Northern Spain Road Trip: Madrid to Basque Country - 7 Days

Day 1: Arrival in Madrid - Evening Tapas Tour

Welcome to Spain! 

Upon arrival at the nation's capital, you'll enjoy a private transfer to your hotel in the city center. Take some time to settle in before heading out to explore. You'll definitely want to see some of the highlights like the Puerta del Sol, one of the most historic and expansive plazas in the city. There's also Madrid's famous Fountain of Cibeles. Located in the city center it features a sculpture completed in 1782 and depicting Cybele, the Greek goddess of fertility, riding in a chariot pulled by lions.

In the evening, you'll really dig into Madrid's culture on a food tour. A local expert guide will lead you on a two-hour walking excursion that stops at some great tapas bars. On this tour, you'll visit Barrio Las Letras, which is known as the "literary quarter." This historic neighborhood in the city center was once home to Spanish lit legends like Cervantes and Quevedo. Besides visiting some historic sights around here, you'll also stop on Calle Huertas for a bite at one of the many tapas bars that line the street.

Day 2: Private City Tour - Discover Madrid's Royal Legacy

Enjoy a half-day tour of Madrid led an expert local guide today. Madrid has a long history, and today the city adorns itself with that history in its architecture, public spaces, and culture. An organized tour is ideal, and your guide will reveal insight into how different time periods influenced Madrid's neighborhoods and buildings, as well as point out the most interesting sights.

One area you'll visit that's awash in splendor is the Madrid de los Austrias. It was built in the 16th century during the reign of the Hapsburg Dynasty's first ruler, Charles I. Located in the city center, it's home to one of the grandest plazas in Spain, the Plaza Mayor, which was once the heart of Old Madrid.

Also here is the Royal Palace, which was the official home of the Spanish monarchs until 1931. You'll tour both the grounds and interior of this 3,418-room monument to opulence, entering the parade ground, the bedchambers of Charles III, several salons, the Royal Chapel, and the Hall of the Crown, which displays Charles I's crown, scepter, and throne.

Later you could visit El Retiro Park. This 308-acre expanse of verdure is the green lung of Madrid, abounding with sculptures, fountains, and a man-made lake perfect for taking a boat trip. There are also must-visit gardens here including the Jardín de Vivaces ("Garden of Vivacious Plants"), Jardines de Cecilio Rodríguez (inspired by the Andalusia region), and a garden home to over 4,000 roses. The best time to see these blooms from May through June. 

Afterward, you'll return to your hotel for the evening.

Day 3: Pick up Rental Car - Drive From Madrid to Laguardia - Wine Tour

In the morning you'll pick up your rental car and begin your epic road-trip. The first stop is the La Rioja wine region, located in Basque Country about 3.5 hours north of Madrid. La Rioja is a postcard of a province, with rolling green hills, alpine mountains, limestone peaks, medieval villages, and endless vineyards.  

Your hotel is located in the village of Laguardia. This romantic town was founded in the 10th century as a defensive outpost of the Kingdom of Navarre, and as you walk its stone streets you'll see evidence of this in the medieval walls that encircle it. Upon arrival, you'll check into your hotel and can unwind.

In the afternoon, you'll meet a private guide for a combined town tour and wine tasting. You'll stroll Laguardia's narrow, winding streets and visit historic landmarks like Santa María de Los Reyes a Romanesque church that dates to the 14th century. Then you'll visit a local winery where you'll sample two wines as your guide explains their origins and production processes. 

Lunch will be in a restaurant in Laguardia's historic center and includes four different wines paired with traditional tapas. Afterward, you can return to your hotel and will have the remainder of the day free. 

Day 4: Drive From La Rioja to San Sebastian - Food Tour

In the morning you'll get in your car and drive about two hours north from La Rioja to the seaside resort city of San Sebastian. Sitting on the Bay of Biscay and nestled amid rolling green hills, this is one of the stars of Basque Country. After checking into your hotel, you'll meet a local guide who will take you on a foodie tour of a city that's famous for delicious cuisine. 

After meeting your guide, he or she will take you around the famous Parte Vieja ("Old Quarter"), which is situated in the east of the city between the ocean and the River Urumea. At the edge of Old Town is the iconic San Sebastian City Hall. Constructed in 1887, it used to be the Gran Casino during the Belle Époque period until it was closed in 1924. The building still overlooks the bay, from where an elegant promenade with railings and street lamps runs along the crescent-shaped La Concha Beach.

The Basque region is known for a type of tapas called pintxos (pronounced "peenchos"). Most bars, cafés, and restaurants in the Parte Vieja serve some version of these bite-sized delicacies, and naturally they're best paired with some delicious local wines. Here it's possible (and indeed encouraged), to hop from pintxos bar to pintxos bar, grazing until your heart's content.

Your guide will lead you on a tour of the Parte Vieja (old quarter), where you'll find the largest concentration of pintxos bars. At each one, you can feel free to sample as many of these bite-sized morsels as you'd like. Be sure to pair this incredible food with an equally delicious glass of txakoli, the local white wine.

Day 5: Walking Tour of San Sebastian

In the morning you'll meet a private guide and enjoy a four-hour tour of San Sebastian. It begins in the famous Old Town, which is situated in the east of San Sebastian between the ocean and the River Urumea. You'll stroll around the neighborhood, stopping at pintxos bars and cafés as you go. 

At the edge of Old Town is the iconic San Sebastian City Hall. Constructed in 1887, it used to be the Gran Casino during the Belle Époque period until it was closed in 1924. The building still overlooks the bay, where an elegant promenade with railings and street lamps runs along the crescent-shaped La Concha Beach.

For great views, you and your guide can take a ferry to the iconic offshore island of Santa Clara, or ride a funicular up to Mont Igualdo, which offers sweeping panoramas. You might also stroll the banks of the Urumea River, where you'll find the 19th-century Victoria Eugenia Theatre, the palatial Maria Cristina Hotel, and many aristocratic houses dating to the turn of the 20th century. You can get some good pictures walking across the Puente María Cristina, the bridge that crosses the river.

After the tour, you'll return to your hotel and can spend the remainder of the day however you see fit. Once the sun goes down, however, you'll likely want to head back out and indulge in San Sebastian's famous dining scene.

Day 6: Drive From San Sebastian to Bilbao - City Tour & Guggenheim

The drive from San Sebastian to the city of Bilbao is a stunner. In a little over an hour, you'll drive along the wild Atlantic coast and pass through the Cantabrian Mountains before emerging back on the coast in Bilbao. Along the way, you'll wind around coastal cliffs and pass charming little fishing villages that perfectly encapsulate the soul of Spanish Basque Country. Feel free to stop for lunch in any one of them for an unforgettable plate of seafood. 

Upon arrival in Bilbao, you will check into your hotel. In the afternoon, you'll meet an expert guide for a half-day tour of the city. He or she will take you to the more colorful neighborhoods in Bilbao, particularly along the waterfront. The guide can also tailor the tour according to your interests. 

Of course, no visit to Bilbao is complete without stopping in at the Guggenheim Museum, a masterpiece of contemporary architecture by the legendary Frank Gehry. This glimmering titanium structure looks more like a sculpture than a building, with its sleek lines sensually curving in apparent defiance of physics. Inside, the museum's 24,000 square-meter space houses a treasure trove of works from great artists such as Andy Warhol, Anish Kapoor, Jeff Koons, Louise Bourgeois, and Eduardo Chillida.

Day 7: Depart Spain

It's time to say farewell to Spain! Depending on the time of your flight or train reservation, squeeze in one more morning of sight-seeing, perhaps picking up some last-minute souvenirs. At the designated time you will be picked up at your hotel and transferred to the airport or rail station for your departure onwards.

Looking for more Spain self-drive itineraries? Check out kimkim's guide to the top 7-Day road trips in Spain. And see more of Europe's top one week itineraries