Overview

Forget the sun-baked south for a week. Northern Spain is greener, cooler and quietly obsessed with food — a coastline of fishing villages, world-famous kitchens, and a culture that turns eating and sport into the same pleasure. This is Spain for those who want to do, not just watch.

About the region

The north runs along the Atlantic and the Bay of Biscay, from the misty rías of Galicia through the mountains of Asturias to the confident, culinary Basque Country. It’s a land of green hills and dramatic coast, of cider and Albariño, of fierce local identity and some of the best food in the world — San Sebastián alone holds one of the highest concentrations of Michelin stars on the planet. Cooler and wetter than the south, it rewards travellers who like their beauty rugged and their meals long.

Iconic sites

San Sebastián and La Concha bay. The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. Santiago de Compostela and its cathedral. The Picos de Europa in Asturias. The Rías Baixas and Albariño country in Galicia. The nearby Rioja wine region.

What you’ll experience

Pintxos crawls and world-class kitchens in the Basque Country. Hands-on days with the people who bring the sea to the table. A stretch on the water, a coastal cycle, or a river descent for the active. Basque rural traditions and games, up close. Cider houses, markets and long northern lunches.

When to go

Late spring to early autumn, when the north is at its greenest.

Who it’s for

Food lovers with energy, who want the coast, the kitchens and the movement.