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Stage 4

North Spain Road Trip

Barcelona - Lleida - Zaragoza - Bilbao - San Sebastián - Pamplona - Campo Real - Andorra la Vella - Figueres - Mataró

Expect on your itinerary

Road conditions Road conditions
Urban life Urban life
Benefit-stress ratio Benefit-stress ratio
Beach Beach
Culture Culture
Historical sites Historical sites
Landscape Landscape
Comfort Comfort
North Spain Road Trip ACTIVATE MAP Stages10 km1,817 h/stage3.0

Best months to drive

I II III IV V VI
VII VIII IX X XI XII

Road Trip Costs

How much does it cost to go on a North Spain Road Trip in Spain?

Economy
Low budget options by car rental, accommodation and catering. In- and Out-bound travel expenses are not included.
rent & more 576EUR drive & more 250EUR sleep & more 528EUR eat & more 480EUR Total (est. for 2 prs.) 1,258EUR Total (est. for 2 prs.) incl. rented car 1,834EUR
Standard
Mid budget options by car rental, accommodation and catering. In- and Out-bound travel expenses are not included.
rent & more 720EUR drive & more 325EUR sleep & more 924EUR eat & more 720EUR Total (est. for 2 prs.) 1,969EUR Total (est. for 2 prs.) incl. rented car 2,689EUR
Premium
High budget options by car rental, accommodation and catering. In- and Out-bound travel expenses are not included.
rent & more 1,710EUR drive & more 438EUR sleep & more 1,650EUR eat & more 960EUR Total (est. for 2 prs.) 3,048EUR Total (est. for 2 prs.) incl. rented car 4,758EUR
Camper
On the road in RV, overnight at camp grounds with self-catering. In- and Out-bound travel expenses are not included.
rent & more 2,250EUR drive & more 488EUR sleep & more 550EUR eat & more 480EUR Total (est. for 2 prs.) 1,518EUR Total (est. for 2 prs.) incl. rented car 3,768EUR
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North Spain Road Trip Itinerary

Experience the beauty of North Spain with a road trip from Barcelona to Barcelona. This 1817km route takes you through some of the most stunning landscapes, beaches and historical sites in the region. Along the way, you’ll see the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Lleida, Bilbao, San Sebastián and Pamplona. You’ll also pass through Andorra la Vella, Figueres and Mataró, each offering their own unique beauty and experiences. The best time to take this road trip is during the summer months, when the roads are in excellent condition and the weather is warm and sunny. You can expect to complete this journey in around 10 days, allowing you to take your time and really appreciate the stunning sights and sounds of North Spain. This road trip is suitable for all drivers and can easily be managed on a budget. You’ll get to experience a high level of culture, history and beauty, creating memories that will stay with you forever. So, get ready to hit the road and explore the wonders of North Spain.
number of days 10 number of days
route length 1,817 km route length
budget moderate budget
good for family good for
traffic direction on the right traffic direction
accident level moderate accident level

START Barcelona

Distance 1,817 km Driving time 29.6 h Pace: modest 472.3 kWh Airports BCN
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Barcelona is the gateway to the incredible sights and experiences of North Spain. As the first stop of the North Spain Road Trip, it promises an unforgettable journey. Barcelona is a vibrant city filled with culture, art, and history. From the iconic Sagrada Familia to the cobbled streets of the Gothic Quarter, there is something to explore around every corner. For those looking to get the most out of their visit to Barcelona, a visit to the Picasso Museum is a must. Here, visitors can explore the entire collection of Picasso’s works, from his early sketches to his later masterpieces. Additionally, the Barcelona Cathedral and the Palau de la Música Catalana offer a glimpse into the city’s rich religious and musical heritage. For those traveling to Barcelona by air, the closest international airport is Barcelona–El Prat Airport (BCN). At the airport, there are a variety of car rental companies to choose from. From here, visitors can begin their North Spain Road Trip in the comfort of their own car. Barcelona is the perfect starting point for a North Spain Road Trip. With its vibrant culture, stunning architecture, and plethora of activities, visitors can experience the best of what North Spain has to offer.

1 Barcelona - Lleida

Distance 202 km Driving time 2.3 h Pace: fast 60.7 kWh View map Itinerary
junction of road trips UNESCO World Heritage Site interesting  historic site attractive landscape interesting cultural site accommodation options
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Are you ready to embark on a 202 km road trip from Barcelona to Lleida? This journey will take you less than 3 hours, so you can enjoy the scenery without worrying about the time. Your first stop is Montserrat, where you can visit the Benedictine Monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and explore the breathtaking mountain views. You can also take a cable car up to the peak of Montserrat and take in the stunning panoramic views. As you continue your journey, you will be enchanted by the picturesque landscapes and historical sites you will encounter. So make sure to take your time and enjoy the journey. Finally, you will reach Lleida, the end of your road trip. Here you can visit the Seu Vella, a fortified cathedral that is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For more information about attractions, accommodation options, recommended restaurants, and campsites along the route, you can check the "Itinerary" of this stage. So, get ready to experience the best of Catalonia on this amazing road trip!

2 Lleida - Zaragoza

Distance 150 km Driving time 2.5 h Pace: fast 45.1 kWh View map Itinerary
interesting  historic site accommodation options junction of road trips UNESCO World Heritage Site
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Start your journey in Lleida, Spain and experience the best of the Catalan culture and scenery as you make your way to Zaragoza. This 150 km road trip will take you through Fraga and take no more than 3 hours. Along the way, you'll be able to visit some of the most interesting places in the area. Make sure to stop in Lleida to see the remains of the ancient Roman walls, and take a walk around the old town. As you make your way to Fraga, you'll come across the Santa María de Mequinenza Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And when you arrive in Zaragoza, you'll be able to explore the city's stunning architecture, including the Basílica del Pilar and La Seo Cathedral. With so much to see and do, you'll be sure to have a memorable experience. For more information on attractions, accommodation options, recommended restaurants, and campsites along the route, please refer to the Itinerary of this stage.

3 Zaragoza - Bilbao

Distance 327 km Driving time 3.8 h Pace: fast 98.0 kWh View map Itinerary
junction of road trips accommodation options interesting  historic site interesting cultural site
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Embark on an exciting road trip from Zaragoza to Bilbao, a 327km journey that can be completed in less than 4 hours. Start your trip in Zaragoza, a vibrant city full of history and culture, with its iconic Basilica del Pilar, the Aljafería Palace and the modernist buildings of La Seo Cathedral. Then, take the road to Haro, a small town surrounded by vineyards, where you can enjoy a glass of its famous Rioja wine. Finally, reach Bilbao, a lively city with a unique architecture, and explore its emblematic Guggenheim Museum, the Old Town and the iconic Zubizuri Bridge. Along the way, be sure to admire the stunning landscapes and take the time to visit the historical sites. For more information about attractions, accommodation options, recommended restaurants, and campsites along the route, check the Itinerary of this stage. Enjoy your journey!

4 Bilbao - San Sebastián

Distance 164 km Driving time 4.8 h Pace: slow 37.7 kWh View map Itinerary
junction of road trips interesting  historic site accommodation options camper parking available
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Are you ready for an amazing road trip through Northern Spain? Starting in Bilbao, you'll traverse the breathtaking Basque Country, heading east to Bermeo, Getaria, and finally ending in San Sebastián. This 164 km journey will take you fewer than 5 hours, so make sure to take your time and enjoy all the sights and attractions along the way. Bermeo is a picturesque fishing port with a beautiful harbor and a colorful history. Getaria is a small coastal town known for its seafood restaurants and its traditional Basque architecture. San Sebastián is a vibrant city with stunning beaches, great nightlife, and plenty of cultural attractions. During your journey, take some time to admire the stunning views of the Basque Country, as well as the historical sites along the way. You'll also be able to find plenty of accommodation options, recommended restaurants, and campsites along the route. So, what are you waiting for? Get ready for a memorable road trip adventure through Northern Spain! For more information about attractions, accommodation options, recommended restaurants, and campsites along the route, check out the Itinerary of this stage.

5 San Sebastián - Pamplona

Distance 101 km Driving time 1.5 h Pace: fast 30.2 kWh View map Itinerary
junction of road trips interesting  historic site accommodation options
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Welcome, road-trippers! This stage of your journey starts in the beautiful San Sebastián, Spain and ends in Pamplona, 101 km away and a journey of fewer than two hours. The route is full of interesting places to explore, so make sure to pay attention to the historical sites you'll pass along the way. In San Sebastián, you can explore the old town and see the Gothic-style Church of Saint Vincent, the Santa Maria Cathedral, or the San Telmo Museum. Then, you can take a break and relax on La Concha Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe. On your way to Pamplona, you'll pass through many charming small towns, including Zarautz, which is known for its surfing culture. Once you reach Pamplona, make sure to visit the Citadel, the Plaza del Castillo, and the Church of San Saturnino. For more information about attractions, accommodation options, recommended restaurants, and campsites along the route, check out the "Itinerary" of this stage. Enjoy your road trip!

6 Pamplona - Campo Real

Distance 237 km Driving time 3.4 h Pace: fast 71.1 kWh View map Itinerary
junction of road trips interesting  historic site accommodation options
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Start your road trip with a visit to Pamplona, a vibrant city in northern Spain. Enjoy its lively atmosphere and explore the historical sites, like the Cathedral of Santa Maria, the Citadel of Pamplona and the Church of San Nicolas. From Pamplona, head to Jaca, a city located in the Pyrenees. Here, you can visit the Castle of Jaca and the Cathedral of Jaca. After that, continue your journey to Campo Real, a small town located in the Madrid region. On your way, you will pass through many beautiful landscapes. The total distance of this route is 237km and it will take you less than 4 hours. Along the way, you can stop at some of the most interesting places, like the castle of La Mota and the Natural Park of La Alberca. Once you arrive in Campo Real, you can explore the city’s historical sites, such as the Church of Santa Maria and the Castle of Campo Real. For more information about attractions, accommodation options, recommended restaurants, and campsites along the route, please check the Itinerary of this stage. Enjoy your road trip!

7 Campo Real - Andorra la Vella

Distance 231 km Driving time 4.2 h Pace: modest 60.0 kWh View map Itinerary
junction of road trips accommodation options
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Welcome, road-trippers! Let us embark on a journey from Campo Real, Spain, to Andorra la Vella. This 231km route takes less than 5 hours to drive, and is part of a larger tour. We will start our journey in Campo Real, a small town in the Madrid region. Here you can find the ancient Church of San Miguel Arcángel, built in the 16th century. Next, we will drive to Sort, a charming mountain village in the Pyrenees. Its main attraction is the Romanesque church of Santa Maria de Sort, with its impressive bell tower. Our next stop is Adrall, a small village in the province of Huesca. Here you can visit the Church of San Esteban, a beautiful building built in the 16th century. Finally, we will arrive in Andorra la Vella, the capital of the Principality of Andorra. Here you can find the old town of Andorra la Vella, a beautiful and picturesque place with many shops, restaurants and monuments. For more information regarding attractions, accommodation options, recommended restaurants, and campsites along the route, please check the "Itinerary" of this stage. Enjoy your journey!

8 Andorra la Vella - Figueres

Distance 201 km Driving time 3.6 h Pace: modest 52.3 kWh View map Itinerary
junction of road trips interesting  historic site accommodation options interesting cultural site camper parking available
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Start your journey in Andorra la Vella, the capital of the tiny principality of Andorra. This small city has a lot to offer, from its old churches to its modern shopping malls. From here, you will take a route through the Pyrenees, passing through the city of Ripoll. This historic city is home to some of the most beautiful Romanesque architecture in Spain. Make sure to take a break to explore its cobblestone streets and admire its ancient buildings. After Ripoll, the journey continues to Figueres, the birthplace of Salvador Dalí. Here, you will find the Dalí Museum, a must-see destination for any art lover. Make sure to explore the city and take in its unique charm. The whole route is 201km and can be done in under 4 hours. Along the way, you will find many interesting sights and attractions, so be sure to keep your eyes open for any historical sites. For more information about attractions, accommodation options, recommended restaurants, and campsites along the route, please refer to the “Itinerary” of this stage. Enjoy your journey!

9 Figueres - Mataró

Distance 152 km Driving time 2.6 h Pace: modest 39.5 kWh View map Itinerary
accommodation options camper parking available junction of road trips interesting  historic site
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Welcome to the exciting road trip stage from Figueres to Mataró! This 152 km journey will take you through three fascinating places in Spain - Palamós, Blanes, and Mataró - and will take no more than 3 hours to complete. Begin your journey in Figueres, the birthplace of Salvador Dalí, and take in the beautiful sights of the city before heading to Palamós. Here you will find a lovely beach, as well as historical sites such as the Castle of Palamós and the Church of Santa María. Continue your journey to the coastal town of Blanes, where you can explore the promenade and the botanical gardens. If you're looking for something a bit more adventurous, take a boat trip to the nearby islands. Finally, your journey will take you to Mataró, where you can visit the old town and the nearby beaches. You can also take a cable car up to the nearby mountain for some stunning views. For more information on attractions, accommodation, restaurants, and campsites along the route, check out the "Itinerary" section of this stage. Enjoy your journey!

10 Mataró - Barcelona

Distance 52 km Driving time 0.9 h Pace: modest 13.5 kWh View map Itinerary
junction of road trips UNESCO World Heritage Site interesting  historic site attractive landscape interesting cultural site accommodation options
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Are you looking for an exciting road trip from Mataró to Barcelona? Then this is the perfect route for you! This 52km route will take you less than an hour to complete and offers a variety of attractions to explore. Start your journey in Mataró, a coastal town located in the Maresme region of Catalonia, and take in the sights of the historical centre and the old fishing port. As you drive, you will pass by some of the UNESCO World Heritage sites, such as the Monastery of Sant Cugat, where you can explore the ancient ruins and the beautiful gardens. Further along the route, you will be able to take in the picturesque landscapes of the region, including the Montserrat mountain range. As you approach Barcelona, be sure to take a detour to the Güell Park, where you can admire the stunning architecture of Gaudi. For more information about attractions, accommodation options, recommended restaurants, and campsites along the route, please refer to the Itinerary for this stage. So, what are you waiting for? Get ready for a memorable road trip from Mataró to Barcelona!

  Barcelona

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Barcelona is the perfect end to any road trip through North Spain. Located on the Mediterranean coast, Barcelona has something to offer every traveler. From its world-renowned architecture, to its beautiful seaside views, and its lively nightlife, Barcelona is a must-see destination. For architectural buffs, Barcelona is home to some of the best works of the late Antoni Gaudi, including the iconic Sagrada Família. Other fascinating architecture includes the Palau de la Musica Catalana and Casa Batlló. Nature lovers can enjoy the beauty of the city’s many parks and beaches, including the Parc de la Ciutadella, Parc Güell and Barceloneta Beach. Barcelona also offers great shopping, with La Boqueria market offering fresh fruits and vegetables, and the city’s many boutiques providing unique items. For those looking for a night on the town, Barcelona is home to some of the best nightclubs in Europe, including Razzmatazz and Opium. Barcelona is easily accessible by car from many of the other cities in North Spain. The closest international airport is Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN), with frequent flights to many European destinations. Whether you’re looking for a sightseeing adventure, a beach escape or a night of fun, Barcelona is the perfect end to a North Spain road trip.

North Spain Road Trip at a glance

We have no doubt that our itinerary will become a superb inspiration for your future holidays.
We’ve given you a base that can be easily expanded with your own original trip ideas.
If you are planning on travelling by car in Spain, there are a number of essential traffic regulations to follow and a bunch of things to be mindful of to turn your trip into pure pleasure. These tips will surely become useful for tourists who are interested in car hire or hiring a camper.
When sightseeing around Spain, there are multiple road regulations to be kept in mind. When moving around Spain in a car, try avoiding alcoholic drinks at any cost. Drivers ought to remember that the allowed level of alcohol in blood is extremely low and amounts to only 0.5‰. In order to avoid a speeding ticket, it is best to never exceed 50km/h, which is the maximum permissible speed when travelling around the urban areas. In rural areas, you can travel at the maximum permissible speed of 100km/h. On motorways, 120km/h is the maximum car speed that you should never exceed. In order to stay safe, it is best to drive with your headlights on at daytime and equip your vehicle with a fire extinguisher and first aid kit.
One of the decisive factors when scheduling an itinerary is costs. Of course, depending on the budget option that you aim for, the money that you have to pay for your holiday expenses may differ. A wide range of budget configurations is presented below.
If you’d like to benefit from the cheapest option to cover the planned 1,817km across Spain, it can cost around 250 EUR. Economy accommodation options will cost tourists approximately 528 EUR. If the this option is your target, you should be prepared to spend around 480 EUR on restaurants and food. Travellers will have to pay around 576 EUR if they choose the cheapest hire car offer as well. Thus, going for vehicle rental will increase the expenses of the road trip from approximately 1,258 EUR to approximately 1,834 EUR.
When it comes to the standard offer, you have to spend the maximum of 250 EUR to cover the planned stages of the road trip. If you are into standard accommodation options, expect that the expenses can amount up to more or less 924 EUR. Holidaymakers can expect that the standard option in terms of restaurants and food will cost approximately 720 EUR. Travellers who want to cover the trip in a standard rental vehicle can expect a cost of about 720 EUR. Summing up the standard offer, the estimated cost of the road trip will total around 2,689 EUR for drivers who would like to try vehicle hire and 1,969 EUR for those who are not interested in renting.
The highest level of comfort of the premium option will meet the expectations of the most demanding travellers. Drivers who would like to rent a car will pay more or less 4,758 EUR for the whole North Spain Road Trip, whereas those who are not interested in car rental will spend about 3,048 EUR. Travellers who want to cover the trip in a premium hire vehicle can expect a cost of more or less 1,710 EUR. If you are interested in the premium version of the adventure, you will pay about 438 EUR for gasoline. Drivers who are interested in top services in all aspects of their road trip should expect to pay around 1,650 EUR for accommodation and around 960 EUR for restaurants and food.
Our road trip will also be excellent for all camper lovers, as it can be easily adjusted to their needs. If you choose this travel option, you will pay up to more or less 2,250 EUR. If you are wondering about the gasoline expenses for the whole itinerary, they will amount to approximately 488 EUR. Holidayers who opt for camper rental should expect to pay roughly 550 EUR for overnight stays and around 480 EUR for expenses connected with food.
The section Road Trip Costs shows all the above details in a simple way.
The period between April and October is perfect to visit the part of Spain showed in our adventure idea. There are countless picturesque road trips that are available on our website if you’d like to see other of our road trip ideas. Even the most demanding of tourists will surely be surprised by the great versatility of road trips that we offer.

Facts for safer driving in Spain

drink drive limit drink drive limit 0.5
max speed urban max speed urban 50 km/h
max speed rural max speed rural 100 km/h
max speed highway max speed highway 120 km/h
headlights at daytime headlights at daytime off
fire extinguisher fire extinguisher no
tolls tolls yes
seat belts seat belts yes

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