Northern Adventure - Self Drive

Northern Adventure - Self Drive

The northern regions of Spain are often less spoiled by tourism and less known to foreign visitors, however, the north of Spain boasts some of the most fascinating places in the country - amazing mountainous landscapes to charming beaches, friendly people, top-notch gastronomy and expansive nature preserves. This tour takes you to some of the finest places to visit in Spain for an incredible northern adventure.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

Santander: Without a doubt, one of the most elegant and beautiful cities on the northern coast of Spain.

Pintxos: The symbol of Basque gastronomy. Original, tasty tapas/snacks usually accompanied by a small glass of beer (zurito) or wine (txikito). More than food, it is a tradition.

Mercado de la Ribera (Bilbao): A charming produce market in the heart of the old town, alongside Bilbao’s estuary. Built in 1929 and covering 10,000 square metres, it is considered one of the largest indoor markets in Europe.

Itinerary

Day 1: ARRIVAL SANTANDER

Pass By: Seve Ballesteros-Santander Airport, Carretera del aeropuerto, s/n, 39600 Maliaño, Cantabria, Spain
Collect your car upon arrival at the airport by heading to the hall and meeting an OK Rent a Car representative. Then climb into what will be your mode of transportation for this holiday and drive to your first hotel accommodation in Santander.

Overnight in Santander

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Standard Hotel Category = Abba Santander or similar 3*

Day 2: SANTANDER

Pass By: Abba Santander Hotel, Calle Calderón de la Barca, 3, 39002 Santander, Cantabria, Spain
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before you explore this posh city. Santander is, without a doubt, one of the most elegant and beautiful cities on the northern coast of Spain. Both the sea and the mountains are continually present in this city, captivating you with its aristocratic atmosphere, its 19th-century buildings, its charming outdoor terraces and its spectacular bay, considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world. There are several beaches and harbours on the northern side of the city and a quaint old quarter. In the 19th century, the city was a renowned tourist resort for Spanish politicians, aristocrats and upper class. The city still holds wonderful palaces and promenades, bay-type architecture with white buildings, old cafés and a famous casino.

Overnight in Santander

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Standard Hotel Category = Abba Santander or similar 3*

Day 3: SANTANDER – SANTILLANA DEL MAR – COMILLAS – SANTANDER (120km – 2h)

Pass By: Abba Santander Hotel, Calle Calderón de la Barca, 3, 39002 Santander, Cantabria, Spain
We suggest to drive to Santillana del Mar after breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a bit of leisure time in Santillana del Mar, an exquisitely charming cobblestoned town. Use the opportunity to visit the famous Altamira Neocave and Museum, which is nearby (entrance not included). The museum showcases the work of one of the oldest cave paintings known to man, dating back 13,000 to 22,000 years. Continue to Comillas, which is designated historic-artistic site. It has cobbled streets and squares with ancestral houses and some modernist buildings, as the stunning ‘El Capricho’, which was designed by Antoni Gaudi. Return to Santander.

Overnight in Santander

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Standard Hotel Category = Abba Santander or similar 3*

Day 4: SANTANDER – BILBAO (100km – 1h30)

Pass By: Ercilla Hotel, Ercilla Kalea, 37, 39, 48011 Bilbo, Bizkaia, Spain
Breakfast at the hotel before leaving to Bilbao. Although the capital of the autonomous region of Euskadi – also known as the Basque Country – is Vitoria, the port city of Bilbao is, in fact, the largest of all Basque cities. The renewal of this industrial city has been continuous since the opening of the Guggenheim Museum in 1997, with various projects designed by famous architects, including a new tram system, a subway system designed by Sir Norman Foster, a pedestrian bridge, the Zubizuri bridge by Santiago Calatrava, a jagged glass-fronted public health building, and the reconversion following the indications of well-known designer Philippe Starck of a disused warehouse turned into a public multifunction building, the Alhóndiga.

Overnight in Bilbao

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Standard Hotel Category = Ercilla or similar 4*

Day 5: BILBAO – GUERNIKA - SAN SEBASTIAN - BILBAO (230km – 3h)

Pass By: Ercilla Hotel, Ercilla Kalea, 37, 39, 48011 Bilbo, Bizkaia, Spain
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to the small town of Guernica, famous for Picasso’s well-known black and white painting. Enjoy a stroll down the promenade at La Concha beach to the sculpture named ‘El Peine del Viento’ from renowned artist Eduardo Chillida. Take the funicular (not included) up to the top of Igueldo hill for a panoramic view over the city and try the famous Basque “pintxos” (tapas/snacks) in one of the many bars in the old town. Return to Bilbao.

Overnight in Bilbao

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Standard Hotel Category = Ercilla or similar 4*

Day 6: BILBAO – SANTANDER AIPORT (100km – 1h30)

Pass By: Seve Ballesteros-Santander Airport, Carretera del aeropuerto, s/n, 39600 Maliaño, Cantabria, Spain
Bid farewell to Bilbao after breakfast at the hotel and drive back to Santander airport to drop off the car. You'll be told the return procedure and exact designated area by OK Rent a Car when you pick up the car on arrival day. The OK Rent a Car shuttle service will transfer you to the terminal for you to catch your departure flight back home.

Breakfast included

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.