Green Spain

Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country on Spain's northern Atlantic coast: rainy, lush and green, where mountains meet the sea.

'Green Spain' (España Verde) is the name used in Spanish tourism marketing for the four autonomous communities along the northern Atlantic coast: Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country (sometimes also including northern Navarre). It is a world away from the sunny, dry image of the south: damp and rainy, with green pastures and mountains that rise straight from the coast. Highlights: in Galicia, the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, seafood from the Rías estuaries and Cape Finisterre, the 'end of the world'; in Asturias, Picos de Europa National Park, the Covadonga lakes, cider culture and Oviedo's pre-Romanesque churches; in Cantabria, Santander, the old town of Santillana del Mar and the Altamira cave; in the Basque Country, Bilbao and San Sebastián. The classic way to see it is a 10–14 day west–east coastal road trip: San Sebastián – Bilbao – Santander – Picos de Europa – Oviedo/Gijón – Lugo – Santiago. On transport: the FEVE narrow-gauge scenic trains, the Transcantábrico and the Coastal Line, run along the coast, but driving is more flexible. It rains a lot, so bring rain gear; seafood and cider are must-tries.

Destinations

Itineraries