two nights in Burgos will be spent at a 4-star hotel housed within a carefully renovated historic gem. This enchanting hotel immerses you in a rich tapestry of medieval details, creating an atmosphere that whispers stories of bygone eras. The rooms, adorned in soothing muted tones, offer a spacious and comfortable retreat. Enjoy the picturesque views unfolding from your window—whether overlooking the captivating old town of Burgos or the scenic tree-lined promenade along the Arlanzón River.
Bilbao
In Bilbao you will be staying 2 nights at charming, classic 5-star hotel. It is centrally located in the city, in the buzzing Ensanche district. It is set in a handsome and atmospheric Beaux-Arts building, extensively restored. An elegant old-world style hotel it is.
Rooms are very comfortable, each of which is tastefully furnished in as classic style, with air conditioning. Public spaces in the building have an open and elegant atmosphere. Note the beautiful art-deco bar, where writer Ernest Hemingway reputedly used to hang out.
How To Get There
To commence this Northern Spain tour from abroad, it may be easiest to fly into Bilbao airport, since this airport offers the most varied international connections. Then driving from Bilbao to Santander would take little over one hour. Alternatively, you can also fly into Madrid or Barcelona Airport. There are several daily domestic connections between Madrid, Barcelona and Bilbao airport.
There are many direct flights to Bilbao from cities in Europe. For trans-Atlantic flights, it may be easiest to connect in London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Madrid or Barcelona. Paladares Travel does not offer flights. We suggest that you book these directly with one of the companies offering such services.
The tour, designed as a loop, is a self-driven road trip through the lesser-explored gems of Northern Spain. Assuming you will fly into Bilbao, you’ll need a rental car from there and return the car in the same city at the end of the tour. If you’d rather not drive, we can arrange a personalized driver service for a seamless exploration. Of course, we would be delighted to organize such a bespoke car service or rent a car on your behalf. If you’d like Paladares Travel to assist you, please let us know.
Kindly note the pricing on our website does not include such transportation, since the cost is largely dependent on the number of people requiring such service.
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