Cultures & Coasts of Northern Spain

Getxo is your gateway to the iconic city of Bilbao. You could wander through the narrow streets of the historic old town, home to charming shops adorned with festive decorations, cafés, and the bustling Mercado de la Ribera along the river, before exploring the Guggenheim Museum, a masterpiece of contemporary architecture with its sculpted tower appearing to wrap around the bridge that leads into the city. Meanwhile, you can immerse yourself in the Basque way of life by sampling Rioja wine, accompanied by pintxos, the region’s version of tapas, in local bars and restaurants, where each small snack has its own twist added to it, providing a deliciously fundamental addition to local social life.

Located between Gijon and Bilbao on Spain’s north coast, Santander is an elegant city with impressive buildings set against a natural backdrop of sea and mountains. The city combines its heritage with modernity perfectly, and is best seen via the popular funicular railway that creeps up to the upper section of Santander, offering superb views across the bay. Close by are prehistoric caves, which contain some of the most important cave paintings of Quaternary art.

Located on the Atlantic coastline of Spain, Gijon has a seafaring and maritime heritage that dates back to Roman times. Famous for its cider, or sidras, as it’s known nationally, the apples grown here have been used for centuries to produce the traditional drink of the Asturias region. The Picos de Europa National Park is so named from the impressive rock formations here, and is home to the brown bear and Iberian wolf.

The vibrant 9th-century port town of La Coruña offers a delicate combination of old and new architecture, with shimmering glass modern buildings contrasting with the deeply historical medieval district. You can immerse yourself in local life by sampling traditional Galician dishes like ‘pulpo a la gallega’, octopus with paprika and olive oil or ‘empanada gallega’, a savoury pastry filled with meat or seafood. After ascending the hillsides of Monte de San Pedro park for remarkable vistas of the Atlantic Ocean, discover rocky Costa da Morte, a rugged stretch along the coast of Galicia which tempted ships to run aground, creating a storied and legendary past. Alternatively, you may wish to explore the spiritual heart of Spain at Santiago de Compostela with its beautiful mix of Romanesque, Baroque and Gothic buildings.