North of Spain Tours: Private & Multi-Day

North of Spain, the Green Atlantic Coast

Northern Spain, called Green Spain (España Verde) by Spaniards, runs along the Bay of Biscay from the French border to Galicia, kept green year-round by Atlantic rain. World Experience operates in two of its regions. The Basque Country has Bilbao, home to the Guggenheim Museum, and San Sebastián, about an hour and a quarter away by road, with the Rioja Alavesa vineyards inland to the south. Asturias, to the west, has its capital Oviedo, whose pre-Romanesque churches are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Picos de Europa, Spain's first national park. Bilbao to Oviedo is about three hours by road.

In the north, the best places are local knowledge: a pintxo counter, a cider house, a family winery in the Rioja Alavesa, and some of them need booking ahead. A guide who lives here takes the guesswork out and gives you the context, from the Basque language to the Kingdom of Asturias. You can base yourself in San Sebastián or Bilbao, or follow a route from the Basque coast to Rioja wine country with hotels and transfers arranged.

North of Spain, Your Way

You can see the north in three formats. Private tours give your party its own guide in San Sebastián, around La Concha Bay, the Old Town and its pintxo bars, and in Bilbao, for the Guggenheim and the Casco Viejo. Multi-day tours add hotels and transfers: four days through the Basque Country, three days of Basque food and Rioja wine, or three days in Asturias. Tailor-made trips are planned around your dates from the first day. Small group tours aren't offered in the north, but they run in other World Experience destinations.

Bilbao, San Sebastián & Oviedo

Bilbao: An industrial port that rebuilt itself around Frank Gehry's Guggenheim, which opened in 1997. The medieval Seven Streets are a short walk across the river.

San Sebastián: A bay city on the French border, known for its pintxo bars and its concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants. It's the start of The Best of Basque Cuisine.

Oviedo: The capital of Asturias and of the early medieval Kingdom of Asturias. It's the starting point for Authentic Asturias, with cider houses and the Picos de Europa.

Beyond the Cities

Some of the north's best stops are outside its cities. On the Basque coast there's Gernika and the island hermitage of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, both part of Euskal Herri: Soul & Tradition. Inland, the Rioja Alavesa has wineries designed by Gehry (Marqués de Riscal) and Calatrava (Ysios). In Asturias you have the Sanctuary of Covadonga, Cabrales cheese dairies in the Picos de Europa and fish markets on the Cantabrian coast.

Combining the North

Bilbao and San Sebastián pair naturally, and either one works as a base for the other. To add wine, The Best of Basque Cuisine links San Sebastián, the Rioja Alavesa and Bilbao in three days. Asturias is its own trip: three days from Oviedo. To combine the Basque Country and Asturias in one route, a tailor-made trip connects them with hotels and transfers arranged.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I visit the North of Spain?

It's the Atlantic side of Spain: mountains close to the coast, a separate language and culture in the Basque Country, and one of Europe's strongest food scenes, from San Sebastián's pintxos to Asturian cider and Rioja wine.

What tour formats are available?

Private tours in San Sebastián and Bilbao, multi-day packages with hotels and transfers, and tailor-made trips. Small group tours aren't offered in the north.

How many days do I need?

Our packages run three to four days per region. Covering both the Basque Country and Asturias takes about a week.

When is the best time to go?

June to September is the warmest and most reliable period. Spring and autumn are quieter. Rain can fall in any month, which is why the north stays green.

How do I get there?

Bilbao's airport is the main gateway to the Basque Country, and Asturias has its own airport. From Madrid, the high-speed train reaches Oviedo in a little over three hours.

North of Spain