Route&Camp

Northern Spain, Spain

Cantabrian Coast by motorhome, campervan or caravan: 3, 7 or 15-day route

Green Spain from San Sebastián to the Cathedrals Beach: cliffs, fishing towns, the Picos de Europa and the best food in the country.

More photos of Cantabrian Coast (opens Google Images in a new tab)
Folded rock headland between two sandy beaches with turquoise water and green fields above the cliffs on the Costa Quebrada in Cantabria
Costa Quebrada, Cantabria

How many days do you have?

Cantabrian Coast in 7 days

Distance≈ 385 km
Stages7
DifficultyMedium
Best timeJune to September

From Bilbao to the Picos de Europa: the best of the Basque coast and Cantabria, a day in the high mountains and the lakes of Covadonga.

Where is it?

SPAINPORTUGALFRANCEAtlantic OceanMediterranean SeaMadridBarcelonaCantabrian Coast

About this route

The Cantabrian coast runs along the north of Spain, from the Basque Country through Cantabria and Asturias to the border with Galicia. It is a different Spain: green hills that drop into the sea, wild beaches between cliffs, fishing towns with brightly painted houses, and the limestone peaks of the Picos de Europa only an hour from the coast. Add pintxos in San Sebastián, anchovies in Santoña and cider in Asturias. The 3-day version covers the highlights of Cantabria and eastern Asturias, the 7-day one goes from Bilbao to the Picos de Europa, and the 15-day one follows the whole coast from San Sebastián to the Cathedrals Beach.

Mostly good main roads, but the mountain roads to the Picos de Europa and the lanes into the fishing villages are narrow and steep.

Updated

Route map

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Campsites, areas and parking come from OpenStreetMap. They can be incomplete or out of date: check before you go and always follow local signs.

Take this route with you

Cantabrian Coast in 7 days

Google MapsPart 1: days 1–4Google MapsPart 2: days 4–7 WazeNavigate to the start: Bilbao GPX fileFor Google My Maps, OsmAnd, Garmin, CoPilot… WhatsAppShare this route with your travel companions

The TXT file needs an internet connection to collect the campsites and motorhome areas. Google Maps opens the stops in order (long routes are split into parts, because Google Maps allows 10 points per route). Waze only navigates to one place at a time, so each day also has its own Waze button. Routes are a guide, not a fixed plan: in most cases you can also drive them in a different direction and skip stops.

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Day by day

Routes are a guide, not a fixed plan: in most cases you can also drive them in a different direction and skip stops.

Cantabrian Coast in 7 days

  1. Day1 Bilbao and Gaztelugatxe≈ 30 km · ≈ 40 min driving
    Where to sleep tonightCampsites and areas within 10 km of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe

      WAIT 30s... Loading campsites and motorhome areas…

      Data from OpenStreetMap: check before you go.

      • Bilbao

        The titanium curves of the Guggenheim Museum, the old town's Seven Streets, the riverside market and some of the best pintxos in Spain.

        What to see (5)
        • Guggenheim Museum Frank Gehry's titanium building on the river, with Jeff Koons' giant flower dog Puppy at the entrance.
        • Seven Streets (Casco Viejo) The old town, its squares and its bars, with pintxos on every counter.
        • La Ribera market One of the largest covered markets in Europe, on the river bank.
        • Vizcaya Bridge A UNESCO-listed transporter bridge at the river mouth in Portugalete, from 1893, still carrying cars and people.
        • Artxanda funicular A funicular up to a viewpoint over the whole city.

        With a motorhome or caravan: Bilbao has a low-emission zone. Check your vehicle's environmental label, or stay in the motorhome area on Mount Kobetamendi and take the bus down.

      • San Juan de Gaztelugatxe

        A hermitage on a rocky islet joined to the coast by a stone bridge and 241 steps. One of the most photographed places in northern Spain.

        What to see (4)
        • 241 steps Walk down to the bridge and climb the steps to the hermitage on top of the islet.
        • Ring the bell Tradition says that ringing the hermitage bell three times brings good luck.
        • Viewpoints The viewpoints on the road above show the islet and its bridge from above.
        • Bermeo The nearby fishing town, with a colourful old harbour and fresh fish restaurants.

        With a motorhome or caravan: In peak season you need a free online booking to walk down to the islet, and the car parks fill early. Arrive first thing in the morning.

      Google Maps Waze
    • Day2 Castro Urdiales and Santoña≈ 75 km · ≈ 1 h 40 min driving
      Where to sleep tonightCampsites and areas within 10 km of Santoña and Laredo

        WAIT 30s... Loading campsites and motorhome areas…

        Data from OpenStreetMap: check before you go.

        • Castro Urdiales

          A seafront Gothic church, a castle that is also a lighthouse and a medieval bridge, all on a rocky point above the harbour.

          What to see (4)
          • Church of Santa María A large Gothic church standing above the sea on the harbour point.
          • Castle-lighthouse The medieval castle of Santa Ana, with a lighthouse on top.
          • Medieval bridge The small stone bridge that links the point to the hermitage of Santa Ana.
          • Harbour and Brazomar beach The fishing harbour and the town beach, a short walk apart.

        • Santoña and Laredo

          The home of Cantabrian anchovies, at the foot of Mount Buciero and next to marshes full of birds. Across the bay, Laredo has a 5 km beach.

          What to see (4)
          • Anchovy canneries Visit a cannery to see how the famous Cantabrian anchovies are filleted by hand, and buy a tin.
          • El Caballo lighthouse A path through the woods of Mount Buciero and 763 steps down to a lighthouse at the foot of the cliff.
          • Santoña marshes A nature park with wetlands and birdwatching hides, especially good in autumn and winter.
          • La Salvé beach (Laredo) A 5 km beach across the bay, reached by a short ferry from Santoña in summer.
        Google Maps Waze
      • Day3 Santander and the Costa Quebrada≈ 55 km · ≈ 1 h 15 min driving
        Where to sleep tonightCampsites and areas within 10 km of Costa Quebrada

          WAIT 30s... Loading campsites and motorhome areas…

          Data from OpenStreetMap: check before you go.

          • Santander

            An elegant city on a wide bay, with the Magdalena Palace on its own peninsula, the Sardinero beaches and the Botín Centre on the waterfront.

            What to see (4)
            • Magdalena Palace The summer palace of the Spanish royal family, on a green peninsula with small beaches.
            • El Sardinero The elegant beaches and seafront of the city's belle-époque resort.
            • Botín Centre An arts centre by Renzo Piano that hangs over the water next to the Pereda gardens.
            • Paseo de Pereda The waterfront promenade, with cafés and views across the bay.

          • Costa Quebrada

            The "broken coast" west of Santander: sea stacks, folded rock headlands and beaches such as La Arnía and Covachos, next to the Liencres dunes.

            What to see (4)
            • Los Urros The sea stacks off Liencres, the best-known image of the Costa Quebrada.
            • La Arnía beach A wild beach between folded rock ridges, beautiful at low tide.
            • Liencres dunes A natural park of dunes and pine woods behind Valdearenas beach.
            • Covachos beach A small beach with a sandbar joining a green islet at low tide.

            With a motorhome or caravan: The beach car parks are small and some do not allow overnight parking. Do not walk down the cliffs outside the marked paths.

          Google Maps Waze
        • Day4 Santillana del Mar, Comillas and San Vicente≈ 50 km · ≈ 1 h 5 min driving
          Where to sleep tonightCampsites and areas within 10 km of San Vicente de la Barquera

            WAIT 30s... Loading campsites and motorhome areas…

            Data from OpenStreetMap: check before you go.

            • Santillana del Mar

              A perfectly preserved medieval village of stone mansions and cobbled streets, next to the museum of the Altamira cave paintings.

              What to see (4)
              • Collegiate church The Romanesque Collegiate Church of Santa Juliana, with a beautiful cloister.
              • Altamira Museum The original cave is closed, but the museum has an exact replica of its famous painted bison.
              • Mansions and coats of arms Stone houses with wooden balconies and family coats of arms on every street.
              • Local food Try a glass of milk with a sponge cake (bizcocho), a village tradition.

              With a motorhome or caravan: The village is closed to traffic. Use the large car parks at the entrance.

            • Comillas

              A small seaside town with grand Modernist buildings, among them El Capricho, one of the few works by Gaudí outside Catalonia.

              What to see (4)
              • El Capricho Gaudí's colourful summer house, covered in sunflower tiles.
              • Sobrellano Palace A neo-Gothic palace and chapel built for the Marquis of Comillas.
              • Pontifical University A huge Modernist building on the hill, visible from all around.
              • Comillas beach The town beach and the small fishing harbour.

            • San Vicente de la Barquera

              A fishing town on an estuary, crossed by a long medieval bridge, with the snowy Picos de Europa on the horizon on clear days.

              What to see (4)
              • La Maza bridge A long stone bridge across the estuary, with views of the town and the mountains.
              • Church of Santa María de los Ángeles A Gothic church at the top of the old town, next to the castle.
              • Merón beach A long open beach, popular with surfers, with the Picos de Europa behind it.
              • Viewpoint of the Picos On clear days, the snowy peaks rise straight behind the town.
            Google Maps Waze
          • Day5 Potes and Fuente Dé≈ 65 km · ≈ 1 h 25 min driving
            Where to sleep tonightCampsites and areas within 10 km of Fuente Dé (Picos de Europa)

              WAIT 30s... Loading campsites and motorhome areas…

              Data from OpenStreetMap: check before you go.

              • Potes and Liébana

                A stone town where two rivers meet, at the heart of the Liébana valley, with the monastery of Santo Toribio just above it.

                What to see (4)
                • Infantado Tower A medieval tower in the centre of the town.
                • Santo Toribio de Liébana A monastery that keeps what is said to be the largest piece of the Holy Cross.
                • Orujo Taste the local grape spirit, a speciality of Liébana.
                • Cocido lebaniego A hearty chickpea stew, the dish of the valley.

                With a motorhome or caravan: The road to Potes runs through the La Hermida gorge: 20 km of narrow, winding road between rock walls. Drive slowly and avoid it in the dark.

              • Fuente Dé (Picos de Europa)

                A cable car climbs 750 m up a vertical rock wall to a viewpoint at 1,823 m, the start of easy high-mountain walks.

                What to see (3)
                • Cable car A four-minute ride up the rock wall to the El Cable viewpoint, at 1,823 m.
                • High-mountain walks Easy paths from the upper station across the plateau towards the Áliva refuge.
                • Arrive early In summer the queue for the cable car can be long; go first thing in the morning.
              Google Maps Waze
            • Day6 Llanes and Ribadesella≈ 75 km · ≈ 1 h 40 min driving
              Where to sleep tonightCampsites and areas within 10 km of Ribadesella

                WAIT 30s... Loading campsites and motorhome areas…

                Data from OpenStreetMap: check before you go.

                • Llanes

                  A lively fishing town with a medieval centre, the painted breakwater blocks of the Cubes of Memory and dozens of small beaches nearby.

                  What to see (4)
                  • Cubes of Memory The breakwater blocks painted by the artist Agustín Ibarrola.
                  • Paseo de San Pedro A grassy clifftop walk above the town beach.
                  • Gulpiyuri beach A tiny beach in a meadow, 100 m from the sea, filled by the tide through the rocks.
                  • Bufones de Pría Blowholes in the cliffs that shoot sea spray high into the air on rough days.

                • Ribadesella

                  A town on the mouth of the Sella river, with a cave of prehistoric paintings and the start of the famous canoe race in August.

                  What to see (4)
                  • Tito Bustillo cave A cave with prehistoric paintings. Book ahead; it is closed part of the year.
                  • Descent of the Sella An international canoe race on the first Saturday after 2 August, with a huge party.
                  • Santa Marina beach The town beach, lined with early 20th-century villas.
                  • Dinosaur footprints Fossil footprints can be seen on the rocks of this "Dinosaur Coast".
                Google Maps Waze
              • Day7 Covadonga and its lakes≈ 35 km · ≈ 45 min driving

                • Cangas de Onís and Covadonga

                  The Roman-style bridge of Cangas de Onís, and the sanctuary of Covadonga built into a cliff, where the story of Christian Spain began.

                  What to see (4)
                  • Roman bridge The arched medieval bridge of Cangas de Onís, with the cross of Asturias hanging below it.
                  • Holy Cave A chapel built into the cliff over a waterfall, the heart of the sanctuary.
                  • Basilica The pink stone basilica of Covadonga, set against the mountains.
                  • Cheese Taste Cabrales and Gamonéu, the strong blue cheeses of the Picos de Europa.

                • Lakes of Covadonga

                  Two glacial lakes, Enol and Ercina, high in the Picos de Europa, with cows grazing on the meadows and easy walks between them.

                  What to see (4)
                  • Lake Enol and Lake Ercina The two lakes, joined by an easy circular walk of about 5 km.
                  • Mirador de la Reina A viewpoint on the road up, with views down to the sea on clear days.
                  • Buferrera mines Old iron mines with an interpretation trail near the lakes.
                  • Weather Mist can come in quickly: take warm clothes even in summer.

                  With a motorhome or caravan: On many days of the year (Easter, summer and some long weekends) private vehicles cannot drive up and a bus leaves from Cangas de Onís. The road is narrow and steep and not suitable for large motorhomes or caravans.

                Google Maps Waze

              Distances and driving times are approximate, measured between stops. Use the Directions links for the exact road route.

              Tips for motorhomes, campervans and caravans

              • Overnight stays

                There are many municipal motorhome areas along the coast, often cheap or free, plus plenty of campsites. Camping outside campsites (awning out, chairs, levelling blocks) is not allowed, and some beaches and towns ban motorhomes overnight. Always follow local signs.

              • Rain and fog

                This is "Green Spain" for a reason: it can rain in any month, and fog can close in on the coast and the mountains. Pack a rain jacket and plan an indoor visit (a museum, a cave, a cider bar) for wet days.

              • Mountain roads

                The La Hermida gorge to Potes and the road to the Lakes of Covadonga are narrow and winding. The lakes road is closed to private vehicles on many days: use the bus from Cangas de Onís.

              • Tolls and low-emission zones

                The AP-8 motorway in the Basque Country has tolls; the A-8 in Cantabria and Asturias is free. Bilbao, San Sebastián and other cities have low-emission zones: check whether your vehicle is allowed before driving into the centre.

              • Book ahead

                In summer and at Easter you need free online bookings to visit San Juan de Gaztelugatxe and the Cathedrals Beach, and campsites near Llanes and the Picos de Europa fill up. Many campsites close from October to Easter.

              Frequently asked questions

              How many days do you need for the Cantabrian coast by motorhome, campervan or caravan?

              Three days are enough for the highlights of Cantabria and eastern Asturias: Santander, Santillana del Mar, Comillas and Llanes. With seven days you can drive from Bilbao to the Picos de Europa and the Lakes of Covadonga. Fifteen days let you follow the whole coast from San Sebastián to the Cathedrals Beach in Galicia, with time for Oviedo and Gijón.

              Where can you sleep with a motorhome, campervan or caravan on the Cantabrian coast?

              In campsites, and with a motorhome or campervan also in the many municipal motorhome areas along the coast. Caravans are usually only accepted in campsites. Camping outside campsites (awning, chairs, levelling blocks) is not allowed, and some towns and beaches ban overnight parking for motorhomes. The route map shows the campsites, motorhome areas and parking places near every stop.

              When is the best time to drive the Cantabrian coast?

              From June to September, when the weather is mildest and the days are long. It can rain in any month, so pack a rain jacket. July and August are busy, especially in San Sebastián, Llanes and the Picos de Europa, so book campsites ahead. Many campsites close from October to Easter.

              Can you drive the Cantabrian coast route in reverse or skip stops?

              Yes. The route is a guide, not a fixed plan: you can start in Galicia or Asturias and drive east, begin at whichever stop is closest to you, or skip the stops that interest you less. Distances between stops stay the same in both directions.

              Are the roads suitable for large motorhomes and caravans?

              The A-8 motorway follows the whole coast and is free outside the Basque Country (the AP-8 there has tolls). The difficult sections are the mountain roads: the La Hermida gorge to Potes is narrow and winding, and the road up to the Lakes of Covadonga is closed to private vehicles on many days and not suitable for large motorhomes or caravans. Fishing villages such as Cudillero, Lastres and Getaria are steep: park at the edge and walk down.

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