Spanish road trip advice
Discussion
Hello all. I'm planning a Spanish road trip, a first for us, and would appreciate any advice the collective can offer. Specifically:
- Supercar friendly hotel parking within walking distance to historic centres? We'll be in a Ferrari 575 with 10cm front clearance no lift, a long front overhang, 2m wide and the turning circle of a supertanker. So far I have Eurostars Palace in Córdoba and Hotel Monjas del Carmen or Alhambra Palace in Granada.
- Any particularly scenic driving routes between cities? I'm keeping the driving hours between each reasonable (I think!) because my wife isn't joining for the driving. Toledo to Bilbao is the longest segment at 5ish hours. Ideally I'd like to break that up but that limits time spent in each city.
- Any other thoughts about the itinerary or indeed anything else that that's good to know but might not be obvious from internet research?
These dates can flex a bit. 1.5 days in Cáceres and Toledo and 2.5 days in the others. No night driving.
25/04/2025 Plymouth to Santander
27/04/2025 Santander to Salamanca (arrive Santander 8am)
30/04/2025 Salamanca to Cáceres
02/05/2025 Cáceres to Córdoba
05/05/2025 Córdoba to Granada
08/05/2025 Granada to Toledo
10/05/2025 Toledo to Bilbao
13/05/2025 Bilbao to Portsmouth (leave Bilbao 1pm)
Notes: We've been to Seville so omitting this time and if this works out well we'll do a northern Spain trip another time. We are spending 2 weeks in Málaga in June (flying) so can day trip to scenic towns in the region then. I'll book priority ferry embarkation and disembarkation. The car has a max tank range of 400 miles but I'm assuming 350 to be safe in case of traffic or a heavy right foot. I'll brim it in Plymouth.
Thanks in advance.
- Supercar friendly hotel parking within walking distance to historic centres? We'll be in a Ferrari 575 with 10cm front clearance no lift, a long front overhang, 2m wide and the turning circle of a supertanker. So far I have Eurostars Palace in Córdoba and Hotel Monjas del Carmen or Alhambra Palace in Granada.
- Any particularly scenic driving routes between cities? I'm keeping the driving hours between each reasonable (I think!) because my wife isn't joining for the driving. Toledo to Bilbao is the longest segment at 5ish hours. Ideally I'd like to break that up but that limits time spent in each city.
- Any other thoughts about the itinerary or indeed anything else that that's good to know but might not be obvious from internet research?
These dates can flex a bit. 1.5 days in Cáceres and Toledo and 2.5 days in the others. No night driving.
25/04/2025 Plymouth to Santander
27/04/2025 Santander to Salamanca (arrive Santander 8am)
30/04/2025 Salamanca to Cáceres
02/05/2025 Cáceres to Córdoba
05/05/2025 Córdoba to Granada
08/05/2025 Granada to Toledo
10/05/2025 Toledo to Bilbao
13/05/2025 Bilbao to Portsmouth (leave Bilbao 1pm)
Notes: We've been to Seville so omitting this time and if this works out well we'll do a northern Spain trip another time. We are spending 2 weeks in Málaga in June (flying) so can day trip to scenic towns in the region then. I'll book priority ferry embarkation and disembarkation. The car has a max tank range of 400 miles but I'm assuming 350 to be safe in case of traffic or a heavy right foot. I'll brim it in Plymouth.
Thanks in advance.
Looking at that - you completely miss the best bit of Northern Spain! - the Picos Europas. Literally an hour from Santander. Amazing roads in amazing scenery, and fine in a super car. Our last trip there had convoy with Ferrari, Lambo, Porsche and Lotus
You can tweak your routes slightly to include some of the Picos, if you go from Santander to Salamanca via Potes, but I would tweak it more and do more of the Picos by going to Riano after Potes
You can tweak your routes slightly to include some of the Picos, if you go from Santander to Salamanca via Potes, but I would tweak it more and do more of the Picos by going to Riano after Potes
Edited by blueg33 on Wednesday 28th August 11:16
Edited by blueg33 on Wednesday 28th August 11:18
TwoMinds said:
Thanks @blueg33. I'd planned to cover that in a northern only driving tour in 2026 so that we could properly enjoy it rather than tack it on to a drive south. But I will look at it for this time around.
Its not too far off your likely route and the gorge up to Potes is impressive, - note that you wont be going fast up the gorgeTwoMinds said:
Thanks. Looking at it now, it seems doable with my self imposed 6 hour max time for each driving segment. There will be complaining if I go beyond that!
I keep my driving to 5 hours a day. We stayed overnight at Fuente De, but the ferry arrived at Mid day, so we only had half a day.Salamanca to Caceres is a short run so if you are open to moving the night stop planned for Salamanca further North (León?) then that would open up an opportunity to enjoy the Picos on Day 1?
I used the Parador at Benavente last year, nice, parking is directly outside the entrance. Zamora is also nice and shaves a bit off the drive time below, so lots of options unless you are fixed on Salamanca.
Given the Santander arrival time, you should be out of the port by 09:00 local it's still very doable to get to Salamanca via the N-621
[5hr 45] whilst allowing for a good lunch break and a couple of coffee/fuel stops. Something like this... https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Brittany+Ferries...
I went last year and there's some info which might help/be of interest in my thread here, posts dated 29.Dec onward. There are a couple of brief dashcam clips to tempt you to the Picos too.
Going again this year and Day 1 is Santander to Fuente De, anticlockwise around the Picos (N-625 south> N-621 North), then to Salamanca.
I'll also be staying at the Hotel Monjas del Carmen so can give an opinion on that before the year's end.
___________________________________
Picos pic. N-621 just before it gets interesting.
I used the Parador at Benavente last year, nice, parking is directly outside the entrance. Zamora is also nice and shaves a bit off the drive time below, so lots of options unless you are fixed on Salamanca.
Given the Santander arrival time, you should be out of the port by 09:00 local it's still very doable to get to Salamanca via the N-621
[5hr 45] whilst allowing for a good lunch break and a couple of coffee/fuel stops. Something like this... https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Brittany+Ferries...
I went last year and there's some info which might help/be of interest in my thread here, posts dated 29.Dec onward. There are a couple of brief dashcam clips to tempt you to the Picos too.
Going again this year and Day 1 is Santander to Fuente De, anticlockwise around the Picos (N-625 south> N-621 North), then to Salamanca.
I'll also be staying at the Hotel Monjas del Carmen so can give an opinion on that before the year's end.
___________________________________
Picos pic. N-621 just before it gets interesting.
Bookmarked.
We are heading off for a 7 week roadtrip in a few weeks , down through France then around Spain.
Northern Spain features heavily for us, along with the pyrenees
Wifey has sorted the route , ensuring we don't have too many hours in the car each day, always taking the "sport" route, will have a look at her itinerary and post some of it here , she has spent literally weeks planning this ( event organiser), ensuring perfect parking available too.
We are heading off for a 7 week roadtrip in a few weeks , down through France then around Spain.
Northern Spain features heavily for us, along with the pyrenees
Wifey has sorted the route , ensuring we don't have too many hours in the car each day, always taking the "sport" route, will have a look at her itinerary and post some of it here , she has spent literally weeks planning this ( event organiser), ensuring perfect parking available too.
Busa mav said:
Bookmarked.
We are heading off for a 7 week roadtrip in a few weeks , down through France then around Spain.
Northern Spain features heavily for us, along with the pyrenees
Wifey has sorted the route , ensuring we don't have too many hours in the car each day, always taking the "sport" route, will have a look at her itinerary and post some of it here , she has spent literally weeks planning this ( event organiser), ensuring perfect parking available too.
Where are you crossing the Pyrenees? I can recommend some really good routes and hotels if you need it. I am our groups planner We are heading off for a 7 week roadtrip in a few weeks , down through France then around Spain.
Northern Spain features heavily for us, along with the pyrenees
Wifey has sorted the route , ensuring we don't have too many hours in the car each day, always taking the "sport" route, will have a look at her itinerary and post some of it here , she has spent literally weeks planning this ( event organiser), ensuring perfect parking available too.
blueg33 said:
Where are you crossing the Pyrenees? I can recommend some really good routes and hotels if you need it. I am our groups planner
I will tag my wife for her to check, most hotels booked for the first few weeks, I know we are staying in the mountains for a few nights so we can get up early and have a few clear "sighting runs " 
Not sure where the typo is on the OP, but boats from Plymouth don't arrive in Spain at 8am.
Priority disembarkation is worth every penny of the £15 it costs - yes, you do need one of the more expensive cabins too, but they're also worth the extra.
On the way out from Plymouth, you board about 50% of the way through the process. Not bad, but still some hanging around wondering when things will happen.
On the way back from Santander, you board pretty much as soon as you arrive. It's brilliant. Straight on the boat, no messing around. Bags in cabin, then off to the Commodore lounge for a nice relaxing drink whilst boarding completes. I believe that the process is boat dependent, so should be the same from Bilbao.
In both cases, disembarkation was as advertised. Off the boat less than 5 minutes after the doors opened. This is SO cool when arriving back in Portsmouth as you're through passport control before all of the Motorhomes, Caravans and Motorbikes.
Everyone has their own preferences and priorities for a holiday - road trip or not. For me it's all about the food and drink, so I am obliged to point out that you've missed San Sebastian and Logrono from your list. Both of these are essential destinations for each and every road trip to Spain. On our recently completed 6 week circumnavigation we started and finished in San Sebastian.
It's also nice to see someone focusing on the practical aspects of the car parking, rather than security. Car park security has never been an issue for me in Spain, but some of the access is massively painful. Steep ramps, tight turns and narrow spaces make for a stressful arrival and departure. I can't help with any hotels on your specific route as the only destination that matches is Granada and you've already got that one covered. I would also say I am perfectly happy to use Hotel Valet Parking in a decent hotel - again, I've never had a problem with it. Ok, my car isn't a Ferrari, but it's not THAT far off.
Priority disembarkation is worth every penny of the £15 it costs - yes, you do need one of the more expensive cabins too, but they're also worth the extra.
On the way out from Plymouth, you board about 50% of the way through the process. Not bad, but still some hanging around wondering when things will happen.
On the way back from Santander, you board pretty much as soon as you arrive. It's brilliant. Straight on the boat, no messing around. Bags in cabin, then off to the Commodore lounge for a nice relaxing drink whilst boarding completes. I believe that the process is boat dependent, so should be the same from Bilbao.
In both cases, disembarkation was as advertised. Off the boat less than 5 minutes after the doors opened. This is SO cool when arriving back in Portsmouth as you're through passport control before all of the Motorhomes, Caravans and Motorbikes.
Everyone has their own preferences and priorities for a holiday - road trip or not. For me it's all about the food and drink, so I am obliged to point out that you've missed San Sebastian and Logrono from your list. Both of these are essential destinations for each and every road trip to Spain. On our recently completed 6 week circumnavigation we started and finished in San Sebastian.
It's also nice to see someone focusing on the practical aspects of the car parking, rather than security. Car park security has never been an issue for me in Spain, but some of the access is massively painful. Steep ramps, tight turns and narrow spaces make for a stressful arrival and departure. I can't help with any hotels on your specific route as the only destination that matches is Granada and you've already got that one covered. I would also say I am perfectly happy to use Hotel Valet Parking in a decent hotel - again, I've never had a problem with it. Ok, my car isn't a Ferrari, but it's not THAT far off.
Thanks @omniflow for that spot on arrival time in Spain. Too much searching on a phone has got me mixing up Portsmouth and Plymouth. I liked the 8am arrival so we would be embarking in Portsmouth. I might look at dates for a Plymouth option as that seems to be seen as the preferred route from what I read. That's great information about the ferry protocols.
I'm conscious about missing San Sebastian and Logroño which is why I'd plan a northern Spain trip for another time. That's the 'problem' with Spain - too many great places.
I'm conscious about missing San Sebastian and Logroño which is why I'd plan a northern Spain trip for another time. That's the 'problem' with Spain - too many great places.
San Sebastian was an absolute highlight when we did a similar trip last year - loved it and itd be the first location to build the trip around when we revisit.
We went towards Catalona - stayed in a lovely pace in
https://www.hotelvellafarga.com/en/?sjrncid=GA_109...
Here in San Sebastian - 10 min bus ride in to the old town, but modern secure garage
https://arimahotel.com/en/
omniflow said:
It's also nice to see someone focusing on the practical aspects of the car parking, rather than security. Car park security has never been an issue for me in Spain, but some of the access is massively painful. Steep ramps, tight turns and narrow spaces make for a stressful arrival and departure. I can't help with any hotels on your specific route as the only destination that matches is Granada and you've already got that one covered. I would also say I am perfectly happy to use Hotel Valet Parking in a decent hotel - again, I've never had a problem with it. Ok, my car isn't a Ferrari, but it's not THAT far off.
We managed to get our cars up here so we didn’t have to park with Porsche owners club who had just arrived in a medley of Porsche branded merch!TwoMinds said:
Thanks @omniflow for that spot on arrival time in Spain. Too much searching on a phone has got me mixing up Portsmouth and Plymouth. I liked the 8am arrival so we would be embarking in Portsmouth. I might look at dates for a Plymouth option as that seems to be seen as the preferred route from what I read. That's great information about the ferry protocols.
I'm conscious about missing San Sebastian and Logroño which is why I'd plan a northern Spain trip for another time. That's the 'problem' with Spain - too many great places.
Here's my view on Plymouth vs. Portsmouth - yours may vary depending on where you live and what your priorities are. This is purely focused on UK -> Spain. You may detect some bias.I'm conscious about missing San Sebastian and Logroño which is why I'd plan a northern Spain trip for another time. That's the 'problem' with Spain - too many great places.
Plymouth is 230miles and 4 hours drive - check-in is about 1pm, so it's a nice leisurely 9am start on day 1 and a late lunch on the boat when you board.
Portsmouth is 90 miles and just under 2 hours drive - check in is late in the evening, so whilst it's a leisurely start, it pretty much bedtime as soon as you board.
Plymouth is 1 night on the boat, you can book a cabin with a balcony, and you're awake crossing the Bay of Biscay so you can dolphin watch from your cabin. Also, you arrive just after lunch, so can be in San Sebastian for 5pm. The food is reasonable and you can have a nice sit down dinner on your first day.
Portsmouth is 2 nights on the boat. There are only 3 nice cabins per boat and these book up REALLY early. There are no balconies and you're asleep when crossing the day of Biscay. You arrive at 8am, so you're woken at 6. You do get the Commodore lounge, which includes all your food and drink for the journey. This is great, but I miss the sit down dinner. The food isn't quite as good as Plymouth, but it's marginal.
Brittany Ferries are bringing some new boats online soonish, and the one on the St. Malo route has some great cabin options - it's a shame they don't have those same options on the Portsmouth -> Spain boats.
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