Commonly known as ‘Green Spain’, due to its lush and vibrant landscape with the Picos de Europa Mountains and a coastline with sandy beaches and hidden coves. The weather is varied with warm summers and mild winters, although, rain, fog and overcast days are rather frequent. Inland is quite rural, with vast farmland, traditional villages and, as it is home to the much celebrated Rioja grape, acres of vineyards. Some of the vineyards will allow visitors to tour on horseback or all-terrain vehicles, providing for a unique and unforgettable tasting experience. Northern Spain is where you will find some the country’s most historic locations such as Pais Vasco, Cantabira and Galicia. It is becoming a more popular tourist destination with visitors flocking to San Sebastian, Santander and the Pais vasco (Basque Country). Picos de Europa is Spain’s first National Park and was founded back in 1918. There are oak groves, forests, four rivers and deep ravines, which are perfect for hiking enthusiasts who would like to explore the terrain on foot. Conveniently, there is a Fuentede cable car for those who would prefer not to hike, which provides exceptional views over the park and beyond. Bilbao, known as an industrial port city, is home to the famous and rather dramatic titanium clad museum – the Guggenheim, where visitors can view works from some of the most famous artists in the world including Pablo Picasso. The city of Pamplona is famed for the annual San Fermin festival in July, where visitors and locals try to outrun a herd of bulls through the narrow streets. The cuisine in Northern Spain is as delicious as it is diverse, with popular dishes such as octopus, paella, stuffed mussels, fiery potatoes, churros and tapas. Locals are incredibly passionate about their food, heritage and traditions, which are openly and enthusiastically shared with visitors.
