location: Green Spain

Famous for the quality and variety of its seafood..... Green Spain spans the north coast of the Iberian Peninsula encompassing four autonomous regions: Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country.This is an area of stark contrasts. There aren't many places in western Europe where it's possible to holiday near a mountain range but also be close to a sandy beach. In this part of Spain, you really can have the best of both worlds and as an added bonus, it's also one of the least visited parts of the country - a fantastic choice for an activity holiday.

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Why should I go there?

Historically, the Celts, populated the region for almost three millennia and as a result the region has its own very distinct culture and languages. It is famous for the quality and variety of its seafood and is also a great place to visit if you enjoy wine as Galicia produces the Internationally renowned, Albariño, aromatic white wine. You can also sample excellent Basque wines and cider from Asturias. The region is a haven for wildlife and the Cantabrian mountains also have Europe's largest population of bears. Santiago de Compostella, the end point of the famous pilgrims’ routes is the capital of Galicia. The area around its celebrated cathedral has UNESCO world heritage status.

Some of the holiday ideas on offer in the region are:

• Walking
• Cycling
• Motorbike tours
• Gastronomy
• Art and Culture
• Wine tasting
• Horse riding
• Wildlife Watching.

How do I get there?

Check out our directory for tour operators offering packages to this part of Spain. For the independent traveller, you can reach Green Spain by air to Asturias, Santander and Bilbao from several UK airports. If you want to take your car but don’t fancy the long drive through France, ferries go from Portsmouth or Plymouth to Bilbao or Santander. The shortest crossing is 20 hours so if you don’t have your sea legs, an alternative would be to take the train from London to San Sebastián.

Where should I stay?

Green Spain has accommodation to suit everyone from “back to nature” campers to those looking for a home from home self-catering villa. For something different why not try one of the many Paradors situated in the region. These are luxurious places to stay combining outstanding architecture with fascinating history, gourmet cuisine, ambience and impeccable service – a truly unique experience.

Featured Articles

Asturias - Green Spain Asturias is at the northern most point of the Iberian Peninsula and it is bordered by Galicia and Cantabria. It forms what many describe as the region of “green Spain”.With a location to the north of the Picos de Europa mountains....Click Here

The Mysteries of the Basque Country The Basque country - otherwise known as Euskadi - lies in the north of Spain. It spans both sides of the French and Spanish borders, but culturally the Basque country is very different from both of its neighbours.The countries size and diversity makes it an ideal location.......Click Here