Northeastern Spain

Spain’s northeastern interior, made up of Navarre, La Rioja and Aragon, whose three signature attractions are hiking in the Pyrenean canyons, the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona and the wine country of La Rioja.

This region includes the three autonomous communities of Navarre, La Rioja and Aragon. To the north the Pyrenees mark the border with France; to the west it adjoins the Basque Country, part of “Green Spain”, and Castile and León, part of Central Spain; and to the east it borders Catalonia and Valencia on the Mediterranean coast. The Aran Valley and the Vall de Boí included here belong administratively to the province of Lleida in Catalonia, but because they lie in the same central Pyrenees, they are covered together here. The top highlights are the mountains: Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park in Aragon is the most classic hiking destination in the Pyrenees, with Torla as its gateway and the Cola de Caballo (Horsetail Falls) route about 4 hours one way; the Romanesque churches of the Vall de Boí are a World Heritage site, and the Aran Valley is a destination for hiking in summer and skiing in winter. Pamplona, the capital of Navarre, is famous for the San Fermín festival (the Running of the Bulls) held every year from 6 to 14 July, and is also the first major city on the Camino Francés pilgrimage route after it enters Spain. Logroño in La Rioja is known for the tapas of Calle Laurel, and wineries around Haro and elsewhere can be visited by appointment. Zaragoza, the capital of Aragon, has the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar and the Aljafería Palace, and the Mudéjar architecture of Teruel is also a World Heritage site. A stay of 5–7 days is recommended: 1 day in Zaragoza, 2–3 days in the Pyrenees, and 2 days in Pamplona and the Rioja wine country. The high-speed train from Madrid to Zaragoza takes about 1 hour 20 minutes, and there are also trains to Pamplona and Logroño; getting into the mountains requires a car or buses with limited service. In the summer peak season, private cars are restricted in Ordesa and you must transfer to a shuttle bus; during the Running of the Bulls, accommodation is scarce and expensive, and must be booked months in advance.

Destinations

Itineraries