The 7 Best Road Trips in Spain

To say that Spain is a popular country to visit is an understatement. In fact, last year it ranked as the second-most popular country in the world for tourism, only behind France, attracting an incredible 85.2 million visitors. From iconic cities like Madrid and Barcelona to beautiful beaches and glorious weather year-round, Spain is a beautiful country to visit for a beach holiday, city break, hiking holiday or more. And what better way to see firsthand the beauty and wonder that Spain has to offer than by exploring it by car?

From Coast to Countryside: 7 Incredible Road Trips in Spain

1. The Andalusian Coast

Starting with the longest road trip on this list is the stunning Andalusian Coast, while this coastline typically stretches even longer than the incredible 700km that this road trip offers, this is arguably the best stretch.

Starting in the beautiful, historic city of Almería, you will traverse along Spain’s southern coastline, driving alongside gorgeous beaches, and accompanied by the familiar sight of the Mediterranean Sea alongside you.

What makes this road trip so special is that it takes you down to Gibraltar – one of the smallest countries in the world – and a place well worth a visit, so this makes an ideal stop-off point on your drive.

You will also turn inland shortly after Gibraltar, and drive alongside the Doñana National Park, before arriving in Seville, where you can also stop off, before driving along to Huelva, close to the Portuguese border, where you will end your epic Andalusian Coast road trip.

Distance: 700km

Route Highlights: Gibraltar, Seville, Doñana National Park

When to do it: Any time of the year.

2. Barcelona to Madrid

If somebody asked you to name the first two Spanish cities that you could think of, your answer would probably be Barcelona and Madrid, right? The two most famous cities in Spain, connected by a rich and diverse history, a fierce football rivalry and their attraction to hundreds of thousands of tourists every year, what better way to explore these iconic Spanish cities than by road?

Starting in the Catalan region of Spain on the northeast coast in Barcelona, you can explore the wonderful sites the city has to offer before heading west towards Madrid.

On the way, you will pass a hugely underrated Spanish city – Zaragoza – which is definitely worth exploring, as well as the beautiful Spanish countryside, which is similarly overlooked in favour of Spain’s beaches.

Throughout this portion of northern-central Spain, you can also find some of the country’s best vineyards – a glass of vino, anyone?

Finally, you will reach the Spanish capital some 630km later, where you can visit the city’s numerous museums, cathedrals, and of course, for any football fans, the Santiago Bernabeu to watch Real Madrid play.

Distance: 630km

Route Highlights: Barcelona, Spanish vineyards, Zaragoza, Madrid

When to do it: September–May. This is during the football season so you can watch both Barcelona and Madrid play, and also out of the peak tourism season!

3. Bilbao to Girona

From one port city to another, this road trip from Bilbao to Girona offers some of the best sightseeing in northern Spain.

Similarly to how the Spanish countryside is often overlooked in favour of the beaches, northern Spain is often overlooked in favour of the Costa Blanca or the Costa Del Sol further south, but it is one of the most pristine areas of the country.

There are several routes you can take to reach Girona from Bilbao, but this one, which is around 680km, is arguably the best. You will start in Bilbao itself, and visit several other towns and cities en route to Girona.

One of these places is Pamplona, famous for its annual ‘bull run’ – make sure you avoid this particular week in July.

Perhaps the most scenic part of the journey is that you will be under the shadow of the mighty, unspoiled Pyrenees Mountains for a few hundred kilometres of the journey – make sure to stop and take plenty of photos!

If you want to extend this road trip, you can actually drive around the Pyrenees and into southern France, passing through places such as Bayonne, Lourdes, Toulouse and more. This is an ideal road trip for those who don’t like sticking to plans, and have the freedom to explore whenever they want.

Distance: 680km

Route Highlights: Pyrenees Mountains, northern Spain, Pamplona

When to do it: Autumn or winter to see the snowy Pyrenees Mountains.

4. Málaga to El Chorro

Another road trip made for keen drivers and mountain enthusiasts but just a tenth of the distance of the previous one, this route from Málaga to El Chorro in southern Spain is a must. 

At just 65km, it is more than possible to do a full circle in less than half a day, which is perfect for those who are only spending a few days in Spain at a time.

Many drivers think that this is the most scenic road trip in Spain, so if that sounds up your street, then we highly recommend doing it. Starting your journey in the stunning city of Málaga, you will head north and through winding mountain passes and roads, snaking through the ancient mountain while the sea and the city get smaller and smaller as you ascend up the mountain.

Once you reach the top, you are greeted by incredible views of southern Spain, from the countryside to one side of you, to the sparkling blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea to the other. Truly one of the most spectacular road trips in Spain.

Distance: 65km

Route Highlights: El Chorro, mountain roads, views from the top

When to do it: Spring or summer for the clearest weather.

5. The Valle de Jerte

Another short but sweet (literally, as you’ll find out in just a moment) road trip, this route through the Valle de Jerte – also known as the Valley of Cherries – is one of the most picturesque road trips in Spain.

Starting in the fairly remote city of Plasencia in western Spain, you will make your way through the glorious roads of the Valley de Jerte, eventually ending your journey in the small town of El Barco de Ávila, whose population of less than 2,500 will give you a true taste of genuine Spanish countryside life.

Along the journey, you will see thousands of cherry trees, and it is from the Valle de Jerte where most of Spain’s cherries come from – as well as those that they export worldwide. If you visit in the late summer, you can sample some of these, but we advise doing this road trip in the spring months so that you can see the cherry blossom in full bloom.

Distance: 80km

Route Highlights: Cherry blossom trees, Spanish valleys, small Spanish towns

When to do it: Spring for the cherry blossom, summer for the actual cherries.

6. Seville to Granada

For history lovers, this is an essential Spanish road trip to undertake!

Starting in one of the most historically rich cities in the country, you will traverse through the dry Spanish countryside and reach Granada, another city famed for its history.

However, we have slightly extended this road trip so that you will not be taking the most conventional routes, but will instead make a pit stop in Córdoba, famed for its role in the Islamic conquest of Spain in the Middle Ages.

Similarly, when you arrive in Granada, you can see the iconic Alhambra Palace, which also played a similar role, when it was handed back to the Spanish after 700 years of Islamic rule in 1492 – and the architecture of the palace reflects its Islamic history and heritage, making it one of the most unique structures in Spain.

All of these places have played a significant role in the history of Spain, so if that is something you’re interested in, we highly recommend this road trip.

Distance: 335km

Route Highlights: Sevilla, Córdoba, the Alhabmra Palace 

When to do it: Any time of the year.

7. Vigo to A Coruña

While we mentioned earlier that most of northern Spain is overlooked in favour of southern Spain from a tourism point of view, this is one area that you definitely don’t want to overlook.

Starting in Vigo, on Spain’s northwest coast, not far from the Portuguese border, you will drive north through the rugged northwestern countryside (or via the coast road if you’d prefer), eventually ending up in A Coruña in northern Spain, on the Atlantic Coast.

This is a fascinating road trip because it shows how culturally different northwestern Spain is to much more of the country – they are very similar to the Portuguese in many senses, and while the weather is not the greatest (it’s certainly not as warm as the Costa Del Sol!), this road trip is more about the culture, food and views, rather than the sun and the sea.

For those who want to experience a truly unique Spanish road trip, then this is the one for you.

Distance: 160km

Route Highlights: Vigo, northwestern Spanish towns, A Coruña

When to do it: Any time of the year.