Spain is renowned for its historic cities, rich culture, Mediterranean cuisine and beautiful coastlines, a haven for those who want a little bit of everything from their holiday. Perhaps a little less discovered is the northern region of Spain, where diverse landscapes and breathtaking topography invite a slower, richer kind of journey where nature takes the lead.
Fly into either Barcelona or Madrid, then leave the city limits heading towards ‘Green Spain’, a part of the country comprising the regions of Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque country. Here, you can lose yourself for days - even weeks - weaving your way through the verdant forests and wild beaches of Galicia to the fishing villages, green valleys and mountains of Asturias and Cantabria.
Green Spain is, without doubt, one of Spain’s most surprising discoveries, with seven different UNESCO World Heritage sites, as well as El Camino de Santiago, an extensive network of ancient pilgrim routes that stretch across Europe coming together at the tomb of St. James in the UNESCO World Heritage City of Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain.
While flying might get you to your destinations quicker, taking a slower journey cross-country is guaranteed to give you a far more immersive experience, as you soak up Spain’s pretty panoramas. One way to connect and explore the regions of Green Spain is to climb aboard the Transcantabrico hotel-train, which weaves its way around the northern regions as you drink in the countryside from the comfort of your cabin. Journeying from the shores of Biscay to Galicia, you’ll pass by the most beautiful landscapes, sample regional haute cuisine and disembark for guided visits along the way. The Transcantabrico luxury train was actually the first tourist train in Spain when it set off on its first journey in 1983, and by 2009 was already ranked in the top 25 trains in the world by the International Society of Railway Travelers. But, of course, it’s more than just a train with first-class suites that combine old-world elegance with 21st-century comforts.
There are two different eight-day itineraries to choose from, showing you some of northern Spain’s most intriguing sites. Route one starts in San Sebastian and winds its way to Carranza, Santander, Cabezon de la Sal, Llanes, Gijon and Luarca, amongst others, before depositing its passengers in Santiago de Compostela. Route two does the same itinerary in reverse, departing from Santiago de Compostela and riding the north coastline east towards San Sebastian. If you prefer being in charge of your own itinerary, hiring a car is an excellent way to explore Green Spain at leisure, especially if you like taking the road less travelled to find lesser-known coastal villages along the way.
The regions of Asturias and Cantabria are known for their rugged beauty and make for the perfect road-trip. If you have time at your disposal, you can work your way across the entire stretch of Green Spain, from Galicia to San Sebastian, taking around two to three weeks to explore. If your focus is on Galicia, your driving adventure will be rewarded with vast cliffs and sprawling panoramas of the Atlantic Ocean, sprawling green forests and national parks, lighthouses, caves, near-deserted beaches and incredible views from Cabezoás, one of the most popular viewpoints in the Ribeira Sacra that overlooks the canyons of the river Sil. In fact, there are over 25 different routes and 50 viewpoints around Galicia, so you can truly curate a spectacular route of your choosing.
Something else of note about Galicia is its seafood, freshly brought in from its 1,660 kilometres of coastline. While you’re travelling around, you can visit everything from five-star restaurants to amazing beachside shacks selling Galicia’s famous king prawns, king scallops, mussels, crabs and lobsters. Three of Galicia’s signature dishes to try are the Pulpo a la Feira (octopus cooked with potatoes and seasoned with paprika), Arroz con Marisco (Galician paella) and Mariscada (seafood platter).
If your appetite leads you on to Asturias, you can try Cabrales cheese, the typical Asturian stew known as fabado, cider made from local apples and plenty more. Once you’re sated and back on the road, you can point your car towards the beautiful beaches of Llanes, Ribadesella, Gijón and Cudillero. Asturias is also well-known for its cultural and religious monuments too. Here, you’ll find various archaeological sites, caves and museums of rock art, while three of its churches - Santa María del Naranco, San Miguel de Lillo and San Julián de Prados - have all been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Whether your Spanish adventure is already under way and you’re planning where to go next, or you’re researching destinations for an upcoming trip, it’s well worth putting Green Spain on your map. It guarantees you an experience like no other - one full of twists, turns, and surprises by rail or by road.