9 best places to visit on your road trip in Spain

Jumping into your motor from the UK and driving to Spain sounds like a dream. What better place to have an adventure on the road than Spain? This charming country probably has everything you’re looking for in a road trip and more.

To make planning your road trip easier, we’ve put together this handy guide to the 9 best places to visit on your road trip in Spain.

Here's your first travel tip – on the road, Wise’s international card and account are a convenient and low-cost way to spend money in the local currency. With 150+ countries and 40+ currencies supported (including Spain and euros) and no sneaky hidden fees in sight, it makes for a great travel buddy!

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Is Spain good for a road trip?

Yes! Spain has a great network of roads connecting its many beautiful cities. And, with a wealth of history and traditions, amazing cuisine, friendly locals and stunning landscapes, Spain makes for an amazing country to explore by car.

PS. If you’ve already fallen in love with the country, check out our guide to buying a property in Spain.

When to visit Spain for a road trip?

You can definitely visit Spain any time of the year, because you’ll always find something to do and see in this diverse country. But, in all honesty, some of the best times to visit are spring (April to May) or autumn (September to October). During these times you’ll have the best balance – there are less tourists and the weather is pleasant.

📚 Read more: Best debit card to use abroad: Top 6 UK picks

9 best places to visit on your road trip in Spain

Now, let’s jump right in with our list of the must-see places to visit during your road trip in Spain.

1. Costa Brava

Costa Brava stretches from the north of Barcelona to the Spanish–French border and is considered to be the most beautiful of Spain's three main holiday coasts. Though it’s a well-known and developed tourist destination, this region of Catalonia also has untouched coves, spectacular seascapes and plenty of hiking paths.

Start your trip from Barcelona and take the GI-682 road from Tossa de Mar to Sant Feliu de Guíxols. Here you’ll find designated viewpoints and some breathtaking views.

If you don't mind taking a little detour from the coastline, visit the ancient city of Girona. Make sure to visit the Girona Cathedral and the Arab Baths.

Illes Medes is an incredible destination for snorkelling and diving. The kaleidoscopic marine life, underwater cavities and tunnels and depths up to 50m make it irresistible.

Art lovers will want to visit the famous “Dalinian Triangle” made up of the municipalities of Figueres, Port Lligat and Púbol. Here you can immerse yourself in Salvador Dalí's imaginative art by visiting his former residences.

2. Monestir de Montserrat

One of the most epic drives Catalonia has to offer, this charming mountain route – the Montserrat Mountain Road – from Barcelona to the Montserrat mountain, has spectacular cinematic views to offer. Expect twists and turns, making this a more challenging road, perfect for a day trip.

Starting your road trip from Barcelona, there will be no shortage of places to visit here. Be amazed by the beautiful architecture of Antoni Gaudí all over the city, visit the charming Gothic cathedral and Old Town, enjoy some tapas and revel in art in the many museums.

The road to Montserrat is 28 miles long and takes you all the way up to an elevation of 4,055 feet. Make sure to take your camera, as there will be many beautiful views.

On the mountain you’ll find the monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat, where you can see the monastery itself and the statue of the Black Madonna, the patron saint of Catalonia. In the middle of Montserrat there is a beautiful nature park, a great choice for a hike.

3. Mallorca

A great year-round destination, it’s the largest of Spain’s Balearic Islands. Mallorca has just one airport and prices of plane tickets there can fluctuate. Definitely make sure to check tickets in advance and book them early. If you’re taking a car from mainland Spain, be aware that the ferry ride will take 7-8 hours.

Palma is a great place to choose as your base to explore the surrounding areas if you only have a few days. In Palma visit the market, shopping streets, the Plaça Major and the Plaça Cort, Palma Cathedral and the Royal Palace of La Almudaina.

South Mallorca has incredible beaches to discover, like El Caragol, Cala en Tugores and Es Trenc. If you can visit just one, make it Es Trenc.

You can visit tons of coves in Mallorca, if you have the time. To narrow down your list, some of the best options are Cala Mondragó, Caló del Moro and Cala Llombards.

4. Basque

Spain’s beautiful Basque Country, located on the country’s north coast, is famed for its surfing beaches, cosmopolitan cities and incredible cuisine. You can easily spend a week here, exploring the many lovely cities and beaches.

Bilbao is the region's biggest city and makes for a great place to start your trip from. Perfect for art lovers, Bilbao is full of incredible creative venues. Visit the Guggenheim Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts inside Doña Casilda Iturrizar park. Not far from Bilbao you’ll find the unforgettable San Juan Gaztelugatxe, pictured above.

Mundaka is one of the top surfing beaches in the world. If you’re not into surfing, you can still visit this beautiful location as it is located within the gorgeous Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve.

Towards the south you’ll find Basque’s capital – Vitoria-Gasteiz. You can easily spend a whole day or two here visiting all the beautiful heritage sites like the Cathedral of Santa Maria and the Montehermoso palace.

Wine enthusiasts should definitely visit Laguardia and if a fancy beach vacation is your thing, head to San Sebastián.

5. Coast of North Spain

Between the Basque and Galicia road trips, there’s room for a nice drive from Santander to Gijón, that’s 93 miles long. During this drive you’ll see delightful shorelines, gorges and rugged mountains. You definitely need to make stops to admire the scenery and to eat delicious seafood!

You’ll take the Autovía del Cantábrico, a scenic highway that passes the cities of Bilbao Santander and Gijon on the way to Baamonde. There are also many side roads to discover, with their own gorgeous views.

In Santander, visit the historic Palacio de la Magdalena and Plaza Porticada and of course, the beaches. Once you reach Gijón, you can visit its many museums, the aquarium, old archaeological sites and the botanical garden.

6. Galicia

Galicia is a great, less-known destination for your road trip. You’ll find incredible scenery and interesting cities to explore. While the locals do appreciate the area and stay here, it’s relatively unknown for tourists from other countries. This also means you’ll find the prices very reasonable here, which is a great additional bonus.

Santiago de Compostela, the capital of Galicia, carries a lot of religious importance. The famous Camino de Santiago pilgrimage ends here at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

The city of A Coruña has lots to see, so make sure to take some time here. Visit the Tower of Hercules, the many museums and the Playa de Riazor.

The most famous city in Galicia is Ourense. Here you'll find hot springs, a rare roman bridge and many other historic locations as well as the scenic Canon de Sil canyon.

For an unforgettable sunset experience, head to cape Finisterre not far from Galicia or the ‘Most Beautiful Bench in the World’ sitting on the cliffs of Loiba in the A Coruña region.

7. Andalusia

A week is enough to see some of the highlights of Andalucia, but this region has a lot more for you to explore with its varied nature, historic cities and beautiful beaches.

Malaga, located on the sunny Costa del Sol, is one of the best beach cities you can go to.

If you’re looking for an incredible hiking experience, head to Caminito del Rey. The drive there from Malaga offers plenty of scenic views.

The town of Ronda has amazing viewpoints, and not far from there you can visit the white villages of Andalucia (Pueblos Blancos in Spanish).

Seville is a big city with so much to see, that you can easily spend days there. Visit the Seville Cathedral and walk up the Giralda bell tower, surrounded by breathtaking views of the city.

8. El Chorro

This scenic route deserves a special mention. Perfect to include in a day trip, the mountains and rock formations of El Chorro in the heart of Andalusia are about an hour away from Málaga. El Chorro is known for the occasionally narrow mountain roads that wind into the imposing mountains. If you’re looking for a more challenging drive with some truly epic mountain views, this one’s for you.

On the way to El Chorro, don’t miss the Conde de Guadalhorce Reservoir on your left.

Once you’ve passed through El Chorro, you can head towards the shore, making stops along the way or visit any of the bigger Andalusian cities nearby.

9. Castile–La Mancha

Famous for its arts and crafts as well as the unique monuments you’ll find in the towns and cities, you may also recognize it for being the setting for the adventures of the famous literary hero, Don Quixote. Castile–La Mancha is great to explore in as little as 3 days, but if you have time, stay for longer.

Don’t miss the World Heritage cities Cuenca with its famous Hanging Houses, and Toledo with its cathedral and Alcázar fortress.

Castile–La Mancha has one of the highest numbers of nature reserves and areas, as well as national parks. Definitely visit Tablas de Daimiel and Cabañeros national parks and keep your camera handy to capture the stunning beauty of these locations.

You’ll also find many traditional celebrations in Castile–La Mancha, such as the Corpus Christi in Toledo, Easter Week in Cuenca, the Albacete Fair, and the Drum Festival in Hellín. If those interest you, time your road trip accordingly!

Some local delicacies to try include honey from La Alcarria and marzipan from Toledo. You’ll also find many wines to taste, including Valdepeñas.

How to get to Spain from the UK?

If you’re taking your own car down to Spain, you can either take a ferry or car train to France or a ferry directly to Spain.

When you’re not taking your own car, you have more options available. You can take a plane to one of the many airports or for more budget friendly options, you can also take a bus or a train. Choose the best option depending on where you want to start your road trip from, your budget and time available.

Can you travel around Spain with your UK car?

Yes, you can travel in Spain with your UK car, there are some requirements though.

When it comes to documentation, make sure to carry your UK driving licence, your ID (passport) and your vehicle log book (V5C) if you have one. For a leased car you’ll need to carry a VE103. ¹

You’ll also need to put a UK sticker on the back of the car, if you don’t already have one.²

Another sticker you might need is the Eco Sticker, which is mandatory for entering special low-emission zones. You’ll find these zones in cities and towns with over 50,000 habitants.³

Your car should also be equipped with a reflective jacket and two warning triangles.⁴

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Spend like a local in Spain with Wise

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Sources used for this article:

1. GOV.UK – Taking a vehicle out of the UK: For less than 12 months
2. GOV.UK – Driving in the EU
3. Alta Villas – What are Eco (ZBE) Low Emission Zone Stickers for driving in Spain and how to get one
4. Car Insurance Spain - A reflective jacket and two warning triangles

All sources last checked on date: 9-Feb-2024