{"id":24118,"date":"2020-04-01T11:00:19","date_gmt":"2020-04-01T10:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zestcarrental.com\/blog\/?p=24118"},"modified":"2026-02-06T09:54:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T09:54:00","slug":"our-favourite-road-trips-in-spain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zestcarrental.com\/blog\/our-favourite-road-trips-in-spain\/","title":{"rendered":"Our favourite road trips in Spain"},"content":{"rendered":"

*Updated for 2026*<\/em><\/p>\n

When thinking of Spain, the first thing that springs to mind probably isn\u2019t a road trip. That thought is more often than not reserved for somewhere like the USA<\/a> or Australia<\/a>, covering vast areas of land on endless roads. However, that doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t hire a car in Spain<\/a> and enjoy a grand road trip. Here\u2019s an overview of our favourite routes to enjoy while stopping off for plenty of paella and tapas!<\/p>\n

\"Seville
The ‘Spain Square’ in Seville<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Silver Route<\/h3>\n

Route: Seville \u2013 M\u00e9rida \u2013 C\u00e1ceres \u2013 Salamanca – Gijon
\nDistance: Around 800km<\/p>\n

The Silver Route in Spain connects Seville in the south, with Gijon in the north. A-66 (yes, route 66!) as it\u2019s known, has massive history. Back in Roman times it was the main communications route between northern and southern Spain, although its origins can be tracked back to the bronze age. At 800km it\u2019s quite a road trip! You\u2019ll want to set a few days aside for tackling it in its entirety.<\/p>\n

Starting in Seville and working your way north, you\u2019ll find plenty of reminders that this was a Roman communications route. Roman walls, milestones and other ruins dot the way as you meander through the beautiful Spanish countryside. Make sure you stop off at the World Heritage sites in the towns M\u00e9rida, C\u00e1ceres and Salamanca.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a nature lover, before heading North from Seville, take a detour to the Do\u00f1ana National Park<\/a> for one of the most biodiverse areas in Europe. Just north of C\u00e1ceres you\u2019ll also find the Monfrag\u00fce National Park<\/a>. Here you\u2019ll be able to see a variety of raptors among the dramatic rock faces and cliff edges.<\/p>\n

This road trip is a must for foodies. On your journey you have to try the Castile roast meats and the \u2018Fabada Asturiana\u2019 a white bean stew. Oh, and don\u2019t forget the fantastic gazpacho and Iberian cured hams.<\/p>\n

You finish in Gijon, which is unlike many other fishing ports in Northern Spain. This place knows how to live. It\u2019s not some quaint seaside town. Risen from an industrial past, Gijon has a lively atmosphere with bars, clubs and great restaurants. A great place to end your Silver Route road trip and you can get started by simply renting a car at Seville Airport<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Tossa
Beautiful beach in Tossa de Mar, Costa Brava<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Barcelona to Costa Brava<\/h3>\n

Route: Barcelona \u2013 Lloret de Mar \u2013 Tossa de Mar \u2013 Girona – Cadaqu\u00e9s
\nDistance: Around 200km<\/p>\n

Tourists in their millions flock to the Costa Brava every year. But what if you want to visit the region in a slightly different way? Start by hiring a car at Barcelona airport<\/a>, then take this trip to the \u2018Wild Coast\u2019 of Spain to enjoy the rugged coastlines, sandy beaches and the beautiful fishing villages that dot the rugged landscape. This trip from Barcelona to Cadaqu\u00e9s, near the French border, is a shorter road trip of around only 200km (we chose the slow route) so it\u2019s worth spending a few days stopping off along the way.<\/p>\n

As you make your way up the coast from Barcelona, you\u2019ll pass Lloret de Mar. Stop here to see the medieval Castle of Sant Joan on the hilltop. Spend a day, night or even a couple of nights. There\u2019s plenty to see and do. A little further up the coast \u2018Blue Paradise\u2019 awaits you. Tossa de Mar is a small seaside town with a beautiful, blue, boat-speckled bay with clifftops surrounding it. Being this beautiful naturally brings many tourists. To avoid a packed beach, it\u2019s worth steering clear of July & August.<\/p>\n

Heading further North on this trip brings you into Girona<\/a>, the largest city in northern Catalonia. If cobbled streets and medieval walls are your thing, you\u2019ll love Girona. Park the car and walk around it\u2019s narrow, history-filled streets. There are so many quirky restaurants serving traditional cuisine. If you\u2019re a Game of Thrones fan, you\u2019ll recognise some of it, the sixth season was shot here!<\/p>\n

From Girona, the final stop on this beautiful road trip is Cadaqu\u00e9s. \u2018The Beautiful White Village\u2019 is around 30km from the French border and is must for those wanting to avoid the crowds. Sure, in the height of summer there is a touristy buzz, but it\u2019s certainly less busy than its neighbouring Costa Brava hotspots. And arguably more beautiful. Think traditional sleepy Mediterranean town; steep, narrow streets, laid-back waterfront, you get the idea. It\u2019s certainly worth the windy, and slightly scary, cliff-top drive to get here\u2026<\/p>\n

\"San
The San Sebastian Bay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Basque Country & La Rioja<\/h3>\n

Route: Bilbao \u2013 San Sebastian \u2013 Pomplona \u2013 Logro\u00f1o
\nDistance: Around 270km<\/p>\n

Collect your hire car in Bilbao<\/a> to begin this road trip. Bilbao is a city in Northern Spain tucked away amongst lush green hills a short walk from the coast. Basque culture thrives in Bilbao. From the museums to the music stages that dot the streets and the fantastic food on offer, you\u2019re always going to have a great time. Visit the Guggenheim Museum while here for a striking exterior and an art-filled interior.<\/p>\n

San Sebastian sits 100km along the coast to the east and brings a welcome downsizing from Bilbao. It also has a beautiful azure bay and doesn\u2019t have the \u2018big city\u2019 vibe of Bilbao. It\u2019s elegant, its buildings will remind you of Paris on a smaller scale, plus the sea! For a great view of the city, try the cable car up to Monte Igueldo.<\/p>\n

Around an hour\u2019s drive south, you\u2019ll find Pamplona. Best known for its famous Bull Run. It\u2019s also a major part of the 790km medieval pilgrimage route Camino de Santiago. The old town is full of medieval architecture with fortress walls, the old citadel and the grand cathedral, La Catedral de Santa Mar\u00eda la Real de Pamplona. Like many Spanish towns and cities, the nightlife is vibrant with plenty of great places to drink wine and eat!<\/p>\n

Capital of the La Rioja region, Logro\u00f1o is often overlooked as tourists flock to the local vineyards and miss the city all together. For something slightly different, go tapas bar hopping! Most tapas bars in the city serve only one dish, so it\u2019s worth trying a few! While you\u2019re here, visit the old town to see the 15th Century cathedral and its twin Baroque towers. We almost forgot, no visit to La Rioja would be without wine. Make sure you\u2019re not driving but try out the many local wines on offer at Bodegas Marqu\u00e9s de Murrieta and their tasting rooms on the edge of the city.<\/p>\n

Now, we know these aren\u2019t total road trip guides with where exactly you should go. We like freedom, so we want to give you the freedom to create your own road trip, that\u2019s the fun part isn\u2019t it? If you\u2019d like to see more road trip inspiration, let us know in the comments and we\u2019ll get cracking!<\/p>\n

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Useful links for your Spanish road trip<\/h4>\n