Van tour through Northern Spain: Adventure, hiking, climbing & cities

What I didn't know before: Northern Spain is one of the most diverse hiking regions in Europe. From the green coasts of Asturias to the rugged peaks of the Picos de Europa and the wild bays of the Basque Country and Cantabria, the region offers something for everyone.

Last spring we spent 6 weeks traveling in the van (sounds somehow cooler than my old, but very faithful VW bus) , covered countless kilometers on foot, climbed, visited cities and chatted with the locals.

Why Northern Spain is so special

I never would have thought the Spanish coast was so green. White sand, turquoise sea, steep cliffs behind it and lush green grass – an almost unreal contrast of colors.

I love hiking along the coast: the sound of the waves, the wind, the view into the distance – I relax even while walking.

Our highlights at a glance

Northern Spain is vast, diverse, and completely underrated. In upcoming posts, you'll find detailed tour descriptions for the most beautiful hikes, organized by region, including GPS tracks from Outdooractive and my personal tips. I'll link to the articles as soon as they're published.

Here's a brief overview of what to expect in the coming weeks.

Click on the first image to start the photo gallery.

The beautiful bay of Playa San Vincente

Sunset in the Picos de Europa

On our three-day hut-to-hut tour through the Picos de Europa

San Sebastián - It would have been absolutely beautiful if you hadn't towed our bus.

Fishermen's Festival in Cudillero

The Cathedral of Oviedo

San Juan de Gaztelugatxe - filming location for Game of Thrones

In northern Spain there are almost as many climbing areas as there are grains of sand on the beach.

Asturias

Gentle coasts, green valleys, highlands and unique nature parks.

Picos de Europa

Alpine peaks, deep gorges and hikes with spectacular views.

Basque Country & Cantabria

Coastal hikes along the flysch coast, surfer beaches and turquoise bays.

Cities & Culture

Oviedo, León and small coastal towns – perfect for breaks between hikes.

Vanlife routes

Our old but very faithful bus was not only a means of transport, but also a place to sleep, a base for flexible hikes, early sunrises and spontaneous photo stops.