We selected these five unique routes to help you explore Spain's varied regional highlights. You could head north or south from Madrid to see both the highlights and the lesser-known treasures of each. Or set out on a wild adventure in the Canary Islands, spending your days hiking, sailing, and whale watching. Read on for some unique approaches for your self-drive adventure.
Itinerary #1: Northern Spain Road Trip - Madrid to the Basque Country
This northern road trip is perfect for foodies and culture lovers eager to discover the cities and landscapes of Spain’s incredible Basque region. Taste your way through Madrid, explore pintxos in San Sebastian, and lose yourself in the iconic Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.

Day | Highlights | Overnight |
---|---|---|
Day 1 | Arrival in Madrid, evening tapas tour | Madrid |
Day 2 | Private City Tour: Discover Madrid's Royal Legacy | Madrid |
Day 3 | Drive From Madrid to La Rioja | La Rioja |
Day 4 | Full-Day Wine Tour of La Rioja | Laguardia |
Day 5 | Drive to San Sebastian, Downtown Food Tour | San Sebastian |
Day 6 | Walking Tour of San Sebastian | San Sebastian |
Day 7 | Day Trip to the Basque Countryside | San Sebastian |
Day 8 | Drive to Bilbao (optional stop in Guernica) | Bilbao |
Day 9 | City Tour of Bilbao & Guggenheim Museum | Bilbao |
Day 10 | Departure |
This itinerary is ideal for those looking to find a balance between an independent self-drive vacation and curated experiences with local guides. Travel at your own pace with optional stops and day trips along the route, then dive deep into the history and local flavors with knowledge of expert guides and wine tours.
Start in Madrid with an evening culinary tour to welcome you to Spain. Then head north through the Rioja region for wine tastings and vineyard tours. Enjoy the beach and local cuisine in San Sebastian, home to world-class eateries. Sample the best restaurants with a tapas crawl, then learn more about the history of the city with a guided tour. Discover the natural beauty and slower pace of the Basque region with a day trip into the idyllic countryside, including a farm tour and a sampling of local cheeses.
Finish in Bilbao and visit the iconic Guggenheim Museum, with its impressive modern and contemporary collection, housed in the impressive building designed by Frank Gehry. Learn more.
Itinerary #2: Southern Spain Road Trip - Madrid to Andalusia
Drive south from cosmopolitan Madrid to the heart of Andalusia, with stops in Seville, Granada, and Málaga. You’ll enjoy tapas excursions, guided tours, and hands-on classes, with local experts to show you the history, culture, and gems of the south.

Day | Highlights | Overnight |
---|---|---|
Day 1 | Arrival in Madrid & Evening Tapas Tour | Madrid |
Day 2 | Private City Tour: Discover Madrid's Royal Legacy | Madrid |
Day 3 | Drive to Toledo and tour the City | Toledo |
Day 4 | Drive to Córdoba, Guided City Tour | Córdoba |
Day 5 | Drive from Córdoba to Seville - Tapas Tour | Seville |
Day 6 | Half-Day City Tour of Seville | Seville |
Day 7 | Drive to Ronda w/ a stop in Arcos de la Frontera | Ronda |
Day 8 | To Granada via the Caminito del Rey | Granada |
Day 9 | Private Tour of the Alhambra, Evening Ceramics Class | Granada |
Day 10 | Picasso Museum in Málaga & Departure |
This itinerary includes more locally guided experiences than some of the others, helping you soak up everything you can about southern Spain. Your first two days in Madrid feature a tapas tour and a guided exploration of the capital.
In addition to stops to iconic cities like Toledo, Córdoba, and Seville, you’ll also veer away from the crowds to spend time in smaller towns in the region. Stroll the cobblestone streets of Arcos de la Frontera, a white city with a storied Moorish heritage, and the jaw-dropping Ronda, a majestic enclave perched atop a gorge in Málaga. You can also hike the area’s towering cliffs and gorges on a thrilling trail at the Caminito del Rey.
You’ll spend your last full day immersed in the heritage and traditions of Granada. Enjoy a private tour of the UNESCO-protected Alhambra, the Moorish fortress that later served as Ferdinand and Isabella’s Royal Court. Take a private ceramic tile-painting class with a local artist before you end in Malaga, home to Picasso and the Picasso Museum. Learn more.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Itinerary #3: Wild Canary Islands Road Trip - Madrid, Tenerife & La Gomera
This road trip in the Canary Islands is perfect for active travelers looking to discover incredible hikes, primordial landscapes, and remote adventures. Explore black sand beaches, panoramic vistas from volcanoes, and plenty of subtropical wilderness.

Day | Highlights | Overnight |
---|---|---|
Day 1 | Arrive in Madrid | Madrid |
Day 2 | Flight from Madrid to Tenerife | La Laguna |
Day 3 | Anaga National Park | La Laguna |
Day 4 | Buenavista del Norte, Masca & Santiago del Teide | Santiago del Teide |
Day 5 | Mount Teide | Santiago del Teide |
Day 6 | La Gomera | Playa de Santiago |
Day 7 | Sail La Gomera's Coast | Playa de Santiago |
Day 8 | Garajonay National Park | Playa de Santiago |
Day 9 | Depart for Madrid | Madrid |
Day 10 | Depart Spain from Madrid |
After a couple of days in Madrid, fly to Tenerife with its UNESCO-designed National Parks, incredible coastlines, and thrilling hiking trails. This itinerary is great for active travelers eager to explore all manner of terrain and wildlife, particularly the island’s laurel forests, holdovers from prehistoric times.
Ferry over to La Gomera, the smallest of the Canaries, and often overlooked by other travelers. Hike through the islands dense island’s biodiversity or sail around the coast on a guided yacht trip. Learn more.
Itinerary #4: Off-the-Beaten-Path Road Trip - Madrid, La Mancha, & Extremadura
This unique itinerary will show you lesser-visited towns and wine regions that you may recognize, such as the home of Manchego cheese, and wines like Grenache and Tempranillo. This itinerary is all about getting to know Spain’s many layers and stories.

Day | Highlights | Overnight |
---|---|---|
Day 1 | Arrival in Madrid - Evening Tapas Tour | Madrid |
Day 2 | Private City Tour - Discover Madrid's Royal Legacy | Madrid |
Day 3 | Pick up Rental Car - Drive to Toledo - City Tour | Toledo |
Day 4 | Drive From Toledo to Valdepeñas - Explore La Mancha | Valdepeñas area |
Day 5 | Wine Tour of La Mancha | Valdepeñas area |
Day 6 | Drive From La Mancha to Mérida - Guided City Tour | Mérida |
Day 7 | Drive from Mérida to Cáceres - Tour Old Town | Cáceres |
Day 8 | Drive to Trujillo - Guided Tour | Trujillo |
Day 9 | Drive to Madrid - Stop at Monfragüe National Park | Madrid |
Day 10 | Departure from Madrid |
Start in Madrid with a few days to experience its many flavors with help from local guides.
Continue to La Mancha, and spend a few days in the region best known for its famed fictional resident, Don Quixote. La Mancha is also home to Manchego cheese and incredible wines like Grenache and Tempranillo. You’ll also explore cities that might be lesser-known in modern times but were well-regarded during the ancient Roman empire; discover Mérida, Cáceres, and Trujillo with an expert guide, then head into the verdant Monfragüe National Park for a photo safari. Learn more.
Itinerary #5: Spanish Road Trip - Madrid, Leon, & Santiago de Compostela
This road trip takes you northwest from Madrid through León to Galicia with fantastic stops in wine country, a spectacular river valley, and some beach time on the warm white sands of the Cíes Islands.

Day | Highlights | Overnight |
---|---|---|
Day 1 | Arrival in Madrid - Evening Tapas Tour | Madrid |
Day 2 | Madrid's Highlights, Prado Museum, & Food Tour | Madrid |
Day 3 | Drive From Madrid to Ribera del Duero | Peñafiel |
Day 4 | Drive to León - City Tour | León |
Day 5 | Drive From León to Ribeira Sacra - Stop in Astorga | Monforte de Lemos area |
Day 6 | Boat Tour of Ribeira Sacra - Drive to Vigo | Vigo |
Day 7 | Day Trip to the Cíes Islands | Vigo |
Day 8 | Drive From Vigo to Santiago on the Camellia Route | Santiago de Compostela |
Day 9 | Santiago de Compostela - Cooking Class & City Tour | Santiago de Compostela |
Day 10 | Depart Spain |
Taste your way through the capital’s famous tapas scene and explore the world-class masterpieces at the Prado Museum before hitting the road nearing northwest. Drive through medieval towns and gothic castles to Peñafiel, a romantic wine-making region you can explore at your own pace.
With the help of a local guide, discover the gems of León, from relics of ancient Roman and medieval empires the gothic Catedral de León to Casa Botines, an architectural masterpiece designed by beloved Spanish modernist Antoni Gaudí.
Changing gears, enjoy a relaxing boat tour in the verdant river valley of the Ribeira Sacra region, best paired with a flight or two of the area's fine wines. Day trip through Galicia’s unique landscapes like Rias Bajas (Spanish fjords) and the Cíes Islands.
Your final destination is Santiago de Compostela, the final stop for pilgrims walking the sacred Camino de Santiago route; here you’ll enjoy the Galician cuisine, which you’ll learn to recreate with a cooking class. Learn more.