Our epic Northern Spain road trip experience (Where to visit & why)
¡Hola!
How nice it is to write here again after a long break! I miss writing so much, and I hope you also missed reading my posts… Today I want to write about one of our favorite topics, which is travelling in Spain. Those who have been following us on Instagram and YouTube know that in the summer of 2021, my husband and I took a road trip throughout Northern Spain. For 2 weeks, we visited many cities, villages and towns in all different regions and landscapes, and we loved it. I have shared the sightseeing places we visited, the local food and drinks we had and the hotels we stayed at (with insider tips from my husband, who is a Spaniard) in video format on our YouTube channel as well as in stories and photos on our Instagram account. However, I wanted to write a blog post series as well, for those who prefer blogs (and also for myself, because I like writing with a chatty style). So, “our epic Northern Spain road trip blog series" is here! Today we'll start with the first post "Northern Spain road trip travel experience (Where to visit & why). So, grab your favorite tea or coffee, and we'll get started!
How is this blog post different from all the other travel blogs' posts?
What makes us different from the others?
1. We only write about Spain, and we introduce the culture and the cuisine of the places that are almost unknown but exquisitely beautiful, apart from places that are now known and shared by everyone, such as Madrid and Barcelona.
2. I try to give as many details and fun tips as possible in my blog posts and vlogs, because travelling is not only about sightseeing checklists. For example, I think food is a huge part of the whole experience, so I try to share the local delicacies wherever we go. Sometimes it means trying out special ice-cream flavours, and at other times it may mean walking around the marketplace and seeing the different varieties of fruit and vegetables that grow there.
3. Since my husband is a Spaniard, we present to you the knowledge of a person who was born and raised in that country, as well as the impressions and observations of a Turkish woman (me:) who has been to Spain many times. Of course, everyone can go to a country or city and share their experiences, but would you consult with someone who has been there for a few days for the first time, or someone who was born there and grew up with that culture? If you want to travel around Spain as if you were traveling with a Spaniard, then read on :)
Why Northern Spain?
When it comes to Spain, most people want to go to big and well-known cities like Madrid and Barcelona, or to places which there are plenty of tours of, like Andalusia. I was like that too, and it is completely fine. However, after some time, you prefer going to lesser-known but more interesting places rather than these very touristic cities.
When my husband and I first toured Northern Spain in 2018, to be honest, I had no expectations. In fact, since I know my husband well, I thought that we would have an exhausting holiday, hopping from one place to another in a short time, so I set out a bit reluctantly. However, I must admit that on the way, my opinion completely changed and this trip has been one of the most beautiful and unforgettable trips we have made so far. This trip, completely planned by my husband, both surprised me and allowed me to see a side of Spain that only Spaniards know. In Spain, people did not eat paella everywhere, did not dance the Flamenco in every region, and did not necessarily live in a hot climate. I came to realize that Spanish culture was very diverse in itself, and if we did not see these differences, we would be stuck with the stereotypes. I liked it so much that I convinced my husband to do this trip all over again in the summer of 2021 and even to extend it to other regions.
Anyway, if I were to write briefly the reasons why I love Northern Spain so much, I would say,
1. If you don't want to be stuck in one city, if you want to rent a car and go on a series of adventures, I don't know of a better route. You can sunbathe on the beach one day and climb the mountains the next, eat gourmet food for lunch, and then stay in a humble, sweet, historic village house.
2. Let's not forget that in Northern Spain, there are so many autonomous regions. Basque region, Cantabria, Asturias, Galicia… As you drive westward along the Northern coastline of Spain, you arrive at a new autonomous region almost every day. What does this mean? In each region, the history, people, dialects, music, dances, culture, cuisine and architectural features are different. Visiting different regions means seeing how different Spain is from the stereotypes and realizing how rich its culture is.
3. Since you are on the Atlantic coast, seafood is very diverse, very tasty and inexpensive. If you are a sefood lover, you'll be in heaven. Don't worry if you don't like seafood because there will be many other foods that you can try! From delicious cheeses to gourmet delicacies, you will have a superb gastronomic tour while you are in Northern Spain.
4. Its nature is wonderful. Since Northern Spain is similar to our Black Sea region in Turkey, you travel between beautiful mountains, forests, rivers and lakes. If you want to swim in the sea, there are also incredibly beautiful beaches that you can visit.
5. If you are going to travel in the summer season, Northern Spain is one of the few places where you can travel comfortably without being scorched by the heat or getting a sunstroke. It has a generally mild climate in the summer. The weather may be somewhat unpredictable, though. It is sometimes sunny and hot, sometimes rainy and cool, but it is generally ideal for those who want to do a road trip.
6. Since there are fewer tourists, everything is cheaper, it is easier to find a place to stay, and there are usually no long queues or wasted time.
7. Northern Spain is not very popular with tourists, so it has remained somewhat more authentic. Unlike Barcelona, where you see more tourists than Spaniards on the streets, in the North, you meet Spaniards and observe the real day-to-day life in Spain. It is also feel safer.
Which regions/cities/towns will this blog series cover?
My husband and I traveled to Northern Spain by car twice, in 2018 and 2021. In this blog series, I will tell you about all the places we visited on these two trips. The places and regions I will write about are as follows:
• Comillas (Cantabria)
• Playa de Gulpiyuri (Asturias)
• Cangas de Onis (Galicia)
• Covadonga (Asturias)
• Cudillero (Asturias)
• Playa de las Catedrales (Galicia)
• A Coruña (Galicia)
• Santiago de Compostela (Galicia)
• Vigo (Galicia)
• Cambados (Galicia)
• Combarro (Galicia)
• Baiona (Galicia)
• Ribeira Sacra (Galicia)
• Leon (Castile & Leon)
I think this may be the most comprehensive Northern Spain tour guide you will ever see on the internet! I hope this blog series will help you to have an unforgettable trip. If you like this blog post and think that somebody you know may also benefit from it, please do share it with your friends, and also, tag us in your Instagram photos if you visit any one of these places! If you have any questions, you can ask in the comments section under the blog posts or you can reach us at meetmeinmadridxo@hotmail.com, our Instagram account and our YouTube channel. If you're ready, let's start with our first stop!
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